Knights embrace competitive practice
Thursday’s full pads UCF football practice ended with loud cheers after defensive back Tre Neal knocked the ball away from tight end Michael Colubiale in the end zone during the team’s final two-minute drill.
One player even started to climb the back fence in excitement over the play.
It was a throwback to the unbridled joy the Knights experienced during competitive practices that led to their undefeated run this season. And it didn’t hurt that players knew it was the final practice before a short Christmas break.
“It’s just fun to be out here with everybody,” UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton said. “[We’re] just embracing the seniors and this is going to be our last go around with them. [We’re] embracing all the coaches, our last go around with them too so it’s just a lot of fun out there.”
Scott Frost held a brief team meeting following practice to go over logistics as most players — except Milton, who is from Hawaii — plan to head home for the holidays before they report back for one last practice in Orlando on Dec. 26.
Last year, players didn’t approach the Cure Bowl with enough focus to fend off a hungry Arkansas State team. No one plans on repeating another late mental letdown with so much on the line for UCF and other Group of 5 schools during the Peach Bowl Jan 1.
“Guys didn’t take it that seriously and it showed on game day,” offensive coordinator Troy Walters said of last year’s bowl appearance. “We’re not gonna have that same thing happen in Atlanta, so we’re making sure everybody knows the rules and what to do and if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do there’s gonna be implications, consequences. And I think we’re gonna be focused when we get there and ready to put on a show.”
It will take a near perfect game for the No. 12 Knights (12-0) to give themselves a chance to beat No. 7 Auburn (10-3).
Walters said UCF’s offense hadn’t a seen complete defense like the one it will face when it lines up against the Tigers. During the past two games, the Knights’ defense gave up 97 points to USF and Memphis.
“We just have to minimize the errors on our part,” defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said. “A lot of those errors were selfinflicted errors. A lot of those things were missed alignments, missed assignments, so I think with the two weeks to work on this thing, we’ll have a pretty good idea what we want to do against them. I’m hoping the mental errors are down to zero and we just go out and play.”
Christmas came early for the UCF football team Thursday afternoon, with the Knights grabbing some new Nike swag. Players each received a rollaway Nike travel bag with all white kicks, sweats and UCF Peach Bowl shirts.
“It’s awesome,” Milton said. “The bowl gifts are a big perk. Not to knock on the Cure Bowl, but [they were] a lot better than last year. It’s a lot of fun. I guess it’s just a reward of a great season by us and Auburn as well. That’s one of the perks you get to embrace.”
Defensive lineman Joey Connors said he had a practical Christmas wish list. Following his recent graduation, Connors said he just wanted some work clothes and a pillow. Defensive back Richie Grant said he was just looking forward to some much needed time with his family in South Florida.
“I haven’t seen my family since my birthday Nov. 9, so it’s been a while,” Grant said. “I need to go see them.”