UCF returns from bye week
Players say they are refreshed, focused on homecoming game against East Carolina.
There was time spent with family, there was food and there was football. For most of the UCF football program, the bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. The Knights were eager to recharge after suffering stunning losses during two of their past three games. The players and coaches returned to the practice field Monday morning refreshed, recharged and eager to prepare for their homecoming game against East Carolina Saturday.
“I do like our football team’s mindset right now,” UCF coach Josh Heupel said Monday. “… I think it’s important that the players get away from it a little bit. It’s a long, long season, dating back to the first day of training camp. So you get refreshed and refocused and ready to go.”
The midseason break, as it turns out, fell perfectly for UCF (4-2, 1-1 American Athletic Conference), with the Knights still trying to wrap their heads around a pair of close road losses to Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in a period of 13 days.
“Honestly, I don’t think he could have come in a better time, especially with a couple of weeks that we had these tough games that we had,” junior tailback Otis Anderson said. “I think it’s better for us to be able to take our mind off of football and be able to readjust. I think, once you’re able to refocus, you always do better. So that’s what we’re looking for us.”
With no opponent to prepare for last week, Heupel and his staff got a chance to evaluate the first half of the season.
“You do self-scout. You have a little bit more time to go back through and just look at yourself, your personnel, your situational football, your normal downs and everything so you do that,” said Heupel, who added the extra time was especially beneficial for younger players.
“You get some guys that are nicked up an opportunity to catch their breath and get healthy. Collectively your football team and your staff a little bit over the
“It’s a long, long season, dating back to the first day of training camp. So you get refreshed and refocused and ready to go.” — Josh Heupel