Championship week a unique treat for UCF
The night before the 2007 Conference USA Championship Game, longtime UCF supporter Manny Messeguer stepped in front of the team and reminded players just far the program had come.
The Knights went from playing Knights must their first game in 1979 in a muddy deal with early cow pasture at the lowest levels of kickoff, college football. They didn’t have a
conference affiliation, much less a chance to play for a conference title.
All week long leading up to Messeguer’s speech, players felt a different energy on campus, former quarterback Kyle Israel said. There was a buzz. Fans asked players to stop and pose for pictures. Professors talked about the big game. Media sessions were packed and ESPN was on
Pittsburgh Steelers, had a two-touchdown game that helped lead Tech past the Seminoles.
It was FSU’s first home loss to the Jackets and closed out a dramatic week that began with calls for Bobby Bowden’s ouster as Seminoles head coach.
When the teams meet in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday in Charlotte, N.C., for the first time since that emotion-filled night in Tallahassee, Tech’s offense will take center stage once again. Although the current Jackets don’t have the sametype of talent they did in Dwyer, their potent system still can cause headaches for those who have to game-plan for it.
“It’s deadly if you’ve got the right people in there,” Seminoles safety Terrence Brooks said.
He should know. Like several players on FSU’s (10-2) roster, Brooks played multiple positions in high school, including quarterback. At Dunnellon High, Brooks was also a receiver and flanked his offensive tackles as a wing back in the school’s Wing-T offense.
Tech’s scheme isn’t a traditional Wing-T, though. The Jackets ( 6- 6) have variations of plays that be- gin out of the formation, including their famed triple-option. On triple-option plays, the quarterback has the choice of either keeping the football, handing it off to the fullback (known as the B-back in Tech’s system), or pitching it to a wing back (known as the A-back) or receiver.
Because of how rare the scheme is in college, preparing for it with one week’s notice can be difficult for opposing teams.
“I’ve never played the triple-option my entire career here. Not even in high school,” FSU All-American defensive end Bjoern Werner said.
The j unior’s rookie counterpart, true freshman Mario Edwards Jr., has been joking with Werner about having more experience playing the optionbased offense than the veteran. Edwards is expected to receive his first career start, playing alongside Werner as the Seminoles replace injured All-ACC defensive end Cornellius Carradine.
“[ Edwards] said he played it more than I have,” Werner said. “So it’s going to have to be the same challenge for him as it is for me. I’m going to have to watch and play my techniques the same way he has to.”
At the defensive line, those techniques entail focusing on gap assignments and responsibilities. Ends are intended to close off the outside edge to outside-running backs and receivers. Tackles are supposed to stuff the middle of the line of scrimmage, anticipating dive runs from the B-back or quarterback.
Linebackers have to flow to the outside, Williams said. Even middle linebackers have to get to the edge where the ball is being run without getting cut by shin-diving offensive linemen and other blockers.
Safeties and cornerbacks just have to be prepared for the occasional, unexpected deep pass.
“If you don’t like being physical, then you’re not going to l i ke playing against Georgia Tech,” safety Lamarcus Joyner said. “We’re just trying to prepare at the speed the best way we can, so that we can counteract that versatility and physicality that they have.”
Joyer said the Seminoles have to be ready to avoid feeling the disappointment that goes with losing a championship game. FSU lost to Virginia Tech in the 2010 ACCtitle game, 44-33.
“It’s going to be a tough game,” Joyer said. “Championships are not handed over to you. I found that out my freshman year.”