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| Monday, August 13 Updated: August 14, 8:48 AM ET Defense will click; QB Schneider the key to offense By Adam Rittenberg Special to ESPN.com |
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UCF Golden Knights 2000 record: 7-4. Coach: Mike Kruczek (4th year, 20-13). Starters returning: 4 offense, 6 defense, 2 kickers. Outlook: Tommy Bowden and Frank Beamer had better do their homework before this sleeper team from Orlando strolls into town. Big stadiums and raucous crowds don't intimidate UCF, which upset Alabama in Birmingham and had Georgia Tech on the ropes in Atlanta last season. The Golden Knights only return four starters from an offense that racked up more than 30 points per game in 2000. Fortunately, one of the foursome is QB Ryan Schneider, who eclipsed 300 yards passing four times last season and ranked ninth nationally in passing efficiency (147.0). Senior tailback Terrance Williams will fuel UCF's two-pronged attack. Williams, named 1998 juco player of the year after averaging more than 200 yards per game, returns after redshirting last season because of an ankle injury. UCF welcomes back seven familiar faces to a defensive unit that accumulated 35 sacks last year. DT Josh McKibben and DE Elton Patterson should provide a punishing pass rush once again. Keep an eye on: WR Jimmy Fryzel. With record-setting wideout Tyson Hinshaw lost to graduation, Fryzel's play will be critical to UCF's passing attack. Fryzel, who snatched 36 receptions for 606 yards last season, will be featured in the Knights' multi-receiver pro set offense. At only 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, Fryzel exhibited big-play capabilities several times last year, hauling in a 61-yard missile against Akron and a 59-yarder against Louisiana Tech. Key game: UCF rounds out a grueling five-game stretch with a trip to Blacksburg, Va., to battle a Vick-less Virginia Tech squad. After being pummeled 44-21 by the Hokies in the 2000 season finale, UCF must use this game to measure its progress. With five winnable games following this contest, a strong showing would ignite the Knights. It's a good year if... The Knights' offense must find a way to maintain its scoring prowess after losing seven key starters to graduation. If Schneider posts another monster season and Williams rediscovers his juco groove, UCF could match last season's excellence. With a soft midseason schedule, a six- or seven-win season is a possibility. The Knights' early season schedule is littered with road games against top teams -- but then again, that may be just the way they want it. |
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