ORLANDO — UCF Football will complete their phoenix-like rebirth on Saturday, essentially hosting Arkansas State in the AutoNation Cure Bowl and officially wiping clean the memory of a winless 2015 season.
It is the culmination of a heartbreaking, up-and-down season of development for the Knights – who were forced to rush a freshman quarterback out of his redshirt season, who had to travel to The Big House to battle Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines, who lost two absolute heartbreakers at home on the game’s last play, and who generally had to discover within themselves what their identity was.
“Our whole thing was not only just going to a bowl game,” said American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year Shaquem Griffin. Coming off last season, our whole thing was just to win. You have to start somewhere … as a team … let’s get this first win out of the way.”
This team not only had to learn to win again, they had to learn how to compete again. The revival began with that attitude, that it all started with playing fast, playing hard and picking up the man next to you.
“You could see some of the spurts and you could see the changes helped us benefit. You could see the guys who weren’t afraid to hit, who weren’t afraid to make mistakes, who’s going fast. That’s what Coach Frost brought to us. It’s OK to go fast, it’s ok to make mistakes. As long as you’re going 110 percent, you’re never wrong. Take it day by day and game by game,” reinforced Griffin.
Faith in the Scott Frost system and in the man himself have brought the Knights here to Camping World Stadium, a fitting rebirth in the original stomping grounds of UCF Football.
Getting to the game was one battle, winning against the fearsome Arkansas State pass rush will be a completely different Iditarod for this up-and-coming squad.
The Red Wolves are the only team in the nation to boast two sack-ninjas with 10+ QB takedowns each, totaling 24 sacks between Chris Odom (12.5) and Ja’Von Rolland-Jones (11.5). A-State’s duo has the potential to create absolute havoc behind the UCF offensive line, keying on McKenzie Milton’s propensity to extend plays with his feet in the face of serious pressure, often holding on to the ball too long or forcing a throw that simply isn’t there.
It isn’t just getting to the quarterback that fuels the Red Wolves defense, as the unit has forced at least one turnover in 9-of-12 games and took eight of those back for touchdowns.
UCF Head Coach Scott Frost certainly has a respect for a defense of that caliber, having touted his own top-tier unit all season long.
“I think our football team and their football team are similar,” Frost said. “Taking nothing away from the rest of their (Arkansas State) team I think the strength of their team is their defense. Their defense and our defense are — I think — the two most improved in the country coming off last year. They run around, pursue, run to the football, hit. It’s an impressive group. This is exciting game for me for both teams I think both teams have some similarities.”
UCF and Arkansas State will kick off at Camping World Stadium in the AutoNation Cure Bowl tonight at 5:30.
