ORLANDO, Fla. — As the O’Leary mantra goes, the Knights are preparing for yet another one-game playoff – a phrase used by the old school head coach to keep his team focused on the week at hand.
This week, however, the mantra has roots that reach deeper than weekly focus. In a conference with no championship game and no tie-breaker in place, the Knights will be battling East Carolina University for a share of the American Athletic Conference title, their second in as many years.
“It would mean the world to me, and I know it would to everybody else too,” Terrance Plummer said. “Just because of the simple fact it’s what our ultimate goal is every year.”
To a team who has written so much history in the past few years, the opportunity to claim this year’s title presents yet another unconquered summit for the Knights; consecutive conference titles. UCF has never won back-to-back championships, claiming two total in their time with Conference USA and one in the inaugural season of the American Athletic Conference.
“When you’re the defending champ, and you win the conference again it carries a little bit more weight than taking it for the first time,” said O’Leary. “I think when you can repeat, I think that carries a lot of weight. It may be shared, but a conference championship is a conference championship.”
Memphis has already established their share of the title by finishing conference play at 7-1, something that both Cincinnati and UCF will be fighting for this week.
It is not a feat that will come with any degree of comfort. ECU boasts one of the most hostile environments in the American, averaging the highest attendance of any team in the conference, and has exploded onto the scene this year with a volatile scoring offense that is producing 37.8 points and 364.6 passing yards a game.
The upcoming test is being met with relish from the UCF defense, a unit that has cemented itself as one of the top-10 defenses in all of college football.
“We have another defining game this year versus the number one offense in the conference. We’re doing well on defense ourselves, so it’s literally us against them, which it is every game,” said Plummer.
Though the defense has shown an ability to carry this team, it will take an improved effort from Justin Holman and company to keep the Knights on pace against such a high intensity attack. UCF’s offense has seen its share of both peaks and valleys this year, dealing with uncertainty at quarterback, injuries and a loss of depth along the offensive line.
J.J. Worton’s presence will be sorely missed by not just the receiving corps and Holman, but in a significant manner on special teams. Josh Reese will return punts in his absence, noting how much Worton meant to the team.
“He meant a lot to the program. Even though he’s not playing right now you know he’s still involved, he’s still picking us up. Even me, as a captain, if I do something wrong he’s still letting me know,” said Reese on his fallen compatriot.
Beyond that, the running game may be left to fend for itself on the strength of Micah Reed and Cedric Thompson. George O’Leary was non-committal about the status of Dontravious Wilson and William Stanback, emphasizing that he did not want to discuss injuries.
The Knights have a short week to gather themselves for Thursday’s game, a game that truly is a one-game playoff.
Win here and win the championship.
