David Baumann, News 13 Sports
Sometimes you wonder why the University of Central Florida Knights look forward to their yearly visit from the University of South Florida Bulls.
The Knight's have never beaten USF in three tries.
Nevertheless, as News 13's David Baumann found out, the Knights are hoping to turn that around when the Bulls come to Bright House Stadium this weekend.
This Saturday the Knights and the Bulls have a 7 p.m. kickoff and it will be broadcast on ESPN 2. It is the fourth and final game in the series between the two teams.
There are plenty of reasons to get psyched up for both teams, especially the Knights, who were throttled by the Bulls last year 64- to 12 on the Bulls home turf. The Knights players say they have to control their emotions in this game.
"A lot of the time you have to make sure you're not getting into it so much to the point where you don't know where you're supposed to be. I think we do a pretty good job of that. We practice at a high tempo and I think we'll be able to carry that onto the field," said Sh'reff Rashad, a defensive back for UCF.
Some might make the argument that UCF was holding back their offensive weaponry in the first game of the year against Division 1-AA opponent South Carolina St. Not so says wideout Rocky Ross.
"There were about five or six plays where we could have opened it up for big play opportunities, but I don't think we were holding anything back, we don't really hold things back against any teams, we just go out and play for that week," said Rocky Ross, a Knights' wide receiver.
USF quarterback Matt Grothe is one of the best at his position in the country. He is a dual-threat quarterback.
"Grothe hurts more teams with his feet rather than his arm. You rush four and they're blocking five or six and he's going to find a crease," said Knights coach George O'Leary.
UCF is 0-10 all-time against teams from the Big East, 0-3 against USF.
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