I wish I had a nickel for every time UCF has had a big time college program on the hook and let them off. It’s all too familiar. We’ve seen it twice this year already. Driving for a potential game tying score in the last minutes against NC State, we fumble. A game we might have been winning had we had the right QB in the whole time. Then this past week a loss at K-State in the last 30 seconds. A game the Knights dominated for most of the game, yet let slip away, again.

It’s aggravating. Yeah we do have that win at Alabama. And then there was the one at NC State in ’07. But SO many close calls. The law of averages dictates that we are owed a few right?

I’m trying to figure out how I can blame this one on O’Leary. But in reality, I can’t.  He isn’t the one who missed two field goals. With those K-State loses even with the last drive and a two point conversion. He didn’t miss on a long pass that was wide open. Players have to make plays. UCF just didn’t make enough of them on Saturday.

I still think UCF needs to be thinking about its next coach though.  O’Leary’s record is now 36-43. I can’t believe that is what the school had in mind when he was hired. Plus the man is getting old. Retirement should be just around the corner for him.

When that day comes, and I believe it may be coming in the near future, UCF needs to think large. They need someone with a name. Someone who can recruit. Someone who can get this team believing that they not only can beat these “big boys” but can convince them that UCF is one of the “big boys”.  I would call Phil Fulmer.

Jeff Godfrey will UCF’s starting quarterback. Presumably for a very long time. The true freshman had a shaky first half and was benched to start the 3rd quarter on Saturday. At halftime the Knights led 10-3 on the strength of Bruce Miller’s interception return for a TD. Rob Calabrese then came in for two possessions and stunk it up as usual. The Bulls had the game tied at 10-10 going into the 4th quarter. And then…

The Jeff Godfrey Show was ON! He led the Knights to two touchdowns in the 4th quarter, mostly by running, and as usual the defense was stellar. Today it was announced that O’Leary has named him starter for the upcoming Kansas State game.

Kudos to O’Leary for not being stubborn this time and refusing to start the freshman until it’s too late. He may save his job this year after all.

Rewind to a year ago. It’s opening night vs. Samford. Starting QB Rob Calabrese is stinking up the joint in the first half. The Knights are losing to this FCS opponent. In the second half, O’Leary pulls Calabrese and Brett Hodges leads to Knights to a comeback win while putting up 24 second half points. It’s obvious which QB was better, but O’Leary stubbornly sticks with Calabrese for two more weeks, costing us the Southern Miss and East Carolina games and eventually the Eastern Division. He goes with Brett in week 4 and the Knights go 7-2 the reat of the way and earn a bowl bid.

This year, a similar circumstance has occurred. Calabrese again stunk it up last night against NC State. O’Leary then pulls him and Godfrey nearly leads the Knights to a three touchdown, fourth quarter comeback. So now we will be able to see if O’Leary has learned anything from last year. Will it take another loss or two for him to realize the Calabrese just is not starting QB material? Or will he go with Godfrey next week? If Calabrese starts and loses another game as UCF’s starting QB then this site should be the number one site on the net. Because every UCF fan should be clamoring for a coach with a clue.

Loved the uniforms. Black and Gold represented well. Bravo.

I know. It’s only South Dakota. But UCF has to feel good about a 38-7 pasting of them. After all, last season we struggled mightily against Samford. Two years ago we looked pitiful against South Carolina State. So even though we weren’t playing anybody, it was a good thing. Look at how teams like Ole Miss, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, etc did against nobodies. Even though you have no competition, you still have to go out and execute. UCF did that. So Congrats. Let’s keep it up.

Marshall. Southern Miss, and UAB all played on Thursday night. None of them left me shaking in my boots. Marshall played at #2 Ohio State. So they weren’t expected to do much. But they really did nothing at all. Their only score came on a blocked field goal. It was 35-7 at halftime.

Southern Miss was run over by South Carolina. Maybe the Gamecocks are pretty good. But they have never been that great in the past. Not 41-13 great anyway. Stephen Garcia, not to be confused with Terrelle Pryor, ran for two touchdowns. He bounced off Eagle defenders like he was made of rubber.

And UAB lost at home to Florida Atlantic 32-31. Too bad this one wasn’t on TV. Sounds like a thriller.

Memphis will be at Mississippi State on Saturday. A road game in the SEC will be tough, but MSU is not to be confused with Alabama or Auburn.

East Carolina will host Tulsa on Sunday in a rematch of the 2008 C-USA Championship Game.