813knight

ESPN disagrees w/ a small time USF blog http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=6352606 also from ESPN's Bruce Feldman's blog today: If the Big East were really serious about football, the UCF Knights would've already been invited, Mike Bianchi writes. we all read it After seeing UCF's facilities a few weeks ago, I think Bianchi is correct. UCF deserves to be in a BCS conference. The Knights play like a legit big-time program and proved it by winning 11 games last year, finishing the season off by beating the Georgia Bulldogs in a bowl game. Better still, they are the second-largest university in the country, have an impressive new on-campus stadium and have a new indoor practice facility, which is a rarity among FBS programs in Florida. Oh, and UCF is also in a top-20 media market. http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/blog?name=feldman_bruce&id=6344828&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncf%2fblog%3fname%3dfeldman_bruce%26id%3d6344828

do you or anyone else know what he's decided to do? is he enrolling at Louisville regardless this fall?

This is what's going to happen. Yah, he's a "kid" but he needs to learn that there are consequences to his actions. Maybe he won't be so quick to sign a binding contract in the future. Chalk it up to a learning experience. Binding contracts are a two way street my friend...UCF must honor their end of the bargain just as he must. That also means they cannot coerce, eroneously represent, knowingly and overtly lie to secure his signature. You and I are protected by law from someone that does this, and so why just because Smith's family doesn't have the means to secure an attorney he's suppose to 'chalk it up to a learning experience'. That's more a socio-economic issue then reality because in reality if UCF did what the kid and his parents are saying they did he could sue them and get an immediate release. Learning experience perhaps, but a painful one and not one he should have to endure if they did what he is claiming. :lol Godfrey was his host USF fans are so caring for these poor players getting offered the chance to play the game they love and go to school for free. What a great group of fans. He had a over a year to make his decision, he made it 2 days after signing day on local TV to announce he was leaving his hometown. It doesn't get more 'look at me' than that, but he's the victim :

Me neither, but for a completely differnet reason. UCF fans are by far the worst fans ever. I will not subject myself to their ***** fanbase. I did that twice in 2006 & 2008. The ironic thing is that they seemed to be more drunk, obnoxious and hateful in 2008 than in 2006. Maybe it was their high and mighty "durrr...look at our stay-dee-yumm" mentality. Who knows. Regardless, I will never go back. talk about an overreaction. I guess you have never been around an fsu-miami or fsu-uf tailgate/ gameday weekend to see what goes on. go to a golf tournament or tennis match so you don't have to hear those mean drunk fans. It's funny USF's school newspaper wrote an article on UCF's recruiting drama, but we're not rivals

If he relents, people will think UCF had dirty hands in this matter. Seriously, this is nothing more than a school's fans and boosters recruiting a kid that has an LOI to another school. Amazed to see the UCF haters rationalize a way to blame UCF for this BS. If this is cool, we might as well call Josh Grady . . . . . because his LOI to Vandy is apparently meaningless. +1 it's amazing what green and gold shades can do where only UCF is all in the wrong here :. It is clear Louisville boosters, fans, and maybe coaches have harassed him after national signing day. Is it easy to prove? probably not but if anyone has followed this kid's recruitment and how Louisville fans reacted online and through their media when he put that UCF hat on, you know they are nuts and tampered with his recruitment. Oleary's quotes about him being fine when he visits UCF( a few times) but how 'things change when he goes back up there' is basically admitting he is taking a lot of heat in his hometown. I've never seen a fanbase as bitter and myopic as Louisville over 1 recruit who may never amount to anything.

if USF was in the same situation would you feel the same way? LOI have to mean something, the kid is primadona

Good for GOL, you don't let inmates run the show. UCF coach George O'Leary said he has declined to release four-star Louisville quarterback DaMarcus Smith from his letter of intent. O'Leary said Smith's mother contacted him Monday night to say her son was seeking a release from his letter of intent. "I met with him a month ago and he basically talked to me about that situation, and he left me saying he was 100 percent a Knight," O'Leary said, alluding to rumors dating back to February that Smith was unhappy with his decision and planned to ask to be released from his letter of intent. "But every time he goes back to the Louisville area, it seems to be questionable what's taking place there. "His mother did call me last night and expressed that they'd like a release and I told her no. And that if they have to do what they have to do as far as an appeal, they have to do that. But they're not getting a release from UCF." O'Leary said he has never granted a release from a letter of intent and never plans to do so in the future. Smith has the option to appeal UCF's decision to the National Letter of Intent board, citing extenuating circumstances. If the board denies his appeal, Smith will have to sit out one year before enrolling at another school on scholarship and will lose a year of eligibility. Instead of having five years to play four seasons of college football, he would have four years to play three seasons of college football. "To me, you spend a lot of money, a lot of time, a lot of hours recruiting a kid," he said. "I think the big thing is you sign a legal document and that's what it is – a legal document. I've never in all my coaching given a release to an NLI and I'm not about to start. And he knew that. I told him that. Again, that's why they have such a stiff penalty for people that don't fulfill the NLI." O'Leary said Smith's mother did not give a reason for seeking the release. "Not really, except that that's what he really wants to go to Louisville," O'Leary said. "That's why you sit down, it's a long recruiting period. A letter was signed by him and his mom. Again, I think as a head coach of a Division I program, those letters are what commits a youngster to your program. Just like it commits us to them with a financial aid letter. "Again, with us, as far as we're concerned it's out of our hands. If they file an appeal, it's not our decision. But our decision is not to grant a release and I would never grant a release in any situation, really." UCF currently has three viable quarterbacks on its roster and may seek more walk-ons to bolster its depth before the start of next season. Freshman Jeff Godfrey remains the Knights' starting quarterback and freshman Blake Bortles is UCF's backup quarterback. For the first time since the start of spring practice, senior Rob Calabrese worked out at quarterback leading the third team offense Tuesday. Calabrese switched from quarterback to receiver during the offseason. O'Leary said Calabrese will continue to primarily play receiver, but the Knights will give him some work at quarterback so that he remains a viable third-string option. "You look at it a couple of different ways," O'Leary said. "Now who is the victim cause we stopped recruiting quarterbacks when he basically let us know he was involved and he wanted to be here long before the National Signing Day? Again, we'll work fine. That's why I'm still giving Rob some reps today. There's a method to the madness." http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/knights/os-ucf-denies-damarcus-smith-release-20110329,0,3999767.story

GOL declines his release http://twitter.com/osknights

If I was UCF I'd be careful crying foul when there are foxes in your own hen house. The method of coercion allegedly used by UCF to lure this kid was hardly quality, nevermind the incessant allegations that UCF has never stopped the dirty tactics in recruiting that got their hand slapped the first time by the NCAA. Yeah, from what I hear the last thing UCF wants to do is get the NCAA down here sniffing around their compound-- never know what they're going to dig up. if you read the recent quotes from Oleary on Smith's last visit just 2 weeks ago he admitted that "there is a lot of stuff going on up there"(Louisville)..........I know you and Louisville fans will keep using the resume thing from over 10 years ago to assume Oleary did something wrong but it's most likely a case where he was still being recruited after his LOI and possible involvement by Louisville boosters. I hope the NCAA is sniffing up in Kentucky. Coach Kelly is a good man and would not spew lies

Smith visited Orlando again just 2 weeks ago and told Oleary he was still committed and now this fax comes to a newspaper and UCF but he never contacts anyone by phone at UCF before doing so....something is not right, if I were UCF I'd give the NCAA a call for tampering by Louisville boosters/coaches and would not release him

Godfrey showed great composure in high pressure situations/ downs as a true freshmen. Some guys 'have it' and that's what I see in Godfrey despite his height, I hope he does put on some weight in the offseason to prevent the nagging injuries

"It’s a shame, though, that a sizable chunk of a community feels the need to pressure an 18-year-old young man into doing what’s right for them and by extension the colors they root for instead of allowing someone they claim to care about to make a decision he feels is best for himself and his future." http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/03/with-rumors-swirling-oleary-says-four-star-qb-100-percent-a-knight/ Says the guy who serves as the "Voice of the Knights," so of course he'll say something along those lines. Who cares anyways, Smith sounds like a drama queen who can't handle competition at his position. Bridgewater would've won the spot anyways. I'm guessing he thinks he'll have a better chance of beating out Godfrey. Godfrey is a small guy, injury is always more probable with a dual-threat quarterback of his size. you guys are really reaching for a story that is not there, started by a UK blogger and the Louisville fans & media ran w/ it like it was a fact

those hillbillies in Kentucky have probably been harassing this kid and creating a story...don't take anything serious from their papers, blogs are just as credible http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_ucf/2011/03/louisville-quarterback-damarcus-smith-100-percent-a-knight.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sports%2Fcollege%2Fgoldenknightsnotepad+%28Knights+Notepad%29

Godfrey was Demarcus's host during his visit to UCF. Something doesn't add up, Godfrey is a confident young man and would not tell him I'm switching positions for you when I just won 11 games as a true freshman. This is the weirdest recruiting battle I can remember, what most likely is happening is that he is getting harrased by the whole state of Kentucky after picking UCF and is having 2nd thoughts but there isn't any real proof of any of this, just message boards and blogs that are uninformed about UCF

The Courier writers were uninformed and put Godfrey's name in there when it's actually Calabrese switching positions, whether they did it on purpose for a spin job for their delusional fanbase who knows. UCF's beat writer Iliania Limon: UCF coach George O’Leary clearly said in the interview posted above Jeff Godfrey is the Knights’ starter and had the advantage going into a quarterback battle with DaMarcus Smith and Blake Bortles, but the players would be given a chance to compete. I double checked with UCF today, I can tell you Godfrey absolutely is not changing positions next season. Smith was never told Godfrey was changing positions. Smith was referring to Rob Calabrese’s move to receiver. The reporter inserted the wrong quarterback’s name into the quote. – Iliana http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_ucf/2011/02/ucf-coach-george-oleary-talks-about-newest-recruits-handling-quarterback-competition.html#comments

the link for the quote above http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_ucf/2011/02/ucf-coach-george-oleary-talks-about-newest-recruits-handling-quarterback-competition.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sports%2Fcollege%2Fgoldenknightsnotepad+%28Knights+Notepad%29

you're drinking the same kool aid as Louisville fans/ media trying to spin this. You think Godfrey who won 11 games as a true freshmen, one of the best passer efficiencies in D1, and beat an SEC team injured is going to voluntarily give up his starting job his sophomore year to an unproven guy from Kentucky when the whole reason JGod came to UCF was the opportunity to play QB? On whether it could be a challenge to handle quarterback competition between Jeff Godfrey, Blake Bortles and Smith: “Not really because you’re an ankle away, as we saw in the Liberty Bowl. [Godfrey was limited significantly by an ankle injury but played the entire the bowl game, leading UCF to a win.] “I think you basically have competition. There’s a reason when DaMarcus was on campus, his host was Jeff Godfrey. They understand that you’re graded on your plays every day and you’re graded on practice habits every day and the job is to keep your job, which only makes you a better player. Jeff obviously has a leg because of his experience, but there’s great competition there. “Players understand the coaches are very fair and makes sure we can play the best guys. The kids are talking about playing time and playing early when they come visit. The players tell them to be productive on the field and coach is very fair. He doesn’t play politics. It’s who can move the team.†http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_ucf/2011/02/ucf-coach-george-oleary-talks-about-newest-recruits-handling-quarterback-competition.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sports%2Fcollege%2Fgoldenknightsnotepad+%28Knights+Notepad%29

UCF already has Godfrey, who has proven himself at the collegiate level. Bridgewater has not yet, Smith would probably have a better chance to start at Louisville this year. Godfrey already has the eligibility clock down to 3 so that might be a factor. But w/ no coach contact the last few days, the whole city of Louisville is in his ear so I'm not confident he switches to UCF, probably sticks to Louisville I think you mean Bridgewater has a better chance of starting at Lou this year, that's why Smith is giving you guys a look. Do you really think Smith would even be sniffing UCF if Lou never signed Bridgewater? Come on... Godfrey won 11 games at the COLLEGIATE level, Bridgewater is a high rated prospect but hasn't proven anything in college yet...you can't say he would have the edge over Godfrey considering what he did last year vs going head 2 head w/ Bridgewater who only has the spring practice head start

UCF already has Godfrey, who has proven himself at the collegiate level. Bridgewater has not yet, Smith would probably have a better chance to start at Louisville this year. Godfrey already has the eligibility clock down to 3 so that might be a factor. But w/ no coach contact the last few days, the whole city of Louisville is in his ear so I'm not confident he switches to UCF, probably sticks to Louisville

Willingham is a huge pickup that will help in the short term. There have been a lot of rumors about the QB Smith that there is tons of local pressure on him to stick w/ the hometown school(Louisville) and Strong even made a last minute offer to his friend Moore who already had a UCF offer so Strong is up to some last minute dirty tricks. And by the way I never thought Louisville fans would be so arrogant, they make you guys seem ok

day/week is not over yet....there is a chance 2 more 4* could be part of the class but even if they are not I'm satisfied how we're recruiting from CUSA

:lol

I also heard USF doesn't want to renew the home and home basketball series and soccer .....is your athletic department that scared/insecure?

Sorry UCF, as much as you wanna tout your school size and facilities and on campus stadium....all that takes a back seat to politics. To quote Michael Corleone: "It's not personal. It's strictly business." and that is what is wrong with college football