16-game losing streak looms large for UCF

[Brad]

September 14, 2005

16-game losing streak looms large for UCF

BY JOHN DENTON

FLORIDA TODAY

Off to a tough start. George O'Leary was hired with great expectations, but things have not gone well for him or the UCF program. AP file

Enlarge this image (as if it needs any further enlarging)

Golden Knights' slide came among high expectations

ORLANDO - The nightmare has lasted 689 days, and counting.

There have been three head coaches. Nine road games and seven home games. And the University of Central Florida's unthinkable, unfathomable, 16-game losing streak finally ends . . . Saturday?

"I'm going to go ahead and say it, this week is the week," Golden Knights defensive end Chris Welsh, a Cocoa native, said of UCF's upcoming game against South Florida. "I feel pretty confident in our team, our coaches, and we're all working hard. Those guys better watch out because we're coming full-steam."

Bold talk indeed from a UCF team that holds the dubious distinction of owning the nation's longest losing streak.

"October 25, 2003," senior lineman Paul Carrington blurts out before the question is even asked. That was the last time the Golden Knights enjoyed success of any kind. That victory, a 31-13 homecoming romp against lowly Central Michigan, seems like a lifetime ago.

Junior quarterback Steven Moffett hasn't won a game in which he was a part of on the field since high school. George O'Leary has yet to win as UCF's head coach.

But UCF is hoping to finally shed "The Streak," a haunting albatross that turned the program from potential power just five years ago to laughingstock, Saturday night in Tampa against South Florida.

Separated by just 98 miles, it will be the first time that UCF and USF have played in football. And the Golden Knights (0-1) are hoping to make the night memorable for more than the burgeoning rivalry. They fully expect their long losing streak to end against the Bulls (1-1).

"When we do finally win it will be a feeling of relief," admitted wide receiver Brandon Marshall. "Before (Saturday's) game I'm going to tell everybody if we win to act like we've done it before. There's no need to go out there on the field throwing helmets in the air and stuff. We have to act like champions. We expect to win a lot this season so we have to act like it when we do."

Despite their recent ineptitude, the Golden Knights are confident winning ways are ahead, especially considering the way they played in the opener at South Carolina. UCF was mostly lost in the hoopla of Steve Spurrier's return to college football, but pushed the Gamecocks to the end before losing 24-15. The result could have been different had the Golden Knights not been stopped twice inside the 10-yard line in the final minutes.

"When you go down 14-0 -- and a couple of my buddies in coaching told me this -- usually most teams fold, but we hung right in there and made a game of it," O'Leary said. "As long as we keep playing like that, our time will come."

O'Leary, who set the lofty goal of a bowl berth this season, has a history of turning around woebegone programs. He took over midway through the 1994 season at Georgia Tech on a team that ultimately finished 1-10. By the next year O'Leary had the Yellow Jackets at 6-5 and on their way back to prominence. He thinks a similar turnaround is possible at UCF because he said his team worked as hard this offseason as any he has had in 36 years of coaching.

Marshall, who had 10 catches for 102 yards against South Carolina, admitted the streak has been embarrassing for him. But he has been surprised at the student body's support.

"Surprisingly, everything has been positive this year," he said. "Since the South Carolina game, I've had people coming up to me saying, 'We're back! We're back!' We still lost. But at least they see the difference in us."

UCF is hoping to see a different result Saturday against USF. The Bulls whipped Florida A&M 37-3 last Saturday. Considering the way they played against South Carolina, many of the Knights see no reason why they shouldn't be in position to finally end their streak.

And if they do win? UCF cornerback Ron Ellis of Palm Bay looks forward to the celebration.

Ellis said, "Man, winning one game will be like winning a championship around here."

Story Link

[lotsofbull99]

UCF will be tough game on saturday.  However, we have them on the ropes and if USF can manage to win this year and next year we can put an end to any idea of UCF having parity with us.

[goodknightfl]

no doubt it is hard on the players... If they can get just 1 win.. we could have a decent season... but streaks are hard to break.

[Zonald]

Enlarge this image (as if it needs any further enlarging)

My favorite part!  LOL!

[beastiebull]

This team has absolutely nothing to lose.  That is the scariest part of this game.  They're like a cornered animal.