C-USA's own Tod Meisner plans to provide insight and information from Orlando to the league's official website.
Saturday, December 1
4:45 p.m. EST
Time to wrap things up from the Bright House Networks pressbox. The respective newspaper scribes are typing away and the UCF game day staff is dilligently finalizing the post game information. I'd love to post in here the final stats recap and notes, but instead I will link to the championship game story. Keep checking our league website and www.ucfathletics.com and www.tulsahurricane.com for complete post game coverage. I can tell you that there were many new championship records set and both Kevin Smith and Paul Smith will be playing on Sundays.
Here is the link to all of the post game converage: UCF 44, Tulsa 25
I would like to thank everyone for reading and remind you all to check out the BRAND NEW ConferenceUSA.com. Until I blog again......I hope you enjoyed our championship coverage and Thank You for your support of C-USA athletics!
-TM
3:45 p.m. EST
It's all over.....UCF 44, Tulsa 25. With the 44-25 win, UCF will represent C-USA in the Autozone Liberty Bowl. Runner-up, Tulsa will represent C-USA in the GMAC Bowl. I'll have a stats wrap and any significant note recaps if I can get to it. This is UCF's first Conference USA football championship and the Knights will be making just their second bowl appearance. They are now 10-3 on the season, the most wins since the school moved to FBS play. More to come....
-TM
3:25 p.m. EST
The pressbox is rocking again, its most violent shaking of the day, as Kevin Smith just ripped off a championship game record 74-yard TD run to put his team ahead 44-25. Smith now has 36 rushes for 272 yards and four TD. Mr. Smith is going to have a legit shot at setting the single-season rushing record in UCF's bowl game. WOW...is all I can say!
-TM
2:55 p.m. EST
Well, I haven't been on here in a while because there have just been two UCF field goals in the third quarter by Michael Torres. Shocking huh!?! UCF is now on top 37-23 at the end of the third quarter. Kevin Smith's six-yard run towards the end of third quarter moved him into second place on the all-time FBS single-season rushing yard list, passing Marcus Allen of USC (1981). Smith has 32 carries for 183 yards and 3 TDs. I'll try to keep you updated during the fourth quarter, but it will get a little crazy for me up here at the end of the game. I will definately try and get one wrap-up entry posted before we leave town. On to the fourth quarter.....
-TM
2:10 p.m. EST
Here is the halftime stats update. UCF leads 31-23 at the break. It was an exciting first half and the it remains to be seen who will win this thing. I'll try to keep up as best as I can in the second half. Take a look at these impressive numbers and records that were recorded in the first half:
Passing
Paul Smith, TLS - 17-26, 278 yards, 3 TD, 40 long
Kyle Isreal, UCF - 5-8, 96 yards, 0 YD, 25 long
Rushing
Tarrion Adams, TLS - 11 rush, 26 yards, 0 TD
Kevin Smith, UCF - 24 rush, 161 yards, 3 TD
Receiving
Brennan Marion, TLS - 5 rec., 53 yards, 0 TD
Trae Johnson, TLS - 4 rec., 79 yards, 1 TD
Charles Clay, TLS - 3 rec., 73 yards, 1 TD
Rocky Ross, UCF - 3 rec., 63 yards
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RECORDS BROKEN OR TIED IN FIRST HALF
Punt Returns
83 Joe Burnett, UCF 2007
68 Joe Burnett, UCF 2005
Punt Returns for TDs
1 Joe Burnett, UCF 2007
1 Joe Burnett, UCF 2005
Yards Gained (Game)
161 Kevin Smith, UCF 2007
108 Kevin Smith, UCF 2005
Points (Game)
18 Kevin Smith, UCF 2007
18 Tarrion Adams, TLS 2005
Rushing TDs (Game)
3 Kevin Smith, UCF 2007
3 Tarrion Adams, TLS 2005
Longest Rush
46 Kevin Smith, UCF 2007
46 Kevin Kolb, HOU 2005
Longest TD Rush
46 Kevin Smith, UCF 2007
46 Kevin Kolb, HOU 2006
Passing Yards (Game)
278 Paul Smith, TLS 2007
258 Kevin Kolb, HOU 2006
Touchdown Passes (Game)
3 Paul Smith, TLS 2007
2 Kevin Kolb, HOU 2006
2 Paul Smith, TLS 2005
-TM
1:25 p.m. EST
Alright, my fingers are already getting tired trying to keep up with the scoring. I can only imagine playing in this contest! The game is living up to its high scoring promise as TU just scored again on a Paul Smith 27-yard pass to Trae Johnson. It capped a six-play, 72 yard drive and the score is now UCF 24, Tulsa 20 with 6 minutes left in the half.
-TM
1:10 p.m. EST
Well for a moment it looked like Tulsa was going to take the lead again, but a Paul Smith rushing TD was reviewed and called back when it was found that Tulsa had 12 men on the field. TU then had an incomplete pass, a sack and a Paul Smith pick to squander the scoring chance.
UCF responded with a two-play 19 second drive that ended in Kevin Smith's second rushing TD of the day. The junior now has 125 yards on 16 carries. UCF 24, Tulsa 13 with 7:44 left to play.
-TM
1:05 p.m. EST
UCF is now back in front. The Knights opened the second quarter with their second TD of the game coming on a Kevin Smith six-yard run. With 12:09 left to play in the half and Tulsa driving, UCF leads 17-13.
-TM
12: 55 p.m. EST
Here are the stat updates after one quarter:
Passing
Paul Smith, TLS - 9-13, 138 yards, 2 TD, 40 long
Kyle Isreal, UCF - 2-4, 43 yards, 0 YD, 24 long
Rushing
Tarrion Adams, TLS - 5 rush, 7 yards, 0 TD
Kevin Smith, UCF - 11 rush, 62 yards, 0 TD
Receiving
Trae Johnson, TLS - 2 rec., 36 yards, 0 TD
Brennan Marion, TLS - 2 rec., 11 yards, 0 TD
Rocky Ross, UCF - 2 rec., 43 yards
13-10 Tulsa. The 23 combined points are a C-USA Championship game record.
-TM
12:40 p.m. EST
Thanks to Russ Anderon for keeping everyone updated on the game day activity. I went down to field level before kick off to take in some of the pregame vibe and I will try to give you a little taste. The student section (as you have probably seen on ESPN) is packed to the gills and rocking. Our former intern and UCF grad Jimmy Skiles was nice enough to explain to me the UCF student cheers and the intro videos were great.
Both teams went three and out on their first drives and then I made my way back upstairs. I can't say enough how UCF game day would rival most any university in the country and I was just down there for pregame.
On UCF's second drive, Kevin Smith ripped off a 35-yard run that was the third-longest run in C-USA Championship game history. It also moved him into third place on the all-time FBS single-season rushing yard list, passing Troy Davis of Iowa State (1996).
Tulsa was stopped again on third down and on the ensuing punt, UCF return man Joe Burnett returned the kick 83 yards for a TD. The return broke the C-USA championship game record he set in the 2005 championship game also against Tulsa (68 yards). The return was also the third-longest in school history. Burnett has now returned a punt for a TD in both Championship games he has played in.
Tulsa responded with its first score after a solid drive. Paul Smith found Charles Clay wide open in the back of the endzone for a 29-yard TD to make the acore 10-7. P. Smith is 7-of-9 for 90 yards and the TD pass was his 40th on the season.
UCF is driving currently and there is 4 minutes left in the opening period.
-TM
12:03 p.m. EST
The pregame festivities have been completed. Both bands took the field after warm-ups, followed by a short video highlighting the top plays around Conference USA this season. Both teams were introduced to the same songs that they take the field to during their home games. Finally, the crowd was charged up for kickoff by the playing of "Zombie Nation." As the UCF students jumped up and down to the song, the stadium literally swayed. Several media members working in the press box were surprised by gently moving press area.
We're now underway in Orlando. UCF has the ball first as the 2007 Bright House Networks Conference USA Football Championship begins...
-RDA
Saturday, December 1
11:00 a.m. EST
T-minus one hour until kickoff! The student section is beginning to fill up and the gates are now open. You should have seen the rush of kids when they opened the stadium. About 800 to 1,000 Rowdy Knights came running into the stands to claim the prime seats in the student section. It was quite the sight!
The pressbox is beginning to fill up and special teams players are on the field now. I've heard a few times how eerily familiar this game feels to two years ago when these same school's met for the C-USA title. We hope that this game lives up to that one in terms pf excitement.
In my humble opintion, the tailgaiting sections on the UCF campus rivals any in the country. We rolled into campus about 8 this morning and the students were already in full force. Hundreds of tents and thousands of students were awake and throwing footballs, watching sportscenter and enjoying their favorite beverages.
We all anticipate a great game today with an electric atmosphere. I am excited to see the "trampoline effect" that we have been told happens when the UCF student section begins jumping up and down to Kernkraft's "Zombie Nation" There was a front page article in yesterday's Orlando Sentinel about it and some fear that it may be damaging to the foundation of the stadium. I find that a bit hard to beleive, but i can't wait to see i in person.
I'll be back in a while with some more pre-game updates and I will try to give as many in-game updates as I can.
-TM
10:00 a.m. EST
Good Morning from Bright House Networks Stadium! Everyone is hustling and bustling and it feels like game day! Let me tell you, I am ready for kickoff. I've been here since Wednesday and my anticipation for this game is at its highest. Today's game should be thrilling and I can't wait to get it started. Following is just a little preview on today's game:
The inaugural season for Bright House Networks Stadium will add another chapter Saturday when UCF welcomes Tulsa to Orlando for the 2007 Bright House Networks Conference USA Football Championship Game Saturday at Noon EST. The Knights (9-3, 7-1) won the initial contest earlier this the season also in Orlando, 44-23, on Oct. 20.
UCF's current six-game winning streak is tied for the longest in program history, as Gene McDowell's 1990 team reeled off six-straight victories as well. It is also the longest in a regular season for head coach George O'Leary during his head coaching career that spans 11 seasons.
The Black and Gold reached the league's title game by defeating UTEP 36-20 Nov. 24 en route to the C-USA East Division crown. With a 9-3 record, UCF is receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches' polls.
Tulsa, meanwhile, enters riding a five-game winning streak as it finished the regular season with a 9-3 overall record and a 6-2 mark in C-USA. Its offense stands in ninth place in the FBS with a 40.67 points-per-game average. Quarterback Paul Smith leads the way with a C-USA record 4,327 passing yards and 39 passing touchdowns in 2007.
Great seats to the game can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (407) 839-3900 or by going online at UCFAthletics.com.
I'll be back after a while. For now I need to make sure operations up in the pressbox are in order. Stay tuned!
-TM
Friday, November 30
6:45 p.m. EST
Well we are wrapping things up here today. The pressbox is done, the press conferences are done and we are about to take the media out to dinner. Before I log off for the day I wanted to let you know about one thing.
The media working on the sixth level of the Bright House Networks Stadium got brief entertainment by watching Orlando's WESH NBC (Ch2) helicopter hover over the field in an attempt to dry it and the newly spray painted logos on the championship field. WESH made two dips into the bowl spending about 10-15 minutes covering the field. It was pretty cool!
Well, until tomorrow enjoy the new website and I will blog at you tomorrow.
-TM
3:30 p.m. EST
We're just one day away from the 2007 Bright House Networks Conference USA Football Championship Game. East Division champion UCF will host West Division champion Tulsa on Saturday at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando. The winner of the championship game will represent C-USA in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Dec. 29 in Memphis, Tenn.
Although the game is expected to be a sellout, tickets for the third annual championship game remain on sale. Please visit the football championship page on www.ConferenceUSA.com or www.UCFAthletics.com for detailed information on purchasing tickets.
ESPN will televise the championship game live, beginning at Noon EST/11 a.m. CST. Dave Lamont will serve as the play-by-play voice, while Andre Ware, the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner at C-USA member Houston, will be the analyst. Erin Andrews will serve as the sideline reporter for the game.
Team starting lineups on the broadcast will continue to follow ESPN's season-long format with celebrity presenters. Tulsa's offense and defense is scheduled to be introduced by former TU All-American wide receiver, Pro Football Hall of Famer and former U.S. Congressman Steve Largent. UCF's offensive starters are scheduled to be introduced by former Knights QB Daunte Culpepper, owner of nearly all school passing records, while the defensive unit will be presented by former Knights DB Asante Samuel, the Pro Bowl member of the New England Patriots.
The Conference USA staff and the host UCF staff are putting the finishing touches at Bright House Networks Stadium this afternoon. The field has been re-painted for the game and C-USA banners and signage have been hung, giving the stadium a different look and feel than it has for a UCF home game.
The teams will practice this afternoon, with UCF going at 4:15 inside its practice facility, while Tulsa will go at 4:30 on the field. Prior to their practices, the two head coaches will meet with the media. Quotes from those press conferences will be posted on ConferenceUSA.com.
Though today's weather is dreary and muggy, conditions are expected to be great tomorrow. The game time temperature is 76 degrees with partly cloudy skies. It should be a perfect background for a highly-anticipated championship game matchup.
-TM
10:30 a.m. EST
Good Morning from Orlando! I hope you all have noticed that we re-launched our website yesterday. Erika Amstadt-Hirschfield was our staff leader in gettting this accomplished and I want to personally tell her that she did a great job with the process! Click the following link to read her blog post from the C-USA Clipboard about what it took to get it done.
C-USA Clipboard - Website Re-Launch
I had originally posted a blog entry on here when Russ Anderson and I rolled ino town on Wednesday night, but I think it got swallowed up in the re-launch. So, I will attempt to give you a brief summary of what has been going on in O-Town the last few days.
Russ and I attended UCF's men's basketball game on Wednesday against the Presbyterian College Blue Hose. It was our first time inside the brand new UCF Arena. Let me say that it is a fine college basketball facility and will be rocking all season long. After that we went and checked into our hotel to rest up for the rest of the busy weekend.
Most of Thursday was spent up in the pressbox at Bright House Networks Stadium. Russ, Erika and I first got the lay of the land from UCF Football SID and former C-USA employee Ryan Powell. Then, we began to plan out the pressbox setup and operations for Saturday's big game. Next, we labled and stuffed credential packets to get ready for credential pickup this morning.
We ended yesterday with a trip to Buffalo Wild Wings. UCF head coach George O'Leary held his weekly radio show there and then we stayed to watch the Cowboys/Packers game. America's Team moved to 11-1 and we ended a long day on a good note.
Right now, we are back up in the pressbox beginning to finalizing the seating chart and put the finishing touches on the pressbox layout. Stay tuned for more blog entries from me and other staffers and remember to tune in to the 2007 Bright House Networks C-USA Football Championship game on Saturday at Noon EST on ESPN. For those of you in the Orlando area, get your tickets before they are gone and come watch UCF and Tulsa battle for the league's fooball crown. Thanks for reading, enjoy the new website and check back for more news from Orlando.
-TM
Read the 2006 C-USA Championship Blog