CollegeFootballNews.com 2007 UCF Preview

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If you had UCF pegged the last three years, nice work, Nostradamus. Under George O’Leary, the Knights have been maddeningly unpredictable, going winless in 2004, recovering with eight wins and a school-first bowl game in 2005, and slumping to 4-8 last year as a preseason favorite to win Conference USA.

How the program responds to last season’s flop depends on the development of the heavy-legged defense, which ranked among the nation’s worst a year ago and might have been far worse had it not closed against four of the league’s most inept offenses in November. O’Leary believes he addressed the speed issue with February’s recruiting class, but most of those kids won’t begin contributing until 2008. That puts the pressure on a reshuffled coaching staff, namely new defensive coordinator John Skladany, to turn dust into gold this fall.

Richard Cirminiello: CollegeFootballNews.com

I am hopeful for a good and successful season. As a Season ticket holder, GKC member, UCF Alum I expect a Bowl game. I expect to see improvement on the Defensive side (Tackle!) and I'd like to get in the ENDZONE more then we did last year.