The 2013 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were members of the American Athletic Conference (The American), and played their home games at Bright House Networks Stadium on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida. The Knights were led by head coach George O'Leary, who was in his tenth season with the team.
The 2013 season marked UCF's first as a member of the American Athletic Conference. The Knights were previously members of C-USA from 2005 to 2012, the MAC from 2002 to 2004, and were an independent from 1996 to 2001. UCF was originally barred from postseason play for the 2012 season due to recruiting violations in both football and basketball under previous athletic director Keith Tribble. The university was able to persuade the NCAA to postpone the postseason ban until the 2013 season, while they filed an appeal. In April 2013, the university won their appeal, the postseason ban was dropped entirely, and the team became bowl-eligible for the 2013–14 season.
The season was one of the most successful in program history, highlighted by six second-half, come-from-behind victories. Four games were won by scores inside the final five minutes, and another was won by a last-second goal line stand, earning the team the nickname the "Cardiac Knights." UCF's only loss was a 3-point defeat to eventual #4 South Carolina, a game which the Knights led at halftime. The Knights secured the program's fifth ten-win season (1990, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013). It was the fourth such in FBS, as well as the fourth under O'Leary, and the first twelve-win season in school history. Thirteen starters from the 2013 season would later play in the NFL,Blake Bortles, Clayton Geathers, Jacoby Glenn, Rannell Hall, Storm Johnson, Chris Martin, Jordan McCray, Justin McCray, Breshad Perriman, Terrance Plummer, Josh Reese, Justin Tukes, and Torrian Wilson. including two first-round Draft picks.
Quarterback Blake Bortles led the program to its first victories over teams from the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences, by defeating Penn State and Baylor respectively. Bortles also led the Knights to their first win over a Top–10 team, upsetting eighth-ranked Louisville on their homecoming 38–35. The Knights won The American's first football championship under its new name (it had previously been the Big East), and the third conference championship in school history (2007, 2010, 2013). With the championship, UCF earned The American's automatic berth to a BCS bowl game, the first major bowl appearance in school history. The Knights were victorious in the Fiesta Bowl, upsetting the sixth-ranked Baylor Bears 52–42 for the first BCS bowl victory in program history. It was considered one of biggest upsets in BCS history.
Defensive coordinator Jim Fleming departed the program in December 2013 to become the head coach at Rhode Island and did not coach with the team in their Fiesta Bowl appearance. All games were broadcast live on the UCF-IMG radio network. The Knights flagship station was WYGM "740 The Game" in Orlando.
Schedule The 2013 schedule was officially released by The American on February 5, 2013. The 2013 schedule was developed as a "bridge" schedule for the 2013 and 2014 seasons, as a permanent system will be developed by the conference to address expanded membership and the creation of divisions by 2015. UCF will face eight conference opponents: UConn, Houston, Louisville, Memphis, Rutgers, SMU, South Florida, and Temple. They are also scheduled to play four non-conference games: Akron (MAC), FIU (C-USA), Penn State (Big Ten), and South Carolina (SEC).
UCF was one of only nineteen FBS schools, and the only member of The American, to not play an opponent from the FCS. The Knights had three bye weeks in the 2013 season: their first during week four, before facing South Carolina, the second during week seven, before facing Louisville, and the third during week ten, before facing Houston.
Personnel
Coaching staff 2013 UCF Knights coaching staffHead coaches Head coach – George O'Leary
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – Charlie Taaffe Running backs – Danny Barrett Wide receivers – Sean Beckton Offensive line – Brent Key Graduate assistant – Keegan Kennedy Graduate Assistant - Sean Fitzgerald
Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Jim Fleming Defensive backs – Kirk Callahan Defensive line – Lorenzo Costantini Linebackers – Tyson Summers Graduate assistant – Paul Carrington Graduate Assistant - Andrew Dodge Special teams Special teams coordinator/tight ends – Mike Buscemi
Supporting Strength & Conditioning coach S&C Support - Stefan Liskiewicz
Administrative staff Athletic Director (A.D.) – Todd Stansbury Assistant A.D. for Football Operations – Marty O'Leary Director of player personnel – Drew Hughes
Roster 2013 UCF Knights rosterQuarterbacks 5 Blake Bortles – junior 13 Justin Holman – freshman 14 Pete DiNovo – freshman
Fullbacks 32 Mario Mathis – freshman
Running backs 4 Micah Reed – freshman 7 Dontravious Wilson – freshman 8 Storm Johnson – junior 17 Cedric Thompson – sophomore 22 Michael Willett – freshman 24 Blake Tiralosi – freshman 23 William Stanback – freshman 39 Joseph Puopolo – sophomore 45 Daron Humphrey – freshman
Wide receivers 2 Jeffrey Godfrey (QB) – senior 6 Rannell Hall – junior 9 J.J. Worton – junior 11 Breshad Perriman – sophomore 19 Josh Reese – junior 20 Taylor Oldham – freshman 80 Jackie Williams – senior 81 Chris Johnson – freshman 86 Michael Colubiale – freshman 88 Kyle Coltrain – freshman 89 Hayden Jones – freshman
Tight ends 82 Blake Davis – freshman 84 Justin Tukes – junior 85 Kevin Miller – sophomore 87 Cal Bloom – freshman Offensive line 55 Joey Grant – sophomore 61 Tarik Cook – sophomore 63 Jordan McCray – senior 64 Justin McCray – senior 65 Kelly Parfitt – freshman 66 Aaron Evans – freshman 67 Jared Warren – freshman 68 Charles Sprenkel – freshman 70 Chris Martin – senior 71 Chester Brown – freshman 72 Torrian Wilson – junior 74 Michael Campbell – freshman 75 Tate Hernly – freshman 76 Colby Watson – freshman 77 Kelly Davison – senior 78 Savion McKenzie – sophomore
Linebackers 15 Michael Easton – junior 16 Mark Rucker – freshman 23 Willie Mitchell – junior 34 Justin McDonald – freshman 36 Woodley Cadet – junior 40 Chequan Burkett – freshman 41 Terrance Plummer – junior 43 Deondre Barnett – freshman 50 Domenic Spencer – sophomore 51 Jake Berman – freshman 52 Maurice Russell – freshman 53 Tyler Linde – freshman 56 Cody Ralston – junior 57 Troy Gray – junior Defensive line 42 Stanley Sylverain – freshman 44 Miles Pace – sophomore 47 Deion Green – sophomore 48 Blake Keller – freshman 49 Seyvon Lowry – freshman 69 Thomas Niles – sophomore 73 Jason Rae – freshman 90 Micah Anderson – freshman 91 Jock Petree – freshman 92 Luke Adams – freshman 93 Tony Guerad – freshman 94 Demetris Anderson – sophomore 95 E.J. Dunston – senior 96 Andrew Rice – junior 98 Rob Sauvao – junior 99 Jaryl Mamea – junior
Defensive backs 10 Shaquill Griffin – freshman 12 Jacoby Glenn – freshman 18 Shaquem Griffin – freshman 21 Drico Johnson – freshman 22 Jared Henry – freshman 24 Jeremy Davis – freshman 25 Brendin Straubel – sophomore 26 Clayton Geathers – junior 27 Sean Beckton – junior 29 D. J. Killings – freshman 30 Michael Patrick – senior 31 Sean Maag – senior 33 Jamar McClain – junior 35 Damonte Jones – freshman 37 Brandon Alexander – junior 38 Jordan Ozerities – junior 46 Jamonte Jones – freshman Punters/Kickers 18 Rodrigo Quirarte – junior 35 Sean Galvin – junior 36 Caleb Houston – freshman 83 Shawn Moffitt – junior
Deep Snappers 54 Gage Marsil – freshman 56 Scott Teal – junior 59 Mario Elliott – freshman
Terms: Freshman – A player in his first year. Sophomore – A player in his second year. Junior – A player in his third year. Senior – A player in his fourth year. Redshirt – A player who sat out a previous season.
Rankings
The Knights entered the season unranked in the preseason polls. The team slowly ascended in both the AP and Coaches' polls receiving votes and finally reaching the top 25 after their key victory at Louisville on October 18. The first BCS standings released in week 8 saw the Knights ranked 23rd. The team also entered the top 25 of the Harris poll the same week. The Knights elevated to 15th in the AP poll two weeks later, their highest individual ranking in school history to date.
Despite winning head-to-head on the road in a nationally televised game, UCF ranked behind Louisville in the Coaches' poll until the final week of the regular season. This drew some ire of media and fans. The team slipped a couple spots in all three polls after their last second, come-from-behind victory at Temple, a game in which they struggled most of the early going. By the end of the regular season, the Knights had rebounded to cement themselves as 15th across the board in the AP, Coaches, and Harris polls. They were ranked 15th in the final BCS standings.
Following their victory in the Fiesta Bowl, the Knights were voted 10th in the final AP poll, and 12th in the final Coaches' poll. It was the highest respective ranking in each poll in school history.
Game summaries
Akron
UCF quarterback Blake Bortles threw for 314 yards and three touchdown passes as UCF rolled past Akron by the score of 38–7. On the second play of the game, Bortles connected with wide receiver Breshad Perriman for a 91-yard touchdown pass, and opened a lead the Knights would not surrender.
Running back Storm Johnson rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Akron avoided a shutout with a "garbage time" touchdown with 42 seconds remaining. With the victory, UCF won their eighth-consecutive season opener.
FIU
Storm Johnson ran for three touchdowns as the Knights blew out FIU 38–0 for their second consecutive victory over the Panthers. With the win, UCF improved to 2–0 for the second time since 1999. Blake Bortles threw for 219 yards and Rannell Hall had four catches for 127 yards in the first half. Storm Johnson had 18 carries for 89 yards and three touchdowns. True freshman quarterback Justin Holman entered the game in the second half. Junior backup quarterback Tyler Gabbert quit the team for academic reasons earlier in the week.
Penn State
Quarterback Blake Bortles threw for 288 yards and three touchdown passes as UCF defeated the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley. The game was the third meeting between the Knights and Nittany Lions, with Penn State winning the previous two games (2002, 27–24; 2004, 37–13). The victory marked UCF's first against a Big Ten opponent, and is also the first time the Knights have started the season 3–0 since 1988. The meeting also reunited Bill O'Brien and George O'Leary, under whom O'Brien was a graduate assistant in 1995, his first season coaching. The two squads are also set to meet in Ireland to open the 2014 season.
On the first drive of the game, Bortles led the Knights 89 yards on 13 plays to score first. Tied at the end of the first quarter, UCF took a 21–10 lead into halftime that they would not surrender. Though Penn State would get one touchdown with 13:55 left in the game, UCF answered with a 36-yard field goal from Shawn Moffitt to get a 10-point lead. Penn State drew within three with 2:51 left, but later fumbled inside UCF territory letting the Knights run out the clock. The Knights gained 507 yards of total offense, the most Penn State has allowed since the 2012 TicketCity Bowl. 34 points is also the most the Nittany Lions have allowed an opponent at home since joining the Big Ten in 1993.
South Carolina