Fans welcome home the UCF Knights after their big victory over Baylor.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — UCF offensive tackle Chris Martin had the bucket of ice water stashed away and ready for Knights coach George O'Leary.
As the final minutes ticked off the clock during No. 15 UCF's historic 52-42 Fiesta Bowl win over No. 6 Baylor at University of Phoenix Stadium, the senior wanted to make sure he soaked O'Leary. His plan was foiled by what is often called the best play in football — the victory formation.
"I had it ready and everything, man," Martin said. "I had it ready, but I couldn't because I had to be on the field to take a knee, which is also a good thing."
O'Leary managed to stay dry, but as the final seconds ticked off the clock in Arizona, completing UCF's dream season, the Knights' celebration took off.
Tyson Summers, the linebackers coach who called the defense on Wednesday night for the first time in his career, was not as lucky as O'Leary. He was doused by a traditional ice-water bath.
UCF players went dashing off in different directions.
Junior wide receiver Josh Reese ran down the sideline and across the field with a UCF flag. Center Joey Grant walked toward the stands, looking up into the faces to find his family. Players pulled celebration T-shirts over their shoulder pads and jerseys and placed fresh Fiesta Bowl championship hats on their heads. Coaches were greeted by family members and snapped photos amid the chaos. Former UCF stars Brandon Marshall and Mike Sims-Walker celebrated along with current team members.
O'Leary climbed onto a stage on the field to thank the fans who made the trek across the country to see the Knights' upset victory.
"I'm just excited for this university," he told the fans as they cheered. "This is big."
Just how big will be determined in the next few weeks and months. The Bowl Championship Series win holds major implications for a program that has longed to be considered a player on the national college-football landscape.
The Knights (12-1) will likely finish in the top 10 of the final polls, with two victories this season over top-10 teams Louisville and Baylor. Their lone loss was by three points to South Carolina, a team also expected to finish in the top 10. UCF's recruiting efforts could get a boost from the success.
The expectations for the Knights next season will almost certainly increase after winning a school-record 12 games this season.
UCF could potentially lose its starting backfield — quarterback Blake Bortles and running back Storm Johnson, both juniors, will weigh early entries to the NFL — but with just seven scholarship seniors on this year's roster, the Knights will bring back the majority of their first- and second-team players. It includes all but one starter on defense.
O'Leary said he hoped the lessons from the best season in team history will continue to carry the program forward. UCF, the youngest school ever to reach the BCS, has plenty more room to grow.
"I know how much work went into getting where we had to get to, how much work the players had to get to where we are," he said. "I'm ecstatic. You never remain the same. You either get better or worse in football.¿…¿To keep improving, you have to keep working. That's the culture of the program."
As for O'Leary's missed Gatorade bath, players said they had a contingency plan.
"Maybe we'll get him later on when we get to Orlando," linebacker Terrance Plummer joked, before walking off the postgame news-conference stage to rejoin his teammates' celebration.
ptenorio@tribune.com
No comments:
Post a Comment