PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
Linebackers ranked first in the MAC by Athlon. S Atari Bigby and P Matt Prater, 1st team All-MAC by Lindy's.

KEY GAME
UCF's fate in the Mid-American Conference East Division likely will be decided in consecutive games to end October. The Knights go to Miami on Oct. 23 and play at Marshall on Oct. 30. They must win both if they hope to claim the East championship.

THE MINDSET
New coach George O'Leary is instilling a new level of discipline and accountability into the program. The Golden Knights didn't play a spring game, in small part because of some injuries, but in larger measure because he wanted many of his players to refocus on their classroom commitments. About 60 players -- twice the normal number -- are expected to attend two of four summer school sessions.

BIG SHOES TO FILL
Quarterback Ryan Schneider was a 10,000-yard career passer for UCF. Steven Moffett probably will get the first chance to become Schneider's replacement, but Moffett must make steady improvement before the season-opener.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"You're either in the circle or out of the circle. You'll either do it his way, do it right, or you won't be around. Don't look around thinking it's going to change, because it's not." -- UCF defensive coordinator Lance Thompson, telling the Orlando Sentinel what it's like to play and work for Golden Knights coach George O'Leary.

Copyright (C) 2004 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.