The Knights are on to North Carolina
BY ADAM EATON | Sons of UCF
There are certain times when we are all reminded that football and sports are just games, and they pale in comparison to the harsh reality of life. Unfortunately, the UCF Knights football team was reminded of this last week with the news that offensive line coach Shawn Clark had suffered a medical emergency and was hospitalized. Though a private family matter, Coach Scott Frost was able to share that Clark is in stable condition and under the care of doctors at a local hospital.
While certainly the least important priority for Coach Clark right now, it is unclear how long he will be away from the team. In his absence, Scott Frost announced that the team will lean on assistant offensive line coach Alex Farah and also look to bring in another veteran coach to support the unit.
Clark is in his first year as offensive line coach at UCF, having spent nine seasons at Appalachian State University, including the last five as head coach. He spent time at Eastern Kentucky, Purdue, and Kent State earlier in his career.
Our thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes go out to Coach Clark and his family.
Tussle with the Tar Heels
The Knights (2-0) will welcome the North Carolina Tar Heels (2-1) to Orlando this Saturday in a Big 12 – ACC clash that will also serve as the final non-conference game for UCF. Both programs experienced coaching changes in the offseason, with Frost returning to UCF and Bill Belichick taking the helm at North Carolina. Primarily due to these changes, both programs are among the top in the nation in terms of roster turnover from last season, with North Carolina reportedly welcoming 70 new players and UCF rostering 69 new faces.
Let’s look at this matchup through the numbers:
167.0 – That is the passer rating of UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson through the first two games of the season. And by games, I really mean just over four quarters of play, as Jackson did not start in week one, entering the game just before halftime, and only played the first two quarters in a week two blowout win. This is also likely a situation where numbers might be a bit misleading, because though Jackson has looked serviceable, there are still some concerns – namely, deep ball accuracy and reading the field. Despite this gaudy rating, Scott Frost declined to name a starter for this game, which you could probably chalk up to gamesmanship.
134 – Through the first three games of the season, the Tar Heels have given up an average of 134 yards on the ground. This number might be a tad skewed, as Charlotte only gained 21 rushing yards in their week 2 matchup with North Carolina, compared to the 258 and 124 they surrendered to TCU and Richmond, respectively. For a Knights offense that is averaging 232 yards on the ground (also skewed by a week 2 performance against North Carolina A&T), this is likely an area they will want to test early in the game as they look to establish their running attack against the Tar Heels.
.463 – On the season, the Tar Heels’ defense is ranked 115th in the nation on third-down defense, with a .463 opposing team success rate. On the other hand, the Knights’ offense has been successful on third down, boasting a .462 conversion ratio. If the Knights want to come out on top in this game, sustaining drives and staying on the field will go a long way toward achieving their goal.
3rd – As in, third times the charm, for UCF and North Carolina to finally face off in an actual game. In 2016, a home-and-home series was scheduled between the Knights and Tar Heels, with contests added to the slate in 2018 and 2020. However, the 2018 game, expected to be played in Chapel Hill, was canceled due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Florence. The next scheduled contest, to be played in Orlando in 2020, was canceled due to the ACC’s COVID-19 scheduling rules.
2 – The number of seasons that Scott Frost played defensive back for the NY Jets and their defensive coordinator… Bill Belichick. Frost, the QB-turned-DB, was coached by Belichick in 1998 and 1999, appearing in 27 games for the Jets. Funnily enough, Frost had his best season in the NFL the year after Belichick left, when he recorded 44 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one interception.
15 – The number of consecutive wins Scott Frost has had as UCF’s head football coach, dating back to his first, last season with the Knights in 2017, when the team went 13-0.
0 – The number of times Bill Belichick’s girlfriend was referenced in this article … oh, wait.
The Knight and the Tar Heels will kick off Saturday, September 20th, at 3:30 pm EST from the Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, FL. The game will also be broadcast nationally on FOX Sports.
Stay tuned to the Sons of UCF for all of your news and information about the Knights.