I just spent 3 days in Orlando as a member of the UCF football program. Going to the UCF football fantasy camp was one of the neatest things I have ever done. Maybe the best. However the days were long. Breakfast at 6:30 am and the final team meetings each day started at 8:30 PM. The players got two 15 minute free-time breaks each day...one in the morning and one in the afternoon, but that was it. And after the day was over the coaches had to review film and prepare for the next day's position meetings. How on earth do they do it?
2-a-days in Orlando are sweaty...95 degrees and humid morning and afternoon. They practiced indoors in the afternoon but the air conditioner was not working. And the practices were intense...UCFast and UCFierce.
After two especially good practices on the 18th you could see the players dragging themselves to breakfast on the 19th. On the 19th their physical exhaustion prevented them from practicing well. SF understood that, but he did not like the mental errors he saw on the 19th. He implored the team not to let their physical exhaustion affect their mental focus and mental toughness. I think that is hard to do, but I guess you have to try.
Scott Frost said this team has worked harder and put in more effort than any team he has ever been around. Over the summer, the team lost 4% body fat and increased their squat by 65 pounds.
They want to win. Scott could not be more pleased.
So, the Black defeated the Gold 21-10 during the Spring game. Things have changed dramatically since April. The last event at the UCF Fantasy camp was a live scrimmage. They only played 2 quarters in the live scrimmage but the #1 and #3 offenses scored a whole lot of points against the #2 and #3 defenses. The offense can make big plays with a number of different weapons. It was very UCFun to watch. I am betting Knights fans are going to be very happy when the SF era is unveiled. It is an exciting & fun brand of football to watch. And the good thing is that even though the offense can strike quickly and often, the #1 defense is viewed as the strength of the team.
This team is big, fast, and athletic...but that is probably true of all FBS teams. They are young but they have loads of depth at every positon...with DL being the possible exception. The new UCFast offensive style is very unique. The offense will make big plays with the slightest defensive mistake, and they also make big plays when the defense plays their assignments perfectly. The team is in shape, they are talented and they are dialed in. They have some true playmakers on both sides of the ball. And the neat thing is that they still have 2 more weeks to get even better before their 1st game.
But this is a team that has not won a game in 1.5 years. They need to learn how to win again. That makes their 1st game with South Carolina State very important.
The UCF Director of football operations asked me not to blog about the new freshman players or anything about Xs and Os, but the video of the scrimmage will give you a hint.
http://www.ucfknights.com/news/2016/8/20/football-knights-watch-aug-20.aspx
On the last day of the camp, Scott brought us campers into his office and we talked football for about 10 minutes. Then he asked if there was anything he could do to make the camp better. There was complete silence. It could not have been any better than it was.
I was treated like an equal partner by all of the coaches, players and staff. It was a UCFantasic experience. Now I know how an FBS program is run. Every minute of those long 2-a-days is planned, scheduled and put to good use. The coaches have so much energy and expertise it is hard to believe. All of the coaches absolutely love what they are doing and I suppose that is what enables them to put so much energy and effort into their chosen profession.
Hey, I could write a book about what I experienced in those 3 days, but I'll have to do it in pieces.
My impression of Scott Frost as HC? He's excellent. A great communicator who knows exactly what he is doing. Everything he does is for the benefit of the program and the players. It's the players team. As a rookie HC, SF is way more mature and confident than I thought he would be...and he is as smart as they come. SF is completely at home in the role of being a HC. It's like he has already been doing it for 10 years. I guess it is what he was meant to be.
I would describe SF's leadership style as relaxed, confident and very steady. He never yells or gets mad at players. He just teaches. He reminds me of Tom Osborne...not much emotion and steady as a rock. He is always on the field evaluating and coaching during practices....mostly with the offense and the QBs. He addresses the team after each practice, gives his evaluation, and tells them what they need to focus on for the next practice. He is normally short and to the point....very efficient with his time and his words. If teams take on the personality of their HC then I would say that UCF will play with intensity and focus but also with a relaxed confidence. For an athlete that is probably the best way to be mentally.
While I was there they had the annual UCF football Kickoff luncheon at the CFE arena. It was like being at the Academy Awards.
They allowed the audience to ask questions of SF. One guy asked which of SF's former coaches influenced him the most. SF said that he learned a lot from Bill Walsh, Bill Bellicek, Chip Kelly, Tom Osborne and others but he said that when it comes to coaching he is his own man. But then he said, "But as a person there is nobody I would like to be more like than Tom Osborne."
Interestingly, SF also has a good sense of humor. He'll occasionally say something funny during team meetings and he told 2 or 3 good jokes at the Kick-Off luncheon. He said that offensive coordinator Troy Walters is his closest buddy on the UCF coaching staff. They go way back to the days when Scott was playing at Stanford. Scott said that if he and Troy were on the same sinking ocean-liner and there was only one life preserver left, he said that he would miss Troy very much.
At the football kick-off luncheon they put a carpet over the floor of the CFE basketball arena. They placed 80 dining room tables on the floor; each had a table cloth and the center piece was an autographed football. Each table had to decide who got to keep the centerpiece.
The UCF band was lined up in single file half-way up in the stands. They surrounded the entire gathering. As the band played, the UCF football team marched in two columns through the aisle in the center of the tables and one player took a seat at each table. All of the players were dressed alike...white polo with black warm-up trousers. I sat with the new freshman QB from Hawaii.
After the luncheon, as I was looking for the way to exit, one of the UCF players came up to me and said, "Paramus, you need to exit this place with us. Remember, for these three days you are part of the team." That was really cool. As I exited through a corridor with the players I noticed how they were all much taller than me (I am 5'11"). For the most part FBS football players are huge people. That walk made me feel like Rudy Ruddiger.
Two of the campers were big UCF donors. When we arrived at the arena for the kick-off luncheon, the Director of Football Operations told the 2 big donors that they would be seated at table number one. The Director then turned to me and said..."And Paramus we will have you sitting at table number 76. Just go way in the back there and I am sure you will find it. "
I thought that was really funny.
So, will Oregon East one day surpass Oregon West? It might. What the Oregon-style offense needs is Florida-type speed & talent. SF has some of it, and I am sure he will get plenty more.
2-a-days in Orlando are sweaty...95 degrees and humid morning and afternoon. They practiced indoors in the afternoon but the air conditioner was not working. And the practices were intense...UCFast and UCFierce.
After two especially good practices on the 18th you could see the players dragging themselves to breakfast on the 19th. On the 19th their physical exhaustion prevented them from practicing well. SF understood that, but he did not like the mental errors he saw on the 19th. He implored the team not to let their physical exhaustion affect their mental focus and mental toughness. I think that is hard to do, but I guess you have to try.
Scott Frost said this team has worked harder and put in more effort than any team he has ever been around. Over the summer, the team lost 4% body fat and increased their squat by 65 pounds.
They want to win. Scott could not be more pleased.
So, the Black defeated the Gold 21-10 during the Spring game. Things have changed dramatically since April. The last event at the UCF Fantasy camp was a live scrimmage. They only played 2 quarters in the live scrimmage but the #1 and #3 offenses scored a whole lot of points against the #2 and #3 defenses. The offense can make big plays with a number of different weapons. It was very UCFun to watch. I am betting Knights fans are going to be very happy when the SF era is unveiled. It is an exciting & fun brand of football to watch. And the good thing is that even though the offense can strike quickly and often, the #1 defense is viewed as the strength of the team.
This team is big, fast, and athletic...but that is probably true of all FBS teams. They are young but they have loads of depth at every positon...with DL being the possible exception. The new UCFast offensive style is very unique. The offense will make big plays with the slightest defensive mistake, and they also make big plays when the defense plays their assignments perfectly. The team is in shape, they are talented and they are dialed in. They have some true playmakers on both sides of the ball. And the neat thing is that they still have 2 more weeks to get even better before their 1st game.
But this is a team that has not won a game in 1.5 years. They need to learn how to win again. That makes their 1st game with South Carolina State very important.
The UCF Director of football operations asked me not to blog about the new freshman players or anything about Xs and Os, but the video of the scrimmage will give you a hint.
http://www.ucfknights.com/news/2016/8/20/football-knights-watch-aug-20.aspx
On the last day of the camp, Scott brought us campers into his office and we talked football for about 10 minutes. Then he asked if there was anything he could do to make the camp better. There was complete silence. It could not have been any better than it was.
I was treated like an equal partner by all of the coaches, players and staff. It was a UCFantasic experience. Now I know how an FBS program is run. Every minute of those long 2-a-days is planned, scheduled and put to good use. The coaches have so much energy and expertise it is hard to believe. All of the coaches absolutely love what they are doing and I suppose that is what enables them to put so much energy and effort into their chosen profession.
Hey, I could write a book about what I experienced in those 3 days, but I'll have to do it in pieces.
My impression of Scott Frost as HC? He's excellent. A great communicator who knows exactly what he is doing. Everything he does is for the benefit of the program and the players. It's the players team. As a rookie HC, SF is way more mature and confident than I thought he would be...and he is as smart as they come. SF is completely at home in the role of being a HC. It's like he has already been doing it for 10 years. I guess it is what he was meant to be.
I would describe SF's leadership style as relaxed, confident and very steady. He never yells or gets mad at players. He just teaches. He reminds me of Tom Osborne...not much emotion and steady as a rock. He is always on the field evaluating and coaching during practices....mostly with the offense and the QBs. He addresses the team after each practice, gives his evaluation, and tells them what they need to focus on for the next practice. He is normally short and to the point....very efficient with his time and his words. If teams take on the personality of their HC then I would say that UCF will play with intensity and focus but also with a relaxed confidence. For an athlete that is probably the best way to be mentally.
While I was there they had the annual UCF football Kickoff luncheon at the CFE arena. It was like being at the Academy Awards.
They allowed the audience to ask questions of SF. One guy asked which of SF's former coaches influenced him the most. SF said that he learned a lot from Bill Walsh, Bill Bellicek, Chip Kelly, Tom Osborne and others but he said that when it comes to coaching he is his own man. But then he said, "But as a person there is nobody I would like to be more like than Tom Osborne."
Interestingly, SF also has a good sense of humor. He'll occasionally say something funny during team meetings and he told 2 or 3 good jokes at the Kick-Off luncheon. He said that offensive coordinator Troy Walters is his closest buddy on the UCF coaching staff. They go way back to the days when Scott was playing at Stanford. Scott said that if he and Troy were on the same sinking ocean-liner and there was only one life preserver left, he said that he would miss Troy very much.
At the football kick-off luncheon they put a carpet over the floor of the CFE basketball arena. They placed 80 dining room tables on the floor; each had a table cloth and the center piece was an autographed football. Each table had to decide who got to keep the centerpiece.
The UCF band was lined up in single file half-way up in the stands. They surrounded the entire gathering. As the band played, the UCF football team marched in two columns through the aisle in the center of the tables and one player took a seat at each table. All of the players were dressed alike...white polo with black warm-up trousers. I sat with the new freshman QB from Hawaii.
After the luncheon, as I was looking for the way to exit, one of the UCF players came up to me and said, "Paramus, you need to exit this place with us. Remember, for these three days you are part of the team." That was really cool. As I exited through a corridor with the players I noticed how they were all much taller than me (I am 5'11"). For the most part FBS football players are huge people. That walk made me feel like Rudy Ruddiger.
Two of the campers were big UCF donors. When we arrived at the arena for the kick-off luncheon, the Director of Football Operations told the 2 big donors that they would be seated at table number one. The Director then turned to me and said..."And Paramus we will have you sitting at table number 76. Just go way in the back there and I am sure you will find it. "
I thought that was really funny.
So, will Oregon East one day surpass Oregon West? It might. What the Oregon-style offense needs is Florida-type speed & talent. SF has some of it, and I am sure he will get plenty more.
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