Knights Want Eyes On Them

ORLANDO -- There isn't too much UCF's Golden Knights can count on in their football season opener in a hostile environment against highly regarded Virginia Tech. But whatever happens, they know this -- millions are going to be watching.

ESPN will televise the game on Aug. 31, the day after many other college openers and the final Sunday before the NFL kicks off.

"There isn't any other game," said UCF coach Mike Kruczek. "In this country, you know how thirsty people are for watching football at the end of August. They'll get their palate a little wet from from watching those games on Saturday and then we play on Sunday at 3 o'clock."

Virginia Tech is ranked in the top 10 in most preseason polls (the AP poll will be released Saturday), which makes this a typical UCF opener. The Knights have not won a season opener since 1998, having lost the last three at Georgia Tech, Clemson and Penn State by a combined 15 points.

The Hokies will be heavily favored and UCF quarterback Ryan Schneider senses an opportunity.

"We always seem to open up against good teams, so it's nothing new," Schneider said Sunday at UCF's media day. "Virginia Tech's always known for being a strong, physical team. They're going to hit us, and we want to him them right back because it's a Sunday game, everyone will be watching and we want to let everyone know we're a physical team and we're going to hit you."

Linebacker Antoine Poe will also be feeling those eyes on him.

"I feel like there's going to be a lot of people watching this game, and I don't want to mess up," said Poe, the former Kathleen High player who missed the entire 2002 season with a broken ankle. "I want to have a great first performance, being back for the first time in a year and a half, and I want to go out there and win the game."

A UCF victory or a big offensive performance would do a lot for Schneider, who will go into the season as the nation's leading returnee in career touchdown passes (69) and second in career passing yards (9,027).

"It's big for Ryan," said Kruczek. "There's high expectations for him. Obviously he's got a lot of pressure on his shoulders to make things work; he's got a young group of offensive players that have to be molded through training camp."

Bring it on, says the 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior.

"With your non-conference schedule, I've always felt you want pretty good teams," Schneider said. "You want to be considered one of the better teams out there and in order to be the best, you have to beat the best.

Schneider figures to erase most of Daunte Culpepper's records from the UCF book this season. His numbers last season (3,770 yards, 31 TDs, .616 completion percentage) were big enough to bring up the H-word, at least in Orlando.

"I don't pay attention to (Heisman Trophy talk)," he shrugged. "If we're 11-0 and I've thrown for 5,000 yards, come and talk to me then."

Even 1-0 might get it started, considering the quality of the opponent according to Kruczek.

"Visibility, for a young program like ourselves, is critical for success."