Knights already can feel the new coach's changes

By Alan Schmadtke | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted March 19, 2004

The good news for UCF's football players today is their hellish offseason conditioning program is officially over. The bad news is spring practice is just beginning.

In less than four months, George O'Leary already has had that much of an effect on the Golden Knights.

"We all know he's going to work us, and we know it's going to be hard because it's been hard for the past two months," defensive end Paul Carrington said.

Anecdotes started springing from UCF's offseason workouts on Day 1 and haven't slowed. O'Leary introduced his coaching staff Jan. 6, the same day offseason workouts started. Coaches were satisfied after a couple players had thrown up during drills.

When a couple of walk-ons showed up a few minutes late a few days later, O'Leary dismissed them from the program. When a scholarship player showed up late, the coach's message was, "Never again. Pass the word."

So far, so good.

Weeks later, tales were told about big linemen wiggling into shirts and under the covers at night because their arms were so sore from lifting weights they didn't want to lift them. Workouts were that demanding.

"Oh, there were lots of days like that," tailback Alex Haynes said. "We went hard in the weight room."

And in mat drills and early-morning agility and conditioning exercises.

"When you think it's over, that's when it's pretty much just beginning," Carrington said. "That's the way I've looked at it. It's easier to get through that way."

O'Leary does nothing to dismiss the notion that the Knights' next 15 practices will be the most difficult they've ever encountered.

Even beyond tempo and tone, this is an important spring for a team that finished a suspension-marred 2003 at 3-9. Attitudes already have been adjusted, a new offense and defense must go in. Players on both sides of the ball already say both should be easy to understand and execute.

Special teams, among UCF's few highlights last season, will find a new system, too. Linebackers coach Dave Huxtable will oversee all specialty segments with four assistants' help.

Coaches first will teach the Knights about O'Leary's four practice speeds -- shadow, tag-off, thud and live.

"We want to utilize the 15 days we have to get better," O'Leary said. "We'll start with fundamentals and work our way through the base offense and base defense, and as we do that, we'll see where we are with players and depth. We want to find guys who know how to play on their feet."

For now, Steven Moffett is the starting quarterback, backed up by Jon Rivera. Previously suspended Cedric Gagne-Marcoux is the No. 1 center, but former backup Adam Butcher will try his hand at tackle. Gerren Bray, Lemec Bernard and Craig Harvey are the No. 1 linebackers.

That said, the depth chart rarely has been more meaningless than today. Unsung or unknown talents have a chance to impress their new coaches.

"We want to have an idea of what we have, who's going to help us," O'Leary said.

Changes outside the coaching staff include a 30-foot tower built between practice fields and a privacy fence being erected around the fields.

Some jersey numbers changed when the coach wanted them converted to NFL rules (all receivers in the 80s, linebackers in the 50s, for instance). Seniors were grandfathered.

"I'm sure the coaches just want to know who can play and who they can depend on," Haynes said. "That's what this spring is about."