UCF Knights hopes for energized white-clad crowd when they return to Bright House Networks Stadium for first time in a month
UCF senior playmaker Joe Burnett doesn't care what color the fans wear, how cold it is outside or what day of the week the Knights play.
Burnett said he is just happy to finally be playing a football game in the friendly confines of Bright House Networks Stadium tonight when UCF (2-5, 1-2) hosts East Carolina (4-3, 2-1) in a game broadcast nationally on ESPN.
It has been a month since the Knights have played at home. UCF's last two home games were on Oct. 4 against SMU and Sept. 6 against South Florida.
"We shot ourselves in the foot the last couple of games, so we need our fans to come back to this Bright House stadium and support us," he said. "Hopefully, our fans can notice that we've [got] five games, conference games, still ahead and we can still reach our goals."Senior safety Jason Venson said the home crowd is a big advantage for the Knights. The team is 8-2 in Bright House Networks Stadium and undefeated in Conference USA play.
"It's nice to be in front of your home crowd and the best fans in the country out here at Bright House Stadium," he said. "They come and support us no matter what. We know we're going to have a packed house despite our record right now. We're trying to get back on pace and I think our fans understand that. I think they're going to look forward to coming to see us play against a good ECU team."
UCF officials had distributed nearly 40,000 tickets by Thursday afternoon, but it is unclear how many fans will attend the game thanks to the team's losing record, relatively cool weather and the 8:17 p.m. kickoff on a school night.
"Well certainly there's going to be an adjustment that people have to make to attend this game," said Joe Hornstein, UCF's associate athletic director for marketing and communication. "We all have to go through that. If it's a Sunday game and there's a child going to school the next day, some decisions have to be made. Our fans have known from the get-go about this game and people have had some time to adjust their schedules. Hopefully a lot of people will still be there Sunday to support the Knights."
The school has adjusted its tailgating hours, opening lots today at noon instead of 7 a.m.
"On Sunday most people are in church or what not, but opening the lots at noon still gives fans eight hours to tailgate," Hornstein said.
UCF has added a two-for-one ticket promotion and asked fans to wear white to the game, helping the school put its best foot forward on national television.
"If that's what it takes to get the fans into the stadium to support us, then white it out, black it out, red it out, whatever," Burnett said.
UCF Coach George O'Leary said he doesn't anticipate any problems packing the stadium.
"It will be well attended," he said. "Again, our team knows the importance of the Sunday night game. We have a short week before we head into Southern Miss so they've got a good two weeks ahead of them."
UCF senior playmaker Joe Burnett doesn't care what color the fans wear, how cold it is outside or what day of the week the Knights play.
Burnett said he is just happy to finally be playing a football game in the friendly confines of Bright House Networks Stadium tonight when UCF (2-5, 1-2) hosts East Carolina (4-3, 2-1) in a game broadcast nationally on ESPN.
It has been a month since the Knights have played at home. UCF's last two home games were on Oct. 4 against SMU and Sept. 6 against South Florida.
"We shot ourselves in the foot the last couple of games, so we need our fans to come back to this Bright House stadium and support us," he said. "Hopefully, our fans can notice that we've [got] five games, conference games, still ahead and we can still reach our goals."Senior safety Jason Venson said the home crowd is a big advantage for the Knights. The team is 8-2 in Bright House Networks Stadium and undefeated in Conference USA play.
"It's nice to be in front of your home crowd and the best fans in the country out here at Bright House Stadium," he said. "They come and support us no matter what. We know we're going to have a packed house despite our record right now. We're trying to get back on pace and I think our fans understand that. I think they're going to look forward to coming to see us play against a good ECU team."
UCF officials had distributed nearly 40,000 tickets by Thursday afternoon, but it is unclear how many fans will attend the game thanks to the team's losing record, relatively cool weather and the 8:17 p.m. kickoff on a school night.
"Well certainly there's going to be an adjustment that people have to make to attend this game," said Joe Hornstein, UCF's associate athletic director for marketing and communication. "We all have to go through that. If it's a Sunday game and there's a child going to school the next day, some decisions have to be made. Our fans have known from the get-go about this game and people have had some time to adjust their schedules. Hopefully a lot of people will still be there Sunday to support the Knights."
The school has adjusted its tailgating hours, opening lots today at noon instead of 7 a.m.
"On Sunday most people are in church or what not, but opening the lots at noon still gives fans eight hours to tailgate," Hornstein said.
UCF has added a two-for-one ticket promotion and asked fans to wear white to the game, helping the school put its best foot forward on national television.
"If that's what it takes to get the fans into the stadium to support us, then white it out, black it out, red it out, whatever," Burnett said.
UCF Coach George O'Leary said he doesn't anticipate any problems packing the stadium.
"It will be well attended," he said. "Again, our team knows the importance of the Sunday night game. We have a short week before we head into Southern Miss so they've got a good two weeks ahead of them."
