At Monday’s press conferences, UCF football head coach Scott Frost and select players all adopted an even-keeled mindset, describing their upcoming game against the North Carolina Tar Heels as “just another game.”
Coming off an early bye week, the Knights are hosting the Tar Heels and their prestigious new head coach, Bill Belichick, on national television this weekend. However, unlike last season when UCF hosted head coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes, the Knights won’t let the bright lights and household names make them feel starstruck.
There is history between Coach Frost and Coach Belichick, as Frost played safety for the New York Jets from 1998 to 2000 when Belichick was the Jets’ assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 1997 to 1999.
Coach Frost said that the Knights aren’t attaching any significant meaning to the matchup, like thinking it’s a statement game.
“We’re not putting anything more into it than ‘it’s just our next test,’” Frost said. “And I hope our kids see it that way.”
Frost’s sentiment did not fall on deaf ears, as his players share the same mentality, despite playing against Coach Belichick, whom they’ve watched win six Super Bowl rings growing up.
Junior wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr. echoed the same sentiments about the UNC matchup and is focused on the offense playing well.
“Next week, we’re going to try and execute at a high level,” Thomas Jr. said. “We’re going to try and make a small amount of mistakes.”
The Knights aim to carry over their explosive offense from their dominant 68-7 victory over the North Carolina A&T Aggies, and earned high praise from Coach Belichick in his press conference last Sunday.
Coach Belichick called UCF “Central” and acknowledged that they will be a tough challenge as UNC prepares this week.
“I know Scott does a good job down there, but we have to gear up for what they do,” Belichick said. “They have a lot of skilled athletes. They get the ball in space a lot, and defensively, they have a lot of explosive guys we’re going to have to handle.”
The Knights and Tar Heels' matchup will generate tons of media attention with Coach Belichick’s new journey as a college football head coach, UCF looking to extend its record to 3-0, and bringing Coach Frost’s winning streak to 16 straight games.
UCF will be the limelight of college football on Saturday, but its game against Colorado last year prepared them for this scenario against the Belichick-led Tar Heels.
Junior cornerback Antione Jackson highlighted how the team feels more prepared for this weekend's matchup.
“I can say we’re more locked in,” Jackson said. “We’re preparing better for them, and we just got a whole different mindset. It’s just another game to us, and we’re ready.”
Coach Belichick’s prestige and the national spotlight won’t be a blinding aspect for the Black and Gold this year. They’ve spent the bye week preparing and watching film to get their minds right and visualize executing at the highest level.
The fans may attach significant meaning and add additional weight to Saturday’s game, but the Knights feel differently. It’s just another game and a rigorous test for the team.
UCF plays North Carolina on Sep. 20 at the Acrisure Bounce House at 3:30 p.m., where the game will be nationally televised on FOX.