UCF football coach Mike Kruczek has shed his tears and relived the memories of former Knight quarterback Daunte Culpepper. While Knight fans are busy finishing up their 10-step programs to get over the loss of UCF's gridiron hero, Kruczek is busy trying to find the heir to Culpepper's throne at spring practice.

"It was great while he was here," Kruczek said. "But I got over Daunte leaving. That's part of college football. Kids go through your program, graduate, leave and go on."

Junior Kelvin Robinson, senior Chris Ryan and freshman Brad Banks are jockeying for the No. 1 spot, which will likely earn the winner a playoff with Victor Penn, the likely starter, transfer. Penn played one season at South Carolina before spending last season at Garden City (Kan.) CC. Penn is one of UCF's prized recruits and should earn the No. 1 spot for the season opener against Purdue on Sept. 4.

But, playing second fiddle has its advantages for the trio challenging him. All three QBs look at the spring as an opportunity to shine, but Robinson has the biggest impression to make.

Robinson was a stand out at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC and was expected to inherit Culpepper's throne on experience alone. But zero playing time last year combined with Penn's signing has Robinson trying to prove he can follow in the footsteps of the great No. 8.

"My redshirt year was real tough," Robinson said. "It was tough but it's over with now. I have my chance to come out here and prove myself to the team and everyone else."

Banks also redshirted last season and has the footwork for a QB, but his lack of experience has placed him low on the depth chart. Ryan, a transfer from TCU, was recruited with Culpepper in 1995 by UCF, but has
bounced around various programs. His chances for the backup spot are slim.

The QB race is still wide open, but Kruczek is being careful not to let the trio get scrooged. Culpepper is the ghost of UCF's past and no one will likely match his standard anytime soon.

"I take it as a challenge to make these kids as good as Daunte. That's what I'm going to put on my shoulders as far as statistics and proficiency," Kruczek said. "We have to make the best of the situation and it could be a great situation."

WALKING ON: First-team Class 6-A quarterback Ryan Schneider, from Plantation High, said he will walk on the football team in the fall. Last season, he passed for 3,311 yards and 38 touchdowns with four interceptions. PHS finished 36-4 in games he started the past three
Berln Hotelesyears while Schneider finished with 6,851 passing yards over his career. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Schneider was sparingly recruited his senior year, despite his success.

TAKE CARE: The men's basketball team defeated Florida Atlantic 84-57 on Saturday in its final tuneup before the TAAC Tournament. UCF (17-9, 13-3), the No. 2 seed in the TAAC Tournament, will play No. 7 Troy State at 9:35 on Thursday. The Knights committed 15 turnovers against FAU, but many of those came in the final minutes, something
coach Kirk Speraw was impressed with. "We took much better care of the basketball which was an emphasis," Speraw said. "It was a good effort, I don't think it was a great effort. We did what we needed to do and it's a good game going into next week." Guard Cory Perry set a school record with his 14 assists against FAU, breaking Mike Clark's 17-year-old record of 13 assists. "They were trying to trap and I was just sending Mario (Lovett) and Beronti (Simms) down and somebody was wide open," Perry said. "They were rotating up and usually there was someone on the baseline and I'd just find the open man." D'Quarius Stewart paced UCF with 23 points, while forward Brad Traina added 16 points.

TAAC CHAMPS: The women's basketball team's 69-64 win against Stetson on Saturday gave it the TAAC's regular season title. UCF (17-7, 13-1) was led by guard Kelly Ely's 18 points while Chariya Davis added 16 points. The Knights remaining games against Georgia State on Thursday and Campbell on Saturday will give UCF an opportunity to finish the season 19-7. The Knights most successful season in the 1990s was last year's 17-11 season.

hotel a Monaco di BavieraJeff Case is a freelance writer from Orlando.

Saturday 2/27 @ 10:00 am
TAAC Men's Basketball Tournament
Semifinal #2 (Delay)

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