In the postgame news conference following the Tuskers’ loss in the UFL Championship Game to Las Vegas on Friday, head coach Jim Haslett said he has not been contacted by any NFL team regarding current coaching vacancies.

Also, the Tuskers players are happy to be home for the holidays now that the UFL season is over.

Personally, I hope Jim Haslett and Jim Fassel at least remain head coaches in the UFL. If the UFL is going to continue to develop, they need continuity in their teams.

The term used by the UCF Athletics website, “hold off”, is quite apt to the back-and-forth affair for the men’s basketball team last night. But in the end we prevailed, beating Albany, 76-72.

Dave Diakite was the star with a career-high 21 points, going with 8 rebounds. Isaac Sosa added 13, and Taylor Young added 10 as well as 4 assists.

It was a very close game. Both teams were tied on rebounds (29-29) and turnovers (12-12). The two places where we had the advantage were personal fouls (11 for us, 17 for them) and three-pointers (7-17 for us, 3-12 for them). Isaac Sosa hit 3 three-pointers, while Marcus Jordan provided 2 more.

Next game for the men’s basketball team is Newberry, Tuesday night at 7pm at UCF Arena. Former UCF assistant coach Steve DeMeo is the head coach at that school.

The UCF football team finished their regular season on the upswing, beating Alabama-Birmingham, 34-27.

We lost the turnover battle (-1 margin), but they were penalized far more than us (5 penalties for 48 yards, to our single 5-yard penalty).

Brynn Harvey rushed 24 times for 137 yards and a touchdown. Jonathan Davis rushed 7 times for 75 yards and a TD.

Brett Hodges was 24-for-38 passing with 230 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs. Kamar Aiken and Billy Giovanetti caught the TD receptions. As usual, the passing yards were pretty spread out.

Now, we simply wait for our bowl game, which is pending the C-USA Championship. East Carolina locked up its spot by beating Southern Miss to win the East. But since Southern Methodist also won today, Houston is forced to win in order to clinch the West. If they collapse and lose to Rice tonight (which would be a terrible collapse), then Houston will be out of the title game, but will likely take the Hawaii Bowl on overall record and we’ll probably go to the St. Petersburg Bowl. If Houston wins the C-USA title and gets its automatic bid to the Liberty Bowl, then we’ll likely get the Hawaii Bowl.

UCF football finishes its regular season today at UAB. Game kicks off at 1:30pm. If you have Bright House, it will be on channel 47. Otherwise, head to The Clubhouse.

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UCF men’s basketball hosts Albany today at 5pm at the UCF Arena. During this game, the football team will have their first live sale of advance bowl tickets. Tickets will be sold on the upper concourse.

Yesterday was not a good day.

The referees ruled an incomplete pass by Brooks Bollinger a forced fumble, leading to a Locos touchdown. We ended regulation tied, and the Locos won on a field goal, 20-17.

Then I went and watched Dr. Phillips get screwed on multiple spots in regulation, and lose, 55-52 in quintuple-overtime to Apopka.

Not a happy camper, and not the way to end a great season. It feels more like the game went to the team they wanted to win, rather than the team that deserved to win.

Next year: revenge.

Until then, off to the Titans…

I am at The Clubhouse now for the championship game between the Florida Tuskers and the Las Vegas Locos at 3pm. I’m in the back party room with the pool tables.

Also, I am participating at the live blog feed hosted by Adam Soucie and Tusker House, which is happening NOW.

Today’s the day.

Today is the UFL Championship game between the Florida Tuskers and the Las Vegas Locos.

After you’re done drowning in the seas of Black Friday crowds, make your way over to The Clubhouse on Sand Lake Rd. at Dr. Phillips Blvd., 1 mile west of I-4 exit 74A, at 3pm and party with us.

I want The Clubhouse to be overwhelmed with the teal and white.

First off, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, and good luck and joy in the coming holiday season no matter what you celebrate.

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First, UCF is preparing for its first live bowl ticket sale for the season. If you are interested in travelling with the team and don’t care at this point whether it will be to D.C., St. Pete, New Orleans, Fort Worth or Honolulu, you should go visit the UCF men’s basketball game Saturday night against Albany at 5pm. The kiosk will open at 4pm on the upper concourse of the UCF Arena, and remain open through the duration of the game.

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Also, the women’s volleyball team has ended its season with a 3-sets-to-2 victory over USF. They end the year 12-18.

United Football League commissioner Michael Huyghue gave his State of the League address today at Sam Boyd Stadium.

He stated that he believed the UFL in its first season was a success. It will expand to six teams, and expand to a 10-game season (obviously remaining home-and-away) which will kick off in early September.

He pointed out Sam Boyd Stadium as “the exact type of venue we are looking for”. He intends to continue to expand in non-NFL markets with a goal of being the proving ground just under the NFL in the future.

It’s already known that the California Redwoods will move to San Jose next season. Among the cities being considered for franchises in 2010 are:

1. Hartford, Connecticut
2. Los Angeles, California
3. Omaha, Nebraska
4. Austin, Texas
5. San Antonio, Texas
6. Portland, Oregon
7. Salt Lake City, Utah

Obviously Wikipedia is wrong in assuming LA and Hartford already have the 2010 teams. Personally I wish Philadelphia were on this list, but among these I’d go for LA and San Antonio. The game in Hartford drew just under 6,000 people, and that was after giving free tickets to UConn students.

It seems the news well has dried up, which is unfortunate as the Florida Tuskers head to Las Vegas for the UFL Championship Game on Friday afternoon. You would think we would see a few more human interest stories. The only remotely close news is that the Buffalo Bills may try to talk to head coach Jim Haslett about taking the team in 2010.

But still, there is one more game to play, one more battle before the team can achieve perfection. Will we become the 1972 Dolphins, or the 2007 Patriots? We’ll find out on Friday.

Quick reminder that we are meeting up at The Clubhouse in Dr. Phillips. They are expecting a group: let’s overwhelm them with our presence. 3pm Friday Afternoon, 7572 W. Sand Lake Rd., about a mile west of I-4 exit 74A, at the corner of Dr. Phillips Blvd.