The UCF offense can’t seem to catch a break.

The Knights emerge from the bye week with more questions to resolve on offense after junior offensive lineman Cody Minnich was dismissed from the team following a driving-under-the-influence arrest and junior quarterback Michael Greco missed two workouts due to a death in the family.

UCF (2-4) has struggled to move the ball all season and faces No. 22 Tulsa (7-0) and the Golden Hurricane’s high-powered offense on the road Sunday.

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In Ancient Roman writings, it is referred to as the digitus impudicus.

Impudent finger.

Fictional example: “After he killed all the lions and was the last man standing at the gladiator fight, Augustus stood in the middle of the Colosseum and gave the digitus impudicus to the Emperor Claudius - the man who ordered his execution.”

In other words, Augustus flipped off Claudius, presented him with the middle finger, gave him a one-finger victory salute. You know, the infantile hand gesture that is made by simply extending your middle finger and thereby telling whoever you’re pointing it at to, um, kiss off.

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Two UCF football players won’t be suspended after flashing a few dirty birds.

UCF senior playmaker Joe Burnett and sophomore defensive back Darin Baldwin were caught by ESPNU cameras flipping off Miami fans during the third quarter of the Knights’ 20-14 loss at Dolphin Stadium Saturday.

Burnett did a two-handed, middle-finger salute, while Baldwin’s two-handed middle finger salute was slightly more disguised because he also was forming the Hurricanes’ trademark “U” symbol with his hands.

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Another strange game. Another case of the Miami Hurricanes seeming to do their best to give one away.

But the Knights of Central Florida were not going to let it happen. Not with their offense.

Robert Marve threw threw interceptions, UM’s offense could barely get it going, but the Hurricanes defeated UCF 20-14 on Saturday at Dolphin Stadium.

”Very weird game. Very sloppy on both sides,” said Marve, who has seven interceptions in his past three games. “A win is a win. We’ll take it. We love it. It feels good right now.”

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Jorge Milian:  Hurricanes working way toward irrelevance

Iliana Limon:  UCF defense only bright spot

Edwin Pope:  Young Hurricanes experiencing growing pains

George O’Leary recently described his coaching style as “tough, but fair.”

To be sure, the approach has helped the UCF coach to win football games and coaching awards during his 40-year career. But it has also left him with a list of former players who claim he pushed them much too hard.

“Some people can’t handle the way he coaches, and some people can,” said Kareem Reid, who played defensive end at UCF for O’Leary in 2005 and 2006.

“He’s two different guys. On the field, he’s tough as nails. He’ll curse you out in a second if you’re doing the wrong thing and not giving effort. If you don’t give effort, you’re going to get it. Go talk to him in his office, [and he’s] very easy to talk to and understanding.”

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Michael Greco finally relaxed and flashed a thousand-watt smile.

Greco was only supposed to play a few possessions in the second half, but he took control of the UCF offense and led the Knights to a sorely needed 31-17 win over the Mustangs before an announced crowd of 43,147.

“It felt good. It felt really good,” Greco said. “I knew it was my job to move the chains and put points on the board. I had to find a way to make some good plays so that we could get the W.”

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UCF fans, step away from the ledge.
Yes, there is absolutely nothing good that can be said about that 58-13 beatdown administered by the UTEP Miners on Saturday night.
Yes, the offense looked lost (again) and the defensive backs — at least on Saturday — looked even more missing in action.
Yes, the coaches looked befuddled and the mood seems dire.
And yes, the past six quarters of play, including the second half at Boston College, might be the worst six quarters in the history of the program.
But, believe it or not, there is hope. And opportunity.

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The loss still stings, but the UCF football team has shifted its focus to SMU.

The Knights (1-3, 0-1 in Conference USA) face the equally struggling Mustangs (1-3, 0-2 in C-USA) Saturday at Bright House Networks Stadium.

UCF is looking to rebound from a three-game losing streak and a painful 58-13 loss at UTEP.

“We’re back at home,” DE Bruce Miller said. “We gotta come out and turn it around. We started conference play and that’s not a good way to start, but we can still achieve our goals.”

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EL PASO, Texas - The tailspin continues.

The UCF football team is still stuck in a nosedive a year after winning the Conference USA championship.

The Knights struggled at every facet of the game during a 58-13 loss to UTEP Saturday night before a crowd of 33,339 in the Sun Bowl.

“It’s a game that we didn’t do anything right that I can look at,” UCF Coach George O’Leary said. “From an offense, a defense, a special teams. I think it’s a matter of regrouping. Obviously we didn’t play tonight. We didn’t coach well, we didn’t play, we didn’t do anything, in my opinion.”

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Photo Gallery

UCF could play three quarterbacks at UTEP Saturday.

Junior Michael Greco entered the season as UCF’s starter while redshirt freshman Joe Weatherford was the backup and true freshman Rob Calabrese was third-string.

Greco and Calabrese both played against Boston College, but UCF Coach George O’Leary insists there is no quarterback controversy.

He said he went with Calabrese because he practiced well and his athleticism gave him a better chance than Weatherford to evade Boston College’s pass rush.

O’Leary said he plans to play at least two quarterbacks and opened the door to playing all three this season.

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