Sports: Letting a freshman drive

Letting a freshman drive

He engineered the last-second upset at Alabama with the most memorable drive in UCF history, and there's no sign of QB Ryan Schneider slowing down.

By JAMAL THALJI

Alabama led 38-37 and was 2 minutes and 15 seconds from avoiding an embarrassing homecoming upset, putting pesky Central Florida away and salvaging a modicum of pride at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa ... right?

UCF's Ryan Schneider thought otherwise.

As Alabama kicked off, theredshirt-freshman quarterback stood on the sideline and told teammates there was no doubt what the outcome would be.

"I looked at the guys and I said, "We're going to score this; we're going to win this,' " Schneider recalled. "We'd practiced (the two-minute drill) every Thursday, first-string offense versus first-string defense, and we scored six weeks in a row.

"We had confidence we could do it again."

He did, and they did, as Schneider, 20, changed the direction of two programs that October evening with a performance that belied his age; a performance that is perhaps a hint of what is to come for Schneider.

He led the Golden Knights on a 12-play, 59-yard drive. With three seconds left, Javier Beorlegui kicked a 37-yard field goal to give UCF the 40-38 upset.

"When the time was 0:00 ... it was just a big adrenaline rush," he said. "I don't know how to describe it."

The Crimson Tide players sat in disbelief on the field as UCF celebrated on one of the most storied surfaces in college football.

Days later, Alabama coach Mike DuBose announced he would resign at season's end.

Seemingly every UCF player left the field with a piece of turf from the historic win, the Knights' long-sought upset of a major Division I-A program. Schneider, who passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns in the victory, was no different.

"Yeah, I took some turf and put it on my wall," he said. "I just grabbed a corner of the end zone. Most of the guys were all tearing up some grass."

Even when senior Vic Penn was healthy and available this season, coach Mike Kruczek stuck with Schneider against Alabama. And in the 20-16 win Saturday over Louisiana Tech. And again when No. 8 Virginia Tech visits the Citrus Bowl on Saturday. UCF's slim bowl hopes -- and 0-7 record against ranked teams -- are on the line.

Schneider knows he has been fortunate to have a seasoned offense to work with. Though he won't allow himself too much credit, the numbers speak volumes.

UCF is 5-1 with him under center. His 18 touchdown passes is a team freshman record. He has completed 151-of-244 passes for 1,983 yards and seven interceptions. UCF is ranked 17th nationally in passing offense and 30th in scoring.

Schneider put together another impressive fourth-quarter, clock-eating, winning drive against Louisiana Tech, driving 90 yards in 14 plays in 7:16. The drive ended on Edward Mack's 6-yard touchdown run to give the Knights a four-point lead with 4:47 left.

Schneider, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound Plantation High product, swears he didn't know it would be like this.

"No, not really, I didn't think I'd be having this much success, but God gave me the ability and everyone around me is doing such a good job," he said. "The coaches have a lot of confidence in me, and the receivers are doing a good job of getting yards after the catch.

"I think the offense picked up their game a bit to help the freshman out."

And the freshman has managed to stay close with the senior, Penn, throughout the season.

"Me and Vic are good friends," Schneider said. "He's a little down because he wants to play. ... Vic's doing a great job with me. Basically, he's like a coach out there."

But barring injury, Penn will not unseat Schneider with one game left in the season. It is Schneider's team now. A year earlier than planned, perhaps, but his nonetheless.

"They have confidence in me," Schneider said, "and now I have to go out there do the best I can."