.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
IRVING, Texas — Before Central Florida takes off for the Big East next season, it has some unfinished business in Conference USA.
The Knights were favored to win C-USA last season but finished 5-7 and missed going to a bowl game for the first time in three years.
Six of UCF's seven losses were by seven points or less, which only compounded the Knights' frustration.
"All those close games, a couple of points here and there," running back Latavius Murray said, shaking his head. "We just want to come out here and just finish. That's what we didn't do last year."
UCF enters its final season in Conference USA, which held its football media day Wednesday, with eight starters returning on each side of the ball.
The Knights, who have won two C-USA football titles since joining the league in 2005, also bring a renewed focus into the 2012 season. The anticipation of moving to the Big East will be set aside for now.
"I'm sure everybody in Conference USA is going to be trying to give us a good going-away gift on Saturday afternoons," assistant head coach Brent Key said. "That's our sole focus right now as a team, as a staff."
Key stood in at media day for head coach George O'Leary, who is recovering from a recent surgery.
The 2011 Knights lost to eventual conference champion Southern Miss by one point, 30-29. They also lost to UAB by two, 26-24, in addition to four losses by seven points.
"When you look at that, it's a tackle here, it's a missed block here, it's really the nuts and the bolts of the basics of football," Key said. "If you can improve on those things you have a chance to win those games."
The Knights placed four players on the preseason all-conference team (selected by the coaches): offensive lineman Theo Goins, defensive lineman Victor Gray, defensive back Kemal Ishmael and kick returner Rannell Hall. Only SMU had as many players selected.
UCF has settled its quarterback situation with sophomore Blake Bortles winning the job in the spring. Bortles displayed some skill as a passer last season in relief of running quarterback Jeff Godfrey, who has moved to receiver.
"Obviously at UCF we're always going to look to run the ball, but being a quarterback is so much more than just throwing," Key said. "It's the ability to get you in and out of good plays and bad plays. Blake understands the game, he works hard at the game and he's working hard to continue to develop his mental aspects of the game."
As a team, UCF is trying to develop a results-oriented mentality. With so much experience and talent returning, the Knights are again drawing praise and high expectations heading into a season.
"You've got to win the games first before anything else," Murray said. "That's the kind of attitude we're taking into the preseason. We haven't been jumping to conclusions or saying what we will be, we've just got to work hard to get our goals achieved."
Last season, UCF outscored its opponents 325-220 and averaged 406.8 yards a game. The Knights also learned that putting up big numbers doesn't guarantee a winning season.
"You've got to do the little things," Murray said. "Losing by that close, it hurts. It makes it worse when you lose, knowing you were just short of your goals. We've got that taste in our mouth and we'll take that to the field."
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
