UCF head coach George O’Leary, defensive lineman Thomas Niles and wide receiver Jordan Akins are in Newport, Rhode Island to American Athletic Conference media day and we’ll be providing live updates from everything coach O’Leary and the players will be saying.

The Knights were selected to finish second in the East division of the American by 30 media representatives in the conference, as Cincinnati received 29 of the 30 first-place votes.

UCF finished fourth in the American Championship poll behind Cincinnati, Memphis and Houston. The Knights received one point in the poll.

UCF at American Kickoff:

Throughout media day coach O’Leary has emphasized having more “We guys instead of me guys,” this season.

Chemistry will be the key to the season for UCF says coach O’Leary.

O’Leary says the key to the program is the development of the quarterback and he’s looking forward to seeing Justin Holman play in his second year as a starter.

Coach George O’Leary said that with the amount of turnover the team had last season he feels the media was generous voting them to be finish second in the East Division.

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Aresco finishes up, the tone for his forum was that the American may be viewed ad an underdog but the conference is power-5 caliber.

Aresco says he knows that teams in the American can compete with those teams in the “Power 5” conferences.

The commissioner talks about UCF having the best GPA of any football team in the conference and congratulates coach O’Leary and his players.

Aresco mentions UCF three times when talking about conference memories so far, including the Fiesta Bowl victory, J.J. Worton’s catch against Temple and the Hail Mary against ECU last season.

Navy will play in the Military Bowl if they are bowl eligible and are not set to play in a New Year’s Day bowl.

The commissioner talks about the Army-Navy game and the importance of its tradition.

Commissioner Aresco welcomes Navy to the American Athletic Conference.

Aresco commends now retired SEC commissioner Mike Slive.

Aresco takes the stage.

Media Day starts with Commissioner Mike Aresco speaking to the media and already during the intro video we see the Hail-Perriman play. We are underway.