UCF Scandal

For former UCF QB Steven Moffett, motivation different than intimidation

Shannon J. Owens
April 13, 2008

Says Moffett (in quotes):  “[O’Leary] said I wasn’t worth [expletive] and I’d never play here,” said Moffett, who was recruited by former coach Mike Kruczek.

Some call that incentive. I call that abuse. And that is the kind of environment Moffett said he and his teammates practiced in daily.

Moffett, 23, turned down offers from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Southern Mississippi for the opportunity to blossom under a Kruczek spread offense that would allow the athletic 6-foot-2 quarterback to throw the ball.

He considered transferring to Southern Miss when O’Leary arrived at UCF, but decided to stay so he could prove his worth to the new football coach.

But he would not get that affirmation. Instead, he says he was barraged with curses — the nicest one, he says, was “you stupid [expletive] idiot.” When the team lost, he said O’Leary would single him out as the reason for the loss.

Isn’t football supposed to be a team sport? “It doesn’t make you feel good at all,” he said. “I think he wanted me to snap on him, but I never did.”

“He’s a good coach, but he’s a disrespectful person,” Moffett said.

Entire report on the Orlando Sentinel

Bianchi: For UCF’s own good, it’s time for investigators to seek out the players and listen to what they have to say about the death of their teammate.

A team is built on believing in one another.

If you lose that trust — the trust of your players — your football program is doomed.

Read entire Bianchi story at Orlando Sentinel

Excerpt from Orlando Sentinel story linked below:

“The father of UCF football player Ereck Plancher, speaking for the first time since his son’s funeral, expressed concern about the family’s distant relationship with UCF and went so far as to say he was concerned about a ‘cover up.’”

And if that is not enough:

“Enock Plancher has remained silent since his son’s March 29 funeral. At the time, UCF told the media the school would pay for Ereck Plancher’s funeral. However, he said the family has not received any financial support.

“They (UCF) didn’t tell us anything about paying for the funeral,” Enock Plancher (Ereck’s father) said. “They just told reporters they would pay for it but never talked with us. We paid all the expenses for the funeral.”

Mr. Plancher goes on to say: “A lot of people think something is wrong and the university is not telling the truth,” he said. “I am worried they are right.”

Our prayers are with the family.

Full story and source of these excerpts from the Orlando Sentinel

UCF football player Ereck Plancher showed signs of distress during an intense workout last month before he collapsed and later died, four of Plancher’s teammates told the Orlando Sentinel.

Plancher, a 19-year-old receiver from Naples, was taken to a hospital March 18 and was pronounced dead about an hour after the workout, known as a “mat drill.”

A preliminary autopsy was inconclusive. Further tests are under way to determine the cause of Plancher’s death.

The UCF players, who asked for anonymity because they fear retribution from football coaches, said Plancher’s final practice was more intense than the basic-conditioning workout described by UCF officials.

In an interview with the Sentinel, UCF coach George O’Leary and his football staff disputed the four players’ account of Plancher’s final practice.

More from same story: “The four players said Plancher fell during the final sprint and members of the UCF coaching staff yelled at him to finish the drill. “Ereck took off running about 5 yards and fell; the coaches were yelling at him to get up, and of course he came in last,” one player said.”

“After the workout, the team huddled in the middle of the field, where O’Leary singled out Plancher and cursed at him for lack of effort during the final sprint, the four players said.”

“All four players recall that O’Leary said to Plancher, “That’s a bunch of [expletive] out of you, son,” in the huddle. O’Leary denied cursing at Plancher but recalled telling people around him, “He’s better than that.”

“Ereck was in the back when O’Leary was yelling at him, but Ereck couldn’t even look at him,” one of the players said. “He was trying to catch his breath the whole time, and he never could.”

“Plancher was noticeably woozy and staggering as he tried to participate in the final jumping-jacks drill, the players said. The team finished those exercises, then huddled one final time. Plancher collapsed while walking away from the huddle, the players said. ”

Go to the Orlando Sentinel for the full report