UCF Football History - Part 1: 1979 - 1992

[___ Eats It]

Part 1 of a humorous series examining the history of 2006 USF opponent UCF.  

Original text located here:  http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110204aag.html

UCF Football History

1979

UCF President Trevor Colbourn announces that he is "going to explore the possibility of developing a football program at UCF" during his inaugural address Jan. 15, 1979.  Fans of the future Golden Knights immediately start a letter writing campaign to local newspapers demanding that the USF Men’s Basketball Team sign a 1-for-1 series in football with them.

Don Jonas, former professional football player and Orlando dignitary, becomes UCF's first football coach on a volunteer basis. The homeless guy who sleeps in lot E6 of the Magic Kingdom declined, preferring the more lucrative gig of panhandling tourists for spare change.

Jonas terms UCF “a sleeping giantâ€Â.  Fans go crazy.

More than $40,000 is raised during a one-day blitz of area businesses by the Orlando Chamber of Commerce Sports Committee, June 13.  This money is immediately funneled into a secretive non-profit, where it’s reported to the press as a $400,000,000 donation from “anonymous sourcesâ€Â.

The first schedule is officially announced June 14, featuring eight games, including the Sept. 22 opener at St. Leo. Season tickets go on sale July 12. The price for the four-game package is $13, with single game tickets available for $4 each. Correspondingly, UCF raises student athletic fees by $16.98 per credit hour.

UCF travels to St. Leo College for its first game and wins 21-0 in a downpour on a rain-soaked cow pasture turned football field.   UCF fans immediately start clamoring for their own OCCP (On Campus Cow Pasture).

UCF plays its first home game. A crowd of 14,138 shows up to watch UCF defeat Fort Benning 7-6. This figure does not include the reported 12,000 students who show up at the game but stay in the parking lot to tailgate, a UCF tradition that continues to this day.

The UCF Athletic Authority votes in January to make the football head coaching job a full-time paid position.  Homeless guy still not interested.  Interestingly, when a donut clause is permanently added to the contract, a young Irishman attending New Hampshire sets his sights on becoming a head coach, an omen of things to come.

UCF announces an agreement has been reached allowing 103.1 FM WLOQ to air every football game for the season.  Area homosexuals enraged and protest when “Man Love Hookupâ€Â, a popular program among the gay community on Saturdays, is postponed.  UCF officials, not realizing that WLOQ stood for “We Love Our Queersâ€Â, profusely apologize.  

Practice for year two begins Aug. 21, with 197 players trying out for the squad.  Only one makes it (a punter majoring in nuclear engineering) when UCF cuts players based on their stringent 4.0 GPA and 1600 SAT score standards.

Carson-Newman's Van Williams rushes for 214 yards in the Eagles' 30-21 season-opening victory against the Knights but is later declared ineligible, and Carson-Newman forfeits the victory.   UCF fans immediately organize letter-writing campaign to the NCAA, meeting secretly to ensure to avoid a situation where “everybody says they will write one but nobody doesâ€Â.  

UCF and Miles trade safeties in an 11-11 tie, the only tie on record for the Knights.   Years later, Knight fans would remember this game and think “Who the hell was Miles?â€Â

Tim Kiggins earns third-team All-America honors and becomes the first UCF player to sign with a professional team when he is picked up by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.   Reached at his place of employment for this story, Kiggins commented “Would you like fries with that?â€Â

1981

UCF and Bethune-Cookman play in the first annual Mayor's Trophy game. UCF loses 24-20, losing to B-CC long before USF ever did.  The following year, UCF publicly accuses B-CC of “ducking themâ€Â.

1982

Former Florida State and Houston Oilers coach Bill Peterson is named Athletics Director at UCF. UCF fans immediately start bragging about the “connections†their Athletics Director has, and begin anticipating a swift move to 1-A.  Many Knight fans die waiting for this to happen, wondering what the hell Bill Peterson was doing the whole time.

Peterson terms UCF “a sleeping giantâ€Â.  Fans fondle themselves.

With an eye toward eventually playing major college football, UCF moves up to Division II. UCF fans begin demanding a 1-and-1 with Texas St., the current Division II national champion, accusing them of ducking them.  Budding UF columnist Mike Bianchi terms the Texas St. team “chicky-champs†in an article that goes largely ignored.

James Carlies, the starting quarterback at Groveland High School, becomes the first UCF scholarship recipient since the move to Division II allows the awarding of scholarships.  He soon loses the scholarship when his GPA dips to 3.99 and he fails in his attempt to split the atom using nothing but a magnifying glass and tweezers.

Playing a schedule that includes several top-20 I-AA teams, UCF goes 0-10.  UCF fans vow to never endure a winless nightmare again, and promise to not ever talk trash again.  They fail to adhere to this promise, however, and karma would later rear its ugly head.  

Coach Weir announces with two games left in the season that he will not seek the coaching post in 1983. Homeless guy found dead behind dumpster but is still offered the job.  He declines.

Four players sign to play professionally: Mike Carter with the Denver Broncos, Ed Gantner, Bill Giovanetti and Mike Sommerfield with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League. In an interview, Sommerfield notes his affinity for the Tampa Bay area, commenting “Boy if they ever get a football team in this town, Orlando is history!† Sommerfield later named smartest man in Orlando history.

New York Yankees president and former head coach of the Buffalo Bills Lou Saban is named head coach on Dec. 23.  In a related story, the Cell Phone is introduced commercially.

Saban terms UCF “a sleeping giantâ€Â.  Fans go into gleeful apoplexy.

1983

UCF conducts its first spring practice March 11, culminating with a Black & Gold intrasquad scrimmage April 2.  Amazingly, both sides lose.

Athletics Director Bill Peterson announces June 2 that UCF has petitioned the NCAA to move up to Division I-AA a year earlier than planned, the fall of 1984, rather than 1985. However, due to enormous debt incurred by the department in constructing the long-awaited on-campus cow pasture, the move does not take place until 1990.

Season Ticket prices are announced at $27 for six games or fans can buy a Fourth and One package which includes four season tickets and one reserved ticket to the Citrus Bowl. Including the 10,000 complimentary tickets distributed per game, UCF attendance averages 10,001 this year..

The team opens the season with back-to-back wins against Elizabeth City 37-7 and Georgia Southern 33-29 and finishes with a 5-6 record (meaning they finished 3-6… how’s that for trying to polish a turd?)

UCF goes on the road Oct. 29 and records its first win against a I-AA opponent when it defeats Austin Peay 10-7. Scott Ryerson provides the winning margin with a 50-yard field goal in the second quarter. Ryerson later attributes his kicking accuracy to a lack of tattoos.

The squad struggles to a 1-6 start and Saban announces his resignation. Irishman, still working on resume, does not apply for job yet.

1985

Florida State assistant coach and FSU's first All-American, Gene McDowell, takes over the helm of the UCF football program and also assumes the role of athletics director. He is given the task of running a football team as well as the entire athletics department while trying to retire more than a million dollars of departmental debt. McDowell immediately orders cell phones for entire team, emphasizing importance of team communication.

McDowell terms UCF “a sleeping giantâ€Â.  Fans joyfully froth at the mouth.  One fan, commenting “I seem to have heard all this before†is blacklisted from the Official UCF Pen Pal List.

Former Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Kruczek is hired as UCF's offensive coordinator, a position he would hold for 13 years before taking over as head coach.  Kruczek later revealed to be mystery homeless person from 1979.

McDowell announces his first signing class, including All-American receiver Bernard Ford. UCF later embarrassed when Ford admits he did not cure cancer while a senior in high school.

UCF wins its first game under McDowell when Eddie O'Brien kicks a school-record 55-yard field goal as time expires to defeat Bethune-Cookman, 39-37, Sept. 7.  A poster commemorating the win, showing every member of the UCF team on their cell phones calling their families to share the big news, is quietly removed from the school lobby in later years.

UCF plays its first I-A opponent when it travels to Louisville on Nov. 2. Ted Wilson catches seven passes for 112 yards and one touchdown in the 41-21 loss.  UCF fans proclaim the loss “a fluke†and continue to state that they’re better than Louisville.

1986

A 66-7 trouncing of Samford in the season-finale gives UCF a 6-5 record and its first winning season since the inaugural campaign in 1979. UCF fans immediately petition NCAA for admission to the SEC.

Orlando businessman and philanthropist Wayne Densch, who made his fortune selling urinal cakes, gives the athletics department a $1 million gift.  UCF reluctantly accepts the gift but refuses Densch’s request to construct an athletic facility shaped like a giant pink pee-cake with the money.

1987

UCF finishes the regular season with an 8-3 record, good enough for its first bid to the Division II playoffs.   UCF fans immediately make anonymous phone calls to USF students in their dorms, asking them if THEY ever made the Division II playoffs.  Hangups ensue.

1988

A record crowd of 31,789 turns out at the Citrus Bowl to watch UCF beat defending national champion Troy 26-18. In the process, UCF is flagged for delay of game because Troy complains about excessive crowd noise. Noise later revealed to be gunshots.

UCF climbs to the No. 2 spot in the Division II poll and remains there for three weeks after knocking off top-ranked Troy. However, the team loses its final four games to finish 6-5 and misses a return trip to the playoffs.  No joke needed here.

1989

In its final season at the NCAA Division II level before moving up, UCF defeats three I-AA schools. UCF immediately petitions NFL for admission to the AFC East. Fans accuse the Miami Dolphins of “ducking themâ€Â.

1990

UCF makes a long-awaited move to NCAA Division I-AA and proves up to the task, going 10-4 and becoming the first school in history to qualify for the I-AA playoffs in its first season of eligibility. Not content just to qualify, UCF advances all the way to the semifinals. Much like the high school football star who never quite makes it in the real world, this would remain the crown achievement of the program for nearly 16 years.

In his final regular season game at UCF, Sean Beckton goes out with a bang.  This time, it’s not gun-related.

UCF downs William & Mary 52-38 at home in a shootout in front of 20,067 to earn a spot in the semifinals. Sean Beckton catches two touchdown passes and throws another in the victory. Low 1-AA playoff attendance attributed to lack of Beach Boys.

The team's hopes for a national championship are derailed in Statesboro, Ga., when Georgia Southern, the eventual champion, scores 35 unanswered points in the second half to take a 44-7 victory.

Gene McDowell is awarded the Eddie Robinson Trophy by the Sports Network as NCAA I-AA Coach of the Year.  Fans pop ***** that has yet to subside and write letters to USF students asking them if THEY ever had a “National Coach of the Yearâ€Â.  Junk mail in Tampa increases 150%.

Jefferson is drafted in the ninth round by the Houston Oilers. Beckton signs with the Chicago Bears and Ray Irvin with the Cleveland Browns, both as free agents. Brian Covington signs with Orlando of the World League of American Football. Gene McDowell signs endorsement contract with AT+T Wireless, a move he would later regret.

1991

The Knights host their first I-A opponent in the Citrus Bowl, losing to East Carolina 47-25 in front of 20,049. Despite the loss, UCF racks up 497 yards in total offense.   A rivalry is born.

Willie English sets a school record with 242 yards rushing against Arkansas State and becomes the first in school history to top the 1,000-yard plateau in a season. Ironically, English only speaks Spanish but still achieves 4.0 GPA in molecular physics.

1992

UCF President John Hitt announces UCF's intention to move to Division I-A by 1996. School responds by giving him 3000% raise.

Hitt calls UCF “a sleeping giantâ€Â.  Fans tingle with glee.

UCF makes history as the first college team to play a Russian football team on American soil as it defeats the Moscow Bears of the Russian League of American Football 42-6, Oct. 3. Russia demands rematch, accusing UCF of “ducking themâ€Â.

UCF catches its Russian visitors off guard with a reverse on the kickoff which Robert Alexander runs back 80 yards for a touchdown. The exhibition game fills a void left by a late game cancellation caused when UCF scheduled USF, still not realizing that USF does not yet have a football program.

Gene McDowell relinquishes his duties as athletics director to concentrate his efforts on coaching the football team and researching new phones.

[flsportsfan83]

great ;D

[smazza]

18 years of having i4 corridor alone and ftu/ou/oc couldnt build an  program

incompetence

[UCFChad]

ahem-- we never played BC-C

Things were way different back in the early 80's.  No BCS, etc.  We also didn't luck into the Big East by virtue of having a hoops team.

[Goldenbuc]

ahem-- we never played BC-C

Things were way different back in the early 80's.  No BCS, etc.  We also didn't luck into the Big East by virtue of having a hoops team.

It wasn't the hoops team...it was their gym.  And when UCF started...there were no "quick" promises to jump up after a few year....UCF didn't have 30k plus students at the start, either.  Different times...but I don't make excuses for the many dumb decisions that were done by our 90's AD, Steve Sloan.  UCF was invited into CUSA in '99 and Sloan refused thinking the Big East said they wanted UCF...but never invited.  I had a friend who once turned down a good job was offered thinking he was a lock for his dream job that never did offer...and lost both.  That's the same thing....we were indy, young 1-A and had a good opportunity to gain some momentum in the "then" better CUSA.  Hell...even Tulane was good then!

Water under the bridge though...at least in the past 5 years UCF has done more for itself than in it's own history and still moving up.  We'll get there...in the meantime...GO KNIGHTS!

[Bullpride08]

ahem-- we never played BC-C

Things were way different back in the early 80's.  No BCS, etc.  We also didn't luck into the Big East by virtue of having a hoops team.

Huh?  How about the fact we were competing and winning in conferences with many of these guys when you all were DII in the 80's, and very early 90's.  UCF had a head start with a football program but USF had a head start with a well rounded 1-A athletic program.  Bouncing around conferences with brethren the likes of Vtech, UL, Cinci, ECU, and others garnering name recognition and respect among the athletic departments in the East. 

[UCFChad]

ahem-- we never played BC-C

Things were way different back in the early 80's.  No BCS, etc.  We also didn't luck into the Big East by virtue of having a hoops team.

Huh?  How about the fact we were competing and winning in conferences with many of these guys when you all were DII in the 80's, and very early 90's.  UCF had a head start with a football program but USF had a head start with a well rounded 1-A athletic program.  Bouncing around conferences with brethren the likes of Vtech, UL, Cinci, ECU, and others garnering name recognition and respect among the athletic departments in the East. 

What does that have to do with the fact that luckoflakes rather than merit based football achievement landed you in a BCS conference?  I mean ****, Miami of Ohio has been playing football for probably a century and is still waiting.  That's what's so screwed up about D-1 football today, the sheer inequity of it all.

[___ Eats It]

ahem-- we never played BC-C

Things were way different back in the early 80's.  No BCS, etc.  We also didn't luck into the Big East by virtue of having a hoops team.

Huh?  How about the fact we were competing and winning in conferences with many of these guys when you all were DII in the 80's, and very early 90's.  UCF had a head start with a football program but USF had a head start with a well rounded 1-A athletic program.  Bouncing around conferences with brethren the likes of Vtech, UL, Cinci, ECU, and others garnering name recognition and respect among the athletic departments in the East. 

What does that have to do with the fact that luckoflakes rather than merit based football achievement landed you in a BCS conference?  I mean ****, Miami of Ohio has been playing football for probably a century and is still waiting.  That's what's so screwed up about D-1 football today, the sheer inequity of it all.

It's only inequity if you're the one being passed up.

If you guys had won ONE meaningful game in your long, sorry history, you might have had a case.  As it is, the Big East laughed at you.

[UCFChad]

ahem-- we never played BC-C

Things were way different back in the early 80's.  No BCS, etc.  We also didn't luck into the Big East by virtue of having a hoops team.

Huh?  How about the fact we were competing and winning in conferences with many of these guys when you all were DII in the 80's, and very early 90's.  UCF had a head start with a football program but USF had a head start with a well rounded 1-A athletic program.  Bouncing around conferences with brethren the likes of Vtech, UL, Cinci, ECU, and others garnering name recognition and respect among the athletic departments in the East. 

What does that have to do with the fact that luckoflakes rather than merit based football achievement landed you in a BCS conference?  I mean ****, Miami of Ohio has been playing football for probably a century and is still waiting.  That's what's so screwed up about D-1 football today, the sheer inequity of it all.

It's only inequity if you're the one being passed up.

If you guys had won ONE meaningful game in your long, sorry history, you might have had a case.  As it is, the Big East laughed at you.

Nothing was handed to our program for free since 1979.  Not luckoflakes, not BCS realignment, not good fortune, not fair weather, nothing. That's why it has been a pleasure to see us go from BBQ fundraisers to BCS facilities and beyond.  We weren't just handed everything on a plater.

[___ Eats It]

ahem-- we never played BC-C

Things were way different back in the early 80's.  No BCS, etc.  We also didn't luck into the Big East by virtue of having a hoops team.

Huh?  How about the fact we were competing and winning in conferences with many of these guys when you all were DII in the 80's, and very early 90's.  UCF had a head start with a football program but USF had a head start with a well rounded 1-A athletic program.  Bouncing around conferences with brethren the likes of Vtech, UL, Cinci, ECU, and others garnering name recognition and respect among the athletic departments in the East. 

What does that have to do with the fact that luckoflakes rather than merit based football achievement landed you in a BCS conference?  I mean ****, Miami of Ohio has been playing football for probably a century and is still waiting.  That's what's so screwed up about D-1 football today, the sheer inequity of it all.

It's only inequity if you're the one being passed up.

If you guys had won ONE meaningful game in your long, sorry history, you might have had a case.  As it is, the Big East laughed at you.

Nothing was handed to our program for free since 1979.  Not luckoflakes, not BCS realignment, not good fortune, not fair weather, nothing. That's why it has been a pleasure to see us go from BBQ fundraisers to BCS facilities and beyond.  We weren't just handed everything on a plater.

Need I remind you that we started with our coach in a USED trailer and practicing on a soccer field?

You make your own fate.  We made ours, and we were in position to take advantage of OPPORTUNITIES, opportunities that UCF was not ready or able to.

Sucks to be you. You sound like the dude who gets dumped and blames her new boyfriend for having too nice of a car.  Your program was bush league, and ours was primed for take off.  Facts, jack.