UCF not so Golden anymore

[MikeG]

'Golden' era ends for UCF

Beginning in June, the school's teams will be known only as the Knights.

Kyle Hightower

Sentinel Staff Writer

April 13, 2007

UCF's nickname is the Golden Knights -- at least for a couple of more months.

UCF officially will drop "Golden" as part of its nickname at a June 14 unveiling of its new logo. New "UCF Knights" merchandise goes on sale the next day.

The event is part of a summer-long marketing campaign UCF announced Thursday called "The Knights Are Coming Home" that will promote the school's new athletic markings.

How UCF actually became the Golden Knights in the first place might be the more interesting story.

UCF chose "Knights of the Pegasus" for its original nickname in 1970, when the school still was named Florida Technological University. The school resisted a push by a small but vocal group of students in 1988 that suggested changing the nickname to "Sharks."

In 1993, UCF was in the midst of poorly performing merchandise at the time and was looking for way to boost sales. Steve Sloan, who took over as athletic director that same year, told the school's sports information directors to refer to all athletic teams as "Golden Knights" in what he called an effort to accelerate UCF's popularity.

Sloan was no stranger to incorporating colorful modifiers to nicknames.

He previously worked for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Duke Blue Devils.

The new nickname and new logo will be unveiled a few months before the school opens a new football stadium and a new basketball arena.

"We are now entering into one of the most exciting periods in UCF athletics history," Athletic Director Keith Tribble said in a statement. "The opening of Bright House Networks Stadium and the convocation center in the fall will redefine the way the UCF campus is viewed, not only within our community but throughout the country."

[___ Eats It]

Molden is more like it...

or Olden, since their defense is about as fast as a 75 year old man...

[crambone]

Now what can we chant instead of "GOLDEN SHOWERS" ?!?!

[DawgPound]

I guess that's reserved for FIU now.

[Brad]

What's the new logo look like?

[DawgPound]

Won't know until June 14th.  All we know is that the logo has a new font for UCF, no more lance(replaced with a sword) and the helmet will be white.

[Brad]

No leaks huh?  I remember when we did the redesign there were committee members that had seen it and did a pretty good job keeping it under wraps.  

Word on the street is they are trying to decide if the i should be lower or upper case.

[DawgPound]

Oh no, I didn't mean it was air tight.  I meant that the people who do know what it is, like the guys who order merchandise were given strict orders not to show it to anyone.  So far, they have been pretty good.

[Bulls 8_va]

Now what can we chant instead of "GOLDEN SHOWERS" ?!?!

Please, its still UCF.  There are plenty of things to chant...

"Warm-up the bus..."

"Na Na Nah Nah...Hey Hey Goodbye..."

stuff like that. ;D

[Triple B]

Won't know until June 14th.  All we know is that the logo has a new font for UCF, no more lance(replaced with a sword) and the helmet will be white.

Are they keeping the unicorn in there somewhere?