2000 UCF Golden Knights football team

2000 UCF Golden Knights football
Conference Independent
2000 record 7–4
Head coach Mike Kruczek (3rd season)
Home stadium Citrus Bowl
(Capacity: 65,438)
2000 Division I-A independents football records
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 15 Notre Dame %   –     9 –3  
UCF   –     7 –4  
Middle Tennessee   –     6 –5  
Connecticut   –     3 –8  
Louisiana Tech   –     3 –9  
Louisiana–Lafayette   –     1 –10  
Louisiana–Monroe   –     1 –10  
Navy   –     1 –10  
  • % – BCS at-large representative
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2000 UCF Golden Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season. Their head coach was Mike Kruczek, who was in his third season with the team. The 2000 season marked the Golden Knights fifth year since ascending to the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision in 1996.

Season summary

Quarterback Vic Penn was sidelined after four games with a separated shoulder.[1] Redshirt freshman Ryan Schneider was elevated to starting quarterback, and won his first start, a 31-10 triumph over Eastern Michigan.

During the season, UCF recorded its biggest win in program history at the time, when the Golden Knights upset the Alabama Crimson Tide during their Homecoming 40–38 on a last-second field goal by Javier Beorlegui.[2] The victory was part of a mid-season streak where the Golden Knights won six out of seven games.

The season finale was a much-anticipated, nationally televised match-up hosting #8 Virginia Tech. Over 50,000 fans packed the Citrus Bowl, and Hokies quarterback Michael Vick sat out with an ankle injury. Mistakes ruled the day, as Ryan Schneider threw four interceptions, and the Hokies jumped out to a 30-7 halftime lead. Lee Suggs rushed for five touchdowns, as the Knights fell 44-21.[3]

Despite a strong 7-4 record, the Golden Knights were not selected for a bowl at the end of the season. The lack of a conference affiliation worked heavily against UCF's favor,[4] and rumors of a possible invitation to the Las Vegas Bowl never came to fruition.

Schedule

The Citrus Bowl, the Knights home field
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance
September 2 7:00 PM at Georgia Tech Bobby Dodd Stadium • Atlanta, GA L 17–21   40,993
September 9 6:00 PM Northwestern State Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL W 19–7   19,003
September 16 7:00 PM at Akron Rubber Bowl • Akron, OH L 24–35   12,964
September 23 6:00 PM William & Mary Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL W 52–7   23,164
September 30 1:00 PM at Eastern Michigan Rynearson Stadium • Ypsilanti, MI W 31–10   10,238
October 7 2:00 PM at Northern Illinois Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, IL L 20–40   18,148
October 14 7:30 PM Eastern Kentucky Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL W 34–3   18,908
October 21 4:00 PM Louisiana–Monroedagger Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL W 55–0   25,093
October 28 3:00 PM at Alabama Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL SUN W 40–38   83,818
November 4 7:00 PM at Louisiana Tech Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA W 20–16   12,532
November 11 6:00 PM No. 8 Virginia Tech Citrus Bowl • Orlando, FL ESPN L 21–44   50,220
daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.

References

  1. ↑ Psst! Central Florida has a defense, too
  2. ↑ "UCF Football Flashback – Going on Krucz Control: Part 7 of 8 – The History of UCF Football". University of Central Florida Athletics Association. August 8, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  3. ↑ USA Today Virginia Tech vs. Central Florida
  4. ↑ Virginia Tech Will Be Ucf's Bowl Game
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