2000 UCF Golden Knights football team

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2000 UCF Golden Knights football
UCF Golden Knights logo.png
ConferenceIndependent
2000 record7–4
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorGene Chizik (3rd season)
Home stadiumCitrus Bowl
(Capacity: 65,438)
Seasons
← 1999
2001 →
2000 NCAA 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
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 27:00 pmat Georgia TechL 17–2140,993
September 96:00 pmNorthwestern State
W 19–719,003
September 167:00 pmat AkronL 24–3512,964
September 236:00 pmWilliam & Mary
  • Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 52–723,164
September 301:00 pmat Eastern MichiganW 31–1010,238
October 72:00 pmat Northern IllinoisL 20–4018,148
October 147:30 pmEastern Kentucky
  • Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 34–318,908
October 214:00 pmLouisiana–Monroedagger
  • Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 55–025,093
October 283:00 pmat AlabamaSUNW 40–3883,818
November 47:00 pmat Louisiana TechW 20–1612,532[5]
November 116:00 pmNo. 8 Virginia Tech
  • Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
ESPNL 21–4450,220
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • 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. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  3. ^ USA Today Virginia Tech vs. Central Florida
  4. ^ Virginia Tech Will Be Ucf's Bowl Game
  5. ^ "UCF escapes Louisiana Tech". The Orlando Sentinel. November 5, 2000. Retrieved July 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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