1994 UCF Golden Knights football team

Last updated

1994 UCF Golden Knights football
UCF Golden Knights logo.png
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 20
Record7–3
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Mike Kruczek (10th season)
Defensive coordinatorRon McCrone (3rd season)
Home stadium Florida Citrus Bowl
Seasons
  1993
1995  
1994 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Youngstown State ^   11 0 1
No. 23 Hofstra   8 1 1
Towson State   8 2 0
No. 10 Troy State ^   8 4 0
Robert Morris   7 1 1
Monmouth   7 2 0
Saint Mary's   7 3 0
UAB   7 4 0
No. 20 UCF   7 4 0
Wagner   6 5 0
Liberty   5 6 0
Western Kentucky   5 6 0
Central Connecticut State   4 6 0
Samford   4 6 1
Davidson   3 7 0
Buffalo   3 8 0
Saint Francis   2 7 1
Charleston Southern   0 11 0
  • ^ NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 1994 UCF Golden Knights football season was the sixteenth season for the team and Gene McDowell's tenth as the head coach of the Golden Knights. After the Golden Knight's impressive 1993 season, UCF was selected as the preseason #1 to start the 1994 season. The 1994 season would prove disappointing however, as the Golden Knights would finish the season ranked #20 with a 7–4 record. [1]

Contents

The school's famous campus homecoming tradition "Spirit Splash" began (by chance) in 1994. [2]

Schedule

The Florida Citrus Bowl, the Knights' home field Citrus Bowl aerial view.jpg
The Florida Citrus Bowl, the Knights' home field
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 3at Maine No. 7W 28–66,296 [3]
September 10No. 18 (D-II) Valdosta State No. 6L 14–3122,518 [4]
September 17 Bethune–Cookman No. 12
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 48–1722,049 [5]
September 24No. 11 Western Kentucky No. 13
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 59–4524,326 [6]
October 1at Illinois State No. 9W 27–266,550 [7]
October 8at Samford No. 6L 35–363,632 [8]
October 15at Northeast Louisiana No. 15W 33–168,123 [9]
October 22No. 5 Troy State No. 11
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
L 38–3927,003 [10]
October 29at Liberty No. 17W 49–246,153 [11]
November 12at East Carolina No. 16L 20–2325,783 [12]
November 19 Buffalo No. 20
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 48–018,856 [13]

Roster

1994 UCF Golden Knights football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
C 60 Mike Gruttadauria Sr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DE 95 Greg Jefferson Sr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights football</span> Football team representing the University of Central Florida

The UCF Knights football team represents the University of Central Florida in the sport of American football. The Knights compete in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are a member of the Big 12 Conference. The Knights play their home games at the 45,301-seat FBC Mortgage Stadium, which is located on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FBC Mortgage Stadium</span> American football stadium located near Orlando, Florida

FBC Mortgage Stadium is an American football stadium located near Orlando in Orange County, Florida, United States, on the main campus of the University of Central Florida. It is the home field of the UCF Knights of NCAA Division I FBS college football; also it was home of the now defunct Orlando Apollos during the first and only 2019 season of the Alliance of American Football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 UCF Golden Knights football team</span> American college football season

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1993 UCF Golden Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 1993 UCF Golden Knights football season represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) as an independent during the 1993 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Gene McDowell, the Golden Knights compiling a record of 9–3 for the program's eighth consecutive winning season. UCF advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs for the second time in four years, where the Golden Knights lost in the first round to the eventual national champion, Youngstown State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 UCF Golden Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 1995 UCF Golden Knights football season was the seventeenth season for the team and eleventh for Gene McDowell as the head coach of the Golden Knights. The team finished with a 6–5 overall record. The season marked UCF's last in Division I-AA, as the Golden Knights moved to Division I-A in 1996. The 1995 season also featured the debut of UCF's new freshman quarterback, Daunte Culpepper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 UCF Golden Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 1996 UCF Golden Knights football season was the eighteenth season for the team and Gene McDowell's twelfth as the head coach of the Golden Knights. McDowell's 1996 team compiled a 5–6 overall record. The season marked UCF's first as a member of Division I-A, officially joining on September 1, 1996. At that time, the Knights became the first football program to play in four different NCAA divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 UCF Golden Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 1997 UCF Golden Knights football season was the nineteenth overall season for the team, and second season as an NCAA Division I-A Independent. It would be the thirteenth and final season for head coach Gene McDowell. McDowell's 1997 team finished with a 5–6 overall record, matching the record from the previous season. McDowell would resign at season's end in the wake of a cell phone fraud scandal. His tenure as head coach came to a close after compiling an 86–61 record. To-date, McDowell still has the most wins as head coach in program history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 UCF Golden Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 1998 UCF Golden Knights football season was the twentieth season overall for the team, and third season as an NCAA Division I-A Independent. After the resignation of Gene McDowell, Mike Kruczek became the new head coach of the Golden Knights. Kruczek led UCF to a 9–2 record in 1998, the program's best season at the time. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting and set a then-NCAA record for completion percentage (73.4%). UCF received a tentative verbal agreement to play in the Oahu Bowl. However, the arrangement fell through in the final week of the season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 UCF Golden Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 1999 UCF Golden Knights football season was Mike Kruczek's second year as the head coach of the Golden Knights. Looking to build on the success of a nine-win season the year before, the Knights visited five high-profile opponents. Kruczek led UCF to an overall record of 4–7. With the departure of Daunte Culpepper to the NFL draft, the quarterback duties were taken over by college journeyman Vic Penn. On two occasions, the Golden Knights nearly upset a major SEC opponent on the road.

The 1982 UCF Knights football season was the fourth season for the team. It was the first and only season for Sammy Weir as the head coach of the Knights. The season marked the Knights first in Division II. Weir's 1982 team posted 0–10 overall record.

The 1984 UCF Knights football season was the sixth season for the team. It was Lou Saban's second and final season as the head coach of the Knights. After a disappointing 1–6 start to the season, Saban stepped away from the program, and was replaced by assistant coach Jerry "Red" Anderson. The Knights finished the year with a 2–9 overall record, facing a schedule entirely made up of Division I-AA opponents. The program had actually petitioned the NCAA to move the football program up to I-AA for 1984, but the move was delayed, in part due to costs and incurred debt. The move would not happen until 1990.

The 1985 UCF Knights football season represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) and independent during the 1985 NCAA Division II football season. Led by first-year head coach Gene McDowell, the Knights compiled a record of 4–7. UCF played home games at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Downtown Orlando

The 1986 UCF Knights football season was the eighth season for the team. It was Gene McDowell's second season as the head coach of the Knights. McDowell's 1986 team compiled a 6–5 overall record.

The 1987 UCF Knights football season was the ninth for the team. It was the third season for Gene McDowell as the head coach of the Knights. After posting an 8–3 regular season record in 1987, the Knights earned their first trip to the Division II playoffs, where they earned a 1–1 record, falling in the Semifinals.

The 1988 UCF Knights football season was the tenth for the team. It was Gene McDowell's fourth season as the head coach of the Knights. After making the playoffs the year before, UCF started off the season ranked in the top 5 of Division II. After defeating the defending Division II national champions Troy State in week 3, the Knights jumped to No. 2 in the nation, a spot they held for three consecutive weeks. The Knights faltered, however, and lost five of their last six games. McDowell's 1988 Knights finished the season with a 6–5 overall record and missed the Division II playoffs.

The 1989 UCF Knights football season was the eleventh for the team. It was Gene McDowell's fifth season as the head coach of the Knights. The season marked UCF's last in Division II, as the Knight would move to Division I-AA in 1990. The team posted an overall record of 7–3 in 1989 but failed to make the Division II Playoffs.

The 1990 UCF Knights football team was the twelfth season for the team, and UCF football's first season in Division I-AA. In their first year in the division, Gene McDowell led the Knights to a 10–4 record, a program best, and a trip to the I-AA playoffs. UCF would make it to the semifinals, and became the first school in history to qualify for the I-AA playoffs in its first season of eligibility.

The 1991 UCF Knights football season was the thirteenth season for the team and Gene McDowell's seventh as the head coach of the Knights. McDowell led the team to an overall record of 6–5.

The 1992 UCF Knights football season was the fourteenth season for the team and eighth for Gene McDowell as the head coach of the Knights. McDowell's 1992 team posted 6–4 overall record. During the 1992 season, Dr. John Hitt, UCF's fourth president, announced that the program would make the move to Division I-A (FBS) in 1996.

The 1994 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football team represented Bethune–Cookman College as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) during the 1994 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 13th-year head coach Cy McClairen, the Wildcats compiled an overall record of 5–6, with a mark of 3–3 in conference play, and finished tied for third in the MEAC.

References

  1. "Division I-AA Football Comes to Orlando: Part 5 of 8 – The History of UCF Football". University of Central Florida Athletics Association. July 18, 2007. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  2. Schenk, Madelyn (November 8, 2007). "'Party at pond:Students splash into tradition". Orlando Sentinel. p. D3. Retrieved November 13, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. "UCF surpasses records, Maine". The Miami Herald. September 4, 1994. Retrieved February 3, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Division II Valdosta trounces UCF 31–14". Florida Today. September 11, 1994. Retrieved February 3, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Cleveland's two TDs lead UCF". The Miami Herald. September 18, 1994. Retrieved February 3, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "UCF makes its pount – 59 of them". South Florida Sun Sentinel. September 25, 1994. Retrieved February 3, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Pierce, Smith help Central Florida tip Illinois State". South Florida Sun Sentinel. October 3, 1994. Retrieved February 1, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Knights foul up, fall to Bulldogs". The Orlando Sentinel. October 9, 1994. Retrieved February 3, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "UCF takes charge, sloshes past Northeast Louisiana". The Orlando Sentinel. October 16, 1994. p. C1. Retrieved January 31, 2021 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. "Troy defense has final say in 39–38 win over C. Florida". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 23, 1994. Retrieved February 3, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "C. Florida beats Flames". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 30, 1994. Retrieved April 7, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "The Orlando Sentinel". The Orlando Sentinel. November 13, 1994. Retrieved March 7, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Central Florida bashes Buffalo 48–0 in finale". The Palm Beach Post. November 20, 1994. Retrieved February 3, 2025 via Newspapers.com.