2000 UCF Golden Knights football team

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.

2000 UCF Golden Knights football
ConferenceIndependent
2000 record7–4
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorGene Chizik (3rd season)
Home stadiumCitrus Bowl
(Capacity: 65,438)
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

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
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 27:00 pmat Georgia TechL 17–2140,993
September 96:00 pmNorthwestern StateW 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–Monroe
  • 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
November 116:00 pmNo. 8 Virginia Tech
  • Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
ESPNL 21–4450,220

References

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