Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP Photo
Central Florida quarterback Jacurri Brown (11) scrambles for yardage against Cincinnati during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Orlando, Fla.
Each week the Daily Herald will provide five true facts about BYU’s latest football opponent for your enjoyment. This week, UCF.
One: History lesson
UCF first fielded a football team in 1979 as a Division III program, then moved up to Division I status in 1996. The Knights became the first program in NCAA history to have played in all four divisions of football: Division III, Division II, Division I-AA (now FCS) and Division I (now FBS).
Two: Call us by our name
The University of Central Florida (UCF) prefers to be called UCF instead of “Central Florida” because the school wanted to distance itself from the name “Central Florida” and promote its own identity. UCF fans also complained about ESPN’s use of “Central Florida” or “C.Florida” on their scoreboard graphics.
Three: Just Ducky
During homecoming week, UCF students are invited to charge into the Reflecting Pond for a chance to catch collectible rubber ducks, an event dubbed the “Spirit Splash.” Each year, one of those ducks is preserved by the Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) department of the UCF Libraries.
Four: They went here
Famous alumni includes actress Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), “The Blair Witch Project” directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, Tosh 2.0 host Daniel Tosh, Olympic and professional volleyball player Phil Dalhausser and retired astronaut Nicole Scott.
Five: Too good to be true
In 2021, the old standard “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” by Frankie Valli would be played before or during the fourth quarter at UCF home games and the fans would sing along. There were many who loved the new tradition but others who thought the song was boring and outdated. Kingdom NIL, the official collective for the program, decided to let fans donate to vote “yea” or “nay” on the song. In the end, $14,017 was raised to kill the song versus $12,900 donated to keep it. Sorry, Frankie.
