ORLANDO’S HOMETOWN TEAM YEAR-BY-YEAR RESULTS 1979 1982 • During his inaugural address, UCF President Trevor Colbourn • Following Don Jonas’ resignation, associate head coach Sam Weir is announces that the school will “explore the possibility of developing a named the program’s interim head coach. New athletics director Bill football program.” Later, Colbourn and director of athletics Jack O’Leary Peterson announces that UCF will compete as a Division II program approve a decision to form a football team to begin play in the fall of during the year. With the move to D-II, the school begins awarding 1979 as an NCAA Division III program. Former professional football athletics scholarships. Following the season, four Knights sign player Don Jonas becomes the school’s first coach on a volunteer basis. professional contracts: tight end Mike Carter with the National Football On Aug. 28, 148 prospective players participate in the program’s first League’s Denver Broncos and defensive end Ed Gantner, linebacker Bill practice. Less than one month later on Sept. 22, UCF travels to St. Leo Giovanetti and offensive lineman Mike Sommerfield with the Tampa Bay for its first game and wins 21-0. Bobby Joe Plain scores the school’s first Bandits of the United States Football League. Following the season, New touchdown on a 13-yard pass reception from Mike Cullison in the first York Yankees president and former Buffalo Bills head coach Lou Saban is quarter. The following week, UCF plays its first home contest at the named UCF’s head coach. Tangerine Bowl and posts a 7-6 victory over Fort Benning in front of 14,188 fans. 1982 NCAA II (0‑10‑0) Coach: Sam Weir 9/11 Georgia Southern $ L 9-16 2,350 1979 NCAA III (6‑2‑0) Coach: Don Jonas 9/18 Southeastern Louisiana L 14-24 8,196 9/22 at St. Leo W 21-0 1,000 9/25 at VMI L 0-69 6,100 9/29 Fort Benning W 7-6 14,188 10/2 at Valdosta State L 7-13 9,500 10/13 Maryville W 10-7 7,350 10/9 Bethune-Cookman L 21-40 9,127 10/20 at Fort Lauderdale W 14-0 500 10/16 Alabama A&M L 10-31 6,654 10/27 at Presbyterian L 0-48 3,800 10/23 at Nicholls State L 10-60 8,500 11/3 at Emory & Henry L 14-28 1,000 10/30 West Georgia L 7-41 9,257 11/10 University of the South W 24-0 10,111 11/6 Carson-Newman L 17-36 3,818 11/17 Morehouse W 14-7 13,309 11/13 Eastern Kentucky L 14-26 4,822 $ at Jacksonville, Fla. 1980 • After the UCF Athletic Authority votes in January to make the football head coaching job a full-time position, Don Jonas is selected for the 1983 • UCF records its first win against an NCAA Football Championship role. The Knights win four games during the campaign and in an 18-14 Subdivision opponent, defeating Austin Peay, 10-7, on the road. Ted victory over Emory and Henry, Michael O’Shaughnessy tallies a school- Wilson returns a kick 100 yards for a touchdown against Southeastern record five sacks. Following the season, cornerback Tim Kiggins earns Louisiana and finishes second in the nation in kick return average with third-team All-America honors and becomes the first UCF player to sign 30.5 yards per return. a professional contract when he joins the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. 1983 NCAA II (5‑6‑0) Coach: Lou Saban 1980 NCAA III (4‑4‑1) Coach: Don Jonas 9/2 Elizabeth City W 37-7 9,041 9/13 Carson-Newman $ FW 30-21 13,941 9/10 at Georgia Southern W 33-29 5,815 9/20 St. Leo W 55-0 8,730 9/17 at Southeastern Louisiana L 28-54 5,000 9/27 Millsaps L 7-8 12,793 9/24 North Alabama L 20-47 8,307 10/4 Miles T 11-11 8,990 10/1 Valdosta State W 20-0 12,777 10/11 at Savannah State L 0-44 4,100 10/15 at Richmond L 26-31 3,413 10/18 at North Alabama L 3-28 3,500 10/29 at Austin Peay W 10-7 7,000 11/1 Catawba W 14-12 7,757 11/5 at Carson-Newman L 14-35 3,300 11/8 Albany L 27-28 14,022 11/12 Nicholls State L 14-37 4,500 11/15 Emory & Henry W 18-14 6,907 11/19 Fort Lewis W 59-28 14,212 $ Later forfeited by Carson-Newman 11/26 Bethune-Cookman L 22-31 13,294 1981 1984 • UCF begins a local rivalry, meeting Bethune-Cookman in the first • After the squad gets off to a slow start, head coach Lou Saban Mayor’s Trophy game. The Wildcats escape with a 24-20 win. Kicker announces his resignation. Jerry Anderson is named interim head coach. Scott Ryerson is a third-team All-America selection, while center Dan Following the campaign, offensive lineman Dan Burke signs a contract Burke and linebackers Eddie James and Bill Giovanetti earn honorable with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League. mention status. Following the season, head coach Don Jonas resigns to Kicker Scott Ryerson is drafted by the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL become director of the UCF Gridiron Club. and signs a free-agent deal with the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons. 1981 NCAA III (4‑6‑0) Coach: Don Jonas 9/12 Presbyterian L 0-3 8,347 1984 NCAA II (2‑9‑0) Coaches: Lou Saban (first seven 9/19 Elizabeth City L 9-14 4,833 games), Jerry Anderson (last four games) 9/1 Bethune-Cookman L 22-43 7,421 9/26 at Millsaps W 13-6 800 9/8 at Louisiana-Monroe L 21-49 19,329 10/3 Miles W 6-0 6,320 9/15 Georgia Southern L 28-42 7,124 10/10 Savannah State W 47-13 6,493 9/22 at Western Kentucky W 35-34 8,500 10/17 at Alabama A&M L 15-23 8,700 9/29 at Texas State L 13-39 10,337 10/31 at West Georgia L 6-20 6,200 10/6 Akron L 21-26 6,814 11/7 Hampden-Sydney W 17-0 8,391 10/13 at Eastern Kentucky L 14-37 18,300 11/14 Millersville L 9-27 4,365 10/20 Illinois State W 28-24 11,648 11/21 Bethune-Cookman L 20-24 8,354 10/27 Austin Peay L 21-24 12,225 11/3 at Indiana State L 0-38 8,367 11/10 at Furman L 6-42 10,162 2019 MEDIA GUIDE 87 YEAR-BY-YEAR RESULTS UCF FOOTBALL 1985 1987 NCAA II (9‑4‑0) Coach: Gene McDowell • Gene McDowell, an assistant at Florida State, is named UCF’s head coach and athletics director. UCF wins its first game under McDowell 9/5 Bethune-Cookman W 17-9 9,768 when Ed O’Brien kicks a school-record 55-yard field goal as time expired 9/19 Elon W 34-10 11,752 to defeat Bethune-Cookman, 39-37. UCF meets its first NCAA Bowl 9/26 Eastern Kentucky L 16-23 15,197 Subdivision opponent, playing at Louisville. 10/3 at Georgia Southern L 32-34 15,540 10/10 Savannah State W 36-26 10,743 1985 NCAA II (4‑7‑0) Coach: Gene McDowell 10/17 West Georgia W 52-14 10,029 9/7 Bethune-Cookman W 39-37 21,222 10/24 NW Missouri St. W 45-3 15,208 9/13 Southeastern Louisiana W 27-21 7,142 10/31 Grand Valley State W 67-3 7,552 9/28 at Illinois State L 21-48 12,786 11/7 Liberty W 42-21 11,081 10/5 Texas State L 12-48 7,850 11/14 at Florida A&M L 14-19 4,803 10/12 Western Kentucky L 17-47 9,153 11/21 Morningside W 24-7 10,112 10/19 Eastern Kentucky L 21-28 8,223 11/28 Indiana (Pa.) $ W 12-10 15,043 10/26 Stephen F. Austin L 24-59 11,263 12/5 Troy $ L 10-31 14,327 11/2 at Louisville L 21-42 21,391 $ Division II Playoffs 11/9 at Georgia Southern L 18-35 7,759 11/23 Savannah State W 31-7 3,478 11/30 Samford W 35-14 3,022 1988 • UCF opens the campaign with five-consecutive wins and moves to second in the NCAA Division II national rankings. A crowd of 31,789 attends UCF’s 26-18 victory over defending national champion Troy at 1986 the Citrus Bowl. Defensive lineman Steve Spears and offensive lineman • The team begins the season 4-1. UCF sets a new attendance record Dave Underwood earn Football Gazette All-America honors. when 23,760 watch the Knights play Wofford for Homecoming. The contest features a postgame performance by the Beach Boys. The Knights went 6-5 during the year to post their first winning campaign 1988 NCAA II (6‑5‑0) Coach: Gene McDowell since the inaugural season in 1979. Linebacker Wyatt Boggan leads the 9/2 Bethune-Cookman W 29-21 14,831 team with 143 tackles and earns Football News All-America First Team 9/10 West Georgia W 33-14 11,270 honors.