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Roger Simmons
Roger Simmons

Birds, Words, Pics + TV

UCF Football History

Roger Simmons, July 5, 2008

1979 –

A season by season look at
the UCF Knights football team.

> 1979
NCAA Division III
(inaugural football season)

Record:
6-3

Coach:
Don Jonas (6-3)
Date Opponent Result
9-22 at
St. Leo
W,
21-0
9-29 Fort
Benning
W,
7-6
10-13 Maryville W,
10-7
10-20 at Fort
Lauderdale
W, 14-0
10-27 at Presbyterian L, 48-0
11-3 at Emory &
Henry
L, 28-14
11-10 University of
the South
W, 24-0
11-17 Morehouse W, 14-7



> 1980  
NCAA Division III

Record:
3-5-1

Coach:
Don Jonas (9-8-1)
Date Opponent Result
9-13 Carson-Newman * L, 30-21
9-20 St. Leo W, 55-0
9-27 Millsaps L, 8-7
10-4 Miles T,
11-11
10-11 at
Savannah State
L, 44-0
10-18 at
North Alabama
L, 28-3
11-1 Catawba W,
14-12
11-8 SUNY-Albany
(HC)
L,
28-27
11-15 Emory
& Henry
W,
18-14
* later
forfeited by Carson-Newman



> 1981  
NCAA Division III

Record:
4-6

Coach:
Don Jonas (13-14-1)
Date Opponent Result
9-12 Presbyterian L, 3-0
9-19 Elizabeth City L, 14-9
9-26 at Millsaps W, 13-6
10-3 Miles W, 6-0
10-10 Savannah State W, 47-13
10-17 at Alabama A&M L, 23-15
10-31 at West Georgia L, 20-6
11-7 Hampden-Sydney
(HC)
W, 17-0
11-14 Millersville L, 27-9
11-21 Bethune-Cookman L, 24-20



> 1982  
NCAA Division II (first
year)

Record:
0-10

Coach:
Sam Weir (0-10)
Date Opponent Result
9-11 Georgia Southern (at
Jax)
L, 16-9
9-19 Southeastern Louisiana L, 24-14
9-25 at VMI L, 69-0
10-2 at Valdosta State L, 13-7
10-9 Bethune-Cookman L, 40-12
10-16 Alabama A&M L, 31-10
10-23 at Nicholls State L, 60-10
10-30 West Georgia (HC) L, 41-7
11-6 Carson-Newman L, 36-17
11-13 Eastern Kentucky L, 26-14



> 1983  
NCAA Division II

Record:
5-6

Coach:
Lou Saban (5-6)
Date Opponent Result
9-2 Elizabeth
City
W,
37-7
9-10 at Georgia
Southern
W, 33-29
9-17 at Southeastern
Louisiana
L, 54-28
9-24 North Alabama L, 47-20
10-1 Valdosta State
(HC)
W, 20-0
10-15 at Richmond L, 31-26
10-29 at Austin Peay W, 10-7
11-5 at Carson-Newman L, 35-14
11-12 Nicholls State L, 27-14
11-19 Fort Lewis W, 59-28
11-26 Bethune-Cookman L, 31-22



> 1984  
NCAA Division II

Record:
2-9

Coaches:
Lou Saban (6-12), Jerry Anderson (1-3)
Date Opponent Result
9-1 Bethune-Cookman L, 43-22
9-8 at Louisiana-Monroe L, 49-21
9-15 Georgia Southern L, 42-28
9-22 at
Western Kentucky
W,
35-34
9-29 at Southwest Texas State L, 39-13
10-6 Akron L, 26-21
10-13 at Eastern Kentucky L, 37-14
10-20 Illinois State W, 28-24
10-27 Austin Peay (HC) L, 24-21
11-3 at Indiana State L, 38-0
11-10 at Furman L, 42-6
Note: Saban
coached first 7 games, Anderson the last 4 games



> 1985  
NCAA Division II

Record:
4-7

Coach:
Gene McDowell (4-7)
Date Opponent Result
9-7 Bethune-Cookman W,
39-37
9-13 Southeastern
Louisiana
W, 27-21
9-28 at Illinois State L, 48-21
10-5 Southwest Texas State L, 48-12
10-12 Western Kentucky L, 47-17
10-19 Eastern Kentucky L, 28-21
10-26 Stephen F. Austin (HC) L, 59-24
11-2 at Louisville L, 42-21
11-9 at Georgia Southern L, 35-18
11-23 Savannah State W, 31-7
11-30 Samford W, 35-14



> 1986  
NCAA Division II

Record:
6-5

Coach:
Gene McDowell (10-12)
Date Opponent
Result
9-6 Bethune-Cookman W,
26-14
9-13 West Georgia W, 34-21
9-20 Valdosta State W, 10-7
9-27 at Akron L, 20-17
10-4 Murray State W, 38-25
10-11 at Wichita State L, 9-6
10-18 at Eastern Kentucky L, 51-24
10-25 Wofford (HC) L, 31-28
11-1 at VMI W, 38-9
11-8 Georgia Southern L, 33-23
11-15 Samford W, 66-7



> 1987  
NCAA Division II

Record:
9-4

Coach:
Gene McDowell (19-16)
Date Opponent Result
9-5 Bethune-Cookman W, 17-9
9-19 Elon W, 34-10
9-26 Eastern Kentucky L, 23-16
10-3 at Georgia Southern L, 34-32
10-10 Savannah State W, 36-26
10-17 West Georgia W, 52-14
10-24 NW Missouri
State (HC)
W, 45-3
10-31 Grand Valley
State
W, 67-3
11-7 Liberty W, 42-21
11-14 at Florida A&M L, 19-14
11-21 Morningside W, 24-7
11-28 Indiana, Pa. * W, 12-10
12-5 Troy State * W, 31-10
* Division II
playoffs



> 1988  
NCAA Division II

Record:
6-5

Coach:
Gene McDowell (25-21)
Date Opponent Result
9-2 Bethune-Cookman W,
29-21
9-10 West Georgia W, 33-14
9-17 Troy State W, 26-18
9-24 at East
Tennessee State
W, 23-17
10-1 North Alabama W, 35-33
10-8 New Haven L, 31-23
10-15 Southern Conn.
State (HC)
W, 24-16
10-22 at Valdosta State L, 48-19
10-29 Georgia Southern L, 31-17
11-5 at Liberty L, 24-7
11-12 at Eastern Kentucky L, 35-31



> 1989  
NCAA Division II

Record:
7-3

Coach:
Gene McDowell (32-24)
DATE OPPONENT RESULT
9-1 Bethune-Cookman L, 23-15
9-9 Valdosta State W, 35-14
9-16 at Troy State L, 20-6
9-23 Newberry W, 30-3
9-30 at North Alabama W, 17-16
10-7 East Tennessee
State
W, 34-0
10-21 at Georgia Southern L, 31-17
10-28 Liberty (HC) W, 33-30
11-11 Eastern Kentucky W, 20-19
11-18 Texas Southern W, 49-12
     



> 1990  
NCAA Division I-AA (first
year)

Record:
10-4

Coach:
Gene McDowell (42-28)
Date Opponent Result
9-1 Troy
State
W,
16-10
9-8 at Eastern Kentucky L, 24-12
9-15 at
Bethune-Cookman
W, 42-9
9-22 at Memphis State L, 37-28
9-29 Kentucky State W, 49-0
10-6 at Samford W, 37-16
10-20 Georgia Southern L, 38-17
10-27 Southern
Illinois
W, 49-14
11-3 Liberty W, 28-6
11-10 Slippery Rock
(HC)
W, 24-21
11-17 Texas Southern W, 63-6
11-24 at Youngstown
State *
W, 20-17
12-1 William &
Mary *
W, 52-38
12-8 at Georgia Southern L, 44-7
* I-AA playoffs



> 1991  
NCAA Division I-AA

Record:
6-5

Coach:
Gene McDowell (48-33)
Date Opponent Result
8-31 Troy
State
W,
21-10
9-7 at James Madison L, 49-31
9-14 at Valdosta
State
W, 12-0
9-21 East Carolina L, 47-25
9-28 Bethune-Cookman W, 32-6
10-5 at Arkansas
State
W, 31-20
10-12 Samford L, 13-6
10-26 at Georgia
Southern
L, 20-6
11-2 Savannah State
(HC)
L, 33-31
11-9 at Liberty W, 31-26
11-16 Millersville W, 52-6



> 1992  
NCAA Division I-AA

Record:
6-4

Coach:
Gene McDowell (54-37)
Date Opponent Result
9-5 Gardner-Webb W,
71-26
9-12 Bethune-Cookman W, 28-3
9-19 Troy State L, 20-16
9-26 at Western
Illinois
W, 35-22
10-3 Moscow
(exhibition)
W, 43-6
10-17 Nicholls State W, 42-18
10-24 at Western Kentucky L, 50-36
10-31 at Liberty L, 31-28
11-7 Buffalo (HC) W, 63-21
11-14 James Madison W, 41-37
11-21 at Samford L, 20-13



> 1993  
NCAA Division I-AA

Record:
9-3

Coach:
Gene McDowell (63-40)
Date Opponent Result
9-11 Valdosta
State
W,
35-30
9-18 at East Carolina L, 41-17
9-25 McNeese State W, 22-3
10-2 Yale W, 42-28
10-9 Samford W, 48-17
10-16 Western Illinois
(HC)
W, 35-17
10-23 at
Bethune-Cookman
W, 34-14
10-30 at Troy State L, 29-15
11-6 Liberty W, 55-19
11-13 Buffalo W, 42-7
11-20 Louisiana Tech W, 38-16
11-27 at Youngstown State* L, 56-30
* I-AA playoffs  



> 1994  
NCAA Division I-AA

Record:
7-4

Coach:
Gene McDowell (70-44)
Date Opponent Result
9-3 at
Maine
W,
28-6
9-10 Valdosta State L, 31-14
9-17 Bethune-Cookman W, 48-17
9-24 Western Kentucky W, 59-45
10-1 at Illinois
State
W, 27-26
10-8 at Samford L, 36-35
10-15 at Louisiana
Monroe
W, 33-16
10-22 Troy State (HC) L, 39-38
10-29 at Liberty W, 49-24
11-12 at East Carolina L, 23-20
11-19 Buffalo W, 48-0



> 1995  
NCAA Division I-AA

Record:
6-5

Coach:
Gene McDowell (76-49)
Date Opponent Result
8-31 Eastern
Kentucky
W,
40-32
9-9 Carson-Newman W, 35-21
9-23 at Florida State (No. 1) L, 46-14
9-30 at McNeese State L, 49-7
10-7 Samford W, 41-14
10-14 Liberty L, 7-6
10-21 at Hawaii L, 45-14
10-28 at Louisiana
Monroe
W, 34-14
11-4 Bethune-Cookman
(HC)
W, 38-7
11-11 Troy State L, 28-17
11-18 Maine W, 37-17



> 1996  
NCAA Division I-A (first
year)

Record:
5-6

Coach:
Gene McDowell (81-55)
Date Opponent Result
8-29 William
& Mary
W,
39-33
9-7 at South Carolina L, 33-14
9-14 at New Mexico L, 17-7
9-21 at Ball State L, 31-10
9-28 at East Carolina L, 28-7
10-12 Samford W, 38-6
10-19 Louisiana-Monroe L, 39-38
10-26 at Georgia Tech L, 27-20
11-2 Illinois State
(HC)
W, 42-15
11-9 at UAB W, 35-13
11-16 Bowling Green W, 27-19



> 1997  
NCAA Division I-A

Record:
5-6

Coach:
Gene McDowell (86-61)
Date Opponent Result
8-30 at Mississippi L, 24-23 OT
9-6 at South Carolina L, 33-31
9-13 at Nebraska (No. 6) L, 38-24
9-20 Idaho W, 41-10
9-27 at Auburn (No. 8) L, 41-14
10-4 at Kent State W, 59-43
10-11 Samford W, 52-7
10-25 at Mississippi State L, 35-28
11-1 at Louisiana-Monroe L, 45-41
11-15 Eastern Michigan
(HC)
W, 27-10
11-22 Toledo W, 34-17



> 1998  
NCAA Division I-A

Record:
9-2

Coach:
Mike Kruczek (9-2)
Date Opponent Result
9-5 at
Louisiana Tech
W,
64-30
9-12 Eastern Illinois W, 48-0
9-19 at Purdue (ESPN) L, 35-7
9-26 at Bowling Green W, 38-31
10-3 at Toledo W, 31-24
10-10 Northern
Illinois
W, 38-17
10-24 at
Louisiana-Lafayette
W, 42-10
10-31 Youngstown State W, 44-32
11-7 at Auburn L, 10-6
11-14 Ball State (HC) W, 37-14
11-21 New Mexico W, 38-6



> 1999  
NCAA Division I-A

Record:
4-7

Coach:
Mike Kruczek (13-9)
Date Opponent Result
9-4 Purdue (No. 22) L, 47-13
9-11 at Florida (No. 4) L, 58-27
9-18 at Georgia Tech (No.12) L, 41-10
9-25 at Georgia (No. 11) L, 24-23
10-2 Eastern Illinois W, 31-21
10-16 Nicholls State W, 38-0
10-23 Louisiana Tech L, 46-35
10-30 Eastern Michigan
(HC)
W, 31-6
11-6 at Auburn L, 28-10
11-13 at Middle
Tennessee
W, 39-14
11-20 Bowling Green L, 33-30 OT



> 2000  
NCAA Division I-A

Record:
7-4

Coach:
Mike Kruczek (20-13)
Date Opponent Result
9-2 at Georgia Tech L, 21-17
9-9 Northwestern
State
W, 19-7
9-16 at Akron L, 35-24
9-23 William &
Mary
W, 52-7
9-30 at Eastern
Michigan
W, 31-10
10-7 at Northern Illinois L, 40-20
10-14 Eastern Kentucky W, 34-3
10-21 Louisiana-Monroe
(HC)
W, 55-0
10-28 at Alabama W, 40-38
11-4 at Louisiana
Tech
W, 20-16
11-11 Virginia Tech (No. 8) L, 44-21



> 2001  
NCAA Division I-A

Record:
6-5

Coach:
Mike Kruczek (26-18)
Date Opponent Result
9-1 at Clemson (No. 19) L, 21-13
9-8 at Syracuse L, 21-10
9-22 at Tulane W, 36-29
9-29 at Virginia Tech (No. 8) L, 46-14
10-6 UAB W, 24-7
10-13 Liberty W, 63-0
10-20 Louisiana-Monroe
(HC)
W, 38-6
10-27 at Utah State L, 30-27
11-3 Akron W, 57-17
11-10 at Arkansas L, 27-20
11-24 Louisiana-Lafayette W, 31-0



> 2002  
NCAA Division I-A

Mid American Conference (first year)

Record:
7-5 overall, 6-2 MAC

Coach:
Mike Kruczek (32-23)
Date Opponent Result
8-31 at Penn State (24)
(ESPN)
L, 27-24
9-7 at Arizona State L, 46-21
9-20 at Marshall # (ESPN2) L, 26-21
9-28 Liberty W, 48-17
10-12 at Western
Michigan #
W, 31-27
10-19 Toledo # L, 27-24
10-26 Akron # (HC) W, 28-17
11-2 Syracuse L, 38-35
11-9 at Buffalo # W, 45-21
11-16 Kent State # W, 32-6
11-23 at Miami, OH # W, 48-31
11-30 Ohio # W, 42-32
# MAC game  



> 2003  
NCAA Division I-A

Mid-American Conference

Record:
3-9 overall, 2-6 MAC

Coaches:
Mike Kruczek (35-30), Alan Gooch (0-2)
Date Opponent Result
8-31 at Va. Tech (No. 9)
ESPN
L, 48-28
9-13 Florida Atlantic W, 33-29
9-20 at Syracuse L, 38-14
9-27 at Kent State # L, 36-16
10-4 Buffalo # W, 19-10
10-11 at Ohio # L, 28-0
10-18 at Akron # L, 38-24
10-25 Central Michigan
# (HC)
W, 31-13
11-1 at West Virginia L, 36-18
11-8 at Eastern Michigan # L, 19-13
11-19 Marshall # (ESPN2) L, 21-7
11-28 Miami, OH # (No. 15) L, 56-21
# MAC game

(Note: Kruczek coached first 10 games, Gooch coached last
2 games)



> 2004  
NCAA Division I-A

Mid-American Conference

Record:
0-11, 0-8 MAC

Coach:
George O’Leary (0-10)
Date Opponent
Result
8-31 at Wisconson (No. 21) L, 34-6
9-11 West Virginia (No. 10) L, 45-20
9-18 Penn State L, 37-13
10-2 at Buffalo # L, 48-20
10-9 Northern Illinois # L, 30-28
10-16 Akron # L, 26-21
10-23 at Miami, OH # L, 43-7
10-30 at Marshall # L, 20-3
11-6 Ohio # (HC) # L, 17-16 OT
11-13 at Ball State # L, 21-17
11-23 Kent State # L, 41-24
# MAC game  



> 2005  
NCAA Division I-A

Conference USA (first year)

Record:
8-5 overall, 7-2 C-USA

Coach:
George O’Leary (8-15)
Date Opponent Result
9-1 at South Carolina L, 24-15
9-17 at USF L, 31-14
9-24 Marshall # W, 23-13
10-1 at
Louisiana-Lafayette
W, 24-21
10-8 Memphis # W, 38-17
10-15 at Southern Miss # L, 52-31
10-22 Tulane # W, 34-24
10-29 at East Carolina
#
W, 30-20
11-5 Houston # W, 31-29
11-12 at UAB # W, 27-21
11-19 at Rice # W, 31-28
12-3 Tulsa # ^ L, 44-27
12-24 Nevada (Hawaii Bowl) L, 49-48 OT
# C-USA game

^ C-USA Championship



> 2006  
NCAA Division I-A

Conference USA

Record:
4-8 overall, 3-5 C-USA

Coach:
George O’Leary (12-23)
Date Opponent Result
9-2 Villanova W,
35-12
9-9 at Florida L, 42-0
9-16 South Florida L, 24-17
9-26 Southern Miss # (ESPN) L, 19-14
10-4 at Marshall #
(ESPN2)
W, 23-22
10-13 Pittsburgh (ESPN) L, 52-7
10-21 Rice # L, 40-29
10-28 at Houston # L, 51-31
11-4 East Carolina # L, 23-10
11-11 at Memphis # W, 26-24
11-18 at Tulane # L, 10-9
11-25 UAB # W, 31-22
# C-USA game



> 2007
NCAA Division I Football
Bowl Subdivision

Conference USA Champions

Record:
10-4 overall, 9-1 C-USA

Coach:
George O’Leary (22-27)
Date Opponent Result
9-1 at
N.C. State
W,
25-23
9-15 Texas L, 35-32
9-22 Memphis # W, 56-20
9-29 Louisiana-Lafayette W, 37-19
10-6 at East Carolina # L, 52-38
10-13 at USF L, 64-12
10-20 vs. Tulsa # W, 44-23
10-28 at Southern Miss
#
W, 34-17
11-3 vs. Marshall # W, 47-13
11-10 at UAB # W, 45-31
11-17 at SMU # W, 49-20
11-24 UTEP # W, 36-20
12-1 Tulsa # ^ W, 44-25
12-29 Miss State (Liberty Bowl) L, 10-4
# C-USA game

^ C-USA Championship

UCF helmets courtesy of The Helmet Project

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