1979 UCF Knights football team
The 1979 UCF Knights football team was the first official varsity team fielded by the University of Central Florida. The Knights first head coach was Don Jonas. The Knights competed as an NCAA Division III Independent. The team played their home games at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, now known as Camping World Stadium, in downtown Orlando.
UCF played its first football game on September 22, 1979, against. The Knights would prove victorious with a 21–0 shutout, and less than a week later, the Knights would win their first home game by defeating Ft. Benning, 7–6. Jonas led the Knights to a 6–2 inaugural season, behind an average attendance of 11,240, including a Division III record crowd of 14,138.
The humble beginnings for the Knights football team were exemplified during their inaugural season. The team had no locker room, the coaching staff was composed of volunteers, players were asked to bring their own cleats, and all equipment and supplies were donated. Practices took place on a driving range, and players had to go to a classroom building on campus to find showers. Head coach Don Jonas famously offered to take the position for no salary.Schedule
