UCF Knights :
The UCF Knights athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. These teams are collectively referred to as the Knights, with the women's teams sometimes referred to as the "Lady Knights." UCF participates in the NCAA's Division I (Division I FBS for football). The Knights joined Conference USA in 2005, and compete in the East Division in any sports split into a divisional format. UCF will join the Big East Conference for all sports on July 1, 2013.
The Knights field 16 varsity teams, 6 men, 9 women and one co-ed sport, that have won numerous national and conference titles. The Knights football team was Conference USA champions in 2007 and 2010, and the Knights women's basketball team were the 2009 and 2010 C-USA champions. The UCF cheerleading team has captured two national titles at the College Cheerleading and Dance Team Nationals, in 2003 and 2007.
UCF, its athletic program, and the university's alumni and sports fans are sometimes jointly referred to as the "UCF Nation," and are represented by the mascot Knightro. The "Knight" was chosen as the university mascot in 1970 by student election.The "Knights of Pegasus" - as it was originally called - was a submission put forth by students, staff, and faculty, who wished to replace UCF's original mascot, the Citronaut, which was a mix between an orange and an astronaut. The Knights were also chosen over "Vincent the Vulture," which was a popular unofficial mascot among students at the time.In 1994, Knightro debuted as the Knights official athletic mascot.
NCAA College Football
UCF Knights vs Akron Zips
THURSDAY AUGUST 30
Time : 7:00 pm ( E.T.)
Akron Zips :
The intercollegiate athletic teams at The University of Akron are known as the Zips. Teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level and in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for college football. Since 1992, the Zips have been members of the Mid-American Conference. The Zips name is unique in college athletics and comes from "zippers", rubber overshoes made by the BF Goodrich Company that were popular in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1925, a campus-wide contest had been conducted to choose a nickname for the university's athletic teams. Suggestions submitted by students, faculty, and alumni included Golden Blue Devils, Tip Toppers, Rubbernecks, Hillbillies, Kangaroos, and Cheveliers. The winner, freshman Margaret Hamlin, received a prize of $10 for "Zippers". Athletic director Kenneth Cochrane officially shortened the nickname to Zips in 1950. The university's mascot is "Zippy", a kangaroo. Zippy is one of only a few female college mascots in the United States.
