Scott visits, salutes undefeated Knights
It’s been quite the past couple of weeks for Jordan Johnson and his UCF teammates.
Since capping a historic undefeated season with their win over Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day, the Knights players were honored with not only a parade at Disney World but a community rally in front of thousands of fans in downtown Orlando.
But perhaps the biggest honor came on Thursday when Florida Gov. Rick Scott made a surprise visit to campus to congratulate the team on its special season.
It was Johnson, along with new coach Josh Heupel, who presented the governor with an official football jersey with his name stitched on the back. In return, Gov. Scott awarded each of the players with a medal and a copy of the proclamation he signed earlier this month that recognized the team as national champions.
“It’s awesome,” Johnson said after the ceremony. “I just sent out a Tweet that said, it doesn’t get more official than this.”
Johnson, a sophomore offensive lineman, summed up the entire experience with one word: fun. He added, “my mom is going to be surprised.”
“Not many people can say they got an award from the governor,” added junior defensive lineman Joey Connors.
Scott said he wanted to congratulate the team in person.
“It’s fun to highlight UCF, a team that went undefeated, a team that had just an unbelievable season; and to recognize them for being national champions,” the governor said afterward. “But its also fun to just interact with the student-athletes.”
Many of the UCF players who began trickling into the team meeting room just before midday were wearing either official Peach Bowl garb or national championship Tshirts. “Congratulations on your national championship,” Scott said, earning a round of applause from players and coaches.
He spoke with each player for a few moments while presenting the medals.
It was a packed house, including quarterback McKenzie Milton, running back Otis Anderson and punter Mac Loudermilk.
When asked what he would say to critics who question the validity of UCF’s national championship, Scott was quick to reject those claims.
“They should be declared national champions,” he said. “Just look at the facts: undefeated; they beat the team in Auburn that beat Georgia and Alabama, so I don’t think there is any question they should be national champions.”
Johnson agreed with the governor’s assessment adding, “The governor of the whole state of Florida decided we’re champions, that out rules anybody else’s hating on us.”