UCF salutes NASA at homecoming
Since Scott Frost has arrived in Orlando, UCF has sported quite a few unique uniform designs. But for their homecoming game against East Carolina on Saturday night, dubbed the “space game,” the team took things to another level.
In honor of the school’s longtime connections to the space program, the team donned special space-themed decals, including a moon crater pattern within the UCF logo, a stripe featuring a photo of the Andromeda Galaxy with constellations and stars placed in different spots around the black helmets.
There are several constellations within the stripe, including a pegasus, the school’s academic symbol, and a bull that, according to the school’s website, represents “the opponent and the conquered.” UCF’s biggest rival, USF, uses a bull as its mascot.
The team also wore
black jerseys that featured a mission patch. The patch included the UCF logo within the moon, a pegasus constellation and the phrase “reach for the stars,” UCF’s motto, written along the top of the patch.
UCF, which was founded as Florida Technological University in 1963, originally existed to support the local space program and has had many connections to NASA over the years. The school has been involved with past launches and has multiple astronaut alumni.
UCF HOSTS RECRUITS: The Knights hosted about 40 college football prospects Saturday for their homecoming game against East Carolina, and the group included five players on official visits.
Three of those players on official visits are already committed to UCF: receiver Avery Thornton of Miami Booker T. Washington, offensive tackle Devin Jordan of Fort Lauderdale Dillard and linebacker Demetrius Mayes of Miami Northwestern.
Jacksonville Trinity Christian linebacker Eriq Gilyard and safety Chamarri Conner also were on official visits. Conner is committed to Virginia Tech.
Other UCF commits spotted at Spectrum Stadium on unofficial visits included offensive lineman Ike Walker of Gainesville St. Francis Catholic School and athlete Patrick Jolly of Lithia Newsome.
Among others in the mix of unofficial visitors were RB Travis Tisdale of Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes; ATH Winston Wright of Savannah (Ga.) Memorial Day School; OL Cameron Vaughn of Haines City; DB Caleb Blake of Orlando Timber Creek; DE C.J. Lockett of Jacksonville Trinity Christian; WR Lee Graham of Glen St. Mary Baker County and his teammates Khristian and Kayden Hill, the sophomore twin brothers of UCF DT Trysten Hill.