Milton released from hospital
Knights honor injured QB
McKenzie Milton was settled in at home to watch UCF face Memphis in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game, but his presence was felt at Spectrum Stadium.
UCF fans went all out Saturday in their tributes to the injured star quarterback, who suffered nerve damage and a dislocated knee during the Knights’ win over rival USF last week.
Milton was released from Tampa General Hospital after three surgeries and was to watch the game with his father, according to a report by Maria Taylor on ESPN’s College GameDay. She stated doctors are encouraged by how much Milton is able to wiggle his toes and he is slated to have surgery to repair his dislocated knee in four to six weeks, depending on the speed of his vascular recovery.
Milton sent a video that to be played for the team and Taylor shared another one addressing fans.
“I just want to thank everyone that’s been sending their thoughts and prayers to me in this recovery process,” Milton said in the video. “It means the world to me.”
Milton was wearing a Santa hat with UCF logo and holiday lei.
“I just want to wish you all a Merry Christmas,” he said before adding a Hawaiian greeting. “... God bless all you all.”
UCF officials had several tributes planned, including two helmet stickers that were showcased on ESPN’s SportsCenter Saturday.
The front of the helmet featured the numbers “808,” the area code of Milton’s native Hawaii.
The back featured the phrase “10HANA,” a mix of Milton’s No. 10 jersey and the Hawaiian phrase “Ohana” that means family.
Hours after Milton’s injury, a fan suggested wearing leis to the championship game. The movement quickly spread and UCF gave it a boost by partnering with local business Global Promo to distribute 40,000 leis to fans.
Spectrum Stadium was packed with fans wearing Milton’s No. 10 jersey number, leis and signs featuring his nickname “KZ” and the phrase Ohana.
Helping AAC
During one of the more awkward moments during the pregame press conference for the AAC Championship Game Friday, Memphis coach Mike Norvell was asked whether he believes officials from the conference were secretly rooting for UCF to win Saturday’s game because of the financial boost the league would get from sending a team to a New Year’s Six Access Bowl.
“I can tell you that I know that we’re excited about the opportunity. I’ll say one thing about the American Athletic Conference is that every opportunity we step on the field, no matter what team shows up, there’s going to be a high standard, a high level of competition and performance,” Norvell said. “We’ve got great coaches. We’ve got great players. ...This is a championship game. Either team can win. This is part of the two most competitive teams that our league has to show, at the present moment and we’re definitely excited for the opportunity.
“Whatever feelings go beyond that, I don’t know.”
The Group of 5 conference that earns a New Year’s Six Access Bowl bid receives a payout of around $6.5 million, which is dispersed among its member schools. The AAC received that payout last season because of UCF’s appearance in the Peach Bowl.
A UCF loss would have sent the winner of the Mountain West Conference Championship Game to a New Year’s Six bowl.
Gift for Milton
Norvell gave UCF coach Josh Heupel a commemorative football signed by all the Tigers players and coaches Friday.
Its intended Milton.
“It’s just for McKenzie to tell him that he’s in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish you all the best and final recipient: a speedy recovery,” Norvell said of the helmet. “As one of the greatest competitors in college football — I’ve been around this game for a good while, I’ve competed against a lot of great, great athletes. He’s so impactful and not just on the field. You watch the watch the way that people respond to him. … I’ve got a lot of respect for that young man.”
Norvell said it was heartbreaking to see Milton go down with the injury.
“I hate seeing adversity show up for really good people. I know he’s going to respond and as a football team, we wanted to have a gesture just to say that we were there for support,” he said.