UCF Football 30 in 3 Series Episode 1: The beginning years...1996-2005 (E93)

UCF would join Division I football in 1996.  As the first team to every jump 4 divisions, D III to D II to D 1-AA and now D 1-A, the then called Central Florida Golden Knights became an independent school playing at the highest level.  Home games consisted of lower division teams as the Knights had to fill their schedule with power conference teams on the road.  Many years not having but one home game in September, if any.  This allowed good pay days for the school, but less teams were looking to schedule us as we gave some big schools and ranked teams some scares early on in Division I.   I take us back season by season, add in a few stories along the way, of the first decade of UCF Division I football.  While we lost more than we won, and had a winless season in this decade, we did have a few seasons that showed hope for the future.  During this period, we joined and left the MAC Conference and in year one of Conference USA made it to the title game.  While we didn't win, we received our first bowl game appearance and lost in overtime.  Many ups and downs, but optimism about our future was high as we entered the second decade.