Knights will unite under stadium lights

Are you ready for some football? Then don't miss out on UCF's season kickoff celebration, Friday Knight Lights.

"It's going to be UCF's biggest football season kickoff party ever," said Arielle Bardzell, SGA's athletics and traditions coordinator.

Beginning Friday at 4 p.m. in Bright House Networks Stadium, Friday Knight Lights will feature appearances by the Marching Knights, KnightMoves, the UCF Spirit Squad, Knightro and, of course, coach George O'Leary and the defending Conference USA champion football team.

Students, alumni and fans can also pick up free promotional items, free food from Wackadoo's Grub and Brew and have a chance to win season tickets and game day parking passes. Additionally, all students in attendance will receive a UCF Athletics T-shirt.

SGA and UCF Athletics combined forces to create Friday Knight Lights, the inaugural football season kickoff party that they hope will become a new tradition. It replaces Freshman Frenzy, a pep rally that taught freshmen about UCF football traditions. The new event is open to all students, alumni and fans.

"We're going to be there promoting different UCF traditions that formerly would have been taught to freshmen at UCF Freshman Frenzy," Bardzell said. "But we're really expanding it to make it more of a football season kickoff party so that everyone can unite together."

This will be the first event SGA hosts in the on-campus stadium since its construction in 2007.

"Friday Knight Lights is the biggest pep rally UCF has ever seen," SGA President Matthew McCann said. "We'll learn the fight song. We'll learn about what to do when Zombie Nation comes on over the loud speakers. These are things that will help students going to their very first game. It will hopefully build an emotional connection to the football team as well as Bright House Networks Stadium."

Associate Director of Athletics Joe Hornstein said that some previous UCF pep rallies were hit-or-miss, but Friday Knight Lights is structured entirely different.

"Coach [O'Leary] really got on board," Hornstein said. "He authorized the use of the stadium. The team would normally go to their hotel on Fridays, but before they go, they're going to go into the stadium and salute the kids."

Hornstein also praised SGA for its work to bring Friday Knight Lights to life.

"First, let's give credit to Matt McCann and [SGA Vice President] Adam Brock," Hornstein said. "They really worked hard over the summer building a relationship with Coach O'Leary to really bring tradition to the forefront of their campaign and, hopefully, their legacy."

Both McCann and Hornstein urge all students to attend Friday Knight Lights and Saturday's football game against Charleston Southern.

"It is extremely critical for the UCF student population," Hornstein said. "You need to be there. You need to come out. You need to support the University of Central Florida football team and really create a tradition. Support Student Government and make this event a success."

"I would encourage all students of all ages and from all colleges to come and interact with the athletics program and really gain a better understanding of the traditions here on campus," McCann said.

"Not only students but fans and alumni will really get a lot out of this. It's really great for everyone to come together...to really support this football team and show them how excited we are for their game the next day," Bardzell said.

As an incentive, freshmen who attend the event will earn 1,500 LINK Loot points.

Friday Knight Lights is the first of several new SGA initiatives designed to increase and redefine school spirit. Students can also attend the SGA-sponsored tailgate revamped by the newly formed Team Tailgate, another event prior to Saturday's game,