1983 UCF Knights football
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–6
Head coach
Home stadiumFlorida Citrus Bowl
Seasons
← 1982
1984 →
1983 NCAA Division II independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 7 Central State (OH) ^   –   12 – 1 – 0
No. 4 Towson State ^   –   10 – 2 – 0
Northern Michigan   –   8 – 2 – 0
Saint Mary's   –   8 – 2 – 0
Southern Connecticut State   –   8 – 2 – 0
Eastern Washington   –   5 – 5 – 0
UCF   –   5 – 6 – 0
Central Connecticut   –   4 – 6 – 0
American International   –   4 – 7 – 0
Kentucky State   –   2 – 7 – 2
Morgan State   –   2 – 8 – 0
Liberty   –   2 – 9 – 0
New Haven   –   1 – 9 – 0
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll

The 1983 UCF Knights football season was the fifth season for the team. It was Lou Saban's first as the head coach of the Knights. Looking to bounce back from a winless 1982 season, Saban's 1983 team earned a respectable 5–6 overall record.[1] The Knights competed as an NCAA Division II Independent. The team played their home games at the Citrus Bowl in Downtown Orlando

In their rivalry game against the Bethune–Cookman, the two schools played for short-lived "Interstate 4 Trophy."[2][3]

On October 29, UCF notched their first victory against a Division I-AA opponent, defeating Austin Peay 10–7.

Schedule

The Florida Citrus Bowl, the Knights' home field
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 2Elizabeth City State
W 37–79,041
September 10at Georgia Southern
W 33–295,815
September 17at Southeastern Louisiana
L 28–545,000
September 24North Alabama
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
L 20–478,307
October 1Valdosta State
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 20–012,777
October 15at Richmond
L 26–313,413[4]
October 29at Austin Peay
W 10–77,000
November 5at Carson–Newman
L 14–353,300
November 12Nicholls State
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
L 14–374,500
November 19Fort Lewis
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 59–2814,212
November 26Bethune–Cookman
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
L 22–3113,294

[5]

References

  1. ^ "The Knights Move Up to D-II: Part 3 of 8 – The History of UCF Football". University of Central Florida Athletics Association. June 29, 2007. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  2. ^ Simmons, Roger (November 10, 2017). "There's another UCF trophy mystery and it doesn't involve the Civil ConFLiCT". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  3. ^ Guest, Larry (November 24, 1983). "UCF-Bethune playing for 7-foot Interstate 4 trophy". Orlando Sentinel. p. 27. Retrieved November 14, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  4. ^ "Richmond repels UCF rally to break losing string, 31–26". The Orlando Sentinel. October 16, 1983. Retrieved November 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Final 1983 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 12, 2023.


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