May 1, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.UCFAthletics.com) - The following story is part four in a series of eight short features detailing the history, legacy and folklore behind the making of the Florida Technological University (FTU) and University of Central Florida (UCF) name, logo and mascot. Accompanying each story on-line at UCFAthletics.com is a corresponding photo gallery displaying historical images from each era of UCF Knights athletics.
What seemed to offset the authentic feel of the Horse and Rider tradition were the farcical character mascots that also made their debuts during the early 1980's.
In time for the start of its second season of football, UCF decided to revamp the mascot both to motivate the crowd and draw attention to the fledgling football program. The first football mascot, dubbed "Sir Wins-a-lot", debuted at a 1980 football game knighted by President Trevor Colbourn.
"Sir Wins-a-lot", a knight-themed mascot featuring a large smiling face made of plastic, was eventually retired a few seasons later in favor of just the Horse and Rider, which by the late 1980's had taken on the look of an authentic Knight in a costume donated by the widely-popular Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament in nearby west Orlando.
Then there was the dragon-themed "Puff" or to several within the Knights Boosters organization as "Pete the Dragon".
The boosters' version of the nickname was undoubtedly inspired by the Disney movie of nearly the same name, but primarily after UCF's notable Director of Athletics of the time, Bill Peterson, known as "Coach Pete" in the athletics community.
"Puff" briefly served as UCF's next mascot around 1987. In a costume donated by Disney, "Puff" served as mascot along with the Knight of Pegasus, exciting the crowds for sporting events and likely serving as a target for the victorious Knight.
Shortly after "Puff" made its debut and departure from the UCF football sidelines, "Mack the Knight" made his inaugural appearance in-time for the school's 25th anniversary year in 1989 performing routines with the spirit squad. "Mack" was a cartoon-like creation designed by former football letterman Derron Stultz, who handled the school's merchandise at the time.
Nevertheless, all three renditions wouldn't keep and the next step was much bolder compared to the previous efforts.
Arguably, UCF football had the most unique pre-game show in the nation for the better part of a decade spanning through the 1980's and early 1990's. It was during this period that the Knight's pre-game festivities were a series of lavishly performed medieval-period scenes performed by the cast of the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. The cast would be separated into black and gold clad UCF Knights facing the enemy dressed in the colors of the football team's game-day opponent.
The following is an excerpt from The Knightly News, the athletics department's first monthly publication geared towards the founding members of Knights Boosters, Inc.
To most Knight Football fans, "Pete the Dragon" is the cavorting, frolicking, black and gold creature that took the jibes and jabs of the "Knight" and the Knight's Lance.
But in real life "Pete the Dragon" is UCF student Jeff Prince, a sophomore from Palm Beach Gardens, majoring in psychology. Prince (no play on words connected with Knights) is a native of Canton, Ohio. He played on the Palm Beach Junior College tennis team last year but did not try out for the Knights new squad here.
The Ohio product became interested in the "Pete the Dragon" concept through the Knight Riders, the Knight Booster student support group. Athletic Director Bill Peterson asked Eric Yount to be in charge of the "Knight" during the football season. With that task before him, Yount came up with the "Dragon" concept to add to the "sideline show". Prince liked the idea and accepted the challenge about a week before the first game.
As the sideline sidewinder put it, "it's a crazy job but a heck of a lot of fun. I enjoy it. During one of the halftime shows the cheerleaders and I were on the opposing team's bench. I laid down on the bench just joking around and the cheerleaders then they left me. I had to go across the field alone, so when I did, I stopped and shined the official's shoes. That caper got a good response from the crowd. I've taken the ambulance driver's cap, found a roll of toilet tissue and stuck it in my sock, letting it trail me around the sidelines and shaken numerous hands. Many women have said how cute I looked and asked me to shake their sons' and daughters' hand and when I do, some of them laugh and some of them cry".
Fortunately, most of the response to "Pete the Dragon" at Knight Football games has been laughter. That's excellent because that's his main mission when he performs before the home crowd at Orlando Stadium.
Did You Know: Medieval Times became something of cult phenomena during the time it choreographed UCF's football pre-game show. So large, the famous tourist attraction was prominently satirized in the movie "The Cable Guy" starring Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick in 1996.