Sept. 7, 2010
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By Joe Hornstein
UCFAthletics.com
Orlando, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - This Saturday's football game vs. NC State is a "can't-miss" for any fan of the UCF Knights. Mark your calendars as the ACC's Wolfpack comes to Bright House Networks Stadium for a primetime nationally-televised match-up with the hometown Knights at 7:30 p.m.
Great seats are still available and can be easily purchased online at UCFAthletics.com, by calling the UCF Athletics ticket office at 407-823-1000, or in-person at the box office window on the west side of Bright House Networks Stadium.
Saturday's game day will be even more special for UCF fans with all of the events surrounding the evening's kickoff. For starters, you can get a chance to meet American Idol finalist and former UCF football player Michael Lynche during his pre-game autograph session prior to singing the national anthem. Also known as "Big Mike" to the massive national audience watching him weekly this past season on the hit FOX television series, the former Knight made it all the way to show's top four.
Lynche played defensive tackle for the Knights from 2001-02. He made an immediate impact as a freshman out of St. Petersburg's Gibbs High School, registering 24 tackles in that first season. His 24 tackles included 17 solo stops, with eight tackles for loss and a sack. As a sophomore in 2002, Lynche played in all 12 games and started each of the last three. He had at least one tackle in 11 of those contests and finished the year with 46 tackles in all, including a pair of sacks and six TFLs. He left the team just before the start of the 2003 season, returned to his native St. Petersburg and helped care for his ailing mother.
On the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, UCF Athletics will pay tribute to all of the heroes whose lives were lost that day by distributing American flags to fans upon entry into the stadium. Along with a moment of silence during the pre-game, UCF will be honoring one of the New York Fire Department's brave firefighters who was on-duty on Sept. 11, 2001. In addition, volunteers from the United States Army, UCF Army and Air Force ROTC, Armed Services Veterans and several local first-response units will be on-hand to unfurl two large American flags on the field during the pre-game festivities. UCF Athletics has also donated game tickets to the University Of Central Florida Office Of Veteran Services, as well as several other local military, fire and police agencies, which will all be recognized during the game.
GAME INFORMATION
UCF vs. NC State
Saturday, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Bright House Networks Stadium
- Gates open at 6 p.m. (or 90 minutes prior to kickoff)
- Gold Zone parking lots north of Gemini Boulevard open at 8 a.m. (E lots surrounding stadium, Baseball, Softball and Garage F) with a no-alcohol restriction until 12 p.m.
- All other parking opens at 12 p.m.
BOOKMARK THIS WEBSITE: UCFGameday.com contains all important game day policies to help guide you once you arrive on campus, from parking and directions to a listing of prohibited items. You will want to also bookmark UCFAthletics.com, which contains everything you want to know about this year's football team!
BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS STADIUM TICKET OFFICE HOURS: This Saturday, the ticket office on the west side of the stadium will open at 9 a.m. The east side box office will open three hours prior to the game at 3 p.m. UCF Athletics will have representatives on-hand outside the west ticket window to manage any student ID card issues. For ticket information, please call the UCF Athletics ticket office at (407) UCF-1000.
GREAT SEATS AVAILABLE: Don't miss out on any game this season! Great seats can still be purchased from the UCF Athletics ticket sales staff or conveniently purchase online at UCFAthletics.com. This year, you can also purchase UCF tickets through your PDA!
GAME DAY FAN HELP DESK: On game day, fans can continue to call 407-882-FANS (3267) with last-minute questions.
TEXT "41513" FOR YOUR IN-STADIUM SAFETY ISSUES: UCF Athletics administers a text-message based system that allows fans to communicate directly with the stadium's command post if assistance is needed in dealing with any special needs inside the stadium. The system will be in place beginning two hours prior to each game. Fans can simply text "41513" and type into the message the word "UCF," followed by a space, followed by a brief description of the issue and its location. Ushers, public safety personnel, first aid responders, or event staff will respond as needed.
SMOKEY BONES PRE-GAME TAILGATE SHOW AND ISP-UCF SPORTS FAN FAIRE: Beginning at 5:30 p.m., fans can make their way to IOA Plaza, right in front of Bright House Networks Stadium, to catch the pre-game radio broadcast live with Marc Daniels, Jerry O'Neill, Mike Gruttadauria and Scott Adams as they talk about the NC State game and welcome guests throughout the show.
NC State game Fan Faire participants:
- Busch Gardens
- CCM
- Florida Dept of Agriculture
- Kitson & Partners
- E-Tour & Travel
- Smokey Bones (will pass out discount cards)
- E Tour & Travel
- Holler-Classic Automotive Group (will pass out UCF-themed stickers)
- 5/3 Bank
- Blue Man Group
- Tropical Smoothie
- Bright House Networks
- Outback Steakhouse (will pass out discount cards)
COLLEGE OPEN HOUSE DAY: The University of Central Florida will showcase its academic programs for parents, students and fans before the game. Eight of UCF's colleges will open their doors for College Open House Day, which invites visitors to tour the colleges, learn more about the curriculum and speak with faculty and staff members. Activities will begin at 10 a.m. For more information, go to http://openhouse.ucf.edu.
FIRST 16,000 FANS CAN GET AN AMERICAN FLAG: Free commemorative American flags will be available for the first 16,000 fans entering the stadium. Make sure you pick up your 2010 UCF football schedule posters and cards, plus other sports marketing collateral, at the UCF Athletics Marketing Table located inside the main stadium entry between gates 1-4.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS CLUB PREGAME HOSPITALITY: The Golden Knights Club will host its pre-game hospitality event at the Black & Gold Club in the UCF Arena from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday. The event is open to GKC donors at the Noble level and above. Visit the GKC section at UCFAthletics.com for more information.
CATCH THE MARCHING KNIGHTS' PRE-GAME SHOW AND MORE: At approximately 7:15 p.m., UCF's oldest tradition will hit the field as Pegasus and its rider enter the stadium. To follow, the Marching Knights, under the direction of Dr. Donny Allen, will start their pre-game. Then turn your attention to the video board in the north end zone, where a new team intro video will play. Get ready for the energy of Zombie Nation's "Kernkraft 400", as eyes focus to the Knights football team readying to march onto the field led by UCF's heralded spirit squad. After the team takes the field comes the new UCF anthem "Knightmare" by Orlando-based music group Remove Before Flight.
THE FARM BUREAU WEATHER REPORTER OF THE GAME: Florida Farm Bureau Insurance has teamed up with UCF Athletics for an exciting contest. This football season, Knights fans can register online at KnightsContest.com for the opportunity to be on the UCF ISP Sports Network as the Farm Bureau Weather Reporter of the Game. Fans can also click the Farm Bureau button at UCFAthletics.com to register for a chance to be live on the radio before a UCF football home game this fall. The winner will receive four game tickets and VIP hospitality passes, one VIP Gold Zone parking pass, a pre-game tour of the field and the opportunity to be the radio team's on-air game-day weather reporter. A new winner is chosen prior to each home game, so log onto KnightsContest.com and register today! No purchase is necessary, visit KnightsContest.com for more details.
THE FIFTH THIRD BANK COIN TOSS KID: You don't have to play for the Knights to get on the field before a UCF football game at Bright House Networks Stadium this fall. Parents can register their child (ages 6-13) for a chance to be an official Fifth Third Bank Coin Toss Kid a UCF Knights home game! One lucky kid will be chosen before each of the six home games to join the team captains and referee at midfield for the official coin flip. The winner chosen for each home game will receive recognition on the video board, four game tickets, four pre-game field passes, one parking pass and a gift courtesy of Fifth Third Bank. To register your kid for this contest, or to read the complete contest rules, visit UCFAthletics.com.
SATURDAY CLASSES: UCF will continue its policy of holding Saturday classes until noon on game days. Afternoon classes will be canceled, and classroom buildings will be locked at 12 p.m. Staff and faculty members with keys may access the buildings after 12 p.m. if they are conducting official business, and they are advised to make sure that doors remain locked after they enter or exit.
GETTING TO THE STADIUM: Traffic patterns before and after games are virtually the same as in 2009. Preferred routes for each of the three parking zones and campus road closures that occur on game days are listed at UCFGameday.com.
UCF will operate free shuttles for students to and from several nearby apartment complexes, from 2:30 p.m. (five hours prior to the start of the game) until two hours after the game ends. The on-campus shuttle routes (Black and Gold routes) will not be operating on game days.
PARKING AND TOWING: Parking policies are virtually the same as they were in 2009. Parking is divided into three zones -- Gold, Red and Blue. The Gold Zone, closest to Bright House Networks Stadium, requires a reserved game day parking permit and is only for members of the Golden Knights Club, credentialed media, stadium operations personnel, patrons with disabilities and students with special permits.
Anyone parked in the Gold Zone who does not meet the above criteria will be towed as early as 5 a.m. on Saturday. The Gold Zone includes surface parking lots C 1-2, D 1-2 and E 1-8, the baseball and softball lots, as well as parking garages C, D and F. This does not apply to Towers residents who have reserved parking spaces in Garages E and G. They are allowed to remain in their reserved spaces. Parking also is prohibited on East Plaza Drive on game days.
Almost all parking in the Red Zone and Blue Zone is free and open to everyone on a first-come, first-served basis. Garage B, located across from the Recreation and Wellness Center, is reserved for official university business. Towing will be enforced beginning at 5 a.m. in Garage B.
Parking is not allowed along any campus roadways, in residential housing parking lots or garages, or on any open grassy areas throughout campus (except for designated E-lots).
PARK AND RIDE: Fans are invited to park at off-site parking lots conveniently located in the Research Park. Free UCF Shuttles will continuously transport passengers from the Orlando Tech Center in the Research Park to the on-campus Health & Public Affairs stop at Lot C1. Game day service will be available from three hours prior to kickoff until two hours after game ends.
FANS WITH DISABILITIES: Parking for fans with disabilities is available on the first floor of Garage D across from the UCF Arena. Fans with valid handicapped parking permits are allowed to enter the Gold Zone via Libra Drive or North Orion Boulevard to access Garage D. A free shuttle for patrons with disabilities will be provided from Garage D to Bright House Networks Stadium (Gate 13) from four hours prior to kickoff until two hours after the game ends. Fans with disabilities can park in other handicapped parking spaces on campus, but shuttles will be available only from Garage D.
ANIMAL POLICY: Animals, except for service animals, are not allowed on campus on game days. Anyone who brings an animal that is not a service animal will be asked to take it home.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE HEAT: Fans should drink plenty of water or sports drinks, and limit alcohol consumption, to ensure they are replacing essential fluids lost due to the heat. Fans also should consider wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 15 to 30 or higher, a hat and loose-fitting clothes. First-aid stations are located on the main course near gates 10 and 18 inside the stadium, and the American Red Cross will have two aid stations set up on Memory Mall.
KNIGHTS PICKS UP: To keep the campus clean, a roving trash and recycling pick-up team called "Knights Pick Up" will travel around Memory Mall every few hours. We encourage fans to embrace the "Knights Pick Up" service and help recycling crews by regularly cleaning up their tailgating areas.
UCF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRE-GAME PARTY: Fans can "chill out and chow down" inside the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Admission is free for fans with UCF Alumni membership cards and their guests. Fans can purchase food and enjoy a DJ, NCAA football games on big projection screens and a game room for kids. Visit www.UCFAlumni.com for more information.
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After defeating South Dakota in the season-opener, the Knights still have five exciting home contests scheduled for 2010, including games against the NC State Wolfpack, Southern Miss Golden Eagles, East Carolina Pirates, UAB Blazers and Rice Owls.
Affordable mini-plans for the remainder of UCF's 2010 football campaign at Bright House Networks Stadium are currently available by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at 407-UCF-1000 or logging on to UCFAthletics.com.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
--UCF Athletics--