Dec. 26, 2010
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By Andrea Ciotti
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, FLA. - Former UCF football players Daunte Culpepper and Michael Lynche will join E! host Guiliana Rancic and her husband Bill Rancic at the 30th annual Orlando Citrus Parade on December 30th giving the event a little UCF feel. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the corner of Orange Avenue and Robinson Street and follow a route through downtown Orlando concluding at Rosalind Avenue and Robinson Street in front of Lake Eola.
Culpepper will serve as Grand Marshall and Lynche the on-street commentator for the parade.
Culpepper is an Ocala native and UCF's first FBS All-American selection in 1998. While at UCF he set the NCAA record for single-season completion percentage (.736). He also passed for 11,412 yards and rushed for 1,020 yards over his four seasons, an accomplishment that was achieved by only two other collegiate players. He finished his career sixth on the NCAA's all-time total offense list for all divisions with 12,459 yards and was responsible for 108 touchdowns. Following his collegiate career Culpepper was drafted 11th overall in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Culpepper made three Pro Bowl appearances in Minnesota. Through his NFL career, Culpepper also played for the Miami Dolphins (2006), Oakland Raiders (2007) and Detroit Lions (2008-09). Culpepper is currently playing in the UFL for the Sacramento Mountain Lions.
Lynche played defensive tackle for the Knights from 2001-02. He made an immediate impact as a freshman out of Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg. Lynche had 24 tackles in 2001, 17 of them solos, 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. Lynche rose to national prominence off of the field however as was the fourth place finalist this past spring on American Idol. He is currently finishing his first studio album.
The Orlando Citrus Parade celebrates the Champs Sports Bowl and Capital One Bowl and has become one of the nation's largest sports-affiliated parades. Floats adorned with Citrus line the streets of downtown Orlando for this annual event, as well as the marching bands from Michigan State and Alabama and high school bands from around the country and specialty units, floats and entertainers.
Knight's fans in Orlando are encouraged to come out to line Orange Avenue to support Culpepper and Lynche. The parade is free along the route; however, tickets are available in the grandstand in front of Lake Eola for the event produced by Florida Citrus Sports by going to www.orlandocitrusparade.com.
As for the Knights of today, No. 24 UCF will go "Bowlin' on Beale Street" when the Knights face Georgia on Dec. 31 in Memphis in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. For all of the latest bowl game ticket and travel information, head to UCFBowl.com or call the UCF Athletics ticket office at (407) 823-1000.