Dec. 31, 2011
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - As the final days of 2011 fade away and 2012 approaches, we here at UCFAthletics.com want to look back at the best moments of the past year and honor arguably the most significant 12 months in school history.
No. 10 Moment
No. 9 Moment
No. 8 Moment
No. 7 Moment
No. 6 Moment
No. 5 Moment
No. 4 Moment
No. 3 Moment
No. 2 Moment
Here is a breakdown of the No. 1 moment of 2011 for UCF Athletics in 2011:
MOMENT: UCF officially accepts invitation to become an all-sports member of the BIG EAST Conference
DATE: Dec. 8
SITE: Orlando, University of Central Florida
SIGNIFICANCE: After a decade-long pursuit, UCF finally earned entry into a conference with Automatic Qualifier status into the Bowl Championship Series. UCF's entry into the BIG EAST in 2013 will allow the Knights to compete at the highest level of competition in all sports.
WHAT HAPPENED: A day after the BIG EAST held a conference call to formerly announce the additions of UCF, SMU, Houston, Boise State and San Diego, UCF held a news conference and celebration signifying the entrance into the nationally respected league. As members of the BIG EAST, UCF's football program will have access to BCS bowl games and can legitimately contend for a national championship. And in men's and women's basketball, the Knights will be members of the most prestigious league in America. On the men's side alone, 14 schools from the new BIG EAST have reached the Final Four at some point in their history. As BIG EAST members, UCF will also renew its rivalry with South Florida in all sports. The hope among some at UCF is that the Knights and Bulls football teams will play on the Friday after Thanksgiving each year to establish a tradition for both schools. The entry into the BIG EAST should also help with recruiting some of the finest athletes in the country to UCF.
THEY SAID IT: ``It would be hard for me to be much happier than I am today,'' UCF President Dr. John C. Hitt said. ``We've worked on this for years and years and at long last our coaches and players will have a chance to be in a conference that will allow them to compete at the highest of levels. ... This gives us incredible exposure to the conference in 28 million households that are estimated. We'll reach more households than any other conference.''