March 7, 2013
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - One of the most memorable events on the UCF calendar is set for Friday, April 12, when five new members will be inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame. Making up the prestigious 2013 class will be Dan Burke (football), Don Jonas (football coach) and Justin Pope (baseball), along with Distinguished Honoree Lou Cioffi (men's soccer) and the 2003 cheerleading team.
The 2013 UCF Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony will take place in the J. Rolfe Davis Recruiting Room at Bright House Networks Stadium from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Fans are invited to purchase tickets to the event for $65 each, or they may buy a table for 10 for $600 which includes recognition during the evening.
For more information, please call the Golden Knights Club at (407) 823-2086 or email the GKC at goldenknightsclub@athletics.ucf.edu. Registration needs to be completed by April 8, and the form can be accessed by clicking the link above.
"This is an exceptional class that exemplifies what being a Knight is all about," Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury said. "We look forward to honoring them during Hall of Fame Weekend, and I encourage UCF fans to come out to Bright House Networks Stadium and support all of our outstanding inductees April 12."
The UCF Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1998 to honor members of past athletic teams who have excelled in intercollegiate athletics at UCF, or gained national recognition in athletics following their departure from campus. It also gives special recognition to non-athletes who have contributed significantly to the development of the UCF Athletics program.
Nominees are not eligible until 10 years after they last participated in intercollegiate athletics at the University. Eligible inductees beyond individual student-athletes comprise of teams, coaches, administrators/staff and donors/supporters.
Including 2013, the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame has 71 inductees, highlighted by former coaches, athletes and administrators. With the inclusion of the 2003 cheerleading squad, it marks the first team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Categories for Induction
Legendary Knights - Letterwinners/athletes who have brought recognition and prominence to the University and themselves by athletic accomplishments as an undergraduate.
Distinguished Letterwinners - Letterwinners/athletes who have made major contributions to the University athletic program through personal time, effort, interest and through many years of continued service and/or have distinguished themselves as exceptional in their chosen field or endeavor.
Honorary Letterwinners - Individuals, coaches, athletic officials, staff members and other University officials, who were not letterwinners/athletes at UCF, yet have rendered outstanding service to the intercollegiate athletics program through personal time, effort, interest and through many years of continued service.
The 2013 UCF Athletics Hall of Fame Class
| Dan Burke - Football |
Dan Burke
Football - 1979-82
Center/Tackle
Legendary Knight
-The anchor on the offensive line for the first four seasons of the UCF football program
-Started every game at center his first two years
-Also played at tackle during his career, as he made the switch in the middle of 1981 due to injuries
-Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American in 1981
-Orlando Touchdown Club named him its Offensive Player of the Year in 1981
-Signed with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL in 1984 and had a stint with the Baltimore Stars in 1985
-Also signed with the Orlando Predators in 1991
-Currently the head coach at Palm Bay High School, as he took over the position in 1996, and has a 169-43 record along with sending more than 50 players to compete in the collegiate ranks
-Has led Palm Bay to the regional finals 10 times since 1997 as well as 17-straight playoff appearances, and has racked up 13 district titles, five final-four appearances and two state titles in 2000 (6A) and 2002 (4A)
-In 2000, the Pirates were ranked No. 12 nationally
-Has received numerous conference coach of the year honors, and most recently was the 2010 Florida Dairy Farmers Class 6A State Coach of the Year and the 2011 Florida Today Brevard County Coach of the Year
-Came to UCF out of Melbourne, Fla., and Eau Gallie High School
-Born in Hattiesburg, Miss.
-Resides in Cocoa Beach, Fla.
| Lou Cioffi - Men's Soccer |
Lou Cioffi
Men's Soccer - 1978-79
Goalkeeper
Distinguished Letterwinner
-Historically one of the lead fundraisers for men's soccer
-Attends every match to this day and remains actively involved
-First President of the Varsity Club when it was created in 2009
-Played for current UCF Athletics Hall of Fame coach Jim Rudy
-Had 111 career saves to rank 10th all-time
-Part of the 1979 team that won the Sunshine State Conference Tournament Championship
-Ranks 11th in UCF history with six shutouts, and eighth with a 1.54 GAA
-An All-South Region and All-Sunshine State Conference award winner in 1979
-Most Valuable Defensive Player for UCF in 1979
-Played at the professional level from 1980-85, and then again from 1989-91
-Served as an assistant coach at Lyman High School from 1986-98, and at Winter Park High School from 2000-03
-Also spent time as a coach at the youth club levels
-Resides in Winter Springs, Fla.
Don Jonas
Football - 1979-81
| Don Jonas - Football |
Head Coach
Honorary Letterwinner
-UCF's first head coach, serving originally as a volunteer with the Knights
-Earned full-time status with UCF in 1980
-Put together a 14-12-1 record and an 11-6-1 record in home games
-Resigned after 1981 to become director of the UCF Gridiron Club
-Was a running back at Penn State, and selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1961 NFL Draft
-Ultimately played quarterback in the professional ranks, including the Orlando Panthers
-As the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' quarterback, won the 1971 Schendley Award, which is presented to the Most Outstanding Player in the CFL
-A product of Scranton, Pa.
-Currently resides in Longwood, Fla.
Justin Pope
Baseball - 1999-01
Pitcher
Legendary Knight
-Selected in the first round (28th overall) in the 2001 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals
-All-American in 2001, as well as an ABCA All-Atlantic Region First Team pick
-Named 2001 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, and to the A-Sun All-Tournament Team that same year
| Justin Pope - Baseball |
-Twice named an All-A-Sun performer
-Broke Roger Clemens' NCAA record by pitching 38.1 consecutive innings without giving up a run in 2001 (it has since been broken, but still ranks among the top performances in college baseball history)
-UCF's career leader with 32 wins and 335 strikeouts
-Ranks second all-time with 49 starts on the mound, third with three shutouts, fifth with 310.0 innings pitched and seventh by averaging 9.73 strikeouts per nine innings
-Formed a 1-2 punch with current UCF Athletics Hall of Fame pitcher Jason Arnold as they helped guide the Knights to the NCAA Regionals in 2000 and 2001
-UCF was ranked as high as No. 7 in the country in 2001
-In 2000, the Knights had big victories over No. 5 Alabama, No. 7 Florida State, No. 1 LSU, No. 21 Wake Forest and No. 24 Clemson
-The next year, they posted a weekend sweep at home against No. 11 Alabama in the first year of Jay Bergman Field, and also swept No. 8 Stetson on the road
-Born in West Palm Beach, Fla., and is a native of Lake Worth, Fla.
-Graduate of Wellington High School
-Commonly referred to as "Bulldog" while at UCF
-Played for eight seasons in the minor leagues, mostly in the New York Yankees organization
-Currently in his first season as the manager for the Staten Island Yankees (Class A)
| 2003 National Championship Trophy |
2003 Cheerleaders
Legendary Knights
-Celebrating its 10th anniversary of claiming the Universal Cheerleading Association College Cheerleading Division IA National Championship
-The team made the jump from I-AA along with football in the fall of 1996 and won the title just seven years later
-First team to be inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame
-Ended a streak of eight-consecutive national titles for Kentucky, which finished second
-The 2003 title was the first of two national championships for the UCF cheerleaders (2007)
-There were a total of 18 members on the 2003 roster which combined for a 3.28 grade-point average that year, and all of them went on to receive their undergraduate degrees
-Most Knights have remained in central Florida and continue to serve the community through their work as school teachers, coaches, a pharmacist, a medical doctor, an attorney, a fireman and an Orange County Police Officer
-On June 10, 2003, United States Congressman Tom Feeney submitted a resolution on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing the 2003 team for its championship
-On Jan. 11, 2003, Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood issued a proclamation recognizing that date as UCF Cheerleading Team Day - "In Recognition of their Division IA National Championship"
-Final results from the 2003 College Cheerleading National Championships:
1) UCF
2) Kentucky
3) Alabama
4) Tennessee
5) Cincinnati
6) Penn State
7) Ohio State
8) Wisconsin
9) LSU
10) Mississippi State