#Knightlanta Report
Sami Kincaid is in #Knightlanta to keep Knight Nation up-to-date on what the UCF football team is up to as we lead into Monday's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Click the play button above or the "watch" link to the right to check out the first #Knightlanta Report of the week.
#Knightlanta Feature – UCF's Fifth Year Seniors Ready to Make More Memories
Nine Knights remember the 2014 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl fondly
In 2013, the UCF football team went 12-1, won the inaugural American Athletic Conference Championship and defeated Baylor to win the 2014 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. It was the most memorable season in UCF history.
Until now.
The 2017 squad, at 12-0 and back in a New Year's Day Bowl Game for the first time since Blake Bortles and company took down Baylor in Arizona, has the opportunity to make history. A win over No. 7 Auburn in Monday's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl could match or even surpass the magic of that memorable 2013 run.
For nine of this year's Knights, the memory of the Fiesta Bowl victory four years ago drives them to finish strong.
In 2013, Chequan Burkett, Shaquem Griffin, Chris Johnson, Seyvon Lowry, Aaron Evans, Charles Sprenkel, Tate Hernly, Michael Colubiale and Tony Guerad were freshmen.
Many of them watched from the sidelines, as Bortles, Storm Johnson, Terrance Plummer and the rest of the Knights made memories on the field that will last the rest of their lives.
"Watching those guys get prepared and not worry about outside talking, bettering themselves each and every day, (it was special)," Griffin said.
In 2017, they are fifth year seniors. It's their turn to make magic. These Knights are eager to replicate on the field the joy they had on the sidelines exactly four years ago.
"Being a part of that team, it helped me in my journey," Lowry remembered. "Now I know what it takes to get to that stage."
From Fiesta to Peach, these Knights have been through a lot. Two years removed from that magical season, UCF endured one of its most difficult in program history, losing all 12 of its games in 2015.
"It humbled us," Griffin said. "We went from winning back-to-back (championships) to winning nothing. It showed us that if you don't put in the work for something, you're not going to get what you want out of anything."
"We have to bond together," Guerad added. "It's a brotherhood. We all have to stick together through the bad and the good. That's what (the 2015 season) taught me."
After turning things around in 2016 to the tune of a 6-6 record and an AutoNation Cure Bowl berth, the Knights have reached new heights this fall. Winning game after game, breaking record after record, UCF has one more hurdle to climb.
"We're really excited to go against a Top 10 team," Burkett said. "(Auburn) beat two number one teams, but we're the only undefeated team. This will be a test for them too. We're ready to go out and play."
For these young men, this incredible run will last forever.
"This team will always be remembered," Griffin concluded. "Not just because of what we've accomplished, but because of the bond that we have."
The Knights bring that bond to Mercedes-Benz Stadium Jan. 1 at 12:30 p.m.
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