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April 15, 2007

UCF to be less 'Golden' from now on

After years of using the "Golden Knights" moniker, USA Today reports that Central Florida announced that they would drop the 'Golden' and opt to be known as the UCF Knights. Along with the new name, a new logo will be formally introduced at a unveiling in June.

The school got its nickname in 1993 from athletics director Steve Sloan. Looking for a way to boost merchandise sales, Sloan told the school's sports-information directors to refer to all affiliated teams as "Golden Knights" in what he called an effort to accelerate UCF's popularity.

It was a trick Sloan learned while working at other popular schools with colorful names, including the Alabama Crimson Tide, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Duke Blue Devils.

Posted by Kevin Donahue

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Comments:

  1. Tom Blogical said:

    posted on April 16, 2007 12:00 AM — 24.95.77.153 — link — abuse?



    So they're moving the next trick. Changing the name again to generate a quick boost in merchandise sales in 2007. How many years before they do that again?

  2. Tomcat said:

    posted on April 16, 2007 3:00 AM — 70.249.44.209 — link — abuse?



    I'm really happy for UCF and they really have some balls to schedule the Horns in their debut game at their new stadium.
    prediction 39-10 Hookem-Horns

  3. TrojanHorse said:

    posted on April 16, 2007 5:12 AM — 75.75.86.11 — link — abuse?



    Winning cures all; win games and you could be called the Banana Slugs and sell a ton of merchandise

  4. Jake said:

    posted on April 16, 2007 1:16 PM — 68.210.12.48 — link — abuse?



    Take a look back in time (even the last 10 years) and see how many times teams changes things about their athletic program's looks/name. All UCF did is drop the "golden" (which by the way is long overdue) and get an updated logo. Its more than just "for the money" UCF is trying to establish itself nationally and updating is a great way to do that. Its not like they changed the colors to pink and green and are now called the rosebuds.

  5. Zac said:

    posted on April 16, 2007 2:00 PM — 209.36.193.14 — link — abuse?



    Golden Knights, Harbor Lights, Weavel Blights, what difference does it make. So long as it doesn't slight some government supported minority... Oh, oh, I'm getting political now.

    Don't mind me. I'm still in shock over what happened at VA Tech.

  6. NMLSooner said:

    posted on April 16, 2007 5:37 PM — 208.189.232.132 — link — abuse?



    wow. can you feel the shockwaves passing though the college football world. when this is all finished the entire lanscape of college football will be different.

  7. So Cal Clippers said:

    posted on April 16, 2007 11:14 PM — 204.62.68.23 — link — abuse?



    "Banana Slugs"...

    ... Cal Santa Cruz ???

  8. Marko said:

    posted on April 17, 2007 10:58 AM — 70.127.205.96 — link — abuse?



    Real shocker here is that UCF still has a football team.

  9. Fanblogs Author War Eagle Atlanta said:

    posted on April 17, 2007 2:09 PM — 152.163.100.70 — link — abuse?



    Perhaps they were being pressured from the US Army's Golden Knights Parachute Team? Ha!

  10. Zac said:

    posted on April 17, 2007 5:04 PM — 65.31.230.72 — link — abuse?



    Given the size of the school, I'm amazaed it doesn't have a better football team, not to mention being in a better conference. Maybe instead of Kights, they should call themselves "lights out".

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