2001 UCF Golden Knights football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 2001
| team = UCF Golden Knights
| sport = football
| image = UCF Golden Knights logo.png
| image_size = 150
| conference = Independent
| record = 6–5
| head_coach = Mike Kruczek
| hc_year = 4th
| off_coach = Robert McFarland
| oc_year = 1st
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Gene Chizik
| dc_year = 4th
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Florida Citrus Bowl
}}
{{2001 NCAA Division I-A independents football records}}
The 2001 UCF Golden Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. Their head coach was Mike Kruczek, who was in his fourth season with the team. The season marked the Golden Knights last season as an independent. In 2002, UCF joined the Mid-American Conference in the East Division, the first conference for the Golden Knights since ascending to the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision in 1996.
On opening day, UCF traveled to No. 19 Clemson. The Tigers outlasted UCF, and won by the score of 21–13. UCF quarterback Ryan Schneider threw for 297 yards, but an ineffective rushing game was the difference in the game. UCF scored a touchdown with 8:09 left in regulation, but a missed extra point and a punt on their next possession allowed Clemson to run out the clock and preserve the win.[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores101/101244/101244333.htm Central Florida vs. Clemson] On October 13, UCF blew out Liberty 63–0, the largest shutout victory in school history.[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores101/101286/101286402.htm Liberty vs. Central Florida] The Golden Knights scored on their first six possessions, jumping out to a 42–0 halftime lead. In UCF's final game as an Independent school, the Golden Knights earned a 31–0 win over Louisiana–Lafayette in their second shutout of the year, and fourth blowout win since October. Finishing with a winning record of 6–5, UCF did not receive a bowl invitation.
Schedule
File:Citrus Bowl aerial view.jpg, the Knights home field.]]
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 2001
| poll = AP
| timezone = Eastern
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 1
| time = 1:00 pm
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Clemson
| opprank = 19
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Clemson, SC
| tv =
| score = 13–21
| attend = 81,482
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 8
| time = 12:00 pm
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Syracuse
| site_stadium = Carrier Dome
| site_cityst = Syracuse, NY
| tv = SUN
| score = 10–21
| attend = 35,938
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 22
| time = 3:30 pm
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Tulane
| site_stadium = Louisiana Superdome
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| tv = SUN
| score = 36–29
| attend = 17,497
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 29
| time = 12:00 pm
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Virginia Tech
| opprank = 8
| site_stadium = Lane Stadium
| site_cityst = Blacksburg, VA
| tv = SUN
| score = 14–46
| attend = 53,662
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 6
| time = 6:00 pm
| w/l = w
| opponent = UAB
| site_stadium = Florida Citrus Bowl
| site_cityst = Orlando, FL
| tv = CSS
| score = 24–7
| attend = 30,820
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90560304/defense-rules-in-ucf-win/|work=The Orlando Sentinel|title=Defense rules in UCF win|date=October 7, 2001|accessdate=December 14, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 13
| time = 6:00 pm
| w/l = w
| opponent = Liberty
| site_stadium = Florida Citrus Bowl
| site_cityst = Orlando, FL
| tv =
| score = 63–0
| attend = 17,103
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 20
| time = 4:00 pm
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| opponent = Louisiana–Monroe
| site_stadium = Florida Citrus Bowl
| site_cityst = Orlando, FL
| tv =
| score = 38–6
| attend = 23,001
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 27
| time = 5:05 pm
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Utah State
| site_stadium = Romney Stadium
| site_cityst = Logan, UT
| tv =
| score = 27–30
| attend = 16,135
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 3
| time = 6:00 pm
| w/l = w
| opponent = Akron
| site_stadium = Florida Citrus Bowl
| site_cityst = Orlando, FL
| tv =
| score = 57–17
| attend = 15,779
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 10
| time = 2:00 pm
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Arkansas
| site_stadium = Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
| site_cityst = Fayetteville, AR
| tv =
| score = 20–27
| attend = 61,527
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 24
| time = 1:00 pm
| w/l = w
| opponent = Louisiana–Lafayette
| site_stadium = Florida Citrus Bowl
| site_cityst = Orlando, FL
| tv =
| score = 31–0
| attend = 12,264
}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{UCF Knights football navbox}}
Category:UCF Knights football seasons
{{collegefootball-2001-season-stub}}