2003 UCF Golden Knights football team

The 2003 UCF Golden Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. After signing a three-year contract extension to begin the season, head coach Mike Kruczek was fired following a 3–7 start. Kruczek was replaced on an interim basis by Assistant coach and former player Alan Gooch who finished out the dismal 3–9 season.

2003 UCF Golden Knights football
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record3–9 (2–6 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorRobert McFarland (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorBill D'Ottavio (2nd season)
Home stadiumFlorida Citrus Bowl
Seasons
← 2002
2004 →
2003 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 10 Miami (OH) x$   8 0     13 1  
Marshall   6 2     8 4  
Akron   5 3     7 5  
Kent State   4 4     5 7  
UCF   2 6     3 9  
Ohio   1 7     2 10  
Buffalo   1 7     1 11  
West Division
No. 23 Bowling Green x   7 1     11 3  
Northern Illinois   6 2     10 2  
Toledo   6 2     8 4  
Western Michigan   4 4     5 7  
Ball State   3 5     4 8  
Eastern Michigan   2 6     3 9  
Central Michigan   1 7     3 9  
Championship: Miami 49, Bowling Green 27
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

With three games remaining, senior starting quarterback Ryan Schnieder was suspended from the team, effectively ending his college career.[1]

2003 marked the Golden Knights second season in the Mid-American Conference, in the East Division.

Schedule edit

 
The Citrus Bowl, the Knights home field
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 313:00pmat No. 9 Virginia Tech*ESPNL 28–4965,115
September 136:00pmFlorida Atlantic*W 33–2926,901
September 2012:00pmat Syracuse*ESPNL 14–3835,103
September 272:00pmat Kent StateL 16–366,728
October 46:00pmBuffalo
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 19–1022,540
October 112:00pmat OhioL 0–2821,109
October 186:00pmat AkronL 24–388,113
October 254:00pmCentral Michigan 
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
W 31–1320,523
November 11:00pmat West Virginia*L 18–3642,712
November 812:00pmat Eastern MichiganL 13–295,150
November 197:30pmMarshall
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
ESPN2L 7–2118,141
November 281:00pmNo. 15 Miami (OH)
  • Florida Citrus Bowl
  • Orlando, FL
L 21–5612,902
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

References edit

  1. ^ "UCF suspends Schneider for rest of year". UPI. November 4, 2003. Retrieved November 18, 2022.