After enduring a 2-hour-and-41-minute lightning delay that pushed back kickoff to 9:46 p.m., the Knights rallied to a 36-31 win in their long awaited matchup against Boise State.

The game technically stretched over two days to complete, wrapping up at 1:26 a.m. Friday in front of a still lively crowd in the stands to witness the victory.

The Knights overcame a 21-0 first-half deficit β€” matching a program record β€” and scored 23 consecutive points to earn the victory.

β€œI think the whole college football world saw it,” Malzahn said after the game. β€œYou go down by 21-0 at home against a really good team and to fight back, keep believing, making plays and answering the bell again β€” they just kept doing it and you could feel it on the sidelines. There wasn’t any panic. I’m really proud of our staff too. Our staff did a really good job. Overall, it was a really, really quality victory that will help us moving forward.”

Similar to 2020 ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ home football games, there will be limited capacity (50 percent) permitted at the Bounce House.

No tailgating will be allowed on campus. Social distancing and masks will be required within the confines of the Bounce House, except when fans are eating and drinking.

Tickets are available for purchase through the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Knights Ticketmaster website. Parking will be available for free on a first-come, first-served basis. Garage F and Baseball lots will open at 10 a.m. for Suites, Tower Club and Loge ticket holders. E6, E8 and Softball lots as well as Garage C and Garage D will be available at 10:30 a.m.

β€œDue to COVID, they initially had not planned for a 2021 spring football game,” says ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ vice president and athletics director Terry Mohajir. β€œHowever, the overwhelming enthusiasm created by the hire of Gus Malzahn as our new head coach has made it clear our fans very much want to get a look at our team this spring.

β€œWe are not yet in a position where tailgating will be permitted, and it is most beneficial for our student-athletes that we hold the game early in the day.” β€” Terry Mohajir, vice president and director of athletics

β€œWe are not yet in a position where tailgating will be permitted, and it is most beneficial for our student-athletes that we hold the game early in the day. I’m very aware of Knight Nation’s passion for night games to maximize the tailgating experience and look forward to experiencing that in full force in the fall.”

The spring game will be the first public look at Malzahn’s initial ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ squad that will open its 2021 season at the Bounce House on Labor Day weekend (Thursday, Friday or Saturday) against Boise State.

The Knights are slated to practice on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Saturday sequence for four weeks leading up to the game. NCAA rules permit 15 spring practice sessions (no practice slated for April 9).

Meanwhile, ticket sales for the 2021 ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ season continue β€” with approximately 86% of available season tickets already sold. Fans interested in purchasing tickets are encouraged to call 407-823-1000 or email tickets@athletics.ucf.edu.

The Knights are hopeful the Bounce House can be filled to capacity by fall β€” with that to be confirmed this summer based on COVID details.

β€œWe are moving forward with plans to sell out the Bounce House this fall. We will certainly abide by all medical guidelines, but we’re planning on 100% capacity,” adds Mohajir.

The 2021 ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ schedule features seven home games at the Bounce House: Labor Day weekend vs. Boise State; Sept. 11 vs. Bethune-Cookman; Oct. 9 vs. East Carolina; Oct. 22 (Friday) vs. Memphis; Nov. 6 vs. Tulane; Nov. 20 vs. Connecticut; and Nov. 26 (Friday) vs. South Florida.

KnightPass is a ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½-branded specialty toll sticker that works on all toll roads throughout Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. KnightPass offers exclusive toll discounts and is available for purchase online and at the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ bookstore. KnightPass is a product of E-PASS, owned and operated by the Central Florida Expressway Authority. Learn more atΒ .

Change can be as simple a new way to style you hair or can be as challenging as a new career.

ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Athletics saw change in a big way recently when the school saw its athletic director make one of those big changes.

After five years in Orlando, Danny White took the same position at the University of Tennessee. White oversaw an incredible run at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½. The football team became a national brand with its 25-game win streak. His claim of a national championship after the 2017 season made the Knights a story all across college football.

During his time at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, White oversaw numerous projects to upgrade facilities, raised money at a record level and became the face of Knight Nation.

For whatever reason White left – an opportunity presented itself, maybe he wondered if he had done all he could in Orlando, perhaps the frustration of college athletics that kept his school out of a larger conference β€” he decided to go.

His departure made many wonder, myself included: What was next for ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½?

We would soon find out.

White needed to hire a new football coach for Tennessee and he turned to someone he had recently hired β€” at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½. Josh Heupel was offered and accepted the UT job. And just like that, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ needed a new athletic director and football coach.

It is unusual that a school needs to fill both positions at the same time, and even more rare that an athletic director leaves a school then immediately takes the football coach with him.

It is unusual that a school needs to fill both positions at the same time, and even more rare that an athletic director leaves a school then immediately takes the football coach with him.

Athletic directors and top assistants across the country inquired about the leadership position and it’s easy to see why. The interest was not just about the chance to live in a great city with warm weather year-round. It was about what ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ has become β€” not just a brand recognized in college athletics that wins on the field and in the classroom, but about a passionate fan base and a place that is not afraid to be cutting edge and create its own path and not just follow the action of others.

Terry Mohajir, who was hired as the new athletic director, came from Arkansas State, where he oversaw tremendous growth in revenue, ticket sales, championships on the field and success in the classroom. He also created opportunities for student-athletes after their playing days ended.

Mohajir’s excitement and energy for the job was felt immediately when he was introduced. Even before that press conference he was busy trying to find a football coach.

He met with players and listened to what they wanted in a coach. As a former player, he watched film and spoke to other coaches and industry leaders. He quickly learned just how desired the position was. Current head coaches, top assistants and former coaches from college and the NFL wanted the job.

In the end, Mohajir turned to someone he worked with at Arkansas State. Gus Malzahn was in Jonesboro as the football coach when Mohajir was hired there in 2012. That year the Red Wolves won a conference title and Malzahn left to accept a new job as Auburn’s head coach.

They will be reunited at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½, where Malzahn believes ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ is getting the best version of the veteran coach. He brings experience, accountability and discipline and has an offense that should keep up the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ tradition of playing fast.

Both hires have been nationally praised. The college football media saw the move as a perfect fit for both the coach and ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½.

The reaction says a lot about the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ brand. It tells you how the school, athletic department and football team have grown through the years.

Change is not easy. But sometimes change brings fresh ideas. Change can inspire and energize not just those who are new, but also those who have been here to witness that growth.

A few weeks ago, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ lost its athletics leader and football coach, and many wondered what was going on.

Today, Terry Mohajir’s enthusiasm and vision is ready to lead the new era of ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Athletics and Gus Malzahn believes the football team is just getting started with more championships to win and a playoff berth to earn.

I was fortunate to speak with both after their initial press conference. Mohajir is the person you want to be around and absorb his energy. He appears as someone who knows where he wants to go and wants you to come along for the ride.

Like Malzahn, the timing of the move to ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ seems perfect in his career.Β ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½’s new football coach seemed like the guy getting back to his roots but at a place with unlimited potential. Malzahn loves coaching. He loves the competition and challenge. Leading the Knights seems like the moment he can get back to drawing up plays and outsmarting his opponents. I think he is ready to have fun and win big.

It’s a great time to be Knight. The future is bright. So Charge On!

Marc Daniels is the radio play-by-play voice for ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Athletics and serves as director of broadcasting for the Knights. He can be reached at mdaniels@athletics.ucf.edu.

TheΒ ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ ForumΒ is a weekly series of opinion columns from faculty, staff and students who serve on a panel for a year. A new column is posted each Wednesday on ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Today and then broadcast on WΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½-FM (89.9) between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Sunday. Opinions expressed are those of the columnists, and are not necessarily shared by the ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½.