Tailgating spaces on Memory Mall are free for �鶹ӳ����ý students and alumni, but they must be secured through the Knights on the Mall online reservation system. Spaces on Memory Mall are snapped up quickly during the regular season, so fans are encouraged to make their Spring Game reservations soon.

The Spring Game at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 16, will be the first public showcase of the high-octane offense of �鶹ӳ����ý football under the leadership of new head coach Scott Frost. Likewise, the Spring Game will be different this year, too, with the game at Bright House Network Stadium preceded by a motocross show and concerts.

Memory Mall opens at noon, along with Garage C, Lot C2, Garage D, Lot D2 and Garage H. At 9 a.m., parking lots E3, E6, Softball and Baseball open for the general public, and lots E1, E2 and E8 open for permit parking.

Saturday, April 16, will be a day and Knight �鶹ӳ����ý fans will not want to miss.

The #�鶹ӳ����ýastival presented by CFE Federal Credit Union will feature the Knights’ annual Spring Football Game at 7 p.m. The Spring Game (free with online ticket registration) will be just one of several free events to enjoy. Festivities will include a pregame party with a concert series headlined by Vertical Horizon, Monster Energy Freestyle MX Show demonstrations, food trucks and inflatables for kids.

An exclusive Athletic Director’s VIP Tailgate also will be available for just $55 per person and will include an exclusive acoustic set from Vertical Horizon lead singer Matt Scannell, complimentary food and beverages, reserved parking and access to premium seating for the Spring Game.

2016 #�鶹ӳ����ýastival Timeline

9 a.m. – Parking Lots E3, E6, Softball and Baseball open for general public; E1, E2 and E8 parking lots open for permit parking only

12 p.m. – Garage C, Lot C2, Garage D, Lot D2 and Garage H open for general public

12 p.m. – Memory Mall opens/Tailgating begins

12 p.m. – �鶹ӳ����ý Baseball vs. USF (ticket required)

IOA Plaza Concert Series

2:30 p.m. – VIP Tent opens

3-3:30 p.m. – Monster Energy Freestyle MX Show

3:30-4 p.m. – Country/Rock Cover Band*

4-4:30 p.m. – Monster Energy Freestyle MX Show

4:30-5 p.m. – Jimmy Buffett Cover Band*

5-5:30 p.m. – Monster Energy Freestyle MX Show

5:30-6:15 p.m. – Vertical Horizon

*Bands and Schedule for these timeslots subject to change. More information will be announced when it is finalized.

�鶹ӳ����ý Football Spring Game

6 p.m. – Gates open

7 p.m. – Spring Game kickoff

Postgame – Fan field access

How to Get Free Tickets to the Spring Game

Before Kickoff on April 16

On Gameday April 16

�鶹ӳ����ý Students

��Football Recruits

Athletic Director’s VIP Tailgate/Premium Seating

VIP Tent in IOA Plaza

Carl Black & Gold Cabana Members

In order to have access to the Carl Black & Gold Cabana, Cabana members must purchase Athletic Director’s VIP Tailgate/Premium Seating tickets at $55 to have access to the Cabana during the Spring Game.

Suite Holders

In order to open your suite for the Spring Game, suite holders must purchase a minimum of 8 Athletic Director’s VIP Tailgate/Premium Seating tickets.

Club Members (Roth Tower)

In order to have access to the Club Level in Roth Tower, club members must purchase Athletic Director’s VIP Tailgate/Premium Seating tickets at $55 to have access to the club during the game.

Parking Information

Friday, April 15

��Saturday, April 16

Memory Mall Information

More information about Memory Mall, including details about reserving tailgating spaces there, will be announced at a later date.

2016 �鶹ӳ����ý Football Season Tickets

About Vertical Horizon

Vertical Horizon was founded in the early 1990s, but it was seven years before lead singer Matt Scannell’s songs became the radio hits that brought the popular grass roots band to national attention. They released three albums independently and toured extensively before signing with RCA Records in 1998. In 1999, they released their breakout album “Everything You Want” which went on to sell more than 2 million copies. The second single off the album, the title track “Everything You Want,” captured the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 and Adult Top 40 charts, and became Billboard’s Most Played Single of 2000. Having carved out a page in the annals of music history, the band garnered further radio attention with “You’re a God” and “Best I Ever Had.”

In the fall of 2013, Vertical Horizon released their latest album, “Echoes From The Underground,” while Scannell has spent time writing songs with and for other artists. In 2010, he wrote “Wish You Were Here” for the band Hey Monday featuring lead singer Cassadee Pope, who went on to win season three of NBC’s hit show “The Voice.”

About Monster Energy Freestyle MX Show

An eye-popping show is coming to �鶹ӳ����ý and will feature some of the most talented Motocross riders in the world. More than 2 million people witness FMX shows through a year. The first FMX contest was held in 1997, and they have since fostered the careers of many of the top pros today.

Last year, quarterback Blake Bortles served as one of the primary focal points during the spring contest as he was beginning his first season as the Knights’ starting signal-caller. The Oviedo native ultimately put together one of the finest performances by a �鶹ӳ����ý quarterback in school history, guiding the Knights to a 10-4 record and a Conference USA East Division title. He also was the MVP of the Beef `O’ Brady’s Bowl.

Now a junior, Bortles has to smile knowing all of the weapons he has on offense, highlighted by �鶹ӳ����ý returning five of its top six wide receivers from a year ago. On the other side of the line, though, the Black and Gold lost several key players, and that will be one of five things to watch this Saturday.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FOR SATURDAY

Young Defense

Early Enrollees

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Special Teams

Plan your game days with the Knights, and experience one of the best schedules in program history in the best available seat locations at Bright House Networks Stadium. 2013 season tickets start at $99. To secure your �鶹ӳ����ý football season tickets, visit �鶹ӳ����ýAthletics.com or call 407-�鶹ӳ����ý-1000.

An estimated crowd of 7,000 fans on a sun-splashed day saw Davis play well defensively, while standout sophomore Jeff Godfrey passed for 163 yards and ran for a 38-touchdown. Senior wide out A.J. Guyton had eight catches, Brynn Harvey capped his return from a knee injury with a 32-yard dash, Nick Cattoi kicked three field goals and converted linebackers Ray Shipman and Jonathan Davis were standouts.

“Bruce left and I feel like I need to step my game up next season and make more plays for this defense,” said Davis, who is coming off a 5.5 sack season as a sophomore. “How I’ve played is what hard work will get you. I’ve been working hard in practice every day, running and doing what the coaches ask. … Right now, it’s just about me staying humble and hungry. I feel like I can only get better from here.”

�鶹ӳ����ý coach George O’Leary feels like his Knights got better this spring, uncovering playmakers at linebacker and wide receiver while also developing depth at defensive line, secondary and along the offensive line. O’Leary thought the offense had a big advantage over the defense in Saturday’s spring game, but he feels the Knights made big strides over the past four weeks.

“I thought we were competitive out there, but obviously the day was geared toward the offense. But I thought there were individuals that made plays on both sides of the ball,” O’Leary said. “We have some things to evaluate with players, but that’s what this game and the spring are for as far as I’m concerned.”

�鶹ӳ����ý also welcomed back some of its most famous football alumni. Stars such as Brandon Marshall, Josh Sitton, Kevin Smith, Torell Troup, Miller and others signed autographs before the game and posed for pictures at halftime after being honored on the field.

Godfrey, who led �鶹ӳ����ý to an 11-win season that ended with championships in Conference USA and the Liberty Bowl, showed off his poise in the pocket by hitting on 18 of 23 passes for 163 yards. Reading defenses and not giving up on plays was an emphasis this spring for Godfrey. And when he did run he proved quite lethal, scampering for 59 yards and the 38-yard score.

There was some debate between Godfrey and O’Leary over whether he was tagged on the touchdown run since the quarterbacks weren’t tackled in the scrimmage, and the quarterback lobbied that defenders should have had to tackle him with two hands. He is confident that his third-quarter run would have been a TD regardless of the rules.

Joked Godfrey: “The referee didn’t blow the whistle so it’s a touchdown.”

Shipman, the former University of Florida basketball player, capped off an impressive spring at linebacker for the Knights by recording five tackles and two stops for losses. He was upset with himself for dropping an interception, but was otherwise happy with how he handled the transition to football after not playing since his high school days. He thinks he’ll be ready to shine by the start of fall camp in August.

“I’m not where I want to be, but I’m making strides and getting better every day,” said Shipman, a 6-foot-5 outside linebacker who impressed with his athleticism and willingness to hit. “Going into this spring I knew I was going to be kind of rusty and have some bad practices, but I didn’t want to ever play backward. I feel like I accomplished playing forward and taking it a play at a time. … I feel like if I’m not ready to go by August I’m going to be mad at myself. Once I get this defense down like the back of my hand, I think it will be scary how good we can be.”

Harvey, who missed all last season after tearing a ligament in his knee in spring drills a year ago, once again looked like the back who was an All-C-USA pick heading into the 2010 season. On his first play from scrimmage, Harvey burst through the line, made a linebacker miss and dashed down the middle of the field for 32 yards. He finished with 39 net yards on the day and took satisfaction in knowing he had worked his way back for the Knights.

“It’s a blessing for me to come back from being down so low last year with my injury to being out there at the end of this spring and playing pretty good,” Harvey said. “It just feels good to be back with the team and playing ball again. The line made a hole and I was trying to get a burst in and I was a little surprised because it was my first play. But it was a good feeling to get my feet wet.”

�鶹ӳ����ý’s white squad, composed of the first-string offense, took a 17-0 halftime lead by getting several big plays. Senior Ronnie Weaver, who makes the Knights’ tailback position their deepest spot in the field, ran in from 4 yards out for the first score of the day.

In the second quarter, Kerlon Williams broke through the left side of the line and blocked a punt which was recovered in the end zone by reserve tight end D.J. Brown for a touchdown. Proving that it’s spring for the officials as well, the referees initially ruled the play a safety, but it was changed to a touchdown after a conference with O’Leary.

Tight end Adam Nissley, who was more involved in the passing games this spring and caught two passes for 15 yards, said the next three months are critical for the football team to build chemistry and improve off the field.

“The next few months are very important. A lot of our success last year was due to the leadership that our seniors instilled into the team,” Nissley said. “This year, the seniors have a lot on our shoulders to pick it up and do what they did last year. This offseason is critical getting into the weight room and getting better. Everything we do carries over to the field, so it’s up to us to have a good offseason now.”

John Denton’s Knights Insider appears on �鶹ӳ����ýathletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.