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HISTORY -- 2000

  August kicked off the 20th year of the Pride of Central Florida. As usual, the season felt like it ended before it even began - but with many emotional highs and a lifetime memories along the way. The upper-class members formed a pep band, returning to Georgia Tech in early September. The Golden Knights led the game but were defeated in the final minutes of the football game giving the fans and band simply another moral victory. 

  The Marching Knights returned to the city beautiful and regrouped to thrill home crowds with a mix of disco, Beatles, Latin sounds, and of course the Marching Knight's classic, the Motown Show. October 14th, the University of Central Florida and Yamaha presented Trumpet Day 2000. Over 60 high school trumpeters from around Florida joined the Marching Knights in playing a variety of tunes. Also on the field with the Marching Knights was renowned trumpeter, Vince DiMartino, who thrilled crowds with a solos and features that thrilled the crowd in true Marching Knight fashion. 

  On October 28th the Marching Knights in full traveled to Alabama for their homecoming game against UCF. UCF was suppose to be the "easy homecoming win" for Alabama, just as LA-Monroe had been to UCF the week earlier (55-0 Knights). As usual, UCF proved to be a worthy opponent and once again scared a big name school like the Crimson Tide. However, after Georgia Tech, the fans and seemingly the UCF football team had had enough "moral victories", and on October 28th UCF scored its first Division-I major upset over Alabama. This was a historical day for Knight fans everywhere, including the Marching Knights.  The Marching Knights once again received the thrill of performing for an 80,000+ crowd and were well received by Alabama's Million Dollar Band. 

  After a few weeks off, UCF's final game approached. What might-as-well have been a bowl game, UCF hosted Virginia Tech (ranked in the Top 10) in the Citrus Bowl. As the marching knights ran onto the field for pregame, they had an unbelievable experience. The "Fill The Bowl" campaign had paid off as a record number crowd of 50,220 stood up and cheered for the 2000 Marching Knights. The Marching Knights went on to present their 2000 Best-Of Show featuring the selections: Pictures of Spain, Fire Dance, Robin Hood, and tunes from the Motown Show to the largest home crowd ever. To heighten the experience, the Marching Knights presented to the crowd their new uniforms which received rave reviews from Alumni, Marching Knights, and fans alike.  (Submitted by Steve Alianiello)