Special day celebrates UCF Fiesta Bowl victory

ORLANDO, Fla. — The University of Central Florida football team is being celebrated in Orlando Monday.

Mayor Buddy Dyer has proclaimed Monday as "UCF Knights Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Champions Day."

The Knights capped off their 12-1 season with a 52-42 victory over Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl.

Here's the mayor's proclamation:

UCF Fiesta Bowl Champions

Whereas Orlando's hometown university, the University of Central Florida (UCF) recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and has grown to be the

nation's second largest university; and

Whereas in 1979, former UCF President Trevor Colbourn had the vision to initiate a football program to help draw national attention to the university; and

Whereas the UCF Knights ended the 2013 football season with 12 wins and just one loss; and

Whereas on December 7, 2013, the UCF Knights clinched the American Athletic Conference Championship with a win over the Southern Methodist University Mustangs; and

Whereas during the 2013 season, the UCF Knights Football team broke several records including setting a school record for the most wins, finishing 7-0 on the road for the first time in school history and earning its first wins over Big 10 and Big 12 teams; and

Whereas the UCF Knights sealed the bid for the first Bowl Championship Series (BCS) bid in school history; and

Whereas the 15th ranked Knights were cast as 17-point underdogs as they faced off against the Baylor Bears in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 1,

2014; and

Whereas under the leadership of UCF President John Hitt, Athletic Director Todd Stansbury and Head Coach George O'Leary, the UCF Knights stunned Baylor with a 52-42 victory in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl bringing home to Orlando the first BCS trophy in school history.

Now therefore, I Buddy Dyer, Mayor of the City Orlando, hereby do proclaim January 27, 2014 "UCF Knights Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Champions Day" in the City of Orlando and encourage all residents to support our UCF Knights.

WFTV