Football fans in Central Florida appreciate the group of Golden Knights who go to war in the Citrus Bowl on Saturdays. They celebrate every tackle and every caught pass.
While coaches and players deserve the acclaim and applause they receive before, during, and after games, cheers should also go to the Golden Knight football office staff as well.
Important "teammates"
The UCF football office staff is a key component to the success of the football team and program. Having an efficient dedicated support staff is as critical to a teams success as speed in the low 40 times and 300-pound bench presses.
The Golden Knights on the field get all the glory; but it's the front office Knights who help make things happen. UCF's football office personnel does not just answer phones and give directions to the Citrus Bowl all day. Tasks such as team travel, disseminating recruiting information, and processing information for the coaching staff are done daily in the football office.
UCF's football office staff also is the lifeline and information center to those that do not have the chance of going to the Citrus Bowl or catching the game on the Sunshine Network.
Helping the "away" fans
Fans that do not get a chance to see UCF play on TV find out about the program and the school through correspondence sent out by staff personnel.
Those who have made the trip to the Wayne Densch Center know that usually the first face they see through the door is that of Eric Hawks, who has been working in the football office sine 1996.
"The hard work that is done by staff personnel carries over from the Wayne Densh Center to the UCF practice fields, and then onto the grass of the Citrus Bowl."
Assisting in the recruiting area is Olivia Bridges, who is in her second year in the football office. Bridges brings not only a needed hand, but also a unique level of enthusiasm to the football office. The majority of Bridges duties are focused toward the recruiting process and distributing UCF correspondence across the country.
At the center of the football office is Darlene Kraft Senior Administrator who has been at UCF for seven years. She handles the mountains of paperwork that can accumulate in the office throughout the week. Kraft said one of the things that keep her going is "waiting on the school's first national ranking, and that it is pretty interesting watching the program grow."
Critical "special teams"
The hard work that is done by staff personnel carries over from the Wayne Densh Center to the UCF practice fields and then onto the grass of the Citrus Bowl. While UCF players and coaches know and appreciate the hard work that is done by Darlene, Olivia, and Eric so should Golden Knight faithful. These special group of Knights help bring in future Knight players to continue the success of the program.
