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It's one of those events you will talk about for days. You will tell people where you were when the lightning delay happened. You will share stories of how you killed more than three hours since the stadium was locked and fans couldn't get in. And you will remember football was played long after midnight when Gus Malzahn won his first game at UCF and man, everyone will be a storyteller.
More than 100,000 will claim they were there and when it did finally end, the clock showed 1:22a in the morning and while it may have taken a second day, UCF rallied from a 21-0 deficit to beat Boise State 36-31 and an instant classic.
UCF had to win. For the last seven months the program put itself out there. It was about the hiring of a new AD and the arrival of a new coach. It was about billboards and slogans and attitude and that's what UCF has done during this run of success. And when the Knights went down 21-0 at the start, social media platforms became open-mic night at the comedy club and the critics couldn't get enough. GIFs and memes of buses blowing up and snarky comments about conference affiliation were fuel for the fire. But when the long, long, long night ended, UCF did win and today they are 1-0 and tomorrow will still be one of the teams people either love or hate and that means all is good in college football.
The hype was bigger than any Broadway opening. It had been anticipated for months. Two of the best programs on the field who believe they can play with anyone, despite the label placed upon them, met for the first time. Gus Malzahn talked for weeks about his team and building chemistry and the things new coaches preach but would it work on this opening night.
Knight fans went to bed Wednesday night like a child hearing Santa downstairs but not moving because you know he's leaving you exactly what you asked for an you want that feeling when you run down the stairs and it's sitting right there for you.
But as a large crowd snuck out early from work, or took the day off, or bounced from a lecture a bit earlier- they began filling up the Bounce House. It was supposed to be a packed stadium and an environment we all had missed. But then SNAP, CRACKLE AND POP! Lightning all around the area forced an evacuation of the stadium shortly before 6:30p. How long would the delay be? When would fans be allowed back in? Would the game even be played?
Around 9p the gates opened and the players returned to the field to warmup and by 9:46p there was a kickoff. After a defensive stop, UCF's offense went to work marching down the field but Dillon Gabriel's pass at the goal line was picked off and returned 100-yards for a touchdown and the air went out of the stadium just like that.
It only got worse. After two UCF punts, Boise State's offense went 10 plays and 12 plays on the drives and the Knight's defense couldn't stop anyone and it was a 21-0 lead for the Broncos. It had the feeling of a blowout and everything that UCF had envisioned for the night was becoming a nightmare. The interception lingered for Gabriel who struggled to get back on track. But he did. He hit TE Alec Holler(Trinity Prep) for a 23-yard TD for the first UCF touchdown of the game. And down 24-7, Gabriel and facing 3rd and 9, he hit speedster Ryan O'Keefe for 31 and then Jaylon Robinson for 28 and finished the drive with an 8-yard strike to fellow Hawaiian native- Titus Mokiao-Atimalala- who scored his first TD in his first collegiate game. Mokiao-Atimalala is only playing at UCF because of Dillon Gabriel and committed to the Knights before a coach was even hired. But Gus Malzahn clearly likes Gabriel's evaluation of talent because he put the freshman out there in many big situations.
The second half began an 8-play 84 yard scoring drive where Brandon Johnson, son of former MLB player Charles Johnson, pulled UCF within three at 24-21. But it was the UCF defense that changed the game. Travis Williams' unit shut down the Boise State offense from the late second quarter on. After the Broncos' field goal to go up 24-7 with 5:08 left in the second here are the remaining drives for Boise State: punt, punt, punt, punt attempt(safety on bad snap), punt, TD(after UCF int), interception and incomplete pass. Big Kat Bryant and Kalia Davis were dominant on the line and pressure and coverage saw a defense allow just 83 yards and just 23 second half plays.
While the defense shut down the visitors, bruising back Isaiah Bowser ran over people on his way to a 172-yard night, including what became the game winning score from 8-yards out with 4:16 left in the game.
Boise State still had a chance late and Knights fans had to hold their breath as one last pass floated in the air for what seemed like a minute until it fell on the dampened field at 1:26a Friday morning. Only then was it over.
Those who stayed celebrated and never cared what time it was. They screamed and danced and bounced because the Knights equaled their largest comeback in school history. After trailing 21-0, UCF rallied to win and do it before an exhausted crowd and a national audience. It turned the nightmare night into an early morning celebration across the campus and town. Gus Malzahn got his first win with his new team and already knew what that Waffle House order was going to be to celebrate. AD Terry Mohajir, seen celebrating the Dyllon Lester late interception on the sideline with a passion representing the mood of Knight Nation, he knew the importance of the game. With news swirling about the landscape of college football, his team shined on opening night. But the momentum of the seven months of hype continues. UCF faces Bethune-Cookman next week before the next huge game, a Friday night trip to Louisville.
But this morning, UCF fans wake up not tired but wanting to tell their story. They want to tell everyone about the night where they were waiting and waiting for the lightning to leave and the game to start. They want to tell their fellow fans about the big plays and swing of emotions. They want to relive the end-of-the-game celebration and they want to tell everyone who wasn't there what it was like.
Twenty years from now, those that were there will remember because it was one of those nights you knew you were glad you stayed no matter when it ended...