The University of Central Florida Knights will go into the Peach Bowl undefeated on New Years Day, taking on the Auburn Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and UCF students are eager to see if their team can uphold their winning streak. So eager, in fact, that students lined up as early as 4:30 PM on Sunday to secure tickets that went on sale Monday morning at 9 AM.
Besides a 12-0 season, UCF’s second time ever playing a major bowl game, and first time playing Auburn since 1999, there was a price incentive for early birds, as well. The first 500 students at the Spectrum Stadium box office received their tickets for $50; after that, the price went up to $150-$200.
UCF student Dakota Willey was first in line for tickets, waiting in line nearly 17 hours, he told WOFL FOX 35.
“At the end, the last hour drags. it’s tough,” Willey said, “but it’s all worth it, so I don’t regret any of it.”
Students did make the most of the long wait, bringing air mattresses, sleeping bags, and even tents to the stadium. And, of course, board games and food.
“I’ve been out here since twelve, and a lot of people have been out here since twelve,” said another UCF student, Everton Wood. “It’s really cool to see the school spirit and everything.”
In their only other major college bowl game, UCF beat Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl in 2013. The following season, though, they didn’t win a single game. On Saturday, the Knights beat Memphis 62-55 in double overtime to win the ACC Championship.
UCF head coach Scott Frost is still expected to coach the Knights at the Peach Bowl despite his recent announcement that he has accepted a coaching job at Nebraska next season.
In the 50th playing of the Peach Bowl, and the first since the Georgia Dome was replaced by the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Knights (12-0, #12) will face the Tigers (10-3, #7) on January 1 at 12:30 PM.
Every college student should have the opportunity to camp out for 🎟 at some point in their time on campus!
LOOK at this line! ✊😲#Perfect2Peach pic.twitter.com/RUOase4I9K
— UCF Knights (@UCFKnights) December 4, 2017
#RIGHTNOW: @UCF police passing out water to students in line for #CFAPeachBowl tickets. First 500 student tix are $50, so many have been out here for 9 plus hours! But they’re still smiling, ready to cheer on their undefeated #Knights in Atlanta on New Year’s Day! @WESH pic.twitter.com/5DB7bEzEP8
— Alex Villarreal (@AlexV_TV) December 4, 2017
