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The North Carolina football team will face off against UCF in Week 3 of Bill Belichick’s debut season. While previewing the matchup, the head coach referred to his opponent by the wrong name.
Belichick called the Knights, “Central.” It struck a nerve with the sensitive fanbase.
The school has changed monikers a number of times throughout the years. At one time, they were known as the Knights of Pegasus. That nickname was voted on via suggestions from students, staff, and faculty.
Later, they dropped the Pegasus and added “Golden.” After the turn of the century, they again made a switch.
The Golden Knights would be known simply as the Knights. Refusal to abide would lead to backlash from the fanbase. That, too, is the case for the school’s first name.
Bill Belichick was unaware.
UCF stands for the University of Central Florida. It does not, however, want to be referred to as Central Florida. It is UCF, and only UCF, according to supporters.
The Big 12 made the mistake of classifying the school by the “wrong” name during a 2023 media day event. North Carolina’s football coach unintentionally followed suit this week.
Bill Belichick referring to UCF as “Central” is the kind of stuff I know the UCF fan base loves. @UCF_Football #ucf pic.twitter.com/zxnlU5GfR6
— Pat Welter WRAL (@PatrickWelter) September 14, 2025
UCF fans were up in arms.
“I was totally apathetic about his tenure as a college coach, but now I hate him,” one Knight wrote. “Yeah, they’re getting dragged through the mud on Saturday,” said another.
“We haven’t been called that since his girlfriend was born,” this follower commented.
Speaking of Jordon Hudson, it seems the coach’s PR rep might’ve failed him. He was unaware of the name change demands, although he isn’t the first.
It seems the Knights will use this unintentional shade as bulletin board material. They look to ensure Bill Belichick knows their name by game’s end.