Source:[1] In 1979, the University of Central Florida fielded their first football team,[2] and subsequently created a marching band to support it.

With the help of the young Troy Driggers, who would become one of the first drum majors (along with Ken DeBord), Gardner poured through the file of every UCF student looking for those who had marching/band experience and invited them to join.

The show featured the selections: Triumph of the Titans, Sweet Georgia Brown, Crown Imperial, You are the Sunshine of My Life, and Love will Keep us Together.

This was an “Ultra-hip, high-energy show band” consisting of 23 members of the Marching Knights that would tour high schools in Florida.

The album featured music from pre-game and UCF traditional cheers, like Go Knights Funk, the Chant, and the Fight Song.

[3] In 2009, at a Marching Knights rehearsal, Ron Ellis and then graduate assistants Dave Schreier and Jason Millhouse had a conversation on the field about naming the fight song.

In 2013 and 2014, the Marching Knights were invited to perform as the house band for the ESPN College Football Awards Show, filmed live at Disney's Boardwalk.

In 2014, The band returned at the Magic Kingdom for the first time since 1996 to perform for a special parade for the Fiesta Bowl Champions.

UCF would again be honoured with a special parade following an undefeated football season, capped off with a Peach Bowl win in 2017.

[6] In 2017, in addition to an impressive undefeated season, a major bowl game, and a parade at Disney World, the Marching Knights inaugurated their own permanent building, cementing their place on campus.

While the band was not allowed to move on the field,[7] the spirit of the Marching Knights was still upheld during the celebration of their 40th Anniversary[8] – including an online round-table featuring former drum majors, directors, Driggers’ award winners and other prominent alumni members.

Once the band is on the field in a massive block formation, they will play the "Pregame Fanfare" to the west and east stands.