After the Knights spent the first two game days of 2012 in the state of Ohio, Knights fans will get to experience UCF's first home game of the football season today.

Fans began setting up their tailgates as early as 5 a.m. and continued to fill areas outside Bright House Networks Stadium, Memory Mall and all over campus.

"It's an exciting atmosphere here at UCF," 1973 graduate Steve Purifoy said. "I'm a Black and Gold guy through and through. When I watched the game we played up in Akron I was like 'man, we can do some good things.'"

This is the first of a four-game home stretch for the Knights and it's the third non-conference game UCF has played this season.

"We've looked forward to it since spring time," long-time UCF fan Paul Chinaris said about the first home game. "You soak up the atmosphere and the energy that happens here. It's a wonderful campus and a wonderful stadium and the fans are great."

Long-time Knights' fan Cory Hibbs purchased season tickets for his entire family. One thing he enjoys about home-opener is spending time with his wife, children and friends.

"We've been coming for the last five years," Cory Hibbs said. "It's our last year in Conference USA and next year we're going to the Big East. I think there's a lot of excitement heading into a new conference and playing some new teams in the future."