Former UCF assistant isn't willing to claim the Knights were "national champs"

Believe it or not, not everyone who was a part of UCF’s undefeated 2017 season was willing to claim the team was “national champs.”

Former UCF offensive coordinator Troy Walters followed Scott Frost to Nebraska at the end of the 2017 season. Walters just received his “2017 National Champions” ring from UCF.

Only he wasn’t willing to call it that:

My PEACH BOWL & AAC CHAMPIONSHIP ring came today. Honored to be a part of a Blessed team and season #13-0 #Glory2God pic.twitter.com/47w0jsFVHq

— Troy Walters® (@CoachWalters1) April 24, 2018

You’ll notice that Walters only said “PEACH BOWL & AAC CHAMPIONSHIP” and not “NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.”

After some UCF fans chirped Walters about not being on board with the “national champions” association, he had a follow-up tweet about why he didn’t buy into his former team’s claim.

“Personally and professionally speaking, I am a national champion when I win the National championship game. I wish we could have had this opportunity because we were playing at a high level. If someone else wants to proclaim and pay me as a national champion, then that’s on them.”

He also added this:

There was no intent to disrespect UCF with this tweet. Those who I offended I apologize because I have nothing but love for UCF, the players that worked and sacrificed to accomplish such a great season and the city of Orlando. Best of luck in 2018#OnlyUndefeatedTeam

— Troy Walters® (@CoachWalters1) April 25, 2018

Walters was a finalist for the Broyles Award last year as one of the nation’s top assistants. Certainly he has no reason to have anything but respect for UCF and the run he was a part of.

And needless to say, Alabama fans probably like him right now more than UCF fans.