Between Two Palms: A Sit-down With Vinnie the Vulture
In a rare and exclusive interview, UCF’s most legendary (and taxidermied) unofficial mascot, Vinnie the Vulture, joins Knightro and Citronaut for a conversation about his place in university history.
Knightro: Vinnie, thanks for being here today. Let’s get these first questions out of the way: Who are you and how did you become part of UCF history?
Vinnie: Thanks for having me, friends. My story starts back when we were known as Florida Technological University in the late 60s. You all know the story of why we were started — to help educate the folks who would fly us, beyond my reach, to the moon. Back then, the campus was just a few buildings surrounded by miles of natural Florida landscape and, of course, plenty of vultures keeping watch from above. It didn’t take long for someone to notice that I had a... particular presence.
Knightro: You mean you were just… there?
Vinnie: That’s sort of the thing about being a vulture. We have a natural talent for hanging, observing and waiting for opportunities. Before I knew it, students were feeding me and had given me a name — Vincent, or Vinnie — and my journey began.
Citronaut: Right, but you were never officially made a mascot. How did that all go down?
Vinnie: They polled the students at the time, and I was actually up against you, Citronaut. I thought I had the mascot thing in the bag, too.
Citronaut: Here we go…
Vinnie: I had student support. I had visibility. And let’s be honest, I was way more approachable than a space orange.
Citronaut: But I—
Vinnie: I’m kidding! Either way, the administration wanted something with a little more… nobility. I guess they wanted more “shining armor” and less “scavenger.” So, they went with the Knights of Pegasus. Which, if we’re calling a spade a spade here, Knightro, turned out all right.
Knightro: I mean, I’m still here, leading the charge at every game.
Vinnie: Exactly! And I found my own path to immortality. After my time in the wild, students preserved my legacy — literally — by taxidermying me and later gifting me to President Millican in his office. Eventually, I found a more permanent home in the UCF Libraries’ Special Collections and University Archives.
Citronaut: You really got taxidermied?
Vinnie: When you’ve got fans, they don’t just let you disappear.
Knightro: OK, so let’s go back to those early days. What was campus actually like?
Vinnie: Well, nothing like today’s UCF. No big stadium, no Student Union, no bustling Memory Mall. Just a handful of buildings and a lot of nature. But the ambition was always there. Even when students had to trek across dirt paths to get to class, you could still feel the energy and passion for tackling some of the day’s biggest challenges.
Citronaut: So, no Smoothie King?
Vinnie: No Smoothie King, no Toppers, no Dunkin’. Just a lot of ambitious students, Florida pine scrub and me.
Knightro: Sounds rustic.
Vinnie: Yeah, those early students were gritty, but they built the foundation — literally and figuratively — for what UCF has become.
Citronaut: And now you live... in the library? What’s that like?
Vinnie: Oh, it’s next-level! I’m talkin’ penthouse views, climate-controlled, high-level security, all the reading material I could ask for. Plus, I get to keep an eye on the university’s history. Eventually, when the fourth-floor renovation is done, I’ll be back on display for all the students to see me more regularly.
Knightro: That’s gotta be a little weird for them.
Vinnie: Maybe at first. But, once they know my story, they get it. I represent something bigger than just an old bird that’s not in great shape. I’m a symbol of UCF’s climb to greatness, you see. When people talk about how UCF was once just scrubland, I remind them that we were built with a vision to explore the unknown.
Citronaut: So, final question: What do you think your legacy is?
Vinnie: Look, not every school gets to say they had a turkey vulture as an unofficial mascot. But UCF has always been different. We break the mold and embrace the unexpected. We celebrate the unconventional. I like to think that, in my own way, I helped set the tone for UCF’s identity: bold, ambitious and never afraid to pursue big dreams and push boundaries.
Knightro: Well said, Vinnie.
Citronaut: Yeah, I can respect that. Even if we were competing for the same job back in the day.
Vinnie: No hard feelings, buddy. We’re both part of the legend of UCF. You just get to go to more football games...
Knightro: And with that, this episode of Between Two Palms is a wrap!
Answer five questions to find out which UCF Icon — Knightro, Citronaut, Pegasus, Spirit Splash Duck or Vinnie the Vulture — is your UCF BFF (Best Futuristic Friend) for a time-traveling adventure, complete with the perfect playlist!