USFreak

I guess if that is your opinion of how the USF student population views the UCF series you are entitled to it. It may be steeped in logic, but I'm not sure the logic equates to reality. I think Joe USF student thinks of this series as plenty meaningful. At least it is something they can get charged up about. There is familiarity there. The hilarious thing to me is how USF fans (myself included) somehow think USF has accomplished anything more than UCF.  USF has a better conference affiliation, but in terms of on-field accomplishments they are pretty even.  In terms of school demographics, outside respect, etc. they are dead on.  Neither is any more special than the other.  The schools are so painfully similar in their pursuit of No. 4 billing that it just is just a rivalry in terms of clawing for that title.  Forget for a moment that everyone knows someone from their high school that went to UCF (ok, not me because I went to H.S. in Maryland, but I certainly spent many weekends over in O-Town with mutual UCF friends back in the day). Rivalries all start somewhere.  I guess time will tell on this one - the odd thing is the only way this would truly not become a rivalry is if USF were to cancel the series.  If it becomes a yearly series (and I believe the Citrus Bowl attendance this fall will make that case) it will certainly grow to be an 'anticipated fall game.'  (or what some would call a rivalry).

I'm just not sure where you are getting this reading. It just seems far too analytical for an 18-year old kid that, by all estimations, has to believe UCF and USF are second-tier universities after FSU and UF. That's what I thought of USF and UCF coming out of high school and I can't see that's changed so much in 15 years. I just see the typical USF student who is new to football (and what USF student isn't?) seeing these two schools as fairly natural rivals. I doubt Mike Camunas is reading this thread and it is sort of non-football season, but I'd love to see a view-of-the-student article on this series next fall.

I guess I'm not sure the point. So they don't have classy fans. Is there a rule that says a team has to have fans that sip tea and eat crumpets? Raider Nation ain't exactly full of Rhodes scholars and valedictorians OK, UCFers have aggressive fans that may not exactly be winning any Nobel Peace Prizes anytime soon. That may actually encourage building a rivalry rather than discourage it. My guess is the students walked away from that game with the impression that UCF was a 'rival' or potential rival. There will be plenty of USF students in Orlando this go-round.

That's actually pretty **** incredible. Especially if it was truly clocked at 4.43. Andre was never known to be a burner. Good for him. All the best to that guy.

That's because they think it is a rivalry. Likely because they've (UCF) has never been to a rivalry game. If UGA fans walked onto Gainesville's campus talking and spouting off like that they'd likely get their ass kicked being outnumbered 200 to 1.

UCF fans are ordained ministers in comparison to UGA and Volunteer fans. I'm betting UCF fans know which soup spoon to use as well.

That's what we call a game-day kiss on the cheek.

Martial Law was declared. Oh the humanity!

I think it is more who you are choosing to agree with. You seem to be siding with a vocal (although not that vocal because none of us hear them) minority. I can't believe out of the 40,000 fans there that evening that every one of them was harassed. If that was the case we'd all have heard something about it. I think that is the point. You can choose to listen to the negativity about the event or accept that it probably wasn't all that bad. I mean was it so bad that the next time a UCF/USF game is played in RJS those fans won't go? If that's true it is sad. I mean honestly -- what is the absolute worst thing that you heard happened? I just want one example and it will at least give those of us that didn't see or experience it a feeling for maybe how bad it actually was.

I don't disagree with you, but I'm sure the USF version of that 22 and under display will be taking place this Fall in Orlando. Nobody has a monopoly on young, drunk, stupid and proud of your team. I guess we're getting off the bigger point that people are saying this is a detriment to going. I highly doubt it. I know a few family people may decide not to go, but a lot of folks will be at that one. USF will represent well or they won't -- personally I think the game will be so big in Orlando that USF fans will be an afterthought.

It is funny that UCF fans can come into our stadium parking lots and bully USF fans.  Maybe they really are that intimidating. These are hardly facts, though.  They are the opinions of a group of (decidely biased) home fans that share a general distaste for the other group. Facts would be things like police reports, x-rays, medical claims, photographs of stitches, picture of said head up cow's rear. :-)  I'm not sure hurt feelings or general uneasiness would qualify as admittable evidence.  Maybe Zonald could clarify.

Financially, is it a boon? I don't know. The specific bowls do well for the most part, but there are probably too many and some of them are just there to fill dead space. Currently there are what, 26 bowls? OK, but look at a tournament set up similarly -- say 32 teams playing for the national championship. 32 teams 1st week - 16 games (at regional sites (formerly bowl sites....maybe last tier bowls now) 2nd week - 8 games 3rd week - 4 games 4th week - 2 games week off and then National Championship 31 total games. More TV interest with each passing week and likely more revenue for all involved. Now before you say it can't be done with 32 teams....why not? Last games are typically Thanksgiving and 3/4s of those teams would be done two weeks into December. It could be done as it is almost done now at I-AA level (16 teams). It could even be trimmed to a 36 team tourney with some play-in games or byes or what have you. I do like the current bowl matchup, though....but from a revenue perspective the playoff system has some revenue opps as well.

GASP! I posted that one earlier, but please stop posting it. It burns my eyes to read it. :-) Say it isn't so. A USF staff member saying it could become a rivalry. He's clearly out of his mind. It has no more interest than any normal game.

That's pretty good, if true.  I don't think it is true, though.  Nevertheless, ol' O'Leary should stand up in downtown Orlando and do the same thing.  That would play for the papers -- of course it would be perfect bulletin board material for the Bulls to beat the snot out of you. Note: Don't use helmet ESPN used. Try one with actual USF logo on it....sends a better message.

****, sounds like they had a M*A*S*H Unit set up in the stadium parking lot.  Were Medivac choppers called in?  It sounds bad. What are the facts? What happened? I guess I need a few specifics about what happened at the game that has everyone so scared to go within 60 miles of the Citrus Bowl now. I don't think anybody here has a bumper-sticker on their car that says "Go USF/UCF Rivalry!" -- we just don't see it as the evil, life-shattering event the naysayers do.  The first one was pretty fun.  I anticipate the second one will be too.  Again, my thought is if USF doesn't want it to grow to a rivalry/cash cow....cut it off at the knees after the game this fall.

I don't know either. I heard a couple stories, but I attributed most of them to drama queens looking for something negative to say about the meeting. I'm sure there were some emotionally charged exchanges here and there, but I didn't hear anything about people getting hit over the head w/ beer bottles or actual fights. I mean in reality there were more students from the opposing school in the parking lot than any point in USF's history. Put that many immature people wearing different logowear together and add alcohol and you'll get that. I'm sure the blue-bloods up at Duke/Carolina aren't exactly exchanging winter-souflee recipes. Still, outside of a few overblown incidents did anything of real consequence occur?

Agree. Agree as well.  UCF wanted the game and I think they'll really make a case to try and continue it.  Filling the Citrus Bowl (I mean actually selling it out) would be one way to do that.  While I do agree the local (Tampa) media hyped this as a rivalry last year - I doubly think that will happen in Orlando.  Why?  I don't think there was much rivalry talk coming out of the Tampa campus last season.  Leavitt mentioned it, but casually.  In terms of UCF I think everybody connected to the football program will have a quote ready for Florida media this go round.  Hence....milking it. Again, there is no reason not to.  Every person that walks through that gate is an extra chunk of change for the Knights.  Make the most of it. ÂÂ

Well, the fact still remains that UCF wanted this game more. There is no secret there. I think a lot of USF folks didn't think the UCF game would turn out to be one of the biggest ever, but it did. I think UCF will treat this game like the biggest of their season. It certainly has the potential to be the highest attended. Might as well milk it for all it is worth.

That'll make for some great reading. "USF fans intimidated by Knight faithful." The way the Knights have blabbered on to the press and complained about this series that will be the icing on the cake. I can almost see it now. I guarantee the leadup to that game is going to be a three-ring circus in Orlando.

That doesn't matter. The game is 70 miles away. It says alot about your fanbase if they can't travel to essentially a home game. They don't have to be excited about the opponent. They should be excited about their own team and supporting that team. Teams that travel well travel well. If USF can't get 10,000 or so an hour down the road that's pretty sad. Who cares who the opponent is...it's USF folks are going to watch.

I'm in disbelief you don't think USF will travel 8000-10,000 to this one. A game 70 miles away? I'd have to say our fanbase truly sucks if they can't trouble themselves to drive 70 miles to an 'away' game. Heck, for a bunch of folks that normally travel to RJS (like from Orlando, Brevard, Broward, Miami, Jacksonville, etc) this game is actually closer for them. Orlando is still a pretty fun town when it comes down to it. I know it is vogue to be 'down' on this game, but it is one extra chance to see your Bulls in person against a team that, despite losing 17 in a row at one point, did make a bowl game last year. I guess I'm just thinking our fans are better than they are. Maybe they truly do suck.

Wait, so what you are saying is UCF is our rival? I'm trying to read between the lines.

It would change the paradigm. It would be like WVU beating Georgia. Nobody thought it would happen and now they have to deal with the fact the Big East can produce a conference champion that can compete. Ok, not like that.....but in spirit. On another note..... What do you guys have planned for Rivalry Week? :-)

No focus needed. Just schedule the game and let the rest take care of itself. This is a game that was undermarketed and still did well. I imagine UCF will hype the ever-living **** out of it this fall though. And until that yearly Notre Dame series opens up....sure, sounds good.

I'm sure the USF/UCF rivalry piece sold a lot of extra newspapers that day. I think the tally was 4.