"Rivalry Rising"

[E.T.]

uf/f$u we're not BIG rivalries for a long time ...

[sdgukhsdgl]

Rocky,

 You're right, a new stadium on the way, George O'Leary, a former coach of LSU as defensive coordinator, and the 8th largest school in the nation.  I am way off base.  No chance in hell of success. LOL

your POST... not your PROGRAM, it sure as hell didnt start off doing anything well.

it really is refreshing to come on these boards at the end of the day, it really makes you feel like a genius compared to some of the people on here

[Goldenbuc]

OK...want a rivalry?

The why is UCF first in line for that honor?

Is there some reason why, given that we've been around less than ten years, that over the next ten years a better, perhaps even in-conference rivalry would not develop?

The reason I ask is, SoMiss was the closest thing we had to a rivalry in CDOA. Why not see what develops in the Big East before we rush to embrace the storied "War on I4".  8)

Conference rivals are different than interstate non-conference rivals.  UF/Tenn is for all the marbles almost every season in the SEC East...those schools hate each other because a loss dictates the rest of the season.  FSU/UF is different....most players know each other...fans know each other...families are split and it's about bragging rights.  We have those similarities with USF and neither school is set to begin any of these rivalries with UF, FSU or Miami...seeing that they already have their slate full.

Our schools and fans need a game like this to get into and develope traditions around.  It creates a great atmosphere and excitement.  It's more about fun...whereas the conference games are for more importance in bowl selections and $$$.

You won't find too many Gators and Vols that know each other...same goes with Gators and UGA fans.  Sure...the UGA/UF series is storied and traditional...but ask any Gator and they'd rather beat FSU.  

Just enjoy it...it's fun for everyone!!

[Goldenbuc]

Overall...it's okay to have rivals with both the conference and cross-town....or central part of the state, here.

Do you honestly think the game with USF and Miami is being hyped as a start of any rivalry?  I don't think one Cane fan will even touch that word in association with UM.

[ucfjay]

I think the USF fans outside of this message board are more pumped for the game than those on here. There is a guy at my work (I work in Orlando) who graduated from USF but never went to a USF game, nor has he even gone to a UCF game.

He's been looking forward to this game for a long time, and bought his tickets long ago and is driving over with 3 buddies from Orlando to watch his first college football game EVER. He has no plans to go to any other USF game this year, and likely won't go to another football game until USF visits next year. Now THAT is why a game between our schools can be so great, but hey what do I know?

Personally, I think its just some of the USF fans on this board who like to think they are too good to play UCF that aren't pumped for the game. The other Bulls fans are looking forward to this just as much as the UCFers. The atmosphere Saturday Knight should be incredible...I can't wait!  ;D

[JoeB]

UCFJAY, you got it all wrong.  If you think you're buddy is more pumped than other USF fans that go to every game, or go out to bars in other states just to watch the team play, then you are mistaken.  

The guy you work with I wouldn't even call a fan, especially if he's never been to a game when he only lives an hour and a half away.  I'm driving in from Atlanta for it, and I've been waiting since year 1 for this game.  I'll even go out and say, if he only plans on going to this one game in his life then don't bother.  We don't need these kind of fans.  This is exactly what Jeremy Roenick said and he was dead right.  

Go Bulls!

[ucfjay]

Actually I think YOU got it wrong, while at the same time I think you and I are on the same page overall!  ;D

My point is this is the kinda game that a non-football fan can wrap his interest in. I'm not saying that he is more pumped than all the diehard USF fans that normally go to the games. I'm saying that all these USF fans that are acting like this game means nothing and playing UCF each year isn't productive because we aren't BCS or whatever are dead wrong. This is a game that can and will generate interest beyond both our school's diehards and beyond even the average curious college football fan. As much as some USF fans hate to admit it, it is a natural rivalry!

And back to my USF buddy who is going, I wouldn't write those type fans off that quick. What if he goes to the game and says- WOW what have I been missing and decides to come back the next week when you guys play UL? Suddenly thanks to THIS particular game being played its possible you guys will have new diehard fans. Same goes for UCF as I know some people going to Tampa that don't normally to our home games.

JMO...

[Guest]

OK...want a rivalry?

The why is UCF first in line for that honor?

Geography.  98 miles makes UCF the closest I-A program to USF.  Our fans can make the road trip (you'll be there, won' you?) and their fans can come to RayJay with relative ease.

Is there some reason why, given that we've been around less than ten years, that over the next ten years a better, perhaps even in-conference rivalry would not develop?

Tampa to Louisville: 881 miles

Tampa to Cincinnati: 927 miles

Tampa to Morgantown: 1025 miles

Tampa to Pittsburgh: 1097 miles

Tampa to New Brunswick: 1139 miles

Tampa to Hartford: 1286 miles

Tampa to Syracuse: 1312 miles

Our conference opponents will mean a lot.  But I don't see that many USF fans making these trips in the near future.

Part of a successful rivalry is the ability for the fans to participate.  I just don't see any real traditions being made while USF is part of the Big East.

The reason I ask is, SoMiss was the closest thing we had to a rivalry in CDOA. Why not see what develops in the Big East before we rush to embrace the storied "War on I4".  8)

Southern Miss was a rivalry to the people here because of the "quality not quantity" comments by their coach that fed the fire.  UAB was more to blame for USF not getting into C-USA in 2001.

Still, if we had stayed in C-USA, Southern Miss is at least drivable (Tampa to Hattiesburg: 616 miles), so there is at least some chance that USF fans could make the trip.  Plus  the Biloxi/Gulfcoast casinos could add to the vacation.

This may not become a real rivalry, but at least it would give us a I-A OOC opponent that a large number of fans could visit and can bring a large number of fans.  

Unless we are getting five BCS OOC opponents, then why not play UCF??

---

Someone asked about lopsided series in I-A.

Current Streaks -- teams that play every year:

41â€â€Notre Dame over Navy, 1964-04 (current)

36â€â€Nebraska over Kansas, 1969-04 (current)

22â€â€Tennessee over Vanderbilt, 1983-04 (current)

20â€â€Tennessee over Kentucky, 1985-04 (current)

18â€â€Florida over Kentucky, 1987-04 (current)

---

The most played OOC rivalries in NCAA:

# Games Teams ... Record... First Game Played

109 Miami (Ohio)-Cincinnati  58-44-7 1888

105 Army-Navy  49-49-7 1890

104 Utah-Utah St. 72-28-4 1892

103 Baylor-TCU  49-47-7 1899 (have not met since 1995)

96 Penn St.-Pittsburgh  50-42-4 1893 (have not met since 2000)

95 New Mexico-New Mexico St.  62-28-5 1894

94 LSU-Tulane  65-22-7 1893 (have not met since 2003)

90 Connecticut-Rhode Island  48-34-8 1897 (have not met since 2000)

[bullwark]

Perhaps, if UCF wasn't 0-17 there would be more buzz about this game.

[namuh-bull]

I don't  think the loss record of UCF has anything to do with it. I think some of the guys here are a bit afraid that we may not win the game.

I still say the conference games have more meaning to me this year, and I would realy like to see us beat Miam.  I have no feelings towards UCF as a school and I don't even know if they existed when I went to college back in the late 70s.

I do know that the most fun USF game I've been to in the last couple of years was the Louisville game.  They had a huge amount of fans there, the game was close, and it was just a fun environment.  

This week should be like that too, and if scheduling permits it wouldn't be a bad idea to add more games, but I do see interest dwindling if one of the teams always wins in a blowout.