Fenelly: "USF Dropping The Ball If It Drops UCF"

[Jim Johnson]

Martin Fenelly has a column today...

USF Dropping The Ball If It Drops UCF

By MARTIN FENNELLY

This one's for all the parking permits.

USF-UCF.

Forget the Big Three. It's the Little Two showdown. Their players and fans deserve this. And it could only get bigger.

Too bad the meter is running.

Saturday's game in Orlando is the second meeting, but it looks like the fourth, in 2008, will be the last, at least if South Florida killjoys like head grinch Jim Leavitt have their way.

Nobody should be talking about Central Florida coach George O'Leary's resume anymore. This is about what goes on Leavitt's - does he really want to be the man who killed this rivalry?

Play the game.

Now and forever.

Excitement? Who needs it?

Want some reasons?

Here are a few:

Read More...

[Omniscientbull]

I wonder if Brett and Martin share the pivot point position in their circle jerk?

[BigShoop]

GREAT article. I agree 147%

There is zero downside for this game and USF's arrogance is laughable. The players want it and the FANS want it.

[usfgrad84]

Given that we are trying to brand our school as a University with a national scope and reach (that was stated when we unveiled our new logos a couple of years ago), plus the fact that our fans aren't storming the gates to buy tickets for this game.  Other than giving guys like Fennely something to write about, what does this game really do for us?  Ar least FAU and FIU give us more exposure in South Florida, out of our immediate region.  

Of course the players will get fired up about the game because they have a lot of friends and former teamates they play against, but in the business of football and our stated goals as a University and as a team, what does this series do for us at this point in time?  Save us airfare?  Big deal.  That's a poor reason to keep a series going.

I'm not so crazy about playing Buffalo (although they seem to be a staple for other Big East teams) I think the other teams we are trying to schedule is very much in keeping, regionally, with what Woolard has been working towards by scheduling MSU, Illinois, Indiana, etc.

These guys at the Trib really need to understand what USF is trying to do in the big picture and not try to impart their shortsighted, small minded wisdom.  If things were as they wish, we'd still be in the Sunbelt conference.

[lotsofbull99]

Playing UCF every year causes us to sink to their level.  We should have canceled the series after this years game, we could find another CDOA team to play.

[Wolfman]

"When USF beat UCF in Tampa last season, 45,139 showed, the third-largest crowd in USF history. There'll be another big crowd in Orlando on Saturday, maybe 35,000, provided no other USF players are suspended."

Cheap shots like this one is why I give no credence to their articles.

What does USF suspended players have to do with attendance.

I agree 100% with what usfgrad84 wrote above.  I give you one advantage to playing Buffalo.  Exposure to the area that some of our conference teams recruit.  I know we play conference teams in the northeast for exposure, but we should be able to look pretty impressive against Buffalo, to any recruits in the northeast.

[BDYZR]

Yes, that hot bed of talent around WKU is where we need to compete.

[WoolyBully]

Here's what I just can't seem to get my arms around.

If we are to play UCF until, and including, the 2008 season, why is

there a sense of urgency to extend the series past that point? By that

I mean, is someone's bonus tied to getting long-term contract signed?

What difference does it make if the decision to play is made in 2008 or

in 2006? I just don't see the merits in deciding this stuff up front.

As an example...did we not have some sort of 4-game deal with BGSU?

And if I recall correctly, that was one-and-done.

Why not wait and see how things shake out in 2006, 2007 and 2008?

Please...someone in the know...explain to me the merits of committing -

either verbally or in writing - to this series. It seems to me that we

would continue to play UCF as part of our BE/CUSA obligations, so again,

it's almost like someone is panicking that this won't get done next year.

IM<HO: I don't see why we don't play this game. It seems like it is one

of the better draws (road trips aside) for the school and I'd much rather

see UCF than FAU/FIU etc.  Then again, this is meant as a hip-pocket deal.

If a better one comes along...

[Knight_Light]

Given that we are trying to brand our school as a University with a national scope and reach (that was stated when we unveiled our new logos a couple of years ago)......

So....you can do that by playing Western Ky, Ball St, and Buffalo....NOT on National TV?

This UCF-USF game is on NATIONAL TV.

I think this game fits USF's University "Branding" concept very well.

Thanks for bringing it up.

KL

PS. You REALLY didn't believe what you wrote...right?

[Don Toro]

plus the fact that our fans aren't storming the gates to buy tickets for this game.  

I keep hearing this same argument.  But wouldn't you say that's more of a reflection on the type of "fans" that we have rather than on the quality of the school we are playing?  Rivalry or not, I don't see why a true fan, with the time and money, can't make it to Orlando to support USF.