This is why I was so glad we were done with Tinmen

[Brad]

Same ****, different decade

 

USF coach Willie Taggart should stress UCF rivalry, not downplay it

 

Sentinel reporter Paul Tenorio recently asked new USF coach Willie Taggart how much emphasis he will place on the game with UCF this season now that the two programs are in the same conference and will renew their rivalry this year.

 

Replied Taggart: "Whether it's UCF or Michigan State or McNeese State. We want to beat them all. To be honest with you, I don't know much about that rivalry. It's not one of those rivalries that you've seen on TV a lot, that you hear about. Once we've been in it for a while, we start playing each other, we can start talking about that rivalry more. We look at them like any other team. …"

 

Is this Jim Leavitt talking or Willie Taggart? USF may have a new coach, but still seems to have that same old arrogance toward UCF.

 

Memo to Taggart: USF is immediately the biggest game on UCF's schedule and vice versa.

 

The fact is coaches don't determine rivalries; fans do.

 

Considering the problem both schools have had generating excitement and drawing fans to their games, Taggart and UCF coach George O'Leary should be stressing this rivalry, not minimizing it.

 

Link

 

[NewEnglandBull]

Bring it UCF, we are going to kick your ass AGAIN

[E.T.]

Bring it UCF, we are going to kick your ass AGAIN

And again !

[Bull-by-Marriage]

I have been a fan of FSU since I was 12, I NEVER felt the disdain for UF, that I feel for ucf. They're a bunch of whiney little bitches.

[Who'sYourData?]

I have to believe that it was strongly suggested to Taggart by Genshaft and/or Woolard to downplay the UCF/USF rivalry angle.  Normally a new coach would light the fires of any rivalry he could find to build excitement.

[cmhatter]

i dont think he was downplaying it...

 

what he said was right.

 

nationally, nobody cares about it and we haven't played in years.... Let's revisit in a few years and see how it goes.

[Brad]

DB, your comment "of any rivalry" I think Taggart did that. 'All games' he commented. UCF wants to be special.

[Gismo]

I like what he said. He will be making an effort to win all of our games. The sum of the season is greater than any one game. However, Taggart will learn that UCF is a rivalry when he sees how it fills the stands, even though it's not talked about nationally. 

[Skingraft]

I'm way more excited about the FSU and UM games

[WoolyBully]

I don't know how WT feels about it, but being honest...Michigan State, L'ville, and Cinci are the top three games (on my personal agenda). UCF is now something we have to contend with, not unlike the relentless eye-gouging Eagle in Yune festival we had to attend in beautiful, scenic, Hattiesburg (a candidate for urban renewal if ever there was one). 

 

Do you s'pose...if WT were to throw down a one liner "Oh yeah, it's a rivalry", that would shut them up, or would it be fuel on the fire. For some reason I feel like we're debating the meaning of the word 'is' every time the word 'rivalry' comes up.