Thought you guys would enjoy this reading material from the Tampa Trib (which I happen to agree with 100%).

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/sep/05/...s-columns/

USF Is Moving On, And UCF Is On Its Own

By JOE HENDERSON

Published: September 5, 2008

TAMPA - Perhaps we should all wear black arm bands or something to commemorate the impending end of the USF-UCF football series. We could hold a candlelight vigil maybe, or Bulls fans could lower those "Horns" flags that flap out of their car windows to half-staff for the ride Saturday to Orlando.

At least that's what UCF seems to expect. No less than Coach George O'Leary noted this week, "One side gets it. The other side, I don't know what the problem is."

Oh, I know what the problem is. USF isn't about to lower a hand to lift UCF's program to the same level the Bulls currently occupy by giving the Knights any more shots to prove they're equal, which they aren't.

The Knights have a nice little program, and they do well in their nice little league, Conference USA - the same league the Bulls left behind to join the Big East, where they can compete for a BCS berth every year.

These are not equal programs, though, and the Bulls owe Central Florida absolutely nothing. This will be the Knights' fourth and presumably final chance to beat USF, which they haven't been able to do yet.

The Bulls are moving on. Next season they'll start an annual series with Miami. They'll also play the Gators in Gainesville in 2010 and 2015.

UCF can fend for itself.

Come To Tampa

That's the way it works in college football these days. The big dog rules the yard, and in this backyard rivalry USF has been the Doberman while the Knights have been the annoying little poodle that always nips at your heels.

Lots of noise, no real damage.

Maybe if the Knights want to sign a 10-year contract to come to Tampa every year and play at Raymond James Stadium, then USF might consider extending this series. That's what the Bulls had to do to get on Florida's schedule, you know.

They'll make those two trips to Gainesville with no return visits from the Gators because UF Athletic Director Jeremy Foley knows better than to give up the Swamp advantage against a neighborhood program trying to make a name at Florida's expense. So it should be with UCF and the Bulls.

The series has made for some great copy the first three years these two played, none better than this quip from Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe after USF dusted the Knights 64-12 last October.

"I hope they like what happened," Grothe said that day, "because we weren't trying to run the score up on them. We're that much better than them."

Well, it's true.

Grothe just laughs when you mention that now.

"Last year is last year," he said. "If we play well, we have a good chance of winning this year.

"It's all on us to take care of business, you know what I mean?"

I think we do.

He's a junior, so this will be the last time - sniff, sniff - he gets to play the Knights. I asked him if this had been any sort of rivalry for him the last three years, a fun game to play in.

"I guess," he said.

Image Is Everything

It drives UCF crazy that the Bulls are so smug about this series, so willing in these days of high travel costs to dump an opponent that is a 90-minute bus ride away. In the head-to-head battle for recruits right now, though, UCF is much farther away from the Bulls than that.

The Bulls are the team that rose to No. 2 in the national rankings last year. They were a tipped pass at the end of the Cincinnati game from playing in the Fiesta Bowl.

You could argue that the game is a guaranteed big gate, but even that isn't much of a factor now. More than 48,000 fans showed up last week to watch the Bulls toy with Tennessee Martin, and the crowd likely would have been much larger if a monsoon hadn't roared through town shortly before kickoff.

Of course, UCF is talented enough - if the stars align - to beat the Bulls on a given night.

Why give the Knights that chance?

This series was fun for a while, but it has outlived its usefulness.

One side gets that. The other, I don't know.

Another article from the same paper just 2 years ago:

USF Dropping The Ball If It Drops UCF
By MARTIN FENNELLY
Published: Sep 14, 2006

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:
"You don't have to travel too far. Don't have to get on an airplane. The crowd is probably going to be a pretty good crowd. It'll be important to both schools. The excitement's there for alumni, fans ... There are some good things."

Those aren't our words. That's the USF coach, the same Jim Leavitt who wants to snuff this series.

No travel. Good crowds. Important games. Excited fans.

Yeah, let's not have any of that.

Or excited players.

"Oh, man, it's UCF week," USF sophomore receiver Taurus Johnson said. "We all get into it."

So what if UCF needs this game more than USF?

So what if USF thinks it has more to lose?

"The solution is, don't lose," O'Leary said.

Some things you do for the good of the game. For in-state football. And - cover your ears, Jimbo - because they're just plain fun.

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 40,000 – 40,000, provided no other USF players are suspended.

Leavitt harps on the fact that the teams are playing four games. But the Bulls are basically required to play UCF as part of USF's exit agreement with Conference USA. When that runs out, so will USF, which has its eyes on bigger home-and-home rivals down the road.

Like Ball State. Like Western Kentucky. Like Buffalo.

Ah, nothing says fall Saturdays like USF-Buffalo.

How embarrassing is this?

Yes, USF barely beat McNeese State and maybe should buy out of its FIU series after Saturday's squeaker. So why play UCF?

Well, why does West Virginia play Marshall? Why does Tennessee play Memphis? And how many more national titles would Florida State have if it didn't have to go through Miami each season?

Some things you do because they're the right things.

Leavitt Should See Big Picture

Commuter schools 90 minutes apart and in need of school spirit should play. All arguments to the contrary can be stacked like Buffalo chips.
As for negative perception of USF if it lost, it wouldn't be any worse than a 10-year-old program with a million-dollar coach ducking a natural rival. Also, teams that can't beat UConn with a BCS spot on the line can't be snooty toward anyone.

"Give me the downside to this game," George O'Leary asked.
What Downside?

Taurus Johnson gave only upside, rivalry talk, and in terms that students at both schools can understand.

Johnson on his recruiting visit to UCF: "The lot was packed. We finally found a space way the heck out."

As for his USF visit: "We parked right up front."

Bragging rights?

Try parking rights.

Pull it over, USF. Throw your brain into reverse, Jim. Aim high in steering and get the big picture. You're not just a coach in this state, you're a caretaker, too. If you're worried about losing, well, win.

Play the game.

Now and forever.
---------------------------------------

Similar article from the Orlando paper this week:

COMMENTARY
Ego, money sacking good grid rivalries

Mike Bianchi

SPORTS COMMENTARY

September 3, 2008

Tim Tebow's eyes flashed with excitement and his voice raised a couple of decibels when the subject of playing the Miami Hurricanes came up.

"Playing the 'U' is something I've never done before and I'm excited about it," chirped the University of Florida quarterback in reference to the rare renewal of the UF-UM rivalry this weekend.

"I think we should play Miami every year. That would be awesome. I'd love it."

Everybody would love it. The players. The fans. The media.

Everybody.

But Florida and Miami don't play every year for the same reason UCF and South Florida are likely ending their four-year series after Saturday's game: Because arrogance and ego and, of course, greed have hijacked college football.

Remember when college football was supposed to be about the players and the fans and the student body? Well, now it's about bean-counting athletic administrators and ego-driven coaches.

"When the stakes are this high, everything changes," said Bill Carr, the former UF athletic director who took part in the failed negotiations that helped kill the annual Miami series in the mid-1980s.

Back then the Gators were just getting out of debt as an athletic program, and one of the main reasons they dropped Miami was to add another home game to help balance their budget. To this day, Carr insists UF would have kept playing UM if former UM athletic director Sam Jankovich had just agreed to give UF fans better seats in the Orange Bowl.

Maybe so, but I believe the death of the series had more to do with UF's feeling of superiority than UF's ticket priority. The Gators felt UM needed them more than they needed UM. They felt they were subsidizing UM's budget by guaranteeing a rare sellout in the Orange Bowl every other year. And it wasn't just coincidence that they dropped Miami just as the Hurricanes turned into regular national-title contenders.

The Gators tried to soften the PR blow by saying they were dropping Miami to play a more "national" schedule. Of course, that "national" schedule turned into dog-food games against teams like Montana State and Louisiana Tech.

It's pretty telling that Carr, even today, expresses the same sentiment that ran rampant back then.

"Florida," he said, "doesn't need to play Miami."

He's right, of course. The Gators don't need to play Miami, just as South Florida doesn't need to play UCF. But -- and I know this a foreign concept in today's big-money BCS world -- how about giving in-state fans a game they can get juiced about?

Is there any question UCF fans and players get more jazzed about USF than any other opponent? And if USF fans were honest, they'd tell you the same about UCF. But it doesn't matter to USF Coach Jim Leavitt, who is about to kill a perfectly good rivalry. And why? Because of ego run amok, that's why.

Because Leavitt is infected with the same "you need us more than we need you" attitude the Gators had so many years ago.

UCF Coach George O'Leary seems tired of lobbying for the continuation of the USF series but still stated his case yet again Tuesday.

"I think it's a great game for both fan bases," O'Leary said. "I think it's a natural game that provides a great college atmosphere. I'm not much for traveling five or six states over to play a game when we've got one 60 miles away. But it's not a big deal. If they don't want to play, we'll move on."

I don't know what's worse -- USF's inexplicable arrogance or UF's incessant money grab.

Let's face it, now that college teams play 12 regular-season games, the Gators could easily play Miami every year. Florida doesn't really need a seventh home game. The Gators -- bankrolled by millionaire boosters and a billion-dollar Southeastern Conference TV package -- are a money machine. They could easily subtract one home game every other year, play Miami and not even notice it in their budget.

"Why would we want to do that?" UF Athletic Director Jeremy Foley said. "Why would you want to take $2 million out of your pocket every other year?"

Such is the business of college football.

In order to indulge bigger and bigger athletic budgets and bigger and bigger egos, the games just keep getting smaller and smaller.

i guess they learned fro their mistake

Henderson is right on the money. This game does nothing for USF.

Now that Bull signed games with UF and Miami, I don't think playing UCF makes much sense. Go win this SAT and move on.

Go Bulls and win another one for the conference.

Bianchi said last year it shouldn't be continued. Wonder why he changed his tune.

"Forget the Big Three. It's the Little Two showdown."

that about says it all, it's on to bigger things for usf...

For a school that supposedly is overrated and isn't important South Florida sure is on the mind of a lot of people. It is amazing that the same media that buried the Big East and USF several years ago and the same UCF fans who said that USF would never amount to anything because C-USA would pass the Big East up are suddenly laying a guilt trip on USF. I remember Miami-OH fans doing the same thing and now they're throwing a hissy fit because there were rumors of the series ending several years ago.

CatsClaw Wrote:For a school that supposedly is overrated and isn't important South Florida sure is on the mind of a lot of people. It is amazing that the same media that buried the Big East and USF several years ago and the same UCF fans who said that USF would never amount to anything because C-USA would pass the Big East up are suddenly laying a guilt trip on USF. I remember Miami-OH fans doing the same thing and now they're throwing a hissy fit because there were rumors of the series ending several years ago.

Are you guys still playing Miami Oh every year now. I thought I heard Kelly did not want to continue series, but I never heard what became of that.

Lets just play the last one and let it go.. both schools will do fine without the other for now..

goodknightfl Wrote:Lets just play the last one and let it go.. both schools will do fine without the other for now..

Not really interested in continuing the series. ECU has become a better rivalry.

BullsFanInTX Wrote:

CatsClaw Wrote:For a school that supposedly is overrated and isn't important South Florida sure is on the mind of a lot of people. It is amazing that the same media that buried the Big East and USF several years ago and the same UCF fans who said that USF would never amount to anything because C-USA would pass the Big East up are suddenly laying a guilt trip on USF. I remember Miami-OH fans doing the same thing and now they're throwing a hissy fit because there were rumors of the series ending several years ago.

Are you guys still playing Miami Oh every year now. I thought I heard Kelly did not want to continue series, but I never heard what became of that.

We have to wait until the contract expires in a year or two and then Kelly wants UC to look into it.

firmbizzle Wrote:

goodknightfl Wrote:Lets just play the last one and let it go.. both schools will do fine without the other for now..

Not really interested in continuing the series. ECU has become a better rivalry.

That's great news! Now we don't have to hear any complaints about how USF is hurting the Florida economy and businesses because they're not playing UCF. Both programs will be fine without playing each other. USF will have a series with Miami and try to develop that, and Big East games, and UCF has a pretty strong rivalry with a darn good program in East Carolina and a chance to collect more C-USA championships. Besides, doesn't UCF have a series starting up with Miami this year? UCF has their Florida teams on the schedule.

SF Husky Wrote:Now that Bull signed games with UF....

Ah...USF signed their 2 games at UF back in 2002 (original set for 2008 and 2009).

USF has already pushed them back once (2010-2011) and now USF has pushed back the 2nd game to 2014 or 2015 with the option of a buyout.

USF replaced the 4 game UCF series (actually 2 different two game series) with a home-home series with current I-AA Western KY...then USF will travel up to Muncie, Indiana to take on Ball St in a home-home.

CatsClaw Wrote:For a school that supposedly is overrated and isn't important South Florida sure is on the mind of a lot of people. It is amazing that the same media that buried the Big East and USF several years ago and the same UCF fans who said that USF would never amount to anything because C-USA would pass the Big East up are suddenly laying a guilt trip on USF.

Obviously this post was not targeted at me...as I was the first UCF Fan that noted that USF would finish in the middle of the pack (.500) in their first ever season in CUSA (2003)...where the other 10 CUSA team fans LAUGHED at my assessment of USF doing "pretty well" in their first year in the conf.

Well...USF tied for 3rd that year in the 11 team CUSA Conference.

LOL. You pick on the UF games but clearly ignore the Miami 5 game series. You want to keep pointing that we replace UCF with Ball State and Western Kentucky.
But dont point out that we are playing each of them on a 1-1 series NOT long term like UCF wants. You also ignore that the fact that if Miami had not signed that seriesd with USF then there would have been a greater chance of USF continue to play UCF.
So the reality is that USF replaced playing UCF yearly with playing Miami yearly.

firmbizzle Wrote:

goodknightfl Wrote:Lets just play the last one and let it go.. both schools will do fine without the other for now..

Not really interested in continuing the series. ECU has become a better rivalry.

congratulations, last stage of grief is acceptance.

KnightLight Wrote:

SF Husky Wrote:Now that Bull signed games with UF....

Ah...USF signed their 2 games at UF back in 2002 (original set for 2008 and 2009).

USF has already pushed them back once (2010-2011) and now USF has pushed back the 2nd game to 2014 or 2015 with the option of a buyout.

USF replaced the 4 game UCF series (actually 2 different two game series) with a home-home series with current I-AA Western KY...then USF will travel up to Muncie, Indiana to take on Ball St in a home-home.

Ummm, you're forgetting about that longterm Miami series that USF signed. That was recent. So USF didn't replace UCF with Western Kentucky and Ball State. I mean UCF fans can spin it all they want but USF replaced one Florida series with another Florida series. And they still play other Florida schools like Florida Atlantic and Florida International.