Mike Morgan of ESPN/SEC Network talks about the dramatic fall of South Florida and the rise of rival Central Florida on the JC and Morgan College Football Podcast. Nov. 8, 2022.
Well, considering that USF was in the Big East a former power conference, I’d say they had more of a head start. They fumbled the bag when they focused so much on UCF rather than investing in themselves. The USF president's decision to block UCF from the Big East will forever haunt them. Them not investing in a stadium on campus and making fun of us when we did will forever haunt them. Now they're trying to model their program off of us. But some USF fans still focus on us more than their own team.
Agreed! I was at UCF from 2005-2008 when USF blocked us from being invited to the Big East! And when they decided to cancel any remaining games with UCF because they "wanted to play better competition in-state" a la UF, FSU and Miami, that just set the wheels turning for UCF to do whatever it takes to join a big conference. Now we're going to the Big 12 next summer! You reap what you sow and USF did this all to themselves starting with their past president! #GKCO
Imagine thinking that UCF had the head start. USF spent barely no time in the C-USA before they got a Big East invite and did nothing with it. UCF went up from Division 3 and earned each step of growth they underwent. USF choked away a massive lead and is now getting lapped.
Handed a silver spoon. I still can’t understand how usf magically got a big east invite. Based on what? 9 years of football? How many programs were leapfrogged ? programs with bigger wins, more history, larger fanbase. I wouldn’t say usf “earned”. But I also think bc usf never had those growing pains that it caught up with them and that’s what you’re seeing now. Born on 3rd and left the runners stranded.
@@LplusRatioplusNobodyCares You’re seriously trying to make the argument that a team who had to come up from D3 had a head start over a team who started as a D1 and spent less than a decade before joining an AQ conference?
Having watched this all play out, USF was handed a silver spoon and spat it out. Indeed, the early teams were built on critical players who had questionable backgrounds (AKD the old Miami/Nebraska model). "The Jim" was the right coach to manage that gang because he was tough and physical (until it got public display). The problem USF had was that they expected everything to come to them (the Administration) which was a massive ego failing. UCF, having built from DIII up knew darn well what it took to grow and be successful and were willing to build one brick at a time while Judy & Co. expected it to just materialize because we are USF. USF sealed it's fate when they blocked UCF from joining the Big East. They destroyed the conference and themselves with it. This was a well documented debate but USF management and ego could not get past themselves. That was the albatross they still carry and it has sank what could have been a great program. UCF, in the meantime, continued to build the foundation and put down solid bricks with the indoor practice facility, the OCS stellar marketing and hiring coaches to advance teh growth instead of flash to prominence. That foundation (which USF had a great deal of fun chastising for years) is the difference in the programs. USF now recognizes it and are following suite but the costs and hurdles are much greater than 10-15 years ago. Bad management is why USF is in the dumpster. Not players, fans, coaches, etc. Leadership. I do hope USF can dig out from under the pile they built on top of themselves but it will be 10-15 years - the same amount of time it took UCF to build what they have in place today. Thinking it can be done in a year or two is the same bad logic that caused this in the first place. Good Luck USF! Make the plan, stick to the plan and build a great program - do not expect it to win championships for several years - that is the price to pay.
Ucf did everything that usf wasn’t off the field that set them up for long term success beyond good hires.That includes building a donor base, investing money into the program, practice facilities, weight rooms, nutrition center, creating a culture via OCS.
@@Steve56179 that’s what ocs is. Lol But an ocs just changed the game in regards to culture and atmosphere and alumni it makes u feel like you have ownership in the team and it’s success that u don’t get when you’re renting out another’s stadium. Usf if they did things right should probably smoke ucf athletically, they have better academics, the location is fantastic recreationally. But the hindsight here is correct they probably never should have fired Holtz. One thing that usf has been doing is chasing ghosts. Chasing 2007, holtz got fired bc he didn’t sustain that leavitt success and it has just been not allowing the program to have stability. Ucf had O’Leary for 10 years to build a foundation that allowed frost to thrive and be poached. And the same for Heupel and now have malzahn who I think is the right guy for this moment.
I remember when they used to look down their nose at us all the time. They thought they were too good to play us for many years in the old days... funny how tables have turned
USF was in a better spot than UCF in the 2000s. Sure the Big East was considered the worst major conference but it was at least better than bouncing from MAC to C-USA that UCF did which is completely understandable. USF heads blocked UCF from joining the conference.UCF built infrastructure for football program.UCF is currently ahead of USF.
usf is in a great location for second chance players. A lot of the 3rd and 4th string players from the higher, in-state teams like Florida, FSU, Miami and UCF want to see more time on the field. Once the shine of landing on one of those teams is somewhat faded, usf can then become a real player for their talents. The state teams of similar ilk like the usf's, the North Florida's, the Stetson's, the FAMU's, etc can really benefit from this situation. Tampa is a great location in South Florida.
Yes and no. At some point there’s only so much talent and it becomes diminishing returns. FL now has 4 P5 programs. That’s a lot of talent to take from the state and from other schools out of state that recruit here. Usf will be in the same conference as FAU that’s gonna be competition. And they already have facilities. It will be interesting how usf responds
CFB is about branding. Is it too high ? Possibly but ya know who else is ranked high every season without merit , basically every team except the national champion. ND , Texas, Miami, and it skews the rankings when lesser brands probably should be ranked those mid P5 teams
@@119Agent it’s brand it’a not done alone either. I think over the years UCF, Memphis, Cincy, and other teams in the conference really came up together for some great games that brought eyes to the conference and that the American is good college football equal to mid P5 teams. UC doesn’t get into the playoff last year without wins over ucf and others. Long term the AAC I think could have been a great conference but the economic realities and re alignment won’t allow it to be. It’s definitely gonna fall back competitively and be watered down.
LOL!!! Schools don't decide their ranking. That's the AP press' job and they decided UCF is good enough for #17. Plain and simple, they earned it! Go Knights! Charge On!!! #GKCO
