10-01-2002, 06:30 AM
Keep in mind, this is from the "Opinion" section, but still...
UCF Future calls Toledo (MAC Champs) a Patsy-cupcake team Reply
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wonder when UCF will shut up and quit disrespecting the MAC. I am embarrassed. They also call Kent St a patsy as well.
Central Florida Future - Opinion
Issue: 10/01/02
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to fire up UCF fans
A new castle, a new horse and a scholarship giveaway failed to entice fans in large numbers to enter the Citrus Bowl last Saturday for UCF's first home football game of the season.
Many UCF students did make the trip downtown. But others remained more interested in the tailgating festivities outside the stadium than in the touchdowns that allowed the Golden Knights to score a 48-17 victory over Liberty.
Even 200 freshmen — bribed with free food, T-shirts and prizes to board a bus to the game in the first-ever "Freshmen Frenzy" promotion — failed to significantly bolster attendance that UCF officials claimed was 20,000 (even though only 18,600 fans were counted through the turnstiles).
UCF officials, who still believe promotions are the best way to garner fan support, seriously misunderstand the notion of competitive sports.
No amount of promotions can convince people to become UCF fans, because football games aren't about free food and cash giveaways, pre-game shows and colorful props.
Sports, football especially, are about the heart-stopping throws, the record-setting plays, the last-minute touchdowns that instantly change the outcome of a game. Real sports fans know that the only reason to go into a stadium is to catch a game worth seeing.
When UCF plays patsies such as Liberty, Toledo, and Kent State , when the outcome is as predictable as Florida's fall climate, the thrill of the game disappears. Watching UCF destroy a weak opponent like the Liberty Flames is like watching a fox chase a rabbit around in a cage, knowing the rabbit doesn't stand a chance. Promotions simply can't compensate for that and shouldn't have to.
While last year's "Fill the Bowl" promotion drew 50,220 fans, creating one of the largest crowds ever for a UCF home game, it had little do with the success of the marketing maneuver.
Rather, it had everything to do with the fact that UCF faced a decent opponent in Virginia Tech,. Suddenly the stadium was filled with fans who held their breath, crossed their fingers, donned their Knights shirts and did everything in their power to support UCF, never knowing who would take the game, but aware that if UCF did, the win would mean something, and a loss still would be a noteworthy effort.
Point is, if UCF wants people to show up at football games, it will have to schedule more teams like Virginia Tech to get people to watch.
UCF will re-launch "Fill the Bowl" for the Nov. 2 home game, but it's hardly necessary, given that the Knight's opponent for that contest will be Syracuse. Forty thousand fans — the crowd UCF hopes to draw for "Fill the Bowl" — is a realistic attendance goal for such a distinguished opponent. Against Liberty, even 20,000 was something of a miracle.
It would be easy to pack the house for every home game if UCF played teams worth watching. As much fun as it is to extinguish a weaker opponent like the Flames, fans want a game and a win for the Knights that they can get fired up about.
This is the opinion of the Central Florida Future. UCF's School Newspaper
Kristy Shonka, Sports Editor
Email: sports@ucffuture.com
Phone: 407-447-4555 x161
The Central Florida Future
3361 Rouse. Rd, Suite 160
Orlando, FL 32817
WOW! Keep on talking it up, boys...Sheesh.
UCF Future calls Toledo (MAC Champs) a Patsy-cupcake team Reply
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wonder when UCF will shut up and quit disrespecting the MAC. I am embarrassed. They also call Kent St a patsy as well.
Central Florida Future - Opinion
Issue: 10/01/02
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to fire up UCF fans
A new castle, a new horse and a scholarship giveaway failed to entice fans in large numbers to enter the Citrus Bowl last Saturday for UCF's first home football game of the season.
Many UCF students did make the trip downtown. But others remained more interested in the tailgating festivities outside the stadium than in the touchdowns that allowed the Golden Knights to score a 48-17 victory over Liberty.
Even 200 freshmen — bribed with free food, T-shirts and prizes to board a bus to the game in the first-ever "Freshmen Frenzy" promotion — failed to significantly bolster attendance that UCF officials claimed was 20,000 (even though only 18,600 fans were counted through the turnstiles).
UCF officials, who still believe promotions are the best way to garner fan support, seriously misunderstand the notion of competitive sports.
No amount of promotions can convince people to become UCF fans, because football games aren't about free food and cash giveaways, pre-game shows and colorful props.
Sports, football especially, are about the heart-stopping throws, the record-setting plays, the last-minute touchdowns that instantly change the outcome of a game. Real sports fans know that the only reason to go into a stadium is to catch a game worth seeing.
When UCF plays patsies such as Liberty, Toledo, and Kent State , when the outcome is as predictable as Florida's fall climate, the thrill of the game disappears. Watching UCF destroy a weak opponent like the Liberty Flames is like watching a fox chase a rabbit around in a cage, knowing the rabbit doesn't stand a chance. Promotions simply can't compensate for that and shouldn't have to.
While last year's "Fill the Bowl" promotion drew 50,220 fans, creating one of the largest crowds ever for a UCF home game, it had little do with the success of the marketing maneuver.
Rather, it had everything to do with the fact that UCF faced a decent opponent in Virginia Tech,. Suddenly the stadium was filled with fans who held their breath, crossed their fingers, donned their Knights shirts and did everything in their power to support UCF, never knowing who would take the game, but aware that if UCF did, the win would mean something, and a loss still would be a noteworthy effort.
Point is, if UCF wants people to show up at football games, it will have to schedule more teams like Virginia Tech to get people to watch.
UCF will re-launch "Fill the Bowl" for the Nov. 2 home game, but it's hardly necessary, given that the Knight's opponent for that contest will be Syracuse. Forty thousand fans — the crowd UCF hopes to draw for "Fill the Bowl" — is a realistic attendance goal for such a distinguished opponent. Against Liberty, even 20,000 was something of a miracle.
It would be easy to pack the house for every home game if UCF played teams worth watching. As much fun as it is to extinguish a weaker opponent like the Flames, fans want a game and a win for the Knights that they can get fired up about.
This is the opinion of the Central Florida Future. UCF's School Newspaper
Kristy Shonka, Sports Editor
Email: sports@ucffuture.com
Phone: 407-447-4555 x161
The Central Florida Future
3361 Rouse. Rd, Suite 160
Orlando, FL 32817
WOW! Keep on talking it up, boys...Sheesh.