(06-05-2012 05:16 PM)TheFIUtheproud Wrote:  

(06-05-2012 01:35 PM)atsKnight Wrote:  

(06-05-2012 08:20 AM)TheFIUtheproud Wrote:  

(06-01-2012 03:13 PM)TampaKnight Wrote:  

(06-01-2012 12:33 PM)TheFIUtheproud Wrote:  As an FIU fan, I am concerned about this away game. Clearly a blow-out is more than possible on any given game day, but why do you expect to blow away FIU? No hostilities here, just curious. I admit I am not too familiar with UCF apart from a few south Florida guys. I'm thinking that you guys may not be too familiar with FIU's team as well. By the way, I believe that UCF should be well favored in this match-up (home advantage, talent, more time playing football, etc), but blow-out?

Like Kruciff mentioned, our biggest mistakes happened on special teams. A facet of the game that, for the most part, should not play a significant factor in a decision, actually did against FIU.

FIU punched us in the teeth last year. They got hyped up and took it to us. We're awake now.

I take it you think that UCF should have blown away FIU last year but for special teams play? Here, I cannot agree with you. While I will concede that UCF has superior depth and better talent overall, I think that many of you were flat-out wrong about the type of team FIU had last year. Consequently, some of you still sound like you don't respect FIU at all. I hope this attitude continues because it may also be reflective of your football team's attitude toward FIU. This would be good.

Again, no hostilities on my part as I do strongly believe that UCF should be favored in this game. As stated above by me, I concede UCF is overall better than FIU at this point in time. But, if you believe that UCF should have blown out FIU last year (or this year) then you have no clue as to what FIU has done in the last few years under Coach Cristobal. Simply put, the man can recruit, and better yet he can motivate. If our new OC is any good, we can have a spectacular year. If he stinks, then we may get blown out a few times. And not just by UCF!

I'm curious what type of response you are looking for here. Where do you see FIU finishing at the end of this year? If FIU were in the ACC or nBE, or CUSA this past year, how would you expect them to do (top tier, middle of the pack, bottom feeder)?

I expect 7 wins more or less (6 on the down side with 9 as the top). Losses to UCF, Louisville, Lousiana and Ark. State would not surprise me as these teams will be favored over us. We can lose to Duke again. Obviously, if FIU were in the ACC last year (you mentioned last year) we would have won two or three games and could have one win in ACC. In CUSA last year our record would have been about the same as in the Sun Belt last year. We did play Marshall tight even though our offense wasn't clicking. Lost in the 4th. You forget we also played Texas A & M and Rutgers well in 2010 (losing to A & M in the late 4th). We didn't really get blown out by anyone last year. Our worst loss in 2011 was against Arky State and lost a close one to Duke. Check it out.

I guess more than anything, I was shocked by some of your fans' opinions that FIU is an easy "blow out." No objectivity whatsover. Little football knowledge or instincts. Just "homerism." And again, I have been careful to point out that UCF is ahead of FIU at this point in time. And understand that some football preview magazines think highly of UCF this year, but still UCF is not likely to do well in the ACC or a higher conference either. I still see UCF as a mid-major team (high mid major ranking if you will). Sorry if this offends, but you still need to catch up to USF in most peoples minds. Which brings me back to my original point: Blow out? Really??? Can't you all just say we should beat FIU in 2012. Now that I can live with, and cannot be argued logically. Have enjoyed the banter.

So let me see if I'm hearing you correctly: any fan that thinks UCF will win in a blow out is obviously a homer with no objectivity or football instincts because FIU lost to consistent CUSA bottom dweller Marshall?

I'm not trying to mock FIU, but I don't think its crazy to think that a team that beats Marshall every year and has a chip on its shoulder could blow out the fourth-best team of the dead last FBS conference.

As I stated above, I have a lot of respect for the FIU program and I think that they are a tough team. But sometimes even tough teams get blow out. This can happen when one team is looking for revenge on another team.

UCF fans can accept that two CUSA championships has not given us the national notoriety we hope to achieve. Can you accept that the Sun Belt is not on the level of CUSA? Can you accept that while FIU has lots of potential, a bowl win over Toledo is not enough to prove that the Golden Panthers are impervious to being blown out, even by teams perceived as mid-majors?

I look forward to seeing how FIU does in CUSA in 2013. I think it might be more difficult than you think it will.