UCF and Troy had a fantastic football rivalry going. I was at almost all of the games and those in Orlando were great!

Troy drew 10,000-plus to one of those games, and many thousands to the others. Many thousands of Troy alumni live in Florida, particularly north and central Florida.

The last time I checked, one of the Troy-UCF games in the Tangerine (I know, Citrus) Bowl still ranked No. 3 or No. 4 in all-time UCF crowds - 37,000?.

That place would rock. Remember the "Hey" song playing as UCF took a timeout, trying to decide whether to go for one to tie or two to win over Troy? With almost no time left to play?

The Knights went for two and didn't make it - twice (or was it three times)! Seemed like it.

I was biting every nail.

The crowd noise really hurt Troy then (using a no-huddle offense).

The best time was perhaps that one Orlando game which was postponed for two hours due to thunderstorms. The Sound of the South played the old fight sing "Dixie" for perhaps the last time publicly, under the stands.

Then there was that Division II semifinal game when UCF fans were calling for the final to be moved from North Alabama to Orlando, and making plane reservations to the final.

Then Troy waxed 'em.

That was my great rivalry and I wish UCF would wise up and do its ticket sales coffers and fans a favor by putting Troy on the annual schedule.