Did it ever occur to fans that we and USF are the only Florida 1A (or soon to be 1A) schools without a REAL instate rivalry? I think that a rivalry with this school is very important to developing a huge, traditional fan following - for both schools. Most major universities have a rivalry, some give away trophies for bragging rights. Why not us!?! I think having a rivalry is much more important than being aligned in a conference, BCS or not! Its unfortunate that our conferences, and AD's, didn't push for a conference alignment with each other. This reason is why I feel slight admiration for FAU and FIU, they will be playing each other every year as members of the Sun Belt conference. They already have a rivalry started - the 'Shula Bowl'. Now if UCF/USF was a established annual rivalry, how about the trophy be "The Saddle" - something both bulls and knights use? Of course the the rivalry name will be plugged something like 'The War for Four' or something like that. If either of us feel that we can have a legitimate rivalry with UF or FSU anytime soon we are dreaming. Games in Tampa and Orlando will automatically become home games for UF or FSU, no matter what the records are. We need each other, this is how we will make ourselves known to the audience that means most to us both, other Floridians! Im excited about 2005, and 2004, but the game that I just can't wait for will be that USF/UCF match, which could be the beginning of a beautifully ugly relationship.

moloch_322 Wrote:Did it ever occur to fans that we and USF are the only Florida 1A (or soon to be 1A) schools without a REAL instate rivalry? I think that a rivalry with this school is very important to developing a huge, traditional fan following - for both schools. Most major universities have a rivalry, some give away trophies for bragging rights. Why not us!?! I think having a rivalry is much more important than being aligned in a conference, BCS or not! Its unfortunate that our conferences, and AD's, didn't push for a conference alignment with each other. This reason is why I feel slight admiration for FAU and FIU, they will be playing each other every year as members of the Sun Belt conference. They already have a rivalry started - the 'Shula Bowl'. Now if UCF/USF was a established annual rivalry, how about the trophy be "The Saddle" - something both bulls and knights use? Of course the the rivalry name will be plugged something like 'The War for Four' or something like that. If either of us feel that we can have a legitimate rivalry with UF or FSU anytime soon we are dreaming. Games in Tampa and Orlando will automatically become home games for UF or FSU, no matter what the records are. We need each other, this is how we will make ourselves known to the audience that means most to us both, other Floridians! Im excited about 2005, and 2004, but the game that I just can't wait for will be that USF/UCF match, which could be the beginning of a beautifully ugly relationship.

USF and UCF are made for each other...it'll be a big rivalry.

Right now...Stetson and UCF have a nice little one. Marshall has risen up to be a future rival...although it's not in-state.

It's all up to USF...UCF sees the importance of a rivalry...USF needs to.

Playing a home/away with a school for the 1st time ever is hardly a rivalry. It takes decades to build up hatred and animosity toward another institution. USF's football program is what, 5-6 years old? And in a separate conference no less? Your dream of a rivalry between these two institutions isn't going to happen any time soon, so move on towards hating the schools we'll actually will be playing, like UAB, East Carolina, or better yet, Marshall. Those are most likely to be our rivals going forward. Do yourself a favor and forget about USF. And no offense, but "The Saddle"....and "The War For Four".....???? Come on....

All rivalries start somewhere. Why not your backyard? Why not with someone you know best, even if you rarely do play them. Many schools have rivalries outside of their conferences. Heck! The biggest ones in Florida aren't tied by a conference, until UM joins the ACC. Yes we can have conference rivals, but why not USF?!? The only way we will know for sure is when that first game is played at RJS, and if they report having the largest selling or sold-out crowd in USF history, and if the same results come in from the Citrus Bowl, expect this game to be renewed for years to come. With this kind of attendance and publicity, I think both AD's will see this game as a blessing. I guarantee that there are many more who would want to see this game instead of any other.

Probably the biggest (and perhaps only) reason people at UCF feel there needs to be a rivalry with USF is because USF built a program in 7 years and shafted UCF by getting into the Big East. UCF football took the slow route (and still is) and USF took the fast route because (a) they're getting better fan support, and (b) they're in a bigger TV market. People at UCF feel that's enough reason to want to "get even with them" on the field. But the USF people don't want to have anything do with UCF, just like UCF no longer wants to have anything to do with Bethune Cookman anymore. The programs aren't on the same level (or soon won't be), and I'm sure the USF people would rather have a rival with their new Big East opponents. If you talk to anyone from USF you know what I mean. Somehow they've gotten in the position where they're looking down on UCF. The other in-state rivals (FSU, UF, UM) aren't like that because those programs are at an equal level.

Personally, I want a rival just like you. And USF would be a natural one. However, both schools are moving in different directions, and if you paid attention to this year's recruiting you know what I mean. Look what happened to the Pitt/Penn State rivalry when Penn State joined the Big Ten.

moloch_322, see this thread:

<a href='http://www.ncaabbs.com/forums/confusa/invision/index.php?act=ST&f=22&t=3782' target='_blank'>When is it a rivalry?</a>

KnightTrain sounds like a closet USF fan to me. Give me a break...how can you rationalize that USF passed us by? So what if they joined the Big Least...that conference is not going to be anything like it used to be. Take a look at the 3 main sports and compare the schools...

Football: about even, no huge wins over ranked opponents,
no conference championships, no bowl games

Basketball: UCF 2 NCAA appearances and on the road to a 3rd
USF doormat of CUSA

Baseball: UCF qualifies for the regionals nearly every year,
USF up and down

You're wrong, UCF and USF makes a great rivalry where fans will easily travel to the other teams stadium. There is a lot of interest in this series and I hope it continues. Yes, our conference opponents will become rivals in due time, but what better place to start than with our neighbors 90 miles to the west.

Go Knights!

That series will be the biggest one in both schools history. People who never went to a football game will DEFINITELY go to that one, on both sides. Just ask around the UCF campus (possibly USF) and Im sure that you will find out that a UCF/USF match-up brings about more conflict, emotion, and pride than any other as Im sure that its the same with many alumni. We should start rivalries with our conference bretheren, and we have a blossoming one with Marshall, but it still doesn't have the ring as one with USF does. Seriously, just compare the two, we are very similar in every aspect (except we are smarter ). As for the Big East, they aren't going to be much of a conference in the near future, the only thing that is appealing about it is that BCS BS! Other than that they lost their consistantly top-notch teams. Now why did they choose USF? Most likely its because of their facilities, the Sun Dome and RJS, both much more suitable than the Citrus Bowl and UCF Arena. Secondly, depite out recent success in hoops and USF's failure, USF has a more established program, basketball is what the Big East is best known for. Lastly, if you compare how we overall compete against each other, the only sports team we have a slight edge on them is with our baseball team. Even though we struggled against many of the Bulls sports teams we always came back for more, we never gave up, and we shouldn't give up. They are not at a higher level, they just are lucky, but only in athletics, and supposedly Orsini wants to bring that luck to us. Today we have one of the highest paid coaching staff in college football, possibly even all of Florida! Have you looked at your athletic fees lately? Our per credit hour rate is the highest in the state. The coffers are being filled, the notable coaching staff is here, and our academic standards keep rising, we are not that far off from a top-notch reputible IA school. So why should USF ...sorry, Tampa Bay Community College... and their faithful Bull-sh*tters stake claim to the '4' spot? We ARE better than them, we ALWAYS knew we were! This rivalry should top it off, and despite USF receiving some of the Slantinels Top 100 High School recruits, of which I don't think we have any (?), it doesn't matter - High School football and College Football are two different worlds. A lot of a programs success depends on its coaching staff and if for what we pay O'Leary, and what we hope that he brings, our Knights will be a force to reckon with in the future.

So heres to Hitt, Orsini, O'Leary, and all of my fellow Golden Knights of Pegasus

and to USF...

WTF? You must be a male cheerleader (not that there's anything wrong with that).....LMFAO

Nevertheless, I appreciate your school spirit. Good luck with that rivalry thing.

And Mike, I am NOT a closet USF fan. I despise them as much any other UCF student/alum, but only for the reasons I stated. Who among us didn't want to join the Big East instead of Conference USA? Not all of us are JUST football fans. Think of the Big East's basketball teams and the overall big picture and you'll see what I mean. And comparing what we've accomplished against USF is silly. I know what our sports programs have accomplished and have/can/should wipe USF's arse. Let's just hope we can say the same ten years from NOW.

Well I am all about getting everyone all wound up about what has the most potential to be big. Not only that but if it is big and the next round of Big East expansion comes (if) maybe we might be a shoe in. We all downplay the Big Least for now being a weak football conference, but if they came knocking on our door or anyone elses, suddenly that conference becomes a strong reputable conference. Its all for that BS BCS spot so we can be a have instead of a have not. And Im not saying that CUSA is a bad conference, overall its a good one. I support other teams from UCF, but the truth is that football counts most, and if our basketball team continues the success that we recently had then who would possibly say no to us?

Hey ya'll and welcome to CUSA. I think that it is great that you want to start a rivalry with USF. I think that, before it is all said and done, you are going to see CUSA have a lot of rivals with the Big Easy schools. Namely, you with USF, Memphis with louisville and cincy, and Marshall with West Virginia. I think that it is going to be great for the growth and recognition of our conference. Good luck to ya'll and welcome aboard.