BeatWestern!
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A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
Good article here by Marc Daniels and Scott Harris about UCF's path to joining the MAC in 2002 and how it helped get them to where they are today.
On a "Final Note," are the authors teasing the current price of eggs or perhaps providing a clue to the future intentions of the Delaware Blue Hens?
https://969thegame.iheart.com/content/20...o-the-mac/
(This post was last modified: 01-18-2023 11:40 AM by BeatWestern!.)
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01-18-2023 11:35 AM |
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ArmoredUpKnight
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-18-2023 11:35 AM)BeatWestern! Wrote: Good article here by Marc Daniels and Scott Harris about UCF's path to joining the MAC in 2002 and how it helped get them to where they are today.
On a "Final Note," are the authors teasing the current price of eggs or perhaps providing a clue to the future intentions of the Delaware Blue Hens?
https://969thegame.iheart.com/content/20...o-the-mac/
Great Read, love Marc Daniels.
Never knew the Horizon league made such an impact in the UCF's trajectory.
Most UCF fans consider the MAC years the Dark Age of UCF athletics. I can see how it was an essential period in our history. The Marshall rivalry was a nice development for a time.
///
His final notes are always random factoids.
From his Tua article:
"Final note: Orange juice is the top selling juice in the world. Apple and cranberry sit second and third."
From his transfer portal article:
"Final note: Eggnog dates back to the 1770's and was also called Eggflip by the British."
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01-18-2023 12:25 PM |
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CitrusUCF
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
I started at UCF when we were in the MAC. It's amazing what has happened from the days of shoestring budgets playing Eastern Michigan versus heading into the Big 12. The growth has been exponential.
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01-18-2023 12:51 PM |
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PeteTheChop
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-18-2023 12:25 PM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote: Most UCF fans consider the MAC years the Dark Age of UCF athletics. I can see how it was an essential period in our history. The Marshall rivalry was a nice development for a time.
Nicer than this?
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01-18-2023 03:17 PM |
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Sicembear11
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-18-2023 12:51 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote: I started at UCF when we were in the MAC. It's amazing what has happened from the days of shoestring budgets playing Eastern Michigan versus heading into the Big 12. The growth has been exponential.
In a state as large and football rich as Florida, it was inevitable that another program (or two) would spring up. There are a number of football rich states that could handle an additional P5 school in their borders, Ohio, Tennessee, Louisiana, all come to mind.
UCF has a lot of potential, I hope they can realize it in the Big 12.
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01-18-2023 04:07 PM |
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Fighting Muskie
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
That’s an interesting read. The MAC was a nice stepping stone for UCF and it was probably short sighted of C-USA to pass on them in the late 90s/early 00s. I wonder if the Big East gave any thought leading up to the 05 season of taking both UCF and USF.
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01-18-2023 04:27 PM |
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bryanw1995
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
Nice article, and I love the red meat to the fans in talking about how UCF has completely surpassed Marshall in every way.
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01-18-2023 04:51 PM |
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Herd6993
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
The article is pretty spot on. To further elaborate, Marshall and the Horizon had a verbal commitment for the Herd to join for all sports, but football. Then about two months before it was to be finalized, an inside source that many believe was Herd FB coach Bob Pruett told sports writer Chuck Landon about the plans. Landon immediately wrote an article which was published in the Charleston papers. In this article Landon stated Marshall would only be in the Horizon for 2-4 years as they had been promised an all-sports membership by C-USA once improvements had been made to their facilities. After hearing of this, The Horizon presidents immediately said "no" to expansion, they didn't want to be perceived as a stepping stone.
(This post was last modified: 01-18-2023 05:38 PM by Herd6993.)
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01-18-2023 05:37 PM |
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Poster
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-18-2023 04:27 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: That’s an interesting read. The MAC was a nice stepping stone for UCF and it was probably short sighted of C-USA to pass on them in the late 90s/early 00s. I wonder if the Big East gave any thought leading up to the 05 season of taking both UCF and USF.
UCF was the main team that was rumored for Big East expansion in the late oughts.
But USF didn’t want them for recruiting reasons, the basketball schools didn’t want another football school, and it’s not like they had achieved enough in football at that point that anybody in the conference was really dying to add them.
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01-18-2023 05:45 PM |
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bryanw1995
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-18-2023 05:45 PM)Poster Wrote: (01-18-2023 04:27 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: That’s an interesting read. The MAC was a nice stepping stone for UCF and it was probably short sighted of C-USA to pass on them in the late 90s/early 00s. I wonder if the Big East gave any thought leading up to the 05 season of taking both UCF and USF.
UCF was the main team that was rumored for Big East expansion in the late oughts.
But USF didn’t want them for recruiting reasons, the basketball schools didn’t want another football school, and it’s not like they had achieved enough in football at that point that anybody in the conference was really dying to add them.
That was a smart move by USF, they showed them!
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01-18-2023 05:51 PM |
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Fighting Muskie
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-18-2023 05:51 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote: (01-18-2023 05:45 PM)Poster Wrote: (01-18-2023 04:27 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: That’s an interesting read. The MAC was a nice stepping stone for UCF and it was probably short sighted of C-USA to pass on them in the late 90s/early 00s. I wonder if the Big East gave any thought leading up to the 05 season of taking both UCF and USF.
UCF was the main team that was rumored for Big East expansion in the late oughts.
But USF didn’t want them for recruiting reasons, the basketball schools didn’t want another football school, and it’s not like they had achieved enough in football at that point that anybody in the conference was really dying to add them.
That was a smart move by USF, they showed them!
It’s a shame that UCF and USF haven’t been lock step partners since the 1990s. Imagine if USF had lobbied for UCF to get into C-USA and then, in 2004, the two exert their leverage on the Big East to admit them both.
We get a 2005-2011 Big East of:
UConn
Syracuse
Rutgers
Pitt
WVU
Cincinnati
Louisville
USF
UCF
Providence
St John’s
Seton Hall
Villanova
Georgetown
Notre Dame
DePaul
Marquette
St Louis
Would UCF and USF both be in the Big 12 today had they been partners instead of rivals?
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01-18-2023 06:04 PM |
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ArmoredUpKnight
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-18-2023 05:51 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote: (01-18-2023 05:45 PM)Poster Wrote: (01-18-2023 04:27 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: That’s an interesting read. The MAC was a nice stepping stone for UCF and it was probably short sighted of C-USA to pass on them in the late 90s/early 00s. I wonder if the Big East gave any thought leading up to the 05 season of taking both UCF and USF.
UCF was the main team that was rumored for Big East expansion in the late oughts.
But USF didn’t want them for recruiting reasons, the basketball schools didn’t want another football school, and it’s not like they had achieved enough in football at that point that anybody in the conference was really dying to add them.
That was a smart move by USF, they showed them!
Missing the 2005 Big East expansion is what drove UCF to build the On Campus Stadium and many of the facility improvements.
UCF wouldn't have made the financial commitments we made to the program if it wasn't for that pivotal decision.
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01-19-2023 10:59 AM |
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goodknightfl
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-18-2023 04:27 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: That’s an interesting read. The MAC was a nice stepping stone for UCF and it was probably short sighted of C-USA to pass on them in the late 90s/early 00s. I wonder if the Big East gave any thought leading up to the 05 season of taking both UCF and USF.
There was talk of UCF as a FB only. but nothing came of it.
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01-19-2023 11:21 AM |
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otown
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-19-2023 10:59 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote: (01-18-2023 05:51 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote: (01-18-2023 05:45 PM)Poster Wrote: (01-18-2023 04:27 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: That’s an interesting read. The MAC was a nice stepping stone for UCF and it was probably short sighted of C-USA to pass on them in the late 90s/early 00s. I wonder if the Big East gave any thought leading up to the 05 season of taking both UCF and USF.
UCF was the main team that was rumored for Big East expansion in the late oughts.
But USF didn’t want them for recruiting reasons, the basketball schools didn’t want another football school, and it’s not like they had achieved enough in football at that point that anybody in the conference was really dying to add them.
That was a smart move by USF, they showed them!
Missing the 2005 Big East expansion is what drove UCF to build the On Campus Stadium and many of the facility improvements.
UCF wouldn't have made the financial commitments we made to the program if it wasn't for that pivotal decision.
If I recall correctly, the city treated UCF as a second class citizen along with Florida Citrus Sports. When it came time to renovate the citrus bowl, no construction timeline was given that would allow UCF to play their season there. they refused to navigate the construction schedule around their season. UCF was essentially told to go find a high school to play at for all they cared. Thank goodness we had such short sited Orlando leaders at the time, funny thing is, we still have the same mayor.
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01-19-2023 01:03 PM |
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MidknightWhiskey
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-19-2023 10:59 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote: (01-18-2023 05:51 PM)bryanw1995 Wrote: (01-18-2023 05:45 PM)Poster Wrote: (01-18-2023 04:27 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: That’s an interesting read. The MAC was a nice stepping stone for UCF and it was probably short sighted of C-USA to pass on them in the late 90s/early 00s. I wonder if the Big East gave any thought leading up to the 05 season of taking both UCF and USF.
UCF was the main team that was rumored for Big East expansion in the late oughts.
But USF didn’t want them for recruiting reasons, the basketball schools didn’t want another football school, and it’s not like they had achieved enough in football at that point that anybody in the conference was really dying to add them.
That was a smart move by USF, they showed them!
Missing the 2005 Big East expansion is what drove UCF to build the On Campus Stadium and many of the facility improvements.
UCF wouldn't have made the financial commitments we made to the program if it wasn't for that pivotal decision.
100% we definitely took the long road and it's paid off. Had we gotten into the Big East back then we likely would not have built an on campus stadium which has had an incredible impact on the fanbase and creating the gameday atmosphere we have. IIRC we were also discussing hosting basketball games at the Amway as well.
Really glad we got out of the citrus dump and moved everything on campus instead of the other way around.
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01-19-2023 01:26 PM |
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ArmoredUpKnight
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-18-2023 03:17 PM)PeteTheChop Wrote: (01-18-2023 12:25 PM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote: Most UCF fans consider the MAC years the Dark Age of UCF athletics. I can see how it was an essential period in our history. The Marshall rivalry was a nice development for a time.
Nicer than this?
We definitely cared more about the Marshall rivalry than the UConn CON-FL-ict
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01-19-2023 03:36 PM |
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Alanda
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
Nice read. I think UCF is a solid example of what making and following through with the right decisions can do for a school.
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01-19-2023 08:17 PM |
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No Bull
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-18-2023 12:25 PM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote: (01-18-2023 11:35 AM)BeatWestern! Wrote: Good article here by Marc Daniels and Scott Harris about UCF's path to joining the MAC in 2002 and how it helped get them to where they are today.
On a "Final Note," are the authors teasing the current price of eggs or perhaps providing a clue to the future intentions of the Delaware Blue Hens?
https://969thegame.iheart.com/content/20...o-the-mac/
Great Read, love Marc Daniels.
Never knew the Horizon league made such an impact in the UCF's trajectory.
Most UCF fans consider the MAC years the Dark Age of UCF athletics. I can see how it was an essential period in our history. The Marshall rivalry was a nice development for a time.
///
His final notes are always random factoids.
From his Tua article:
"Final note: Orange juice is the top selling juice in the world. Apple and cranberry sit second and third."
From his transfer portal article:
"Final note: Eggnog dates back to the 1770's and was also called Eggflip by the British."
I enjoyed the MAC years. It was a thrill to join a conference with programs like Marshall and Toledo. We quickly found out the MAC played some big time football. Good times for sure. I still watch all the MACTION I can
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01-21-2023 06:55 PM |
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Michael in Raleigh
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-19-2023 01:03 PM)otown Wrote: funny thing is, we still have the same mayor.
My hometown of Greenville, SC has had the same mayor since 1995. Wild.
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01-22-2023 12:11 PM |
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BeatWestern!
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RE: A Former SEC Commish, Marshall, The Need For $250K: How UCF Got To The MAC
(01-22-2023 12:11 PM)Michael in Raleigh Wrote: (01-19-2023 01:03 PM)otown Wrote: funny thing is, we still have the same mayor.
My hometown of Greenville, SC has had the same mayor since 1995. Wild.
You and Shoeless Joe Jackson!
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01-22-2023 02:03 PM |
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