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UCF coach George O’Leary understandably wants an annual rivalry with USF.
USF coach Jim Leavitt does not.
“One side gets it,” O’Leary said. “The other side, I don’t know what the problem is.”
O’Leary addressed that and a few other subjects during a brief teleconference on Wednesday.
O’Leary said if the Knights pulled off the upset against No. 17 USF, it would mean more beating a nationally ranked team than defeating a BCS conference member.
A win over a ranked opponent would help Conference USA in the same manner East Carolina’s win against Virginia Tech did last week, he said.
O’Leary also said he doesn’t think his players are aware this is the last scheduled game of the USF-UCF series. Perhaps, but every single USF player I’ve talked to in the past couple weeks realizes this is the last meeting between the teams.
“I don’t even think they know it’s the last time they’re playing them,” O’Leary said. “I haven’t said anything to them about that. They don’t look at it as the last time playing them. It’s the game on Saturday, it just happens to be a team 60 miles away.”
Well, actually Mapquest estimates the schools are 101.54 miles away.
But I’ll give O’Leary credit: he openly will discuss his reasons for wanting to play USF. That’s more than Leavitt, who continually dodges the question whenever he’s asked about why USF is stopping the series with UCF.
Posted by Brett McMurphy, on 09/05 at 11:48 AM
Brett, here is USF’s official non-conference schedule (according to USF).
2009
Wofford
at Western Kentucky
Florida International
at Indiana
Miami
2010
Stony Brook
at Florida
Western Kentucky
Florida Atlantic
at Miami
2011
Ball State
at Notre Dame
Miami
2012
Michigan State
at Ball State
at Miami
2013
at Michigan STate
Florida Atlantic
Miami
2014
N.C. State
2015
at Florida
Posted by Brett Terzynski, Tampa on 09/05 at 11:02 AM
USF’s Future Out of Conference Schedule According To PhilSteele.com:
2009
Wofford
FIU
Miami
@ Indiana
2010
Samford
@ Florida
FAU
@ Miami
2011
@ Florida
Miami
@ Notre Dame
Posted by Brett McMurphy, on 09/05 at 08:27 AM
Jon, I see your point, but I think most people think UCF made a straight swamp - Miami for UCF. But maybe not. Thanks
Posted by Jess, tampa on 09/05 at 08:06 AM
USF players are not trash talking, they are being realistic
Posted by Jon McKee, SRQ on 09/04 at 09:04 PM
Brett
I think Harold means replacing UCF with Miami for our in-state rivalry game.
Posted by Brett McMurphy, on 09/04 at 04:05 PM
Harold, USF did not “replace” UCF with Miami, it replaced UCF with home-and-homes with Ball State and Western Kentucky. USF’s future schedules consists of five non-conference games - two vs. BCS, two vs. non-BCS and one vs. I-AA. USF had two vs. BCS teams scheduled through 2013. They have two non-BCS through 2010 (including at WKU in 2009 and home vs. WKU in 2010). You can list various reasons for why the series shouldn’t be played (which I agree with most of them), but USF did not replace UCF to play Miami.
Posted by Harold Wheeler, Tampa on 09/04 at 07:47 AM
By the way, next year when we play Miami, and especially if we beat them, no one will even care about the UCF games anymore. Having the Canes on the schedule will do just fine and i’m sure all the same fan jawing we’ve had with UCF will start with UM.
Posted by Harold Wheeler, Tampa on 09/04 at 07:42 AM
How many times does Leavitt have to answer this question before people consider it answered? He said it all two years ago when they wanted to extend the contract. He wants to move in a different direction. He wants us on the same par as UM,UF and FSU. Making UCF our annual rivalry doesn’t do that. Replacing the UCF series with UM is exactly what needs to happen and is. Then we can see what happens as that winds down.
Go Bulls. Beat UCF bad enough that they don’t want to play us anymore and all this crap goes away.
Posted by Nabeel Mulla, Dayton, OH on 09/04 at 06:41 AM
On a different note, I realize that EA Sports is headquartered in Maitland, so UCF is their home team, but in my PS3 sim game UCF beat USF by the score of 48-34. So far my PS3 is 2 for 2 in picking winners (USF over UTM, and KU over Louis). Let’s hope it got this one way wrong.
Posted by Nabeel Mulla, Dayton, OH on 09/04 at 06:14 AM
I wish the USF players would stop all the trash talking. It just never makes sense to trash talk upcoming opponents. USF plays much better in the role of the underdog, as was witnessed last season. These guys need to be careful and not get too full of themselves over a win against an FCS team. A loss at UCF would kill the entire season.
Posted by Eric Cullison, Orlando,FL on 09/04 at 01:26 AM
Hey Brett, lets save those comments for saturday night. As in after the game. If you look at the situation it is a tough one for CJL. He doesnt want to give bulletin board material, but he wants the recruits to know that USF is a better team. To be honest we are not at a calibur of a team to be cocky and arrogant. We still use the tool of “come help start and build the tradition”. I like the way Leavitt is handling the situation (not from a reporters stand point which im trying to become… wink wink), but from a fan point of view. And Grothe really isnt talking any smack either, all he has said is that we should win, we are favored to win. That is a fact. Of course last years comments are a completely different story 
Posted by Allen Brown, Tampa on 09/03 at 08:21 PM
Fair enough, but I don’t think it’s the coach’s job to trash talk. They are supposed to be professional. I don’t think it’d be appropriate for Leavitt to explain to the media that USF doesn’t want to play UCF anymore because we are above them.
Of course, he could word it better by saying we’d rather expand our choices for playing Florida-based teams like we’re doing with Miami and Florida. He has mentioned that before, though. UCF should be playing FAU and FIU every year if they are all about state rivalries. Miami doesn’t play them every year and they are right there.
Grothe’s comments are the best so far, though. Looking forward to those comments Saturday…
Posted by Brett McMurphy, on 09/03 at 08:11 PM
Chris and Allen, Matt Grothe certainly has no problem doing it. I also talked to a couple of other Bulls for my Saturday advance that were very open and honest on their opinions about UCF (how’s that for a tease?)
Posted by Allen Brown, Tampa on 09/03 at 05:31 PM
Exactly, Chris. You don’t tell a team that you are above t hem the week before you play them.
Posted by Chris Waring, Lakeland, FL on 09/03 at 05:25 PM
I bet you’ll get your straight answer after Saturday.
Once UCF isn’t on the schedule CJL and DW will say what should be said.
Until then...why give them motivation?
Posted by Brett McMurphy, on 09/03 at 04:20 PM
Joseph, you might be surprised. I think the press would respect that answer you listed instead of dodging the question. It would also send a strong message to recruits, etc., that “we think USF is better than UCF and we’re not afraid to say so.” Steve Spurrier is pretty straight forward and I think he’s respected by the media for his brutal honesty. You may not like what he says, but he gives direct answers. You can debate til the end of time whether the series needs to be played, but USF is the one discontinuing it. That’s why I think it deserves to be answered honestly by Leavitt and/or Woolard.
Posted by Joseph Hornswallow, St. Petersburg on 09/03 at 03:53 PM
Brett,
Are you really surprised by CJL dodging that question? Can you imagine the field day you press types would have if he came out and said something like “USF is trying to move its program forward and settling on a annual rivalry with an insignificant program at the national level really undermines those efforts. The press keeps saying how good it is for both teams but in actuality its a lot better for UCF”
You guys would crucify him with his arrogant elitist (though realistic) attitude. He’s damned if he talks and damned if he doesn’t with the press. Might as well keep his mouth shut and keep doing whats best for his program.
Posted by Jon McKee, Sarasota on 09/03 at 03:09 PM
If I’m scheduling teams in the future, I’m going to look at a lot of factors and where my program is at.
Right now USF could be hurt quite a bit loosing to UCF. Thats now and in the near future. Maybe in 5-10 years when da Bulls have won a couple of Big East championships and played well in a BCS game or two, then maybe then the vulnerablity will lessen. Right now USF has to focus on games that will advance the program forward (even if they loose) or games that will not set back the program if they were to loose. Hence the new series with Miami, exit UCF.
Posted by Joseph Hornswallow, St. Petersburg on 09/03 at 02:28 PM
Of course O’Leary was also asked if Georgia Tech had an annual series with a team not in a major conference which of course they did not
Look at Colorado and Colorado St. Every year Colorado beats up on Colorado St. for the first game of the season and if they don’t its considered an upset. Does Colorado really gain anything from that game? Colorado St obviously does but the rewards for playing the game are definitley in Colorado St’s favor. I don’t understand why the people who want this series to continue don’t understand that.
If and when UCF finds themselves in a BCS conference and the risk vs. reward is roughly equal for both teams then I’d welcome the rivalry. Until then, I think USF should bid UCF ado.
Posted by Evan, Tampa on 09/03 at 02:17 PM
Jason, as Bobby Bowden said (about playing USF), playing UCF would “validate” their program.
We have nothing to gain by beating them and risk everything by continuing the series.
Posted by Jason M, Lakeland, FL on 09/03 at 01:54 PM
I want this to be a rivalry game. I really do and I understand USF fans not wanting this game for various reasons. Being a huge USF fan from back in the days of the Slipper Rocks and such I have come to the conclusion, Why not? Why play Mcneese State, Elon, and Tennessee-Martin when we can play UCF for the first game every year. What is the difference really? UCF is a better football program, more competitive and it is a border war. I have also come to the conclusion that USF-UCF is a rivalry. Maybe not so much on the field-yet, but in recruiting in all sports. Most USF fans loath UCF and you can bet it’s mutual. So again I ask, why not?
Posted by Hootnanny, Tampa on 09/03 at 01:25 PM
whats the point of continuing a series against a lowly non-bcs school whom we dominate every year???!!! 64-12 last year, enough said!
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Posted by Christine Simpson, Tampa on 09/09 at 08:06 PM
Now that the UCF/USF “rivalry” is over and the Trib doesn’t need to be so bias, I would like to see UCF football receive FAIR and EQUAL coverage to all of the other major Florida Universities. UCF IS the 6th largest university in the nation and is developing its football program slowly but surely. I would also LOVE to see a well researched report on the UCF vs. USF athlete’s academic status’. Could that be part of the reason that UCF athletes cannot compete on the football field with USF and O’Leary cannot compete in the recruitment arena? He may be held by UCF to a higher academic standard than Jim Levitt.