A HECKLER’S GUIDE TO THE CONFLICT

Remember when this happened last year? (Stephen Slade)
Remember when this happened last year? (Stephen Slade)

Throw the records out the window! It’s time for the ConFLiCT!

The biggest rivalry in college football takes centerstage on ESPN News on Saturday afternoon and it’s a big game for both teams.

For UConn, a win would somewhat legitimize the very idea of this game and it would snap a three-game losing streak.

For UCF, well, they’re just trying to keep a local bar in business.

UCF might not be the football power that the Huskies are, but the weather is, undoubtedly, better. So if you’re headed down for a warm weekend and to catch a game, here are some things to keep in mind about the upcoming opponent:

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First, we turn to The UConn Blog, who published this piece of art a few years back. In it are some great notes:

  • Despite calling itself a Space-grant University, UCF has produced exactly the same number of astronauts as UConn (2).
  • The campus layout was modeled after Disney’s EPCOT
  • Daniel Tosh bests five former Miss Floridas as the university’s most accomplished alum
  • The former president and CEO of Denny’s also went to UCF
  • Students knowingly swim in an alligator-infested lake on campus

OK, now I’ll actually do my job and find some more fun things about UCF rather than just rip off others.

  • The UCF student paper, the Central Florida Future, is one of the largest student-run papers in the country. Among the current headlines on its homepage:
    • King cobra of UCF alum found under resident’s dryer
    • Former Miss UCF takes talent to Disney stage
  • The original UCF mascot (when they were the Florida Tech Citronauts), looks like the lovechild of Otto the Orange and Elroy Jetson.

citronaut

In case you forgot, UCF fans mocked UConn relentlessly for thinking the Huskies were good enough to be the Knights’ rivals. Here’s a sampling from their Rivals message board:

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That’s all fair game, by the way. I don’t fault them for that. UConn was garbage last year.

But let’s check in on how UCF football has done this year…

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And how that same forum has changed…

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Why, that even puts the digital embodiment of a pink Starburst, “The Boneyard,” to shame.

Enjoy the ConFLiCT, everyone!