Fiesta Bowl: #8 UCF vs #11 LSU

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

Entertaining game

 

[zooguy]

Haha, now UCF can Shut Up!

 

[TrueOrange]

What a game.

UCF belongs in a P5 conference.

I think they'd be a good fit in the ACC

They don’t bring any real additional financial value to it or the other power 5 conferences, unfortunately.

Which in some ways is an unfortunate part of the current situation: (save for Notre Dame) if you were left on the outside looking in after the last round of realignment...you’re pretty much stuck at that level.


(That’s kind of why the other Big 12 schools like Kansas State, Baylor, Iowa State, and Kansas were so scared of what would happen if Texas and Oklahoma were to leave.)


... it also kind of by result reinforced a bit more of a ceiling as far as less major programs reaching higher levels, but really a fair chunk of that was already established during the mid/late part of the BCS era.

 

[Smallvol#1]

They are good. Would be nice for them to get in a P5 conference and see if they are able to compete on a week to week, year to year basis. That said, P5 conferences don’t take applications, and a team leaving or conference expansion would be about the only way to get in one. Then would have to be chosen over other teams, and with the conference they are currently in, they don’t get a lot of “style points”. They are caught in the proverbial between a rock and a hard place. Would be nice to see if they could compete in a real conference. But think, LSU finished where in the SEC? 6th or 7th? And they were playing with how many starters out? And that episode where the player killed someone 10 days ago. Not saying it wasn’t justified, but think of what that does to those involved, and the whole team, mentally and emotionally. UCF was playing their 4th game with the back up quarterback; kudos for that, but 4 games give time to adjust. As to their guy that got ejected, should have gotten the other guy earlier (when #44 showed himself to be a first class piece of trash) too. All in all, if they are that good, no way LSU should have stayed in the stadium with them, let alone win. There’s no way they want to play Bama, or Clemson, or Georgia; be careful what you wish for - you might get it. Oh, and I still despise Orgeron.

 

[joevol33]

Liar

Hush!

 

[LSU-SIU]

The streak ends by half an LSU team

Strange game, I was waiting on the Cookie Monster to suit up. Not sure I have ever seen a team more depleted personnel wise than that in college, knew it would be rough but damn, kind of funny. I'm glad LSU didn't play the Gumps this week, they would have laid 100 pts on that LSU Defense. You know its bad when they send the last string Safety and Wide Receiver in to play Cornerback.... I was waiting for the walk-ons. On the flip side, not sure I have ever seen a time of possession so loop sided before 44:31 LSU to 15:29 UCF.

UCF played about what I thought, fighting to stay in the game and they did a good job at that.

 

[volwindy]

Strange game, I was waiting on the Cookie Monster to suit up. Not sure I have ever seen a team more depleted personnel wise than that in college, knew it would be rough but damn, kind of funny. I'm glad LSU didn't play the Gumps this week, they would have laid 100 pts on that LSU Defense. You know its bad when they send the last string Safety and Wide Receiver in to play Cornerback.... I was waiting for the walk-ons. On the flip side, not sure I have ever seen a time of possession so loop sided before 44:31 LSU to 15:29 UCF.

UCF played about what I thought, fighting to stay in the game and they did a good job at that.

Congrats and thanks to the tigers!

 

[Orange_Vol1321]

 

[C1500]

2019 Fiesta bowl! The only time in history the entire SEC fanbase were united for 3 hours!

 

[volwindy]

2019 Fiesta bowl! The only time in history the entire SEC fanbase were united for 3 hours!

Not @MyBloodRunnethOrange

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

Not @MyBloodRunnethOrange

In fairness I'm a Tennessee fan, but definitely not an SEC fan

 

[joevol33]

In fairness I'm a Tennessee fan, but definitely not an SEC fan

Same

 

[LSU-SIU]

In fairness I'm a Tennessee fan, but definitely not an SEC fan

Basically I have given up on sports, I'll watch a Tiger or Vols game, I will catch some small school sports around where I live in person but not a SEC fan (F that), stopped watching NFL.... heck gave up on NBA like 20 years ago. For the most part sports are dead for me, surprisingly a good portion of my family and friends have given up over the last couple of years as well.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

Basically I have given up on sports, I'll watch a Tiger or Vols game, I will catch some small school sports around where I live in person but not a SEC fan (F that), stopped watching NFL.... heck gave up on NBA like 20 years ago. For the most part sports are dead for me, surprisingly a good portion of my family and friends have given up over the last couple of years as well.

I'm the same way now, with the exception of the NFL. Of course with my schedule now I usually end up working on Saturdays. I record the Tennessee game and 1 or 2 more that look like they might be entertaining. But for the most part I end up skimming through them, watching the highlights.

 

[GVF]

I'm the same way now, with the exception of the NFL. Of course with my schedule now I usually end up working on Saturdays. I record the Tennessee game and 1 or 2 more that look like they might be entertaining. But for the most part I end up skimming through them, watching the highlights.

Did not watch one single NFL game this year. Only stint watching NBA was in the Byrd days, but none since. Die hard baseball junkie at heart. Played through 2nd year of college and then as a softball wash out for years. Never used to miss a Braves game. But, now very little MLB.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

Did not watch one single NFL game this year. Only stint watching NBA was in the Byrd days, but none since. Die hard baseball junkie at heart. Played through 2nd year of college and then as a softball wash out for years. Never used to miss a Braves game. But, now very little MLB.

I was a huge baseball fan as a kid. I tried to get back into it a couple of years ago and couldn't

 

[GVF]

I was a huge baseball fan as a kid. I tried to get back into it a couple of years ago and couldn't

Yeah, MLB has gone the way of other pro sports, except maybe hockey. I enjoy college baseball and Tenn Tech has a great product and charges nothing to attend games. In its pure form, I still think baseball is the best of the team sports. And HS baseball is fun since my son is playing. Jackson County has a good program, but a not so good coach right now.

 

[05_never_again]

No, they don't.

The 2017, 2018 UCF Knights are good enough to play football and compete in a Power 5 conference.

UCF, the school, does not belong in a Power 5 athletic league

That's the rub, and kind of hard to argue against. You're dead right...the 2017 and 2018 football teams in particular were good enough to be in a P5. Is the program, on an ongoing basis, good enough to be in a P5? Not sure. A school like Vandy is in the SEC on an ongoing basis...

Also, UCF fans I think have a hard time understanding that there's a difference between playing a good P5 team at the end of the year in a bowl game and playing in a P5 conference. If UCF was in the SEC East, just as an example, it is quite possible they'd have to play Georgia and Florida within the next few weeks after just having played LSU. They'd also have to play another team from the West along with the other East teams and another P5 OOC game - needless to say, mediocre or bottom feeder SEC teams are better than the bottom feeders in the American.

They were good enough to beat Auburn last year in a bowl, and good enough to hang with LSU this year, but over the course of a season the 2017 and 2018 teams would likely lose 3-4 games if they were playing in a P5. And guess what, if they were in a P5 and lost 3-4 games, they don't even sniff consideration for these bowl games they've gotten a chance to play in the last couple years. All in all, the current system works really well for them. They should scratch and claw to get into a P5 conference during the next round of expansion.

 

[LSU-SIU]

That's the rub, and kind of hard to argue against. You're dead right...the 2017 and 2018 football teams in particular were good enough to be in a P5. Is the program, on an ongoing basis, good enough to be in a P5? Not sure. A school like Vandy is in the SEC on an ongoing basis...

Also, UCF fans I think have a hard time understanding that there's a difference between playing a good P5 team at the end of the year in a bowl game and playing in a P5 conference. If UCF was in the SEC East, just as an example, it is quite possible they'd have to play Georgia and Florida within the next few weeks after just having played LSU. They'd also have to play another team from the West along with the other East teams and another P5 OOC game - needless to say, mediocre or bottom feeder SEC teams are better than the bottom feeders in the American.

They were good enough to beat Auburn last year in a bowl, and good enough to hang with LSU this year, but over the course of a season the 2017 and 2018 teams would likely lose 3-4 games if they were playing in a P5. And guess what, if they were in a P5 and lost 3-4 games, they don't even sniff consideration for these bowl games they've gotten a chance to play in the last couple years. All in all, the current system works really well for them. They should scratch and claw to get into a P5 conference during the next round of expansion.

I would compare UCF to Vandy in many ways, sure if you put UCF in say the SEC they might get a few wins, but how many of them would be against Vandy? No way this team has a winning record in the SEC West (and the West was kind of weak) this year, maybe they could have taken the Hogs right now. Its a very hard thing, the system isn't meant to be fair, I said that when they expanded to 4 teams... the discrimination would actually be worse to the smaller programs, not expand their ability to get in. I actually think the team is decent, their front D is actually not bad stopping the run, they play hard.... they can't catch a cold (receivers drop everything) though. They just don't have top elite guys at any position.

The issue for UCF, is the fans are now saying it took a top 2-3 defensive line to beat them, so they are close. (Haha) Well, when LSU's DL was healthy I would probably not rank them in the top 4-5 this year in the SEC let alone the nation, I would say they are averagish for a LSU front. LSU only dressed 5 defensive linemen... there was basically no rotation, Shelvin had more snaps this game then the rest of the year combined. Logan is average, Lawrence is solid and good but not great... Shelvin is still 30 lbs. too heavy. The only guy on LSU's defensive line that would get snaps at Alabama is Lawrence. Two of three of LSU true freshmen DL didn't even dress.... this also ignores that basically the back half of LSU's defense has been decimated on a level I have never seen by any team. LSU did not have a great or even good defense that game.... maybe okayish.

UCF probably hurt their cause by doing a ton of talking, and had an easy opportunity to kick LSU's asses while they were down, they might have not had an opportunity to win a National Championship (I get that, its not fair) but they are not that good either. They really could have shut people up by not losing, they did a good job fighting but they would have been embarrassed playing Bama.

They aren't Boise State, not yet, probably not even close at this point. LSU has some elite guys (maybe not across the board yet) but they have a hard time hanging with Bama. I think any SEC team had a decent shot of beating LSU yesterday, even the Hogs.

 

[LouderVol]

Strange game, I was waiting on the Cookie Monster to suit up. Not sure I have ever seen a team more depleted personnel wise than that in college, knew it would be rough but damn, kind of funny. I'm glad LSU didn't play the Gumps this week, they would have laid 100 pts on that LSU Defense. You know its bad when they send the last string Safety and Wide Receiver in to play Cornerback.... I was waiting for the walk-ons. On the flip side, not sure I have ever seen a time of possession so loop sided before 44:31 LSU to 15:29 UCF.

UCF played about what I thought, fighting to stay in the game and they did a good job at that.

I can't fully remember but our 2016 Vols was staggering.

we started 11 different offensive line combos, heard LSU was on #7. pretty sure we had at least two walkons starting at some point. I think this was the year of the punch or we lost some OL during the season. Hall has basically been medically inactive since this season. can't remember when we had another medically retire, initials were JJ and started vs Bama.
one of our starting DTs was like 4th string DE, other DT had started pretty low on the depth chart too. others were out. I remember we started/played one guy a bunch against Bama who would transfer out due to playing time. I think this was the year that Georgia did Tuttle dirty and ruined his career.
we lost hurd during the season, Kamara was injured at times and was down to John Kelly.
WRs I think we had 4/5 injured at any given time. Josh Smith was a constant here. Lost Preston Williams during the season.
Our starting LBs were all 4th string players it seems like. I think we lost our 2s (week of) before the season, our 1s & 3s during the season. several during the first game.
can't remember what all was going on in our secondary but I think that also was missing tons of players.

QB and maybe TE were the only place I remember us staying healthy. even our AA kick returner was banged up

that was the worst I have seen.

 

[05_never_again]

The issue for UCF, is the fans are now saying it took a top 2-3 defensive line to beat them, so they are close. (Haha) Well, when LSU's DL was healthy I would probably not rank them in the top 4-5 this year in the SEC let alone the nation, I would say they are averagish for a LSU front.

I agree with that. The most obvious talent gap I noticed yesterday was your defensive front against their offensive line. Your defensive line absolutely tore their offensive line to shreds, and as you said your defensive front wasn't exactly outstanding this year by your standards. There have been much better LSU front 7s in the past, and there were better front 7s in the SEC this year than LSU. Yet they had trouble throwing consistently downfield against converted WRs at CB.

UCF is the most hated underdog story of all time because of the talking they've done, no doubt. The self-declared national title last year was just a bridge too far. It's one thing to say they should have been in the playoff this year or last. I disagree, but it is much more reasonable than saying they were the national champs. They would be absolutely reamed by Alabama, Clemson, or Oklahoma and it is largely because they don't play great defense. I think a game against ND would be closer but the Irish would still win.

I know this opinion is really patronizing to them, but their fans don't realize how good they actually have it. If they were in the SEC East and had Tennessee's schedule, they'd have 3 games as definite losses (West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama), 4 games they'd might/probably lose (Florida, Auburn, South Carolina, Mizzou), and 4 games they'd definitely/probably win (ETSU, UTEP, Charlotte, Vandy). You could argue they'd have a good shot to beat Auburn, but even still that's 6 games they'd definitely or probably lose, give or take.

3 losses is about the absolute max you can have and still get into a NY6 bowl - LSU had 3 losses but also a victory over Georgia. If UCF was in the East and lost to West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, and just a single one of the "probably lose" games, they don't even sniff consideration for a NY6 bowl and that big payout. In fact, they are just average and kind of irrelevant in the conference.

Instead, they get to play a non-P5 regular season schedule while currently being as strong as a P5 team, and if they go undefeated get a NY6 bowl berth with nothing to lose. It's not a bad system for them. They need to get it out of their heads that playing and beating a good P5 team in a bowl game at the end of the season isn't the same as playing a P5 conference schedule all season long.

 

[LouderVol]

I agree with that. The most obvious talent gap I noticed yesterday was your defensive front against their offensive line. Your defensive line absolutely tore their offensive line to shreds, and as you said your defensive front wasn't exactly outstanding this year by your standards. There have been much better LSU front 7s in the past, and there were better front 7s in the SEC this year than LSU. Yet they had trouble throwing consistently downfield against converted WRs at CB.

UCF is the most hated underdog story of all time because of the talking they've done, no doubt. The self-declared national title last year was just a bridge too far. It's one thing to say they should have been in the playoff this year or last. I disagree, but it is much more reasonable than saying they were the national champs. They would be absolutely reamed by Alabama, Clemson, or Oklahoma and it is largely because they don't play great defense. I think a game against ND would be closer but the Irish would still win.

I know this opinion is really patronizing to them, but their fans don't realize how good they actually have it. If they were in the SEC East and had Tennessee's schedule, they'd have 3 games as definite losses (West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama), 4 games they'd might/probably lose (Florida, Auburn, South Carolina, Mizzou), and 4 games they'd definitely/probably win (ETSU, UTEP, Charlotte, Vandy). You could argue they'd have a good shot to beat Auburn, but even still that's 6 games they'd definitely or probably lose, give or take.

3 losses is about the absolute max you can have and still get into a NY6 bowl - LSU had 3 losses but also a victory over Georgia. If UCF was in the East and lost to West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, and just a single one of the "probably lose" games, they don't even sniff consideration for a NY6 bowl and that big payout. In fact, they are just average and kind of irrelevant in the conference.

Instead, they get to play a non-P5 regular season schedule while currently being as strong as a P5 team, and if they go undefeated get a NY6 bowl berth with nothing to lose. It's not a bad system for them. They need to get it out of their heads that playing and beating a good P5 team in a bowl game at the end of the season isn't the same as playing a P5 conference schedule all season long.

they want all the benefits of being in a P5, with none of the drawbacks.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

I agree with that. The most obvious talent gap I noticed yesterday was your defensive front against their offensive line. Your defensive line absolutely tore their offensive line to shreds, and as you said your defensive front wasn't exactly outstanding this year by your standards. There have been much better LSU front 7s in the past, and there were better front 7s in the SEC this year than LSU. Yet they had trouble throwing consistently downfield against converted WRs at CB.

UCF is the most hated underdog story of all time because of the talking they've done, no doubt. The self-declared national title last year was just a bridge too far. It's one thing to say they should have been in the playoff this year or last. I disagree, but it is much more reasonable than saying they were the national champs. They would be absolutely reamed by Alabama, Clemson, or Oklahoma and it is largely because they don't play great defense. I think a game against ND would be closer but the Irish would still win.

I know this opinion is really patronizing to them, but their fans don't realize how good they actually have it. If they were in the SEC East and had Tennessee's schedule, they'd have 3 games as definite losses (West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama), 4 games they'd might/probably lose (Florida, Auburn, South Carolina, Mizzou), and 4 games they'd definitely/probably win (ETSU, UTEP, Charlotte, Vandy). You could argue they'd have a good shot to beat Auburn, but even still that's 6 games they'd definitely or probably lose, give or take.

3 losses is about the absolute max you can have and still get into a NY6 bowl - LSU had 3 losses but also a victory over Georgia. If UCF was in the East and lost to West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, and just a single one of the "probably lose" games, they don't even sniff consideration for a NY6 bowl and that big payout. In fact, they are just average and kind of irrelevant in the conference.

Instead, they get to play a non-P5 regular season schedule while currently being as strong as a P5 team, and if they go undefeated get a NY6 bowl berth with nothing to lose. It's not a bad system for them. They need to get it out of their heads that playing and beating a good P5 team in a bowl game at the end of the season isn't the same as playing a P5 conference schedule all season long.

Good post.

I didn't have a problem with UCF claiming a national title last year. They were the only undefeated FBS team, and they beat an Auburn team who beat both UGA and Bama. And I loved the irony of Bama fans complaining about another school claiming a bogus national title.

That said, UCF jumped the shark when they attempted to "take over" GameDay, during one of the bigger Florida-Georgia games in the past decade....then cancelled when they couldn't get enough people to charter a bus UF fans said mean things about UCF on Twitter.

Then UCF turns down a 2-for-1 offer (USF accepted a similar deal), as if they're in a position to negotiate a series with UF on their terms, when THEY backed out of a 2007 game in Gainesville. Screw that....give us the home game you owe us, then we'll give you a home-and-home. There's your 2-for-1.

I do give credit for UCF raising their profile and becoming part of the national conversation. But we all know what would happen if they played in a P5 conference, with the possible exception of the PAC-12...that conference sucks out loud.

 

[Orange_Vol1321]

 

[Mightyvol]

Basically I have given up on sports, I'll watch a Tiger or Vols game, I will catch some small school sports around where I live in person but not a SEC fan (F that), stopped watching NFL.... heck gave up on NBA like 20 years ago. For the most part sports are dead for me, surprisingly a good portion of my family and friends have given up over the last couple of years as well.

I am with you. My grandson plays in a local high school band and I have really enjoyed watching high school football. This high school team was way better coached than CBJ teams, they made adjustments, didn't quit and enjoyed playing the game. The commercial breaks really detract, imo, from the University stadium experience, not to mention the on field play. I haven't watched the NBA or NFL games in years. I don't gamble or play fantasy football but for me the games aren't entertaining. Maybe it's just too much sports on TV.