Dec. 9, 2009
By Marc Daniels
UCFAthletics.com
We can all admit that we thought about it. We can all admit it had us pulled both ways. But in the end it feels like all worked well.
When it became apparent that UCF was headed to the St. Petersburg Bowl the question became who would be the opponent. The candidates included UConn, Rutgers, Pitt and USF.
Count me among those who believe UCF and USF should play every season. It would be great economically. It would be great for fans and it would make sense in regards to scheduling.
But I was thrilled when Rutgers was announced as the opponent for the Knights. When USF lost to UConn last Saturday night, I thought the Bulls would be sent back to St. Petersburg where they played last year because other bowls would be choosing teams over them.
My elation was not because of a fear of playing USF. Not at all. I think UCF is playing its best ball and a game with the Bulls would be exciting. But Rutgers provides something new. It delivers a better bowl experience.
Be honest, if UCF was playing USF it would not be a typical bowl game. The fans don't get along. The players don't get along. It would be more of a "I hate them" atmosphere than what a bowl experience is supposed to be about.
No one at UCF has any reason to dislike Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights have been a great story since Greg Schiano turned them from an afterthought to a true contender in the Big East on a yearly basis. They will play in their fifth straight bowl game after not playing in the postseason since 1979.
UCF will face a quality team from a league that no UCF fan would deny is appealing for many reasons. Rutgers roster has almost a dozen players from Florida and Schiano recruits the state hard with success from his days as an assistant on the Miami staff.
It's big for UCF for many reasons as well. The Knights want that ninth win. They want that first bowl win. They want a win over a Big East team and they want to lay the foundation for what looks to be a very good team in 2010.
UCF fans are buying tickets at a record pace. Rutgers expects to bring several thousand down for the game. It will make for a great atmosphere at bowl events and the game itself. And that is what the experience should be for fans, players and coaches.
Long before the world of the BCS came along, bowl games were supposed to be a reward for a good season. It was supposed to allow fans to travel to new places and play against teams you would typically not face in the regular season. And that's what we get in the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl.
So that next game in that "rivalry" with the school down I-4 will have to wait and when that next game is no one knows and it doesn't really matter. For now, UCF fans should look forward to bowl week and all that it offers. Because the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl is what a bowl game is supposed to be about.
Marc Daniels' From the Press Box runs several times per month on UCFAthletics.com. Listen to Marc during UCF football, men's basketball and baseball radio broadcasts on the UCF-ISP Sports Network. Each weekday, Marc hosts "The Beat of Sports" on ESPN 1080 in Orlando from 9-11 a.m.