 "Photo:")
At his first UCF press conference in December, Coach George O'Leary was asked of his expectations for this football season. He responded with conviction, "I'm going to win."
Ask a simple question, get a simple answer. UCF, however, is still waiting for it to happen.
"A great football team creates school spirit," said Isyana Iswan, a sophomore and finance major. "So far, we haven't won a game. Because of this, we're upset. I never expected us to win our conference, but for the price we're paying, I thought we would be doing much better than dead last."
Senior Allyn Brice said, "When you lose over and over again, it just becomes natural.
"I'm not surprised at all with the 0-5 start so far," the chemistry major added. "I haven't gone to a game this year, and I don't plan on going to any others."
Many members of the UCF community had high expectations for this season's football team and its new coach. But, after last week's loss to Northern Illinois, the Knights extended their record as the worst team in Division 1-A Football.
Even the staff at Greek Unique, the fraternity and sorority apparel store in the Student Union, expressed discontent with the Knights' losing streak by putting a paper bag over the head of the store's lifesize cardboard cutout of the coach - one of hundreds distributed by the Sports Marketing office around the campus and city. (Approached by the Future, store officials declined comment and removed the bag yesterday.)
Making the team's performance more painful for many is the money given to O'Leary to turn things around after last year's 3-9 finish. O'Leary and his coaching staff receive the highest combined salary - $2 million per season - of any Florida university program.
Even so, the Knights had a better record at this point in the season last year.
With its high-profile "Get Motivated" campaign built around O'Leary's arrival, UCF Athletics has tried to boost attendance and school spirit at home football games. In last month's home opener against nationally ranked West Virginia, 32,224 people - the largest home crowd since 2000 - attended.
UCF hopes for big attendance Saturday as well when the Knights play Akron during Family Weekend. The Knights are favored to win that contest. Then again, they were favored to beat Buffalo, too.
Nathan Romanic, however, plans on going to the Citrus Bowl only for the tailgating.
"I won't be going into the games at all this year, and that says a lot because they're free admission for us," the management major said. "I'm now a senior, and I have only gone to a couple of games since I started coming here. It's just not fun to watch."
Being the worst team in its division has a positive side, though. "At least we're consistent," said Fran Uddo, an employee of UCF's Division of Finance and Accounting.
After O'Leary's hiring in December, some objected to his multimillion-dollar, five-year contract. "We gave the head coach position a pay raise from $145,000 to $700,000 a season, and I haven't seen a raise in 10 years," said Jeffrey Allen, an associate professor in marketing.
Told the salaries of the coaches, Erin Lemmer gasped. "I would rather have my scantrons paid for than watch a football game," the general business major said.
Romanic said the money should instead be used to fix the Recreation and Wellness Center, which was damaged by hurricanes earlier in the semester.
Brice, the chemistry major, said the university should decrease spending on football and put money toward increasing the graduation rate.
"What about all of the art and literature classes that were cut last semester?" Brice asked. "Every time they cut more classes, it decreases your chance of getting out of here ... It's called 'U Can't Finish' for a reason."
Junior Brian Atlee wants more money spent on the football program to boost school spirit.
"We need more promotion to get people involved in the school," he said. "School spirit here sucks. I see more UF and FSU hats and shirts than I see UCF clothes. What's the point of having a team if nobody supports them?"
Though many wannabe fans are upset, some concede that football programs take time to build.
Junior Paul Martinez supports the program and coaches' salaries.
"I feel that the price is fair," he said. "The school is doing the right thing and thinking long-term. Football should be one of the top priorities of the school. It's a smart investment that all schools eventually need to make. Whether or not the team wins or loses, I will always support them."
Graduate student Howard Schachere said: "College football should be one of the best memories you have at your school. No matter what the record is, or even what the score is, you should support your school no matter what. Look at Saturday night [against Northern Illinois]. Even though we lost, it was still one of the great memories I will have from UCF."
As for the season's disappointing start: "What's done is done," says junior Paul Martinez. "There is nothing we can do to change it. We need to just support our school and get on with our lives."
Be the first to comment on this article!