2008 Woodie Awards
Football fans poke, perturb opposing players
Virginia Kiddy
Issue date: 11/19/07 Section: News
Students at other schools contacted McKee to ask for his permission to create their own groups.
"I'm kind of flattered," McKee said. "I think it was just one of those 'Damn, why didn't I think of that first?' kind of things."
He said he gave them all the thumbs-up to do it, and many of those groups still credit McKee on their pages.
The UCF chapter of the group was started last season by sophomore Michael Yamauchi, a hospitality major.
"Back then, everyone was telling me it was a waste of time and that I should just give it up," Yamauchi said. "This year, everyone is saying it's the best group they've ever joined or ever thought of. Attitudes have definitely changed."
During the time of the USF-UCF game, poking got a little personal. In the week leading up to the game, Yamauchi said he received more than 300 pokes from USF fans and was still getting poked after the game.
He said he received messages "all over the place" from fans, but someone from USF took it too far and sent Yamauchi a message threatening to beat him up if he saw him.
McKee said he gets similar reactions from the fans in Arizona. He said during the games against their rival, Arizona State University, the group picks up the most. They encourage people to send messages and poke everyone on the team, not just the quarterback.
"It's ugly when they get together every year, no matter what it is," McKee said. "That's really what everyone gets their kicks from."
Although the group aims to aggravate players, fans become targets too.
"After I showed my face on those groups, I received about 100 pokes one day from USF students," said Lily Hafter, a junior public administration major and member of the UCF Rowdy Knights. "It was a good feeling knowing that they were trying to get to me, but it wasn't going to happen. I poked them all back."
She poked the entire USF team, and she said she even started a Facebook friendship with one player in the process. He poked her back, and they started messaging about football.
"I'm kind of flattered," McKee said. "I think it was just one of those 'Damn, why didn't I think of that first?' kind of things."
He said he gave them all the thumbs-up to do it, and many of those groups still credit McKee on their pages.
The UCF chapter of the group was started last season by sophomore Michael Yamauchi, a hospitality major.
"Back then, everyone was telling me it was a waste of time and that I should just give it up," Yamauchi said. "This year, everyone is saying it's the best group they've ever joined or ever thought of. Attitudes have definitely changed."
During the time of the USF-UCF game, poking got a little personal. In the week leading up to the game, Yamauchi said he received more than 300 pokes from USF fans and was still getting poked after the game.
He said he received messages "all over the place" from fans, but someone from USF took it too far and sent Yamauchi a message threatening to beat him up if he saw him.
McKee said he gets similar reactions from the fans in Arizona. He said during the games against their rival, Arizona State University, the group picks up the most. They encourage people to send messages and poke everyone on the team, not just the quarterback.
"It's ugly when they get together every year, no matter what it is," McKee said. "That's really what everyone gets their kicks from."
Although the group aims to aggravate players, fans become targets too.
"After I showed my face on those groups, I received about 100 pokes one day from USF students," said Lily Hafter, a junior public administration major and member of the UCF Rowdy Knights. "It was a good feeling knowing that they were trying to get to me, but it wasn't going to happen. I poked them all back."
She poked the entire USF team, and she said she even started a Facebook friendship with one player in the process. He poked her back, and they started messaging about football.