I learned growing up with UCF Football in II, I-AA and early I-A. Over that time, with McDowell, and then Coach K even more so, and definitely GOL during his even number years of the '00s ... there was one thing that always helped me through the game, and the aftermath.
And that one, crucial tool that I put into my football toolbelt this season, especially during the TCU game was this ...
Despair
Yes, it's been absent a long time ... only in 2015 through much of 2016, especially the bowl game, and then BYU at the end of 2020 too. But yes, it's how I made it through UCF football as a fan since '88, and definitely hardcore in the '90s, going to away games, being in big stadiums, and ... blowing it big time in the 4th quarter.
It helped me through our first game at ASU too, when we had 3 O-linemen go down, with Schneider too, and our backup QB played 'catch' with the rushing defenders as he was backpedaling as quickly as he could towards our own endzone, just before the half.
It's how I looked at the '00s, both Coach K and his insanity that made Frost's constant 2 point conversions seem like smart moves in comparison. And GOL using game time as practice ... run it until it works, even after 11 failures.
Despair
It's the tool that has been missing in your UCF expectations, one that helps with all our Power conference aspirations, as they disappear, and you still cling to hope, when ... you should just assume we're going to find a way to blow it, whether it's 12 minutes before the end of the game, or 2 minutes left in the first half with a double-digit lead.
When you just embrace despair, every TD becomes a miracle, every win becomes a shock, and you literally have to have some slap you to make sure you're not dreaming.
And that one, crucial tool that I put into my football toolbelt this season, especially during the TCU game was this ...
Despair
Yes, it's been absent a long time ... only in 2015 through much of 2016, especially the bowl game, and then BYU at the end of 2020 too. But yes, it's how I made it through UCF football as a fan since '88, and definitely hardcore in the '90s, going to away games, being in big stadiums, and ... blowing it big time in the 4th quarter.
It helped me through our first game at ASU too, when we had 3 O-linemen go down, with Schneider too, and our backup QB played 'catch' with the rushing defenders as he was backpedaling as quickly as he could towards our own endzone, just before the half.
It's how I looked at the '00s, both Coach K and his insanity that made Frost's constant 2 point conversions seem like smart moves in comparison. And GOL using game time as practice ... run it until it works, even after 11 failures.
Despair
It's the tool that has been missing in your UCF expectations, one that helps with all our Power conference aspirations, as they disappear, and you still cling to hope, when ... you should just assume we're going to find a way to blow it, whether it's 12 minutes before the end of the game, or 2 minutes left in the first half with a double-digit lead.
When you just embrace despair, every TD becomes a miracle, every win becomes a shock, and you literally have to have some slap you to make sure you're not dreaming.
