So I was thinking about the program and the collapse that is occurring and I started thinking and listing different contributions. I was making this list Monday on my way to work and so now finally I have a little time to type it up with explanations. I think it’s ironic that Bianchi wrote something similar. Anyways, here is my take:
***(To skip the explanations skip to the bottom for a simple list.)***
Now that the lazy bunch are gone, let me start with some things that are getting a lot of blame when they really shouldn’t; our last 2 recruiting classes. At the very oldest, those recruits can only be sophomores on our team (and we only have 5 of them). The rest are redshirt fresh or true fresh. These 2 classes are the only years we didn’t get a majority of the recruits from Florida, so let’s not blame recruiting out of state as a major blame (at least yet).
So what can we blame? Let’s blame recruiting in Florida. I know this kind of goes against what I just said but we should land more players from FL and our area of Orlando. We shouldn’t have to look for the “hidden gems”, 2-stars, in the area because this should be OUR territory! NC State, Vandy, WVU, Tenn, heck, we need Clemson out of here! We should be bringing in the top recruits from the area, but we aren’t! Why? We need to have stronger relationships with the coaches from the area (our fault). Combined with the local H.S. coaches (their fault) to take part of the UCF family and send their players and push the UCF brand. I will say ultimately this falls on our coaching staff of present and past. This also falls on the H.S. coaches who need to sell the UCF school name, not the coach name of our university (hate him or love him, e.g.- GOL).
Next factor of our fall is our loss in scholarships. I always put David Kelly in this category but let me add in Tribble. So the “Kelly/Tribble scandal” plus some others. The last 4 years we signed 72 players, compare that to the allowed 100 (25/year). That is why our team is so depleted and young. Where is the talent at? It has been lost because if we have players leave the team, injured, or leave early then we have to ask a walk-on to step up. I think this is one of the major contributors to our fall. This means we have fewer seniors on the team and less leadership.
We also have a constant coaching carrousel. Yes, all teams deal with this issue but we have had some unusual circumstances lead to coaches leaving. Kelly and Ed Marynowitz (now VP of Eagles player personnel). And many coaches left/promoted recently: Tyson Summers, Kirk Callahan, and Charlie Taafe all left after 2014.
This year we have had more bad fortune than the past 5, or maybe even 10, years combined! All the injuries to key players in key positions. Players leaving early in the draft; what was Jacoby Glenn thinking?! Stanback leaving the program. Chris Williams getting shot. Is this Miami we are talking about or UCF? There’s more bad “luck” too. Instead of pulling the miracle win in the last second, we came up short and lost in the opposite fashion to FIU and Furman. Instead of being a 2nd half team, we roll over in the 2nd half and get blown out (Stanford and others).
Then, there is “our” blame and hate such as: coaching-up talent, play calling, and Key. Many are probably waiting for this one, GOL. He is the head coach and he is a part of every good thing and bad so he is also part of this fall.
“Thanks but no thanks!” type people- We appreciate what you have done but it’s good you’re gone or we’re glad you’re leaving soon.
1) GOL- you were ready to leave 2 years ago. Thanks for all the good times and even the roller coaster years. Who’s next?!
2) Key- You were part of all of our success but the higher position you moved, the worse we became. We wouldn’t have had the success without you, or this failure with you.
3) Kelly- you were instrumental in our 2013 season even though you weren’t physically here. Thank you for delivering on 1 of your recruiting classes. Things could have been really good. I wish you didn’t lie.
The Fall of UCF (ranked from most significant factor)
- Recruiting Sanctions/loss in scholarships
- Injuries/losses
- Senior leadership
- Recruiting relationships specifically in central Florida
- Bad Fortune
- GOL (he could go at the top or bottom or middle for any opinion)
- Coaching carrousel
- Play calling
Some of these things effect this year like bad fortune while others affect long term success (recruiting relationships).
***(To skip the explanations skip to the bottom for a simple list.)***
Now that the lazy bunch are gone, let me start with some things that are getting a lot of blame when they really shouldn’t; our last 2 recruiting classes. At the very oldest, those recruits can only be sophomores on our team (and we only have 5 of them). The rest are redshirt fresh or true fresh. These 2 classes are the only years we didn’t get a majority of the recruits from Florida, so let’s not blame recruiting out of state as a major blame (at least yet).
So what can we blame? Let’s blame recruiting in Florida. I know this kind of goes against what I just said but we should land more players from FL and our area of Orlando. We shouldn’t have to look for the “hidden gems”, 2-stars, in the area because this should be OUR territory! NC State, Vandy, WVU, Tenn, heck, we need Clemson out of here! We should be bringing in the top recruits from the area, but we aren’t! Why? We need to have stronger relationships with the coaches from the area (our fault). Combined with the local H.S. coaches (their fault) to take part of the UCF family and send their players and push the UCF brand. I will say ultimately this falls on our coaching staff of present and past. This also falls on the H.S. coaches who need to sell the UCF school name, not the coach name of our university (hate him or love him, e.g.- GOL).
Next factor of our fall is our loss in scholarships. I always put David Kelly in this category but let me add in Tribble. So the “Kelly/Tribble scandal” plus some others. The last 4 years we signed 72 players, compare that to the allowed 100 (25/year). That is why our team is so depleted and young. Where is the talent at? It has been lost because if we have players leave the team, injured, or leave early then we have to ask a walk-on to step up. I think this is one of the major contributors to our fall. This means we have fewer seniors on the team and less leadership.
We also have a constant coaching carrousel. Yes, all teams deal with this issue but we have had some unusual circumstances lead to coaches leaving. Kelly and Ed Marynowitz (now VP of Eagles player personnel). And many coaches left/promoted recently: Tyson Summers, Kirk Callahan, and Charlie Taafe all left after 2014.
This year we have had more bad fortune than the past 5, or maybe even 10, years combined! All the injuries to key players in key positions. Players leaving early in the draft; what was Jacoby Glenn thinking?! Stanback leaving the program. Chris Williams getting shot. Is this Miami we are talking about or UCF? There’s more bad “luck” too. Instead of pulling the miracle win in the last second, we came up short and lost in the opposite fashion to FIU and Furman. Instead of being a 2nd half team, we roll over in the 2nd half and get blown out (Stanford and others).
Then, there is “our” blame and hate such as: coaching-up talent, play calling, and Key. Many are probably waiting for this one, GOL. He is the head coach and he is a part of every good thing and bad so he is also part of this fall.
“Thanks but no thanks!” type people- We appreciate what you have done but it’s good you’re gone or we’re glad you’re leaving soon.
1) GOL- you were ready to leave 2 years ago. Thanks for all the good times and even the roller coaster years. Who’s next?!
2) Key- You were part of all of our success but the higher position you moved, the worse we became. We wouldn’t have had the success without you, or this failure with you.
3) Kelly- you were instrumental in our 2013 season even though you weren’t physically here. Thank you for delivering on 1 of your recruiting classes. Things could have been really good. I wish you didn’t lie.
The Fall of UCF (ranked from most significant factor)
- Recruiting Sanctions/loss in scholarships
- Injuries/losses
- Senior leadership
- Recruiting relationships specifically in central Florida
- Bad Fortune
- GOL (he could go at the top or bottom or middle for any opinion)
- Coaching carrousel
- Play calling
Some of these things effect this year like bad fortune while others affect long term success (recruiting relationships).
