A
anon_gi3vk9zbfmw0w
Guest
We are currently less than six weeks out (forty days) from UCF's first scheduled game of 2020, and reality is starting to kick-in for this fanatical season-ticket holder. I'm not interested in going back and forth behind a keyboard on a message board about numbers, deaths, percentages, risks, etc.
Personal agendas/biases aside, just read the room. Campus is going to be nearly unrecognizable in the fall: classes, social gatherings, tailgates, dorms - everything is going to be regulated/distanced to non-existent.
From a college football perspective, at worst, the season will be moved to the Spring with uncertainty still remaining (related to COVID numbers improving or getting worse, if fans would be allowed in the spring or not, how the NFL Draft would affect top prospects, etc.). At best at this point, I'm thinking UCF's chances of playing the 2020 season in the Fall would involve no fans in the seats and a heavy conference schedule.
I get it, I know that sucks. Trust me, as the interest piles up on the credit card I used to pay for season-tickets, I understand why playing without fans would upset a lot of people. But at this point, I'm resigned to the fact that playing without fans is better than nothing. It's not official, but I've given up hope regarding the UNC and Georgia Tech games. The ACC is (reportedly) going to play conference games, plus-one non-conference tilt. For the Tar Heels, that will be a match-up in Atlanta against Auburn. And for the Yellow Jackets, that will be their in-state game against Georgia. End of story...
At this point, I think the best thing that could happen to beef-up UCF's remaining nine-game schedule (remember, FAMU was canceled as well) would be for the AAC to institute a round-robin 10-game schedule for just the 2020 season. This would allow conference members to play the entire league.
I know they looked horrible in their bowl game against FAU, but SMU did win ten games last year (and were ranked for some time). They have a high-powered offense led by a very experienced quarterback. This last minute, UCF would be hard-pressed to find a team to play in '20 that would be much better. SMU is not UNC, but I think they're a better program at this point than Georgia Tech (minus the P5 label). Navy is not great, but having them on the schedule is more legitimate than playing FAMU. That's something...
@SMU/or vs SMU, @Navy/or vs. Navy, @ECU, vs. Tulsa, @Memphis, vs. Tulane, @Houston, vs. Cincinnati, vs. Temple, @USF - that could be the schedule.
It remains to be seen if the AAC would go with a +1 model (like the ACC and Big 12 are reported to be interested in). If so, UCF could just keep their home game vs FIU (probably most likely), or they could scrap it without penalty (if that's what the AAC decides to do, conference only plus-one) and look for another game (P5 team? Good luck...). Could it possibly be easier to find a P5 school willing to come to Orlando if there are no fans?
Just a thought...but I wouldn't bet against things heading this way soon.
Personal agendas/biases aside, just read the room. Campus is going to be nearly unrecognizable in the fall: classes, social gatherings, tailgates, dorms - everything is going to be regulated/distanced to non-existent.
From a college football perspective, at worst, the season will be moved to the Spring with uncertainty still remaining (related to COVID numbers improving or getting worse, if fans would be allowed in the spring or not, how the NFL Draft would affect top prospects, etc.). At best at this point, I'm thinking UCF's chances of playing the 2020 season in the Fall would involve no fans in the seats and a heavy conference schedule.
I get it, I know that sucks. Trust me, as the interest piles up on the credit card I used to pay for season-tickets, I understand why playing without fans would upset a lot of people. But at this point, I'm resigned to the fact that playing without fans is better than nothing. It's not official, but I've given up hope regarding the UNC and Georgia Tech games. The ACC is (reportedly) going to play conference games, plus-one non-conference tilt. For the Tar Heels, that will be a match-up in Atlanta against Auburn. And for the Yellow Jackets, that will be their in-state game against Georgia. End of story...
At this point, I think the best thing that could happen to beef-up UCF's remaining nine-game schedule (remember, FAMU was canceled as well) would be for the AAC to institute a round-robin 10-game schedule for just the 2020 season. This would allow conference members to play the entire league.
I know they looked horrible in their bowl game against FAU, but SMU did win ten games last year (and were ranked for some time). They have a high-powered offense led by a very experienced quarterback. This last minute, UCF would be hard-pressed to find a team to play in '20 that would be much better. SMU is not UNC, but I think they're a better program at this point than Georgia Tech (minus the P5 label). Navy is not great, but having them on the schedule is more legitimate than playing FAMU. That's something...
@SMU/or vs SMU, @Navy/or vs. Navy, @ECU, vs. Tulsa, @Memphis, vs. Tulane, @Houston, vs. Cincinnati, vs. Temple, @USF - that could be the schedule.
It remains to be seen if the AAC would go with a +1 model (like the ACC and Big 12 are reported to be interested in). If so, UCF could just keep their home game vs FIU (probably most likely), or they could scrap it without penalty (if that's what the AAC decides to do, conference only plus-one) and look for another game (P5 team? Good luck...). Could it possibly be easier to find a P5 school willing to come to Orlando if there are no fans?
Just a thought...but I wouldn't bet against things heading this way soon.