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USF-UCF Game Moved to Thanksgiving Night

So let me get this straight... We are going up against the NFL, which is a Thanksgiving staple, during a game where Favre is getting his jersey retired in Green Bay... Texas playing Texas Tech... and it would be crazy to think that people having plans with their families and shopping, and you guys think this is good for exposure? I think the part about "exposure" some of you are missing, is that people have to actually be exposed to something to gain exposure... which ain't going to happen on that night. Have any of you stopped to wonder why that time slot was available?

For all those asking was a Friday noon game better, 100 times YES.
 
I'll be there. Sucks, but it's a no brainer. I'm not missing any games after paying for ESC seating. I'm a loyal fan and if I can go to Ireland, the Fiesta Bowl, USC, and Stanford, I certainly can eat earlier in the day and go,
Damn, it's college football. That's what some of us wait all year for and live for. If it's your passion and makes you happy, then this game is more exciting to me or another person than Thanksgiving. I would go on Christmas.
After all those years of us getting beat by them and the joy of rubbing it in their faces last year on their home turf, I'm never missing this rivalry.
Don't worry about stuff that's out of my control. It is what it is.
 
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knight_tracker said:
Just when I had it figured out to keep the wife happy they change the date for the game. Last year with Black Friday starting early Thursday evening I was able to go with the wife shopping for early deals. (Happy wife Happy life!) By the time Friday rolled around she was tired of shopping making it easy for me to catch the game on Friday. Now I need a new strategy if only they push the start of Black Friday shopping to Thursday at noon. Turkey tastes just as good for breakfast. :sunglasses:
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That's the spirit. Develop a strategy that will make everyone happy and so that you can go to the game. You gotta go!!!
 
KnightMatt8 said:
It's great that you think eating with the family is "stupid crap," but I put a higher priority on family than on UCF football. t.
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Last year i was out of town and soon as dinner started someone in the family was looking for an NFL game on the TV set in the room. I will probably be at the same place this year, but this time a separate TV will be available for the UCF game ;). I'll probably DVR the game at home too.
 
knight-cachers said:
most people don't have a problem with changing times for TV purposes when it makes sense, but changing times for any reason just to be on TV is just dumb. Does UCF really think we are going to get a bunch of exposure playing FIU when most of the country is still at work on a third tier network? Hell, we probably still could have been picked up for a one slot on CBSSports if we kept the game on Saturday.

Did we get a bunch of exposure when we moved the Akron game a couple seasons ago to a Thursday so we could play on ESPN 3?

Did we get anymore exposure playing Penn State in Ireland when most the country was asleep then if we would have played them as scheduled at BHNS? If we kept the game here, we would have had a ton of exposure just because it's Penn State except it would have actually shown us instead of a soccer stadium full of Europeans

Does UCF think a substantial amount of people who aren't affiliated with us or USF going to tune into our game instead of NFL or spending the holiday doing whatever they do as a family?

By all means, if the program is getting actual value and exposure for changing a game for TV, then do it, but don't just move games for any and every reason. It just makes us look desperate and pisses off your local fanbase.
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GOL: The game was going to be early Friday morning. Any time you can get on national TV I think it's great. Plus, we'll grab a lot of visitors in with their families and stuff like that. We'll promote that pretty big. That puts us a couple weeks in a row on national TV with the mother station, ESPN. That's really important. Everybody was in agreement that I spoke to about okaying it. It's on. I'm happy that we got that done.
 
GOL: "The No. 1 thing I ask kids in recruiting this year was, 'What was the difference?' We recruited kids from seven states. They said it was TV exposure. 'Coach, I saw you a lot on TV.' That was a major, major part of it. I know it doesn't please a lot of people, but fans are fans. The fans will be here and the ones who are complaining won't be here. We're trying to do what's best for the whole program including the fanbase."
 
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The recruiting angle I get. Kids want to play on ESPN - even if most people are watching the NFL at that timeslot. I won't be able to make it due to the combination of not living close enough to Orlando and family obligations on that holiday. Could have gone Friday at any time. Sucks for me. Everyone has their own unique situation on holidays like this, so maybe GOL shouldn't dismiss people as "complainers" or belittle their fandom and just let the eventual attendance speak for itself. If the attendance doesn't suffer much then there's a mandate to continue playing a big rivalry game on Thanksgiving. This game deserves a big atmosphere, hopefully we still get it and get the win.
 
UCF-icenhl-06 said:
right. I love how every time something like this happens people act like EXPOSURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! always means something like we are sliding into the 7pm CBS timeslot to overtake the SEC.
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Don't be so dramatic, nobody is claiming this is the best possible outcome, but they are rightly claiming that it was the best of bad choices. Exposure does always means something to our program. It is the one thing that keeps UCF relevant on the national stage. I live in SC and I cannot tell you the number of times people have told me "you guys are really good, I caught you on that Thursday night game". They are not watching if it is on Saturday because they are busy with the Gamecocks or Clemson or whatever. This is what is driving the success of the program.

Anyone who thinks that UCF does not care about their home fanbase is just being ridiculous. You know darn well that they want people at the games. They just have to balance it all and make decisions that makes the most sense for the program.
 
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KNIGHTTIME^ said:
ESPN for the most part controls when we play. Weeknight games are not going to change unless we get into the Big 12
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Big 12 has a game on Thanksgiving Night too (on FOX SPORTS 1).

SEC has played on Thanksgiving Night on ESPN.

ACC has played on Thanksgiving Night on ESPN.

Big 12 has played on Thanksgiving Night on FS1.

Now UCF gets a chance to play on ESPN on Thanksgiving Night, yet the usual complainers whine again.

#unreal
 
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knight-cachers said:
Did we get anymore exposure playing Penn State in Ireland when most the country was asleep then if we would have played them as scheduled at BHNS? If we kept the game here, we would have had a ton of exposure just because it's Penn State except it would have actually shown us instead of a soccer stadium full of Europeans
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Actually, Penn State was going to cancel the game at BHNS and UCF counter-offered with the Ireland idea. PSU took UCF up on that and that's why it was played. UCF would have never taken that game away from BHNS.
 
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Well if the Bears that I know and love show up against the Packers, that game will be over by the end of the 1st qtr and folks will be switching over to the UCF game!
 
UCF needs the prime time TV. period, end of subject. and the AAC needs to do everything possible for ESPN over the next 18 mos, to set up as positive relationship as possible going into look in period.
 
Moving the Akron game was such a dumb move. Will there be a single student at this game on Thanksgiving night?
 
We are forgetting a small detail.

THIS IS UCF VS USF PEOPLE!!!

THE GREATEST RIVALRY IN OUR HISTORY!!!!!

REMEMBER 64-12!!!!

I'LL NEVER MISS US BEATING THOSE BASTARDS!! NEVER!!!!


 
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KnightMatt8 said:
It's great that you think eating with the family is "stupid crap," but I put a higher priority on family than on UCF football. I'm going to be out of town with my wife's family this Thanksgiving. If they wanted to have Thanksgiving dinner without the game playing, I wouldn't be happy about it, but I wouldn't just run off and watch the game on my own somewhere. I love UCF football very much, but not enough to only think about myself and what I want.
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It's all about priorities. Respect that. However, a lot of people's priorities are college football as well. It's a passion. Thanksgiving will be there every year. Always has and always will. Still can celebrate it all day. This rivalry game is a less frequent event. Has happened 6 times.
I don't care if the Pilgrims and Santa Claus were at my house for this holiday game. See ya Santa and Myles Standish, I have a game to go to!
 
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Ucfmikes said:
It's all about priorities. Respect that. However, a lot of people's priorities are college football as well. It's a passion. Thanksgiving will be there every year. Always has and always will. Still can celebrate it all day. This rivalry game is a less frequent event. Has happened 6 times.
I don't care if the Pilgrims and Santa Claus were at my house for this holiday game. See ya Santa and Myles Standish, I have a game to go to!
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You tell me to show respect, but what about the person who described posters on here who think about being with families on a national holiday as "stupid crap?" Was that showing respect?

Look, everyone here would like to be able to see the game and is passionate about UCF football. I think we can all agree on that. But for Pete's sake, people, when a poster on here shows concern about a football game interfering with a family gathering, that's not something to mock someone about. If you're incapable of understanding that family sometimes has to come before an important football game, then I'm not sure I can explain it to you.

With that said, I talked with my wife about it, and she said I probably will be able to watch the game without it interfering with family plans. I don't think she would have been as likely to try to accommodate me if I'd been a selfish dick about it. You all might want to think about that.
 
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KnightMatt8 said:
You tell me to show respect, but what about the person who described posters on here who think about being with families on a national holiday as "stupid crap?" Was that showing respect?

Look, everyone here would like to be able to see the game and is passionate about UCF football. I think we can all agree on that. But for Pete's sake, people, when a poster on here shows concern about a football game interfering with a family gathering, that's not something to mock someone about. If you're incapable of understanding that family sometimes has to come before an important football game, then I'm not sure I can explain it to you.

With that said, I talked with my wife about it, and she said I probably will be able to watch the game without it interfering with family plans. I don't think she would have been as likely to try to accommodate me if I'd been a selfish dick about it. You all might want to think about that.
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Relax. Read my response. I said that I respect your choice. Only one person said that about the holiday out of like 100 responses.
 
firm_bizzle said:
So we went from playing at 8pm on Black Friday to 7:30pm on Thanksgiving and everyone is cheering.
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Believe most are also cheering as Primetime on Thanksgiving Night is much better than the 11:30 am choice for Black Friday for NON-ESPN start time which was UCF's other choice.
 
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Knight_Light said:
Believe most are also cheering as Primetime on Thanksgiving Night is much better than the 11:30 am choice for Black Friday for NON-ESPN start time which was UCF's other choice.
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UCF fan expectations diminish every year. Low expectations will be our downfall. Yay! 6-6 or 5-7. :-/
 
We are making arrangements to be at the game. Luckily my family and my wife's family are gracious enough to alter their plans and traditions so we can attend this game.

However, this better not become a regular thing. O'Leary is a major doucheknot for saying he wants it to be regular. We should not be striving for the prime-time spot on Thanksgiving, a day that always goes to the NFL. Big time schools strive for Black Friday and Saturday prime time.

CFB primetime on ESPN Thanksgiving day is only a marginal step up from ESPNU at 11:30 on Friday. Ratings will be similar, so why do this to the fans?
 
Ucfmikes said:
Relax. Read my response. I said that I respect your choice. Only one person said that about the holiday out of like 100 responses.
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Okay, fair enough. I misunderstood what you meant by "respect that." Getting down from the soapbox for now . . . . [cheers]
 
It's all good. I did leave out an "I" in front of "respect that"

Go Knights!!!
 
ucf_71127 said:
There are a lot of "IF's" that we can't control.
1) The first one is when the game was played. Some will like the change and some will not.
2) We can't control the TV ratings so don't promise that it's going to be better because of teams playing 2 years ago.
3) A single person can't control if the stadium is filled or not filled depending on a day

But an individual can make his own choices...
1) You can choose to go to our rival game this year at home (no I am not talking about UConn and that trophy)
2) You can watch your team in person or on TV
3) Most importantly, you can make the best out of ANY situation and enjoy it!

I tell you what, if you're upset and whining about the time being changed to Thursday... well good luck selling the pitch to your wife and family. If the hard-core UCF fan can't see this as possible then your wife certainly won't want to go. You got to SELL it!

Best case scenario, you pick up some free tickets because your buddy couldn't go to the game. You take your whole family and go tailgate. You have arrangements to have Thanksgiving with your family and your UCF "family" at the tailgate. You already have the grill going so you throw the turkey on (don't get technical now on cooking times for a turkey BECAUSE IF THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY). You enjoy an amazing Thanksgiving meal with BOTH your families, AT UCF, on an amazing tailgating November day. The meal is awesome because all the tailgating parties brought something and all you have to do now is throw some corn-hole and have a "drink". Go in the stadium for the 7:30 start and watch UCF beat USF in a thriller to continue a magical season. Game ends and you go home without fighting traffic.

For a UCF fan the honest truth is...
UCF game day trumps other game days
Thanksgiving at a UCF game day trumps Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving at a UCF game with family trumps family day
If you like Thanksgiving and you like UCF, why not have both! :)

Truthfully, if you have this much passion about the game change, then you will really regret it if you don't go. "Most people regret the things they don't do, rather than the things they do-do" (it said do-do).
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Your post reminds me of my one semester of Philosophy class at UCF. Nice positive post. You should post more often.

#ChargeOn
 
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C-MontCityKnight2 said:
CFB primetime on ESPN Thanksgiving day is only a marginal step up from ESPNU at 11:30 on Friday. Ratings will be similar, so why do this to the fans?
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Why are you lying?

Heck, UCF vs USF got ESPN2 coverage at Noon on Black Friday last year yet their audiences didn't even get 1/5 the viewers that ESPN got last Thanksgiving Primetime game (even going up against the NFL).

Image how low the viewership would be if UCF had selected the 11:30 AM kickoff choice for ESPNU coverage.
 
Knight_Light said:
Why are you lying?

Heck, UCF vs USF got ESPN2 coverage at Noon on Black Friday last year yet their audiences didn't even get 1/5 the viewers that ESPN got last Thanksgiving Primetime game (even going up against the NFL).

Image how low the viewership would be if UCF had selected the 11:30 AM kickoff choice for ESPNU coverage.
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just to be clear, you are saying that the difference in viewership between a UCF/USF game at noon on Black Friday and a LSU/TAMU game on thanksgiving night was the timeslot?
 
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Knight_Light said:
Big 12 has a game on Thanksgiving Night too (on FOX SPORTS 1).

SEC has played on Thanksgiving Night on ESPN.

ACC has played on Thanksgiving Night on ESPN.

Big 12 has played on Thanksgiving Night on FS1.

Now UCF gets a chance to play on ESPN on Thanksgiving Night, yet the usual complainers whine again.

#unreal
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Amen! :)
 
Ucfmikes said:
It's all about priorities. Respect that. However, a lot of people's priorities are college football as well. It's a passion. Thanksgiving will be there every year. Always has and always will. Still can celebrate it all day. This rivalry game is a less frequent event. Has happened 6 times.
I don't care if the Pilgrims and Santa Claus were at my house for this holiday game. See ya Santa and Myles Standish, I have a game to go to!
Click to expand...
Exactly! My priority IS UCF Football!
 
firm_bizzle said:
UCF fan expectations diminish every year. Low expectations will be our downfall. Yay! 6-6 or 5-7. :-/
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I think you got that backwards, our expectations used to be low and now we are asking for more and more winning. Pretty sure the theme of this board for the last several years is we should be winning or competing for the conference championship EVERY year.
 
muckdawg24 said:
I think you got that backwards, our expectations used to be low and now we are asking for more and more winning. Pretty sure the theme of this board for the last several years is we should be winning or competing for the conference championship EVERY year.
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When your conference is ranked below CUSA and the MWC in football (2014) you better be winning or competing for the conference championship every year especially with realignment talks in discussion.
 
knight-cachers said:
just to be clear, you are saying that the difference in viewership between a UCF/USF game at noon on Black Friday and a LSU/TAMU game on thanksgiving night was the timeslot?
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I just noted that ESPN PrimeTime telecasts on Thanksgiving Night dwarf the TV ratings of those on ESPNU at 11:30 am on Black Friday, regardless who is playing (hence why UCF is playing on Thanksgiving Night on ESPN)
 
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