Gorgeous stadium. Pathetic fan support. But hey.. When you’re 1-11 the year before, it’s hard to expect much. The game day “environment” honestly reminded me of our 0-17 years only with way worse tailgating. The fans we did meet though were all super friendly. I’ll be rooting for them in the MAC for sure.

Here’s a few iPhone photos. Not much, but hey.. My name’s not Brandon.

Four days.

Four more strung out, pain-staking days until the tradition and passion which encapsulates college football returns to campus gridirons across the nation. This time of year brings about unmatched excitement, as fans rustle through sleepless nights, tossing and turning, wondering what the approaching season will have in store for their team.

The open void has thankfully been tempered by the NBA finals, MLB baseball, and even the summer Olympics. Off-season reports of recruiting battles, player progression, and team cohesion have helped in-part to satiate our palates, but it’s not enough. It never is.

The off-season has been long and arduous, lending us die-hards 245 days to stew over last year’s accomplishments, disappointments, and what-ifs. Now on the horizon of a fresh season, the outlook is seemingly positive, as it should be for any collegiate fans of their alma mater.

Stadiums throughout the country will soon be filled with the veracious roar of the crowd, chanting in unison to the ever-familiar fight song, riling up both player and fan. The fragrance of tailgate delights will consume the air, as fans make their way to their respective schools, traveling from far and wide hoping for nothing less than team victory. Students will stand poised at the stadium gates hours before kick-off, primed to stampede towards the bleachers with the aspiration of nabbing the coveted first row seats.

Four days until we put on our school colors and begin our treks back to campus, immersed in nostalgia from our years as students. Four days until the hair stands up on the back of our necks and the goose bumps begin to rise with the stadium quaking fly-over. Four days until all the pent-up enthusiasm and excitement swells from our beings into a passionate roar, pouring from our vocal cords. Four days until our team emerges from the tunnel and onto the field in an electric craze.

Four days until all our positive hopes and expectations come true for OUR team.

After all, this is OUR year.

Championship Games included. Blue is the east, Red is the West. Category leaders shown in Green. Ranked by total conference wins.

Finally, Fall 2012. Let the games begin.

The Knights staff made it plain and simple. They stressed the importance of being a BCS school now and they wanted to recruit the BCS kids, not backing down from the “Big Boys.” They want to stay ahead of the curve in regards to recruiting and be well aware of the top kids in Tampa and across the state as early as possible.

via BigCountyPreps.com

There’s no sugar-coating it – UCF cheated. Tribble broke the rules then tried to say he didn’t know what they were. Kelly broke the rules and then lied about breaking them. Jones broke the rules, but came clean. UCF was on probation for recruiting violations for football, then committed recruiting violations for football. The fact that UCF has only minor scholarship losses and only one-season postseason bans speaks to the leniency the COI showed, given the fact that while UCF cheated, they really didn’t get much out of it. Had more than just Rompza, Garcia, and Kozucan ever play for UCF, I think the sanctions would have been devastating. Instead, they are manageable and UCF should just take them and move on.

via How UCF Failed to Succeed While Really Trying