Monday, December 31, 2007

Urban Meyer Announces "Pure Hate" for FSU

In a booster-oriented luncheon this afternoon, Florida coach Urban Meyer announced "pure hate" for the FSU Seminoles. If The Persistent Fool had had a pen on him, he would have jotted down the exact quote.

To paraphrase:

'Michigan and Ohio State fans have respect for each other. In the South, we do it a little differently. Between us and FSU, there's pure hate.'

This disturbingly Nazis-esque phrase sounds a little less harsh coming from someone whose last name is Meyer, and whose first name is that of a Pope.

No word as to whether Jesus approves.

Chicken Soup For the UCF Fan's Soul: You are not USF Today

In other news: Oregon beat USF like a small, malnourished Asian child working in a Wal-Mart sweatshop. Made in America, assholes.

We might have been Croomed, but USF got crushed, 56-21. USF QBs Grothe and Gregory threw for two interceptions. Each. Maybe they should snuggle with our Crippleback Israel.

At least we won our conference. USF is the poster child for squandered potential.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

The Only Former Colorado Buffalo I Can Name

As I watch 'Bama beat the living Hell out of the Colorado Buffaloes, I realize I can only name one significant past Buffalo. This guy:


That is Byron "Whizzer" White who served as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Back in the day, he played football for the Colorado Buffaloes, and was their star running back. After White graduated, he played professionally for the Pittsburgh Pirates (now the Steelers) and the Detroit Lions. On the Supreme Court, White was known for his moderate views. He also installed a weight room in his office in the Supreme Court building.

It's unfortunate that the trend of running backs becoming Supreme Court Justices did not continue. Imagine how exciting it would be to have Associate Justice Darren McFadden.

I promise that you will never need to know this information for any reason whatsoever.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Paraplegics: 10. Quadriplegics: 3.

What a cripple fight.

I'm reminded of a question put to me early this season by a fellow fan, 2005 Miss UCF (See? That's a shout-out!). The question came after UCF's home opener against Texas:
"What would you say to Kyle Israel if you saw him on the street?"
The answer was obvious:
"I would say, I'm glad you're a Senior."

That answer reverberates in my skull like the echoing notes of a cowbell jangled by a walrus-armed Mississippi State fan.

Kyle Israel, I'm glad you're a Senior.

The turnover artist we call a quarterback collapsed against the Croom squad, going 10 for 24 with three interceptions. And yes, all ten points the Paraplegics Bulldogs scored came off of turnovers.

But despite my natural inclination to blame everything on Crippleback Kyle Israel, this is really a team loss. Torres missed two easy field goals. The offensive line failed to protect Israel and got pushed around. Kevin Smith failed to make big plays.

Still, no UCF player performed as obviously bad as Israel. He now joins Moffet and Prater in the UCF pantheon of players-to-loath-for-eternity.

With Kevin Smith returning returning for his last season, there's still plenty to look forward to.

But damn, I'm glad Kyle Israel is a senior.

Friday, December 28, 2007

UCF 2008 Nonconference Schedule

The Orlando Sentinel reports that UCF is trying to add Rutgers to its 2008 schedule. That would make (along with USF), two Big East opponents in the upcoming season. I dream of a day when UCF could join the Big East, so I'd be thrilled to see this.

The other non-conference foes would be South Carolina State (the...MEAC. Yes, that is the Division II Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) and Miami (ACC). Dear God, let us beat Miami next year. They played like cripples this year, and I don't think they're suddenly going to be healed between now and then.

I did a google image search for "cripples playing football," and this is what I found.

UCF Fans: Distressing Lack of Geographic Awareness

Many UCF fans seem new to college football. They get loud as Hell on offense, and fall completely silent on defense. Especially in short yardage situations. I think that's somewhat forgivable, given UCF's relative newness and lack of traditions.

But, as the Orlando Sentinel reports, many fans seem new to our geopolitical situation. O'Leary recounts a conversation with a fan:

"The guy said, 'Hey, Coach, I'm really looking forward to your first bowl game.' I told him this was actually our second bowl game," O'Leary said. "He said, 'I don't count that one, because it was in a different country.' So we're definitely excited to be playing in this country."

Please note that this was in reference to the Hawaii bowl.

As a UCF alumnus, I am now exceedingly worried about the value of my Political Science degree. Someone alert President Sanford B. Dole-- Hawai'i is an independent republic once more!


Yes, this man was President of the Republic of Hawai'i.

Liberty Bowl Predictions

Compiled Liberty Bowl predictions from across the interweb:

1. UCF is the Vegas favorite. I tend to believe the professional degenerates.

2. ESPN has pegged this game as a potential upset alert...Mississippi State over the Knights.

3. College Football News predicts Miss. State over UCF, 24-17.

4. Scout.com and Whatifsports.com: UCF over Miss. State, 24-10. "UCF's Kevin Smith goes off for 243 rushing yards, ending the season with 2,691 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns." This is based on simulating the game 1,001 times! Science! Indisputable Science!

5. Sports Illustrated: UCF 31. Mississippi State 21.

Cruising for a Crooming?

Are we Going to Get Croomed?
Okay. I'm definitely worried about this.

Fans of the SEC are familiar with the phrase "Croomed!" To be Croomed is to be beaten by Miss. State coach Sylvester Croom. Miss. State is a perennial SEC loser- a team so bad, that there's a specific word for getting beaten by it.

Croomed!

You've probably heard about Miss. State's stingy defense. You've probably heard that this game will hinge on Kevin Smith's performance.

You might not have heard that Mississippi State is bringing 30,000 people to this game. UCF is brining 10,000. Maybe. With the Liberty Bowl sold out, crowd noise will be a factor, especially for our skittish team.

Other things are concerning, too. On the night before the C-USA Championship Game, a significant number of UCF players were getting hammered at Devaney's. I'm concerned about the temptation that Memphis presents. UCF can't come in tired and hungover, especially since Mississippi State will no doubt come fired up-- this is an amazing turnaround year for Miss. State, and the team has truly rallied around SEC Coach of the Year Croom.

Then there's the fact that Mississippi State is far more used to competing with the big boys in high pressure situations than UCF is. This season, Mississippi State beat then-number 14 Kentucky (at home), and then-number 22 Alabama. In contrast, UCF got clobbered by USF, and lost to Texas in what could have been a magical upset.

Bearing this all in mind, there's real potential that we could be Croomed. Cross your fingers...

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

ESPN Article on Kevin Smith


ESPN has a new article on Kevin Smith up, detailing how in his senior year in high school he was moved from tailback to safety. As a result, he "flew under the radar" during recruiting season, helping O'Leary land him for UCF.


Boom! M---f----er, yeah!

I think Auburn's Defensive Coordinator Will Muschamp said it best:

"Boom! M---f----er, yeah! That's what I'm talking about! Knock these M---f----ers out! Get your ass going, you ain't hurt, you ain't hurt!"

It's in that same plucky, can-do spirit that I proudly present this college football blog, "The Persistent Fool." As a Florida Gator and (long-suffering) UCF Knight, I've been suffering for wont of a college football blog that caters to my weird tastes.

Yes, it's easy to find a Gator-centric college football blog. But no one writes the UCF blog that I want to read. The few UCF blogs are:
  1. Poorly written.
  2. Infrequently updated.
  3. Full of boosterism and homerism.
  4. Poorly written.
  5. Poorly written by boosters and homers.
  6. See number 4, above.
  7. Poorly written by folks who think Kyle Israel does a fine job.
  8. Poorly written by folks who don't know a damn thing about college football outside Orlando.
This is the breach I'm going to launch myself into. I hope to bring you college football commentary and musings with an obvious UCF Knight bias. And other miscellania.

Boom, M---f----er!
TPF