Florida football: Why should I care about Central Florida?
Recently, Central Florida athletics director Danny White suggested he would be open to scheduling a series with Florida football.
Why should I care about Central Florida?
Central Florida athletics director Danny White recently told Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi he would be open to scheduling a series with Florida football.
It came after White has balked at the prospect because he didn’t want Central Florida’s home game to be at a neutral site.
"“We’re not going to do two games at somebody else’s stadium and then a neutral-site game in Orlando at [65,000-seat] Camping World Stadium,” White told Bianchi. “That’s totally disrespectful to what our fans have built at Spectrum Stadium. I think it was 247Sports.com that ranked our stadium as the fourth-toughest place to play in college football. We’ve built an unbelievable college football atmosphere at our on-campus stadium. We’re not going to do two-for-neutrals [at Camping World Stadium]. That’s silly.”"
Basically, White would only schedule a two-for-one with Florida, if the Central Florida home game would be on Central Florida’s campus.
Who cares?
Look, Central Florida has built its team up to be respectable, but it’s nowhere near the level of Florida.
I get that neither Tennessee-Martin or Towson (two of Florida football’s non-conference opponents this season) are at the level of Florida, but neither of them wants some kind of campus stipulation to play Florida.
What is the big gain for the Gators?
Granted, the Knights have had a good run of form, appearing in 10 bowl games since 2005 — winning just four of them, by the way.
But, does playing the Knights do anything more than provide a nice payday to Central Florida and potentially — potentially — add to the Gators’ strength of schedule?
Not really.
Certainly not enough to warrant a brouhaha over where to play their home game in Orlando — which, by the way, is where Camping World Stadium is anyway.
Something to note:
- Spectrum Stadium – 45,000
- Camping World Stadium – 65,000
In case math wasn’t White’s strong suit, more seats mean more potential gate revenue.
You’re telling me Central Florida couldn’t replicate its atmosphere at a stadium 18 miles away?
Next. Florida football: Gators on national watch lists. dark
The point I’m trying to make is Florida AD Scott Stricklin doesn’t need to be hijacked by Central Florida or White into scheduling a non-conference series. I am sure there are plenty of other opponents willing to take on the Gators, without any strings attached.