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Florida football: We’ve got to stop saying UCF is better than Florida

By Will Thomas

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 13: A general view of the sign saying This is..The Swamp during the game between the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 13: A general view of the sign saying This is..The Swamp during the game between the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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Florida football had a down year last year. No doubt about it. And all of the team’s struggles and issues were summed up in a Gasparilla Bowl loss to UCF.

Some would think that in an obvious down year, where the team didn’t have their head coach, best QB was hurt, and hadn’t looked motivated since week 3, a bowl game loss wouldn’t carry that much weight.

Enter UCF fans.

After winning their fake national championship a few years ago, they’ve been trying desperately to prove to everyone how good they are. Now that they beat UF, they’re claiming that they’re the best team in the state.

Unfortunately, major media outlets seem to agree. CBS Sports HQ displayed their list of “best teams by state”, and the Knights came out on top in Florida.

Seriously guys, it’s getting ridiculous at this point.

I have no issue with people saying UCF had a better team than UF did last year. Florida played bad, unmotivated football, and the head to head game against the Knights proved it.

That’s great, nice Gasparilla Bowl rings.

This does not make UCF the better program.

Let’s start off with the lifeblood of football programs: recruiting.

In the past 4 years, where UF has not recruited up to their standards mind you, they’ve finished ranked 17th, 12th, and 9th twice. UCF on the other hand, who has been “emerging” have finished 53rd, 58th, 75th, and 60th. (via 247 Sports)

These numbers prove that UF is not only the much more established program, but their influence keeps pulling in elite players, while UCF can’t keep up despite their recent wins.

In terms of record the last 4 years, UCF does have a slight advantage. They’ve gone 37-12, and UF is 35-16.

2 more wins. Congrats.

But beating up on Tulane and Tulsa doesn’t compare to an SEC schedule year in year out.

Not to mention how overrated the Bounce House is. 45,000 once or twice a year doesn’t compare to 88,000 in The Swamp week in and week out.

Look, UCF can take their meaningless bowl win and run with it. They beat us last year. I won’t run from that.

But to sit there and try and convince a rational football fan that UCF is suddenly a better program than Florida is insanity.

Keep up with Florida football here.

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