UCF ties up O'Leary through 2015..$1 mil./yr.+

NT80 · May 30, 2006

UCF ties up O'Leary through 2015

By TRAVIS REED, Associated Press Writer

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- The University of Central Florida extended football coach George O'Leary's contract through 2015 Thursday.

In two years, O'Leary has helped transform UCF from one of the country's worst NCAA Division I-A programs to one of its most promising. The Golden Knights carried the nation's longest losing streak into last season, but ended up playing in the school's first conference championship and bowl games on the way to an 8-5 record.

The deal delivers $1 million in the first year, with gradual increases to $1.55 million in 2015 and $500,000 in possible incentives each season. It also includes a buyout capped at $5 million, or $1 million for each remaining year on the contract, if O'Leary or UCF breaks it.

"Believe me, we have a lot of work to do. Every dollar will be surely worked," O'Leary said.

O'Leary returned to college football at UCF in December 2003 after two years as defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. He made national headlines in 2001 after resigning the head coaching job at Notre Dame when it was discovered parts of his resume, compiled long ago, had been falsified.

O'Leary was head coach at Georgia Tech from 1994 to 2001, amassing a 52-33 record and earning 2000's national coach of the year award. He was nominated for the award again after UCF's finish last season.

UCF president John Hitt and new athletic director Keith Tribble envisions the school as a perennial Top 10 team on par with the state's Big Three -- Florida, Florida State and the University of Miami.

They and others acknowledge the school has a long way to go, but hope O'Leary's extension and a new 45,000-seat on-campus stadium opening in fall 2007 will help draw blue chip recruits and bigger Saturday crowds to make it happen.

PlummMeanGreen · May 30, 2006

If one thinks about it, Jeff, for a mid-major to make a committment much less than the UCF's, Louisville's, Boise States, Fresno State's, etc, etc, etc, have made are (probably) asking for decades of a mediocre co-existence for its athletic program, specifically with its football program.

At some point in the future when UNT makes a coaches change (and don't most mid-major as well as major schools do that anyway); yet notice how some mid-majors are giving "known" commodities with some blemishes in their past second chances to help take their programs to new heights. Surprised Rick Neuheisel hasn't been hired with such recent trends that indicate some schools are willing to gamble on the fact that coaches with proven or alleged infractions can turn over a new leaf.

Obviously, a new on-campus football stadium will be the key for UCF to reach their goals and objectives. Their planning for such a new football stadium is what probably drew O'Leary to originally sign on with UCF in the first place.

UNT will not be able to attract the kind of schools Middle Tennesse is now getting for home games at their stadium just as UNT will not be able to get a name coach to consider our program in the future if we don't get ours built in due time.

........................................................................................

And FWIW, does UCF have a better or more known legacy in its past intercollegiate football endeavors than the University of North Texas? Please do consider these questions:

** When the Mean Green's Abner Haynes (a future Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chief great)and his team-mates were going to the Sun Bowl in 1959, what was UCF doing?

** When Mean Joe Greene and his team-mates were all but beating a school in 1968 up in Fayetteville and a school who would play the Texas Longhorns in the "Game of the Century" for a national championship the following season; anyway, during that era what was UCF doing?

** When Hayden Fry and his Mean Green football teams in the 1970's were getting regional and national attention with some of the known teams they were beating (or nearly beating) what was UCF doing?

In a perfect world, don't most of us wish in this article NT80 has posted we could replace UCF's name with UNT's?

Edited May 30, 2006 by PlummMeanGreen

ADLER · May 31, 2006

user posted image

It helps that UCF has been marketing their product in conjunction with plans to build a legitimate Division 1 venue. Their fans are secure that they are investing their finances in a program which will remain in college athletic's top division.

Hiring and retaining a coach with a proven record of success helps insure that the program will be competitive at that level.

FirefightnRick · May 31, 2006

It helps that UCF has been marketing their product in conjunction with plans to build a legitimate Division 1 venue. Their fans are secure that they are investing their finances in a program which will remain in college athletic's top division.
←

UmmHmm.

Rick

PlummMeanGreen · May 31, 2006

It helps that UCF has been marketing their product in conjunction with plans to build a legitimate Division 1 venue. Their fans are secure that they are investing their finances in a program which will remain in college athletic's top division.
Hiring and retaining a coach with a proven record of success helps insure that the program will be competitive at that level.
←

What a simple, well-designed college football stadium that is. Wouldn't it be great if one similar were located out between Denton's 2 Texas interstates out at Eagle Point Campus?

Jeez, folks, UNT is located right smack dab in the middle of Fortune 500 company headquarters here in the Metroplex, just what the hell wrong are we doing with our major donor fund-raising? Of course, many of us have been asking that same question longer than some of you young gun alums have years.

Edited May 31, 2006 by PlummMeanGreen

LongJim · May 31, 2006

What a simple, well-designed college football stadium that is. Wouldn't it be great if one similar were located out between Denton's 2 Texas interstates out at Eagle Point Campus?

Plum, weren't we talking about this topic last week?--this stadium, to me, looks much like an above-ground GR Ford, something similar to which UNT would do well to have.

UNTLifer · May 31, 2006

Anyone else receive President Pohl's newsletter yesterday and notice this link?

Approved Strategic Plan

Notice the committment to Athletics? Yeah, me neither.

Stan R · May 31, 2006

Anyone else receive President Pohl's newsletter yesterday and notice this link?
Approved Strategic Plan
Notice the committment to Athletics? Yeah, me neither.
←

Well, it is here:

3.9 Enhance communication and activities designed to increase involvement by alumni and friends in the life of the university and to increase membership in North Texas Exes;

3.10 Increase the visibility and reputation of UNT through hosted events, and local, regional and national media coverage of academic, athletic and other university activities and accomplishments; and

3.11 Conduct regular institutional research to address key questions related to institutional identity, reputation, engagement and other important concerns of external and internal constituencies.

But boy, it is relegated to the back page of the sports section.

PlummMeanGreen · May 31, 2006

Well, it is here:
3.9 Enhance communication and activities designed to increase involvement by alumni and friends in the life of the university and to increase membership in North Texas Exes;
3.10 Increase the visibility and reputation of UNT through hosted events, and local, regional and national media coverage of academic, athletic and other university activities and accomplishments; and
3.11 Conduct regular institutional research to address key questions related to institutional identity, reputation, engagement and other important concerns of external and internal constituencies.
But boy, it is relegated to the back page of the sports section.
←

All things considered...anyone really surprised with this?

Our ace in the hole for a future higher profile athletic program @ UNT will probably be a present "non chairman" member of the NT BOR's. Many are hoping he will (in due time) tell athletic non-supporters in high places who do the lip-service routine how the cow eats the cabbage.

Edited May 31, 2006 by PlummMeanGreen

Quoner · May 31, 2006

All things considered...anyone really surprised with this?
Our ace in the hole for a future higher profile athletic program @ UNT will probably be a present "non chairman" member of the NT BOR's. Many are hoping he will (in due time) tell athletic non-supporters in high places who do the lip-service routine how the cow eats the cabbage.
←

He is the chosen one the prophesy foretold...

GoMeanGreen1999 · May 31, 2006

If they get to the top 10, it WILL be before we do. They will just pass us up like Boise State did.

June 1, 2006

UCF has about as much chance getting in the Top 10 asn SMU does winning at Fouts.

OK....Southern Cal, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Florida, and perhaps Florida State, Penn State, Nebraska, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Iowa, etc. How many of these are they going to knock out? They won't even play the schedule that would get the Top 10 status. The might get in the Top 25 some but that's about it. It still might be worth the money though.

FirefightnRick · June 1, 2006

UCF has about as much chance getting in the Top 10 asn SMU does winning at Fouts.
OK....Southern Cal, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Florida, and perhaps Florida State, Penn State, Nebraska, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Iowa, etc. How many of these are they going to knock out? They won't even play the schedule that would get the Top 10 status. The might get in the Top 25 some but that's about it. It still might be worth the money though.
←

I'm not so sure about their future schedule not giving them a chance.

http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-foot.../050906aaa.html

Here's their '06 lineup.

http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/footbl-tickets/06-tickets.html

Read anything interesting in the first link? Their $51 Million, 46,000 seat On-Campus stadium will be ready to host tU in '07? UCF is very serious about their plan of action and what they want out of it. And what would we give to even be able to say that the last time we played a Big 12 opponent we lost at No. 6 Nebraska 38-24?

Louisville, Utah, TCU and Boise have all sniffed the top 10 in the past. I wouldn't be surprised to see UCF do it too.

Rick

Edited June 1, 2006 by FirefightnRick