Why Bortles and UCF should give UNT fans hope

Harry · May 12, 2014

I have stated on here before, the similarities I see between the Central Florida football program and our own program at UNT.

Both schools have big enrollments, with UCF north of 50K and UNT at about 37K and expected to be near 45K in 10 years.

Neither are tradition steeped programs, UCF started theirs in 1979 as a D III; UNT has been around longer but dropped down to IAA in the 1982 season and rejoined the IA ranks in 1995.

Both have had the wisdom to hire good coaches, UCF has hired and held onto George O'Leary who had coached at Notre Dame and UNT hired Dan McCarney who coached at Iowa State in the Big 12. Interesting that UNT DC John Skladany was the UCF defensive coordinator twice and also a positional coach there.

In 2007, seeing the need to improve their facilities, UCF unveiled their Bright House Networks Stadium which seats 45K. UNT opened their bank new 35K Apogee Stadium in 2011.

Both sit in hotbeds of high school talent. UCF has positioned itself as the program of choice behind Florida and Florida State. North Texas has more in-state competition but seems to be making similar in-roads.

Back to my original point -- Bortles is the example that it only takes one key player to change the face of the program.

From wiki: Bortles attended Oviedo High School in Oviedo, Florida, where he starred in football and also played baseball. As a senior, he completed 151 of 233 passes for 2,211 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He finished his career with a Seminole County record 5,576 career passing yards and 53 touchdowns.

Labeled a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Bortles was listed as the No. 44 pro-style quarterback in his class.^[1] Bortles chose Central Florida over offers from Colorado State, Purdue, Tulane, and Western Kentucky.^[2]

UCF was the first program to offer him a scholarship, which he accepted and the rest is history. He leads his team to an AAC championship and upset over Baylor in the schools first BCS bowl game. He is selected as the 3rd overall pick in the NFL draft by Jacksonville.

Why not North Texas? Why not North Texas I say?

We see our coaching staff hitting the road hard, giving offers to prospects who will get other big school offers... this strategy will eventually pay off and the Bortles situation at UCF is proof that it can.

So what is the key difference between UCF and North Texas now? It's not the conference... UCF is in the AAC and UNT in C-USA. Both are part of the g5 and have the same opportunities to get to the g5 playoff spot. The key difference now is UCF has their signature win (beating Baylor in the BCS bowl game) UNT does not. UCF has a major conference in-state rival in South Florida and also developing with FIU and FAU. UNT has not had this in the past, but it is developing a good in-state rivalry with SMU in non conference for the next 12 years and has some prospects for good Texas rivalries in C-USA (Rice, UTSA, UTEP).

In terms of home opponents, UCF has had the likes of Texas playing in their home stadium opener. UNT brought in Houston for their opener. UCF has BYU coming into Orlando this 2014 season while UNT has SMU as their 2014 home opener.

For those who say it can't be done as a g5 school, UCF is the shining example that yes it can. Despite lesser resources and support than South Florida who was given the advantage of participating in a BCS conference (The Big East) UCF has been able to get the prize. So what makes them successful? They recruit Florida like no one else! They go after every good player in the state and they stay on them till the very end. They rarely beat UF and Florida State for the top talent but they pick up the guys that they miss on.

I looked at UCF winning a big upset against Baylor and their QB Bortles signing #3 in the NFL draft ahead of Johnny Football and others as proof that there is hope for UNT and other programs who are viewed as being on the outside looking in.

Harry · May 12, 2014

Other notable UCF wins (behind recent 17-point underdog BCS Bowl win over Baylor in Fiesta Bowl):

10/18/2013 vs Louisville Cardinals W 38-35 First Win Over a Top 10 Ranked Team (UoL was ranked #8)

09/14/2013 vs Penn State Nittany Lions W 34-31 First Win Against Big Ten Team (Previous 0-7 Against Big Ten)

12/31/2010 vs Georgia Bulldogs W 10-6 First Bowl Win

12/04/2010 vs SMU Mustangs W 17-7 Wins Another CUSA Championship

12/01/2007 vs Tulsa Hurricanes W 44-25 Wins First CUSA Championship

10/28/2000 at Alabama Crimson Tide W 40-38

untjim1995 · May 13, 2014

Great thread!! I completely agree with you on all of this. I think UCF is a great model for us to follow, just like the current UH situation is, as well. BIg state schools around a big city in a talent-rich recruiting state...we fit all of that. There are differences, but they are not vast.

What I don't see is where any of these teams are ever gonna be P5 schools, but as long as they let the best of the G5 play in a BCS Bowl, then we all have the chance to beat an AQ team in a big bowl. I see that game being a team from the AAC or MWC playing against the Big 12 or the ACC in most years, but the MAC and CUSA certainly have a good chance to get one of those slots, too. And I think we can beat teams from those leagues, just as UCF proved against Baylor.

UNT90 · May 13, 2014

But that is an effectively run athletic program...

Censored by Laurie · May 13, 2014

But that is an effectively run athletic program...

Right? I hear their AD can text, eat a hamburger, talk to his coaches, and solicit donations all at the same time

Mean Green 93-98 · May 13, 2014

Some very good points. I'm not convinced that UCF is the 3rd program "of choice" in the state of Florida, though (I assume you mean "of choice for recruits"). According to Rivals, the ranking of the Florida schools for the class of 2014 was:

#1 - FSU (#4)

#2 - Florida (#8)

#3 - Miami (#12)

#4 - South Florida (#39)

#5 - UCF (#74)

#6 - FIU (#84)

#7 - FAU (#88)

So you have a clear divide between your top 3 (FSU, Florida, Miami) and your bottom 3 (UCF, FIU, FAU) with USF holding down the middle ground.

Also, I'd have a hard time saying Bortles single-handedly "changed the face of the program," considering they have been making noise on a national level for some years now. It's been what--15 years or so since Daunte Culpepper?

By the way, Apogee seats a little under 31k.

Those are just a few little nitpicks. I generally agree with the premise of your post and with the points you make.