The continued Alabama/SEC outrage over UCF's national championship claim proves it was smart marketing
It’s been a month, and UCF’s name is still in your mouth.
By “you,” I’m referring to anyone who continues to speak about the Knights’ national championship claim after they completed their undefeated season by beating Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
“You” is Alabama running back Damien Harris, who wasn’t a fan of the Pro Bowl introducing the hometown Knights as “national champions.”
“You” is former UCF assistant and current Alabama offensive line coach Brent Key, who was triggered by the Knights’ claim, as well.
“You” is the SEC Network, which fired off this tweet 4 weeks after UCF knocked off Auburn.
Trophy or it didn't happen pic.twitter.com/kHuyNSb1Fb
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 29, 2018
“You” is probably a lot of you who are reading this right now. You’re still fired up about the fact that a Group of 5 school claimed it won a national title when it was Alabama who defeated Georgia in overtime to earn the College Football Playoff National Championship.
“You” are the reason that UCF made that claim in the first place. The fact that UCF is still being discussed by college football fans proves something.
It worked.
No, that’s not my way of saying that I believe the Knights are the real national champs, or that they’d beat Alabama in a winner-take-all scenario. Believe it or not, that was never the point of all of this.
The point of UCF’s claim was to elevate its program in an effort to capitalize on this window of opportunity. That’s a hard thing for an Alabama fan or an SEC fan to understand. Alabama markets itself. At a place like UCF, it doesn’t work like that.
Remember when UCF went 12-1 and knocked off Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl in 2013-14? It was a dream season for a Group of 5 team, but the Knights were hardly the first program to live that dream. Boise State, TCU and Utah all won New Year’s 6 bowls against Power 5 teams in the previous decade. Sure, 2013 was a historic season for UCF, but how much did it really elevate the program?
Two years later, the Knights were 0-12. In other words, that 2013 season didn’t carry any sort of momentum nationally.
Had UCF decided to treat its 2017 season like its 2013 season, it wouldn’t have been remembered any differently. The record was slightly better, but the result was still the same. UCF would’ve been foolish not to market itself as the national champs. When’s the next time the program is going to have an undefeated season? Probably never. It just happened to work out that the team UCF knocked off also beat the eventual national champs.
Why wouldn’t the Knights take this opportunity and run with it?
This is a marketing dream. You get your own fans fired up, you get opposing fans riled up and you get everyone who cares about college football talking about UCF.
Some might say it’s just like trying to turn 15 minutes of fame into 20. I say it’s trying to turn one storybook season into a decade of stability.
UCF is now a national brand that will put “national champs” on every piece of recruiting/marketing mail it sends out. If that upsets people like Harris who can get 53,000 likes off one anti-UCF tweet, even better. That’s exactly the way the Knights drew it up.
Live look at the mentions pic.twitter.com/ui45O1ry5N
— 2017 National Champions (@UCF_Football) January 28, 2018
Public perception will dictate how UCF is remembered over time. The majority of college football fans will still undoubtedly call Alabama “national champs.” You can bet the marketing folks behind UCF’s claim know that. The Knights are just trying to join that conversation. They’re trying to break down the door that locked them out of that arena in the first place.
Only time will tell if change will come of the year that was. At the very least, UCF showed that the current system Playoff system isn’t air-tight. That’s ironic considering that when the BCS era ended, it was supposed to eliminate the “claimed national championship” discussion.
But even if the perfect storm UCF created doesn’t spark any change, the mission will was still accomplished. The Knights marketed themselves as national champs all the way through National Signing Day (the February one). Recruits can decide for themselves if they believe UCF really did earn a national title. So can the general public. That includes Alabama fans/players/coaches.
And if they could spent another 7 months arguing about it, UCF would greatly appreciate it.
I don’t get all the outrage. Let them claim it. Hell, Bama claims a half dozen laughable titles.
Bama doesn’t “claim” anything that the NCAA themselves doesn’t recognize in their FBS record book. If you had half of a damn brain you could go look for your self and see that the NCAA lists Alabama as poll/BCS/CFP champions 21 times. So stfu and get in your own lane before you get ran over boy!! dumb mudda fukka!!!
Tidepit stfu, you sound like such an uneducated moron.
Depends on ‘consensus’ or not, and what ‘records’ are used. It can be as low as 11 and as high as 22. Although if you count the official NCAA major indicies, and you must to get 20+, then you have to include UCF as well (#1 in one major index of the official NCAA records, also used in the old BCS).
Again wrong… colley matrix is not anything to the NCAA anymore, just like the BCS.
I can see your point. If Golf Digest doesn’t say it, you can’t claim it.
If Golf Digest doesn’t say it, you can’t claim it.
Funny, I don’t see any national title banners at Jordan Hare claiming a title because of Golf Digest. I do however see several laughable titles painted all over Briant Denny because a mathematician retro actively calculated the national champion base on a magical formula that discounted actual wins and losses.
Step away from the crack pipe. Never seen a sign t b at said we want Auburn. Giggles
How many teams claim a NC in a season they were banned from post season play by the NCAA?
Name the laughable ones. We were robbed in 66 an 77.
I don’t know others, but the 1941 championship is the one I’m aware of that doesn’t make much sense. Houlgate poll recognized Alabama as champions, so they claim it. But, they placed 3rd in the SEC and Minnesota was undefeated and recognized by the AP. Alabama was ranked 20 in the AP that year.
The only reason I’m aware of this one is because it’s the only year State won the SEC.
Weakle 99 out Bama bashing again. Nice beat down of Georgia, when it didn’t matter! There is a saying you might learn once your balls drop, Know when to hold em. What loser comes onto a blog site and knocks Bama as an Auburn fan. 5 in 9 nine loser. Next year Saban will get to 50% in his tenure at Bama punk loser. Go shave your red head loser.
“You” is Connor, who writes about this dribble. “You” just perpetuated that crap once again. Let it die already.
Exactly… This guy has wrote multie articles on it.
True this. I didn’t even know this was still a thing until this article.
I wouldn’t call it outrage. It seems more like mocking, and people laughing at their claim.
I agree people certainly are shouting ” we want ucf” Lol
Yeah, then you actually do it and catch hell for scheduling G5 cupcakes.
Or get caught in a ‘down year.’ That’s the problem. Most of these games are scheduled 3-5 years in advance.
No P5 wants to chance it. Or worse yet …
They schedule their ‘home’ first, then ‘buy out’ the return trip to UCF. And UCF cannot get an agreement that doesn’t have a ‘buy out’ for the return.
USF just *stupidly* signed a 2-for-1 with Louisville with such a schedule and clause. And they used to be conference mates in C-USA and then Big East as well.
No one’s outraged about UCF’s claim. Just annoyed and wishing UCF and the rest of the media talking about it would stop already.
The CFP Committee Head and the Big XII Commish already made that impossible the very day after UCF beat Auburn.
If the CFP would have just said, “We still feel UCF was not one of the 4 best teams, and Alabama just proved they are one of the best 2 teams, so we stand by our playoff selections,” it would have flown.
But they didn’t. When the media was beating them up about moving to an 8-team playoff, and they re-asserted UCF was #12 and they wouldn’t have made even an 8-team playoff, when the old BCS Computers had UCF #3, and the *other* human polls had UCF in the top 10, which meant UCF would have been — at worst — #7 (or better) in the old BCS, that’s when the media really got going.
And it pissed off even highly regarded UCF President Dr. Hitt.
Furthermore, if the Big XII Commish wouldn’t have talked about TCU beating UCF 9 out of 10 times, when Vegas, S&P+ and many others would pick UCF *more* than TCU.
It’s that type of ‘argument’ that became ‘laughable’ … which is why UCF’s arguments aren’t any worse in the eyes of many. That’s why UCF, despite the ‘stretch,’ is getting a lot of support.
This is the literal ‘children of the poor’ moment of the CFP era. The CFP and Big XII screwed up, just like the BCS and Big 10 did prior.
Again there is no BCS. All the ranking components that went in to determine the BCS doesn’t even exist anymore so how are you coming up with your BCS ranking?…… I mean think about this. Before the bowls you’re crying the CFP had UCF 12 but the AP and Coaches poll only had them at 10…. Not much of a difference.
A&M claims three. Only one was from the AP poll and that was one of the very first (1939). The other two were from a historical perspective: 1927 (Sagarin), and 1919 (Billingsley). I have no problem from a marketing perspective what UCF is doing. I wonder if would help A&M’s image claiming the 1917 season as another National Championship “Unbeaten and Un-scored upon”!!! Sure, that would really help with these elite 17 year old recruits. ;-)
I say let the UCF athletes enjoy themselves… It not hurting anything and the school is spending their money. In a couple years nobody outside of UCF fans will even care. Just ask BSU…
I agree. So how about bama being college football playoff national champions and UCF just national champions. Coastal Carolina won the college baseball championship a few years ago because they were given the chance to. The committee will never give a G5 the chance so why no have their own playoff/ champion? There is room for both.
UCF will be remembered as being undefeated… That’s about it.
UCF is even emphasizing “undefeated champions,” while still recognizing Alabama as the consensus and CFP “national champions.”
But UCF is not recognized by the NCAA as anything….. Maybe they should celebrate “champions In there heart”
Theiru
Wished we had an edit button
SDS is loving this UCF thing, it gets their articles clicked. They’ll milk it until it runs it’s course, not much else to talk about right now. I, for one, am fine with it. At first it was annoying but I am hopeful that all the attention is going to push the ncaa to talk about playoff expansion. If there are D1 football teams making a mockery of the championship, you’d think they would make a change. 8 teams, let’s get it done.
This. Adding fuel to the fire by sparking outrage. I only get on here to become stupider by reading their articles.
“SDS – Where we take twitter bickering and reactions and make it into news”
They’d have to go to 16 teams (which will never happen) for UCF to have been invited this year, so the 8 team argument doesn’t help them in the slightest.
5 power 5 conference champs, 2 at large teams, and 1 group of 5 team (UCF). So yeah, it would.
And *that’s* what this all about!
CFP re-asserted UCF was only “#12”
BCS Computers asserted UCF was #3 (average)
The CFP humans keep ranking G5 teams 3-4x lower than the old BCS. This is the problem.
You’d have to have an auto-invite to bypass the humans who will *always* keep the G5 out. And because the G5 can’t get P5s to schedule, this will continue to happen.
At least until there are lawsuits against the CFP “corporation,” just like there were against the BCS “corporation.” That’s how both Utah and TCU got P5 invites.
UCF took another route … marketing. And damn if it didn’t work!
Please stop. You look foolish. What BCS ranking? How did you determine It? Let me guess you don’t know? Or you do know and don’t want to post it because you know we will show you that you’re full of $hit.
TCU and Utah got in a P5 conference due to money and conference expansion not a lawsuit….
Both Saturday Down South and SEC Country have been quite ‘realistic.’ Heck, I never expected the SEC Country’s AP voter to put UCF #2 (I figured #5 was fair, #3 at best … Ohio State’s AP voter said the same).
And that’s the thing … there are ‘protest votes’ and ‘protest claims’ right now, especially given the fact that there was *no* undefeated P5 team. There were P5 champions that lost — and some lost *big* — to teams not even in the top 50 in most computer rankings!
Half of the American is nearly top 50 in most computer rankings, well beyond any other G5. The American keeps beating the Big XII top teams too, and has since its inception 5 seasons ago. It now has 3 major bowl wins with 3 top 10 finishes in the same period.
The PAC 12 couldn’t manage that, and both the Big XII and PAC 12 SoS isn’t any better than the American conference average for that matter.
If all it takes to be a national champion is to go undefeated against UCFs weak ass schedule then I’ll gladly trade places with you. Mizzou would have 20 national championships by now and UCF would be buried in the SEC basement. Auburn is a darn good football team and kudos for beating them, but if you played them again I’d bet my house on Auburn. That team was dejected and completely uninspired to play UCF, I guarantee it won’t happen again. Celebrate your great season, but be realistic…
Let’s just all agree to blame Auburn and the media and move on.
I’m in. Damn it Auburn.
I think its funny that UCF hit a nerve with the insecure Bama fans.
Which Bama fan has it hit a nerve with?
Actually that’s not been my experience. Like pretty much any fanbase there are some that think it’s silly to claim a national championship when one is played for and there are some fans that don’t care.
I fall into the second group. Let UCF claim whatever it wants. Hope they enjoy themselves because an undefeated season is a great accomplishment.
I would have loved to have seen UGA fan’s reactions to UCF claiming the national title if Georgia had won. I’m sure there wouldn’t have been any UGA fans upset about UCF claiming their first national title in 37 years.
Bama beating UGA has had him crying on any topic that mentions Bama… It’s what he does now. Bama broke his heart.
^^
I agree. Alabama and Auburn fans, as are most SEC fans (other than Florida fans), are really gracious and cool to UCF fans. It’s only some of the ‘triggered’ Memes and posts and other things that people seem to ‘jump’ on.
I had to leave early Sat 1/20 for an unplanned family event. Otherwise I was going to be in Tuscaloosa to celebrate Alabama’s NC. Of course I was going to wear UCF gear, but *not* the “National Championship” shirt. Alabama accomplished more than UCF, no one denies that.
The only debate is over whether or not UCF should have had that opportunity, especially with an 8-team playoff like most of the media wants.
You realize we lost right? The only thing that matters is sitting in a trophy case somewhere on bama’s campus while all we have are crushed dreams.
Georgia has come a long way. They’ll be back this year.
Florida has accomplished far less than UCF. Everyone in Florida, and an increasing number of people in Georgia, are smiling about that.
Sans maybe South Carolina fans. ;)
Well Connor, I haven’t given UCF or their ridiculous title claim a second thought until “you” brought it back up.
Connor, no one will remember what UCF did this season five years from now except the kids on that team. NO ONE. Bama is the champ.
Except UCF now had *2* major, New Year’s Day bowl wins, in 5 seasons. That *more* than a handful of “Power” programs. Heck, UCF has more top 10 wins in the same period than a lot of “Power” programs too.
In Florida, Miami and Florida have *0* major, New Year’s Day bowl wins this decade. They also have fewer top 10 finishes themselves, let alone wins (especially in the case of Miami). This is why UCF *will* be remembered for the decade of the 2010s, *especially* in Florida.
UCF isn’t going away. It’s huge school in a huge TV market with a young, but growing Alumni base. USF is also huge in a huge TV market, although it’s fanbase is much smaller. But that will change in another 20+ years.
UCF v. USF — a G5 v. G5 — already broke a lot of records, and especially in the US’ #4 combined TV market (Orlando-Tampa). In another 20+ years, it will be the biggest rivalry in Florida.
National followings will come after that. Welcome to the new Florida football reality. Might not mean much in Alabama, but definitely does in Florida. That’s why most everyone is behind it … especially those that have ‘giving up’ on the Gators and the U.
UCF passed Miami as the state’s #3 fanbase years ago. UCF won’t reach Florida’s fanbase, and FSU is still a ways off … but there are enough people for a #3 team in Florida. UCF has totally established itself as that #3 team this decade.
I think UCF has a clever marketing department. Shame on Auburn for not taking care of business. If AU had shown up and beaten UCF, they could rightly say they beat the best 3 teams in the country!
The Big XII keeps saying about their top teams when they play the American (UCF’s conference) too. This is a repeat theme. This isn’t just an 1-off.
The CFP keeps ranking G5 teams 3-4x spots lower than the old BCS system … especially the American who is now 3-0 in major, New Year’s bowl games, since inception.
Yep.
Listen, UCF fans *respect* Alabama for going out and winning 2 really difficult games against the best teams in the country. No UCF fan wants to take that away from Alabama.
In fact, when UCF fans were going to put up a billboard in Atlanta during the CFP NC game, the UCFAA, Inc. (UCF’s private athletics association) deterred them from doing so. That’s why UCF fans put up the “Congrats” and “Home’n Home” series.
UCF fans are trying to point out the flaws of the “#12 ranking” — i.e., every G5 ranking in the CFP era has been 3-4x *lower* than the old BCS system was — and saying, “Hey, we deserve a shot to prove it on the field too.”
Don’t get upset with UCF. Get upset with the CFP committee. Get upset with the system that doesn’t allow P5 v. G5 scheduling.
Also get upset with the Big XII and PAC 12 who really don’t represent a “Power Conference” these days, especially since the top teams of the American keep *beating* the top teams of the Big XII when they play, and have *worse* records against the G5 and reset of the P5 too.
Especially since the last 2 times this happened (TCU and Utah), they ended up having lawsuits and getting into a P5 conference. UCF has gone the “marketing” route instead of lawyers.
No UCF fan says the SEC isn’t the best conference, or say the American is as good as the ACC and Big 10. But the CFP, the system and the Big XII and PAC 12 conferences aren’t remotely as good, and their SoS is rather poor too — especially against the American which plays a much tougher schedule than the rest of the G5.
This is what this is all about. *Not* Alabama.
Nobody cares…