NCAAbbs

"Hi,
>
>I recommend that columnists read this because it could be good column
>fodder. If you don't write of it near term, you'll definitely be
>writing about it when Hitt finally wises up in an estimated 2-3 years
>and cans "Hoodwinker" O'Leary:
>
>New UCF defensive coordinator spent "past 10 seasons" in same position
>at Iowa State. Kyle wrote that he "helped take the defense to new
>heights the past five seasons."
>
>Well, given that "Iowa State's defense was ranked just 102nd in total
>defense in 2006," coupled with the fact that Skladany suffered through
>his first five seasons there, how can you write that he took them to
>"new heights?" That's preposterous!!
>
>So what if, as you wrote, he only had 5 returning starters? That's a
>lame excuse. This is college and once 4 years are up, arrivederci!
>Other teams, such as USF, don't have a problem succeeding with
>underclassmen. After all the Bulls' QB (Grothe) was a highly successful freshman...
>
>Of course, O'Leary also continues to play the "we're still young card."
>After going 0-11 he blamed it on the kids not being his recruits,
>although Kruczek won 5 games with the same team...Then he goes 8-5 and
>he's suddenly a football messiah and no need to contrive youth excuses...
>
>However, after this season's debacle he again falls back on the "we're
>still young," defense. "Hoodwinker" O'Leary should be his nickname!
>
>Oh, BTW: Isn't it funny that the reason UCF is getting Skladany is
>because former Knights, Auburn and Texas defensive mastermind, Gene
>Chizik, took over at Iowa State and ran Skladany out of town...
>
>So, instead of having Chizik as head coach, which is what he
>practically begged for, we get an Iowa State reject who took the
>"Cyclones defense to new heights," with its 102nd-place ranking in total defense...
>
>You don't help the future of UCF's program by writing poppycock and not
>pointing out the obvious about O'Leary, who has paid millions of
>dollars (from boosters) to cancel games against well-known schools, in
>which we would have earned hundreds of thousands for each canceled
>game. So, in total those cancellations cost the program millions. Do
>you think boosters like myself will be inclined to keep giving UCF money, just so they can waste it?
>Fat chance!
>
>UCF's football program is in dire staits. You guys fell for the "bowl story"
>last year. But remember, UCF easily could have had only 1 win (vs.
>Memphis) in 2005. Add that record to the 0-11 and this year's 4-8 and
>you'd have 5-29...
>
>Still, his first two years record of 8-16 definitely didn't merit a
>guaranteed $10M contract, did it?
>
>Funny that his coaching staff earned more than any other in the state. Yup!
>More than the Gators and the Seminoles. For that money they should be
>impact coaches, don't you think? Well, impact coaches don't allow the
>lowest-rated team in the U.S. (Buffalo) to beat you. No sir! Impact
>coaches aren't coaching 0-11 teams, are they? Nope!
>
>To be or not to be bamboozled, that is the question gentlemen? "
>
>
>

Some UCF fans are too high with the good times and too low with the bad times. I think we did give O'Leary the big money way too soon, but I'm still willing to give him another year or two before running him out of town. He did take us to our first ever bowl in his second season, and yes I know that like the poster said, we could very easily have only won 1 game this year, but I will flip that around...

1) In the USF game we were a roughing the punter and/or INT in the end zone away from at least going to OT if not winning the game

2) In the USM game we held them under 300 yds. of offense and if Moffett doesn't throw the INT for a TD at our own 4, we have a great chance to win

3)At Tulane, we miss a FG and fumble the ball in Tulane territory at the end of the game and only lose by one...definitely should have been a "W"

4) In the ECU game we're down by 6 with the ball near midfield and they get a pick 6 to win by 13.

Yes our defense sucked most of the year and all the aboves are "almosts" and probably a reflection of a lack of discipline/not being able to perform in the clutch, but I'm not ready to write this team/O'Leary off...I just want to see us win the close games again in '07 like we did in '06.

Just my 2 cents...

Last year, most of the plays fell in your favor, this year they went the other way. It sucks to be on that side of the gamebreakers. ECU, however, went about 50/50 on those this year. A couple more fall our way, and our season goes from good to great (ie RICE AND UAB plays).

Whoever wrote this needs some and/or , and possibly even a .

With regard to the decision to hire Skladany, I'll take O'Leary's judgment over that of the person that wrote this diatribe.

The argument about Kruczek winning 5 games with the "same team" that O'Leary had in 2004 is ludicrous. First of all, which 5 games is this person referring to? The 2003 team won only 3 games, and only one of those wins was a blowout. Second, did this person attend any home games in '03 and in '04? The '04 team easily demonstrated more disciplined play than the '03 team did and also didn't have the off-field problems the '03 team had. The '04 team DID have injury problems, though, something that the '03 team didn't struggle with nearly as much.

As for the "we're still young" business, did it ever occur to this person that O'Leary was merely stating this because the team is, in fact, mostly underclassmen? Why does it have to be a statement of defense? Defense from what?

Oh, and yes, we paid a crapload of money to our coaching staff, but it turned out that some of the assistant coaches didn't do such a hot job. Look, folks, if we don't take some risks as a program, we're not going to reap rewards. We can't become afraid to pay big money to coaches with solid records just because things might go sour.

Give O'Leary more time; he's just finished his third season here, for crying out loud.

Okay, maybe I need to take a now. lmfao

A writer complaining and whining...whats new? You (UCF) have a good coach and he has done a solid job for you. "UCF future so bright she's gotta wear shades"... Don't sweat the small stuff....

Where is this from??

The guy obviously is stirring the pot and pretty much said so from the first line when he begged someone write about him and his topic.

This guy is way too emotional. Even if he was right, I wouldn't listen to him because he's not thinking through his head.

I'm not saying it's a USF fan, Lance Thompson or Mrs. Chizik, but whoever it is is way too attached.

O'Leary is a proven commodity. If the 4-8 and 0-11 seasons are really due cause for the end of the world...or even the 3 minutes of my life that I won't get back while reading that...then why wait until now to write about it?

Looking around our campus - at the stadium, at the season ticket sales, at the recruits, even if O'Leary went 0-11 and retired after this season, he was worth every penny.

who ever wrote that does not know the first thing about college football. First, USF's Grothe is the first QB that USF has had in five years. If Leavitt is such a genius, than why did it take him five years to get a good QB. Also, give Grothe credit, but wait a minute, Steven Moffett had a pretty damn good year and than followed it up with crap. Lets see what Grothe does this year.

Everyone wants Chizik as a head coach, well lets see. Chizick was a great defensive coordinator, but that does not mean he will be a great head coach. Mike Kruzcek was a great OC, but when he was giving a head coaching job, well, he sucked.

UCF's new defensive coordinator will do a tremendous job if this spring is any indication, and why not. UCF has facilites that match any BCS program and judging from this recruiting class, we are going to do fine.

GOL is techincally in his fourth year, but due to his heart attack, he really has only had three recruiting classes and no one can argue that this recruiting class could compete with any CUSA team and dare I say, most of the non premier BCS teams.

I would say most have no idea just what UCF has on defense this year that really was not there last year. UCF will have three DT's that are over 300 pounds each and all three have experianced their first full off season to get bigger and stronger. Running on this UCF defense will be very tough this year. Our DB's are going to be very good with the addition of Darin Baldwin and that does include the kids that are not even in school yet. If UCF gets any kind of decent LB play, this defense could be very good.

The talent was there last year, but the coaching was the worst I have ever seen in my 20 plus years as a UCF fan. Things will be different this year and trust me, the idiot that wrote that about UCF knows nothing about college football and coaching.