Remember, this was 2014 ... after UCF's first NY bowl win over an even higher ranked opponent, who was predicted to be in the NC (before 3 injuries, and all were back for UCF). UCF never trailed that game (and only 10 minutes of the 120 minutes of its first 2x NY Bowls).
For those that don't watch it, here's the punchline ...
"Come see what we can't do next"
(after a list of things G5s are never supposed to be able to do)
Wining a 1st NY bowl over the #5/#6 Big XII Champion was one thing. Winning a 2nd NY bowl over the #6/#7 SEC Divisional Champion was just a
'follow-up' -- especially when neither Florida nor Miami had won any in a long time (at that point in the case of Florida), changed a lot.
SIDE NOTE: In fact, #4 Florida got spanked by #22 Louisville in 2012, which UCF would beat a very good Louisville team the next year, who spanked Miami even harder in 2013. Between the Louisville and UCF in the AAC, it would have been tough to beat either -- and even the eventual, final AP #4 SEC East Champ learned that (barely escaped UCF with a 3 point win, trailing most of the game).
Winning not just championships -- but major bowl games and away games against Top 10 teams -- changes things, when you do it multiple times. And when you do it more than Miami has in 15+ years, or Florida in the last 10 (Florida just finally equalized UCF in the past 10 years), causes a huge shift.
Every time UCF knocks off a Top 10 team, people make excuses, or say they cannot do it continually. But you start looking at how UCF has done it, and with how many injuries at times (no one covers when UCF has injuries or sit-outs), everyone starts to recognize the reality.
And let's face it ... the AAC is getting 3-4x as much TV media as the rest of the G5 ... combined. And that includes current deals in talks.
All UCF wants to do is built its program on what it has earned on-the-field and in the TV ratings. It cannot help with the ignorance of others.
Like UCF fans not only outnumbering Auburn, who is 4x closer, at the Peach, but outnumbering LSU 2-to-1, who is half as close, at the Fiesta. UCF isn't just traveling better than G5s, but many P5s. Even back in 2013, UCF traveled better to the Fiesta better than all the Big East's prior teams ... combined.
Same with the TV ratings. There are a lot of P5 programs out there
'collecting paychecks.' Everyone speaks of UCF 2015 ... but forgets UCF 2013. 2017 isn't the start of UCF ... far from it. And the past decade of UCF's TV ratings speaks for itself.
UCF, and its fanbase, is not going away. Even the Fiesta bowl committee members I spoke to in January recognizes this, and they all want UCF not only as their G5 rep, but over a lot of P5 teams! This is for both the ticket sales as well as the TV ratings.
Some call UCF a
'cinderella.' The joke is, it's actually not. It's massive with a huge following. UCF boosters just finally became numerous enough to change things. It already has a huge alumni fanbase.
And the AAC is quickly being referred to as the
'New Big East,' for its football and fun ... with many watching it while the P5s disappoint.
SIDE NOTE: Ironically this is actually a misnomer ... because the AAC is legally the Big East, who just sold the name and basketball records, all other Big East records remain in the AAC.