To begin with, this topic is subjective. There is no possible way that this is a finished discussion. The old adage, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder fits the theme pretty well that college football programs have the best facilities.
One person may appreciate the design of a stadium and/or indoor practice facility while another may not. It is for this reason that today’s subject will favor proximity rather than beauty. Later this week, this topic will come back to the table.
With that in mind, one main theme stands out about UCF football versus USF, or even Notre Dame, when moving from one aspect of the facility to another. Convenience is important. The more time members of a college football program waste walking or driving to another location on campus, the more time they will waste preparing for the next game and the next season.
Location matters
The UCF campus provides all football facilities on campus itself. In comparison, one of UCF’s main competitors would be USF. The Tampa-based institution plays its home games at Raymond James Stadium, which is also the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A problem.
From the USF campus, located northeast of Tampa, the Bulls must travel 11 miles just to reach Raymond James Stadium in downtown Tampa. There is no real home court for the Bulls, and that has been a source of contention for former coaches, players and fans.
On December 15, 2016, Jeff Patterson of News Channel 8 of Tampa Bay quoted the former USF head coach. Charlie Fort on the possibility of an installation on campus. “One of the things we want to do is have a stadium on campus, which will be really big, and it will be huge right here.”
Of course, USF never followed through on these plans, and with prices for drywall, metal, and nearly all building materials skyrocketing, an on-campus facility doesn’t seem realistic for the ‘USF. Not to mention the question of where USF placed the new facility. The Bulls are just one example of the problems that college programs can face.
Some programs require upgrades. Some programs need more space and/or more money to build a stadium or new indoor practice field. Then there is UCF, a program that has already done what is necessary to make all key elements of the football program accessible to everyone: players, coaches, staff and fans.
The Bounce House is the name of the Knights’ football stadium and is literally right next door to Nicholson Fieldhouse, the 100-yard indoor turf practice facility. Additionally, there are also outdoor training grounds next to the Bounce House.
Bounce House, home of the University of Central Florida Knights
With the Roth Athletic Center also located diagonally just steps from the Bounce House, soccer coaches and players have everything they need on-site. It’s practical every day of the year. Most college programs simply don’t offer this luxury.
Notre Dame provides an excellent example
Yes, Notre-Dame Stadium is located on the Notre-Dame campus. That’s fine, but the players and everyone within the football program still have to walk further just to get past the Guglielmino Athletic Complex, where the coaches’ offices and many other aspects of the football program are located of Notre-Dame, until house that Rockne built.
Although this may seem like a small amount, it really isn’t. Every moment, every second counts. Winning football games is a 24-hour responsibility – for everyone in a football program – so time is of the essence.
Long-term prognosis
UCF head coach Gus Malzahn wants to make the UCF football program a national power. He and his entire football team understand the gold mine that is UCF football. The facilities are already good and rest assured the UCF football program plans to improve them even further.
The new era of UCF football will be unlike anything UCF football fans have ever seen. With good facilities and proximity to each other, the Knights hold an advantage over their local and national rivals.
You will find me on Twitter @fbscout_florida And @UCF_FanNation
