UCF backed out of 2016 game with Miami football, unlikely to play in future

In a question and answer session with Manny Navarro of the athletic, Miami Hurricanes athletic director Blake James stated that the Miami football program is unlikely to play Central Florida after the Knights backed out of a scheduled 2016 game.

The Athletic’s Manny Navarro asked Miami Hurricanes athletic director Blake James if Central Florida had approached him following the three games that the Miami football program scheduled with South Florida in 2025 and ’28 in Miami and 2027 in Tampa. Miami won in 2008 and ’09 against UCF.

Those were the only meetings between the Hurricanes and the Knights. Central Florida athletic director Danny White was vocal about South Florida’s decision to schedule two games in Miami and one in Tampa.

The UCF AD made it known that in order for the American Athletic Conference to grow teams should play home and home against power-five opponents. White and Florida athletic director Scott Strickland reportedly could not come to an agreement on a series between the schools because of the home and home.

Strickland wanted a two-for-one and White a home-and-home. It would seem that a compromise with a home-and-home, plus a neutral site could be doable. Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville are all possibilities with both Miami and/or Florida against UCF. Navarro directly asked James about playing UCF.

"“Has UCF approached you guys to try to get something done after the recent three-year agreement with USF?“No. This is pre-Danny White (UCF’s current athletic director), but I talked to them about doing a game in Orlando and a game here in Miami, and they backed out of it. That was the year (2016) we went to Appalachian State. UCF was supposed to be coming here that year and they backed out at the last minute.So if they want to do something along the lines of what we did with South Florida (two home games, one away), I wouldn’t be opposed to that. But again, I know White has been vocal that he wants straight home-and-home series. And, you know, that’s probably not something that we’re going to do. But never say never.”"

The interview went a little more in-depth on scheduling and other topics about the athletic department. Navarro asked James about what the schedule will look like in the years ahead and if the Miami football team will play Florida beyond this season’s opener in Orlando.

Navarro asked James if UF is interested in a home-and-home or neutral site games. James responded that Miami prefers home-and-homes with, in his words “the marquee-type programs.” If the home-and-homes cannot work out then neutral site games like LSU in 2018, UF in 2019 and Alabama in 2021 are a fair alternative.

In-state rivalries are good for football in Florida. The non-power five programs need to realize no matter what is happening on the field that Florida, Florida State and Miami are going to be the marquee programs in the Sunshine State. If UCF won’t play in-state schools out of conference they only hurt themselves.