UCF Scandal

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Joe Tumpkin has abruptly departed the UCF Knights football program.

“I had been hired at Central Florida on Jan. 14 and was getting started, but right after signing day I got a call from coach Bennett,” Tumpkin said. “I wanted to at least look at the opportunity and the more I looked at it, I felt like based on my past experience with coach Bennett — I learned a lot of football from him and we get along tremendously — and what I know about Dave Wannstedt it made it [a job] I couldn’t turn down.”

While not included in the Post-Gazette story one must logically conclude that Tumpkin decided there was much more to learn and achieve with the Big East’s Pitt Panthers. Having spent just over one month with the Knights, it is unclear if Tumpkin had been fully exposed to the make-believe that is UCF football. Regardless, he chose to move on with Wannstedt as head coach rather than George O’Leary - as he openly states above. A good decision for Tumpkin.

I wonder if George offered to help him with his resume?

It took a little while, but the USF-obsessed UCF fan base could no longer resist comment at UCF Scandal. Granted it has little to do with the topics at hand, but the comments give us a clear insight into the deranged mind of the UCF public.

Check out the blog response here from dear “Wil” to the alleged rivalry with USF.

But that’s not all. UCF fans have even emailed their thoughts and feelings, here is a sample of what’s come in so far to scoop@ucfscandal.com. What they don’t realize is they are not providing any “scoop.” Wise up tinmen.

Here’s my favorite so far, and winner of the weekly award, from GoldenUCFKnight9 (I’ll censor the ignorant profanity - I’m not sure, but I’d guess all Knights aren’t as profane and empty):

YOUR SITE IS F****** LAME

WHERE ARE YOUR “SCANDALS?”

YOU ARE A F****** DOUCHE

STOP YOUR CRYING - THE ONLY 5 STAR RECRUITS YOU GET ARE 5-TIME FELONS!

YOUR NOT THE “U” YOU NEVER WILL BE - YOU GOT YOUR ASS KICKED BY THEM 3 YEARS AGO

STOP TRYING TO FOLLOW THE BADASS MOLD

YOUR COACH IS ON CRACK AND HE NEEDS MORE OF IT

LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!

GO KNIGHTS!

OH AND WIN YOUR F****** CONFERENCE ALREADY - BOTTOM FEEDER

And to honor the weakest of the weak, from “Ryan”:

I find the existence of this website odd since UCF is generally known for being a clean program on the up and up. Did you mean to name this site USFscandal.com? I believe you might’ve registered the wrong domain name.

Certainly both psychopaths sent their warm regards at the upstart of the blog. There is quite a bit of reading for these little guys to do, providing they’re able.

There is plenty more to come from UCF Scandal, both new and old as we continue our mission to illustrate what really happens at UCF (besides losing).

UCF Scandal exclusive

Orlando, Florida - In an inexcusable fashion, the UCF athletic administration has elected to attempt to drive season ticket sales by continuing to market a “rivalry with USF”. The UCF Athletics official site states that “next season’s six-game home slate features non-conference opponents: South Carolina State in the season-opener, followed by in-state rival South Florida…”

How desperate is that? A rival implies a rivalry. After years of begging for a series with USF, South Florida finally conceded as part of their deal to exit the soon-to-be decimated non-BCS Conference USA. Now a member of an the even weaker “C-USA”, UCF attempts to mislead others by claiming to be a rival of USF. The Bulls, a member of the BCS Big East conference, reached as high as #2 in the country last year after absolutely dismantling an outplayed and outcoached UCF team 64-12.

That was the third straight win for the Bulls who now lead the football series with UCF 3-0. The final installment will be played this year. South Florida has no interest in playing UCF again. There is very little value to a rising program like USF to play a team as poor and under equipped as UCF.

Rival?

Don’t buy it.

In a stinging indictment of the UCF football program, CSTV.com’s Adam Caparell wrote that in considering UCF for the potential Big East expansion they bring little, if anything to the table.

“The casual teams that have been thrown out as possible additions - Conference USA teams like Memphis, UCF and ECU - don’t add a whole lot“, said Caparell on the CSTV.com website.

UCF and Conference USA both partners of CSTV.com must be reeling at the thought of their partner exposing them as such lightweight players in the world of college football. Caparell goes on in his article to suggest a MAC team might be a better future Big East member than UCF.

All this amid UCF’s annual season ticket drive. As the 6th best team in the state, the timing on this cold dose of reality couldn’t have been worse.

Which of the following would you guess is Brandon Marshall’s favorite movie?

1) Anger Management - Self-explanatory. Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler star.

2) I’m Gonna Get You Sucka - Just the title and the guns on the front seemed fitting enough for a guy that likes to find trouble…nice smile to boot. Starring Damon Wayans and the rest of the Wayan brothers.

3) Leaving Las Vegas - Story of a man burdened by his affection for drinking. Not that the star (Nicholas Cage) got a DUI, but still the booze flows a plenty.

Have I missed one? Please feel free to enter a write-in candidate.

Next….George O’Leary Movie Trivia!!!

To follow up the previous post (originally posted on UCFScandal.com in January):

Hard lessons for former UCF receiver Brandon Marshall

Alan Schmadtke|Sentinel Staff Writer

September 22, 2007

Excerpt regarding former UCF reciever Marshall:

Denver’s season is only two games old, but 2007 already has been a year Marshall never will forget.

A season-ending New Year’s party turned tragic, and Marshall found himself in the middle of it. At closing time in a downtown Denver club, Marshall and his cousin argued with two men who earlier had been asked to leave the club, Broncos receiver Javon Walker recently told HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

Witnesses later told police the two men flashed gang signs and accosted Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams. Later, Williams was killed in a limousine after a drive-by shooting. He died in Walker’s arms.

The unidentified suspects are at large. Police are investigating.

“It’s sad that HBO will broadcast something like that and the case hasn’t even gone to trial yet,” said Marshall, who declined to discuss details of that evening. “It’s a lot of he-said, she-said. I was asked to do the HBO interview, but I felt there was nothing for me to say.

Marshall was arrested in March on domestic violence and false imprisonment charges in a dispute with a girlfriend. He blocked her taxi cab’s exit with his car.

The summer before Marshall’s senior season at UCF, he was cited for driving with a suspended license. He left Orlando for a summer semester and went to Fort Lauderdale to work out and clear his head.

More from ESPN

Everywhere they look, Broncos see reminders Darrent Williams

In an interview on “Real Sports” that opened fresh wounds and maybe even a can of worms, Walker revealed that teammate Brandon Marshall was at the center of an argument that occurred during a New Year’s Eve party at a downtown Denver club.

Walker said that at closing time, Marshall and his cousin exchanged heated words with two men who had been kicked out of the club earlier that night. Witnesses said the men flashed gang signs and confronted Williams and his group after taking offense when Marshall sprayed them with champagne.

After both men tried to intervene, Walker was invited into Williams’ limo and they drove off into the night. Moments later, their stretch Hummer was sprayed with bullets, one of which pierced Williams’ neck.

Marshall, who had left the club in another vehicle, declined to comment on what Walker told HBO.

UCFScandal.com Report
first in a series that details UCF players’ ongoing criminal acts

The Brandon Marshall file:

Marshall experienced legal run-ins while a student at UCF. According to Orange County Orlando public records (case 48-2004-MM-012392-O), on Halloween of 2004 Marshall was arrested in Orlando on numerous charges, including assault on a law enforcement officer, refusal to obey, disorderly conduct, and resisting an office. Marshall’s arrest record can be viewed on the Orange County Clerk’s site. Arrests did not hinder the wide receiver. Despite being a known threat to fellow students, Marshall played in 10 games for the Knights that season.

In early 2006, Marshall was selected in the NFL Draft. But like many other UCF athletes, trouble seemed to find him in any state. In Marshall’s short tenure with the Denver Bronco’s his career has been sullied, but like his UCF career - unharmed, with these numerous incidences.

On January 1, 2007, Brandon Marshall was among a party of individuals that included the late Bronco’s player Darent Williams. Marshall was alleged to have been involved in altercation with the alleged gunmen that ultimately led to the gun play that killed teammate Williams.

In May, 2007 Prosecutors charged Marshall with domestic abuse charges and false imprisonment charges after an incident with his girlfriend in March. A police report said the woman told investigators that Marshall blocked her attempt to leave his home by blocking her taxi with his car. Then, Marshall jumped out his car and ran to the taxi’s passenger window, punching it and calling the woman names. An Arapahoe County District Attorney’s spokesperson said the charges were dropped after Marshall completed anger management classes. Marshall’s response after the charges were dropped? “For my career to go through what it went through, and my character and personality taking a hit over something that basically wasn’t valid, was an eye-opener to the high profile that (I have as an athlete).” Message not received by one Mr. Marshall.

October, 2007: Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall was cited for driving under the influence after he was spotted driving “erratically” early Monday, a Denver police spokesman said. Marshall was taken to a detox center and later pleaded “not guilty”.

Trend?

It’s seems clear in this brief report on Brandon Marshsall’s crime record as an adult, that he clearly does have problems with anger and self-control. A problem that dated back to his playing days at UCF. Had appropriate action been taken against the incorrigible Marshall, could he have stood a better chance to be an upstanding citizen? It’s nearly impossible to tell. UCF fans tell me for every Brandon Marshall they run through UCF, there are a couple that turn out alright.

Still, Marshall is honored on the Official UCF Athletics site as one of their very own UCF Players in the Pros.

On the other side, Bronco’s owner Pat Bowlen has a far less lenient view on things “I’ve never had a lot of tolerance for stuff like that, especially in this community because it really has a significant impact … I don’t like it at all,” he said. “You have to realize when you come in here or as a rookie drafted out of college that’s the environment here. I can understand young guys making mistakes, but once you’re around long enough you should get a clue here and conduct your personal life in a way that’s not going to end up on some police blotter somewhere.”

For UCF perhaps, that blind eye always works best in these kind of cases.