The Contentious History of the UCF-UConn "Rivalry": A Civil ConFLiCT
The "Civil ConFLiCT," a college football series between the UCF Knights and the UConn Huskies, is a peculiar chapter in the history of American Athletic Conference (AAC) football. This so-called rivalry, conceived by former UConn head coach Bob Diaco, is marked by its one-sided nature, its unusual origins, and the mysterious fate of the trophy created to symbolize it.
The Genesis of a "Rivalry"
The story begins in 2014, when Bob Diaco took over as head coach of the UConn Huskies. Seeking to generate interest in the team and its games, Diaco decided to create a rivalry with UCF. UCF had just come off a successful 2013 season, including a Fiesta Bowl victory. The two schools first met in 2013 after UCF left Conference USA and joined the American Athletic Conference. After Connecticut's 37-29 victory over UCF in November 2014, Diaco's first FBS win, he publicly announced the idea of a "North/South battle," suggesting it be called the "Civil Conflict." He even proposed creating a trophy for the winner.
Diaco said in a press statement: "We're excited about this game. I mean it. I'm excited to continue this game. With all admiration and respect. All admiration and respect for Central Florida and Coach O'Leary. They're spectacular. But we're excited about this North/South battle."
UCF's Unenthusiastic Response
UCF, under head coach George O'Leary, did not share Diaco's enthusiasm. O'Leary responded, "My experience is you’re more likely to have a rivalry against a team closer to where you live. When you go 10 states away, I think it’s hard." Despite UCF's lack of interest, Diaco remained undeterred. He retorted, "They don't get to say whether they are our rival or not. That's for us to decide."
The ConFLiCT Trophy
In June 2015, UConn unveiled the "Civil Conflict" trophy. Diaco paid for the trophy himself. More than 1,200 miles away, UCF officials were as stunned as everyone else. The school released a statement saying it played no part in it. Eric DeSalvo, who runs UCF’s social media, was instructed not to engage with it.
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The trophy itself became a point of contention. The original plate read, “The Civil Conflict,” but it was later changed to "The ConFLiCT," without the "Civil." Diaco claimed “we” changed it, admitting he didn’t know who “we” was because this was a one-man show.
On-Field Encounters and the Trophy's Disappearance
The teams played three times during Diaco's tenure. UConn won in 2014 (37-29) and 2015 (40-13), while UCF won in 2016 (24-16). After UCF's 2016 victory, the Knights left the trophy on the field, and a UConn staffer placed a towel over it.
The trophy was then purportedly crated and transported back to Connecticut.
The Mystery of the Missing Trophy
The original trophy's whereabouts became a mystery. In 2017, UConn Athletic Director David Benedict stated, "I honestly don't know. That trophy was there before I got there. I believe that trophy was commissioned and paid for by coach Diaco."
UCF's "Acquisition" of a Trophy
Years later, a trophy surfaced at UCF. In 2019, UCF began using the hashtag #SettleTheConFLiCT and made jokes about the rivalry. A trophy was displayed for fans, but UConn fans claimed it was a fake.
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According to one account, a UConn donor who wintered in the Orlando area had the trophy and later donated it to UCF. On Jan. 8, 2020, a fan arrived at UCF’s stadium offices with the trophy hidden under a pillowcase.
UCF staff brought the trophy out after the 2021 game against UConn, and athletic director Terry Mohajir wrote in the 49-17 final score with a ballpoint pen. The 2018 and 2019 scores are also on there in pen. “I don’t really have much comment to it. I don’t think it was embraced by our school, but nevertheless, it’s there. It’s in our possession because we won the last game.”
Diaco's Perspective
Despite the ridicule, Diaco maintained that the "Civil ConFLiCT" served its purpose by generating publicity for UConn football. He told Barstool Sports in 2021, “I know it’s a bit and I know I’m mostly laughed at - which is fine, I can take a joke. I realize that. But it was really well-intended and it was hurtful that it wasn’t acknowledged. I was just trying to create something fun and exciting.”
The End of an Era
With UConn's departure from the AAC in 2020, the "rivalry" effectively ended. There are no future football games scheduled between the schools, meaning UCF may hold on to the trophy forever.
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tags: #ucf #uconn #rivalry #history
