UCF fans cancel trip to ‘College GameDay’ over violent threats
A group of UCF fans and alumni had planned to head to Jacksonville this weekend to send a message about being considered for the College Football Playoff this year, but the trip has been canceled due to threats that were made on social media.
Chad Barr, a lawyer from Orlando who had organized the trip to the set of ESPN’s “College GameDay,” announced on Thursday that the trip has been called off for safety reasons. The decision came after fans from both Florida and Georgia — the two teams which are squaring off in Jacksonville — threatened the UCF supporters.
These are just some of the tweets. There were people in our groups finding out where we were going to be while others were planning on doing things on our way back to the buses. We had kids and some older folks in our group. We couldn't risk them getting hit with a glass bottle. pic.twitter.com/J5jqsVM5KJ
— UCF Knights Watch (@UCFKnightsWatch) October 25, 2018
Barr released a statement further explaining why the trek will no longer be made.
“Some might say that these are just ‘keyboard warriors’ and not to take them seriously but we have older folks and small children committed to make this trek,” he wrote. “It simply is not worth it.
“I want to be clear that those select few that have threatened to harm us or wish ill will towards us because we dare to enter their “territory” to represent our beloved school on a national television show do not represent all the fans of those teams, nor those 2 schools, but we must still be vigilant, protect our own, and err on the side of caution.”
As you know, UCF has been campaigning for non-Power 5 schools to receive more consideration from the College Football Playoff committee since last year, when they felt their undefeated team deserved to be a part of the final four. They even took the liberty of crowning themselves national champions, which is something they have still be trolled over into this season.
Georgia and Florida will square off in Jacksonville on Saturday night in what is one of the biggest annual rivalry games in college football.
