# Civil Conflict

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American college football rivalry, Connecticut–UCF

Not to be confused with the term [civil war](/source/Civil_war).

Civil Conflict UConn Huskies UCF Knights Sport Football First meeting October 26, 2013 UCF 62–17 Latest meeting November 20, 2021 UCF 49–17 Statistics Meetings total 8 All-time series UCF leads, 6–2

470km
292miles

UCF

UConn

Locations of UConn and UCF

The **Civil Conflict** (sometimes styled as the **conFLiCT**[1]) was the name given by former [UConn Huskies football](/source/UConn_Huskies_football) head coach [Bob Diaco](/source/Bob_Diaco) to [Connecticut's](/source/University_of_Connecticut) annual matchup against the [UCF Knights football](/source/UCF_Knights_football) team of the [University of Central Florida](/source/University_of_Central_Florida).[2][3][4] The teams first met in 2013 as members of the [American Athletic Conference](/source/American_Athletic_Conference).

## History

UCF and UConn first met in 2013 after UCF left [Conference USA](/source/Conference_USA) and joined the [American Athletic Conference](/source/American_Athletic_Conference). The first mention of the rivalry and associated trophy occurred after Connecticut's 37–29 victory over UCF in November 2014, which was Diaco's first FBS win as Connecticut head coach. The 2014 game also broke UCF's 11-game winning streak in conference play.

In a press statement Diaco said "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. You want to call it the Civil Conflict?"[5]

UCF head coach [George O'Leary](/source/George_O'Leary) responded with "My experience is you’re more likely to have a rivalry against a team closer to where you live,” he said. “When you go 10 states away, I think it’s hard."[6] UCF's traditional [rivalry](/source/War_on_I-4) has been with the University of South Florida located 90 miles away in [Tampa, Florida](/source/Tampa%2C_Florida), while UCF and UConn are 1,214 miles apart.

In response to this statement, Diaco released a statement of his own a week later that same week saying "They don't get to say whether they are our rival or not. We might not be their rival, but they don't get to say whether they are our rival—that is for us to decide."[7]

## Trophy

In June 2015, Diaco had a trophy built for the series and announced it on [Twitter](/source/Twitter). UCF had not been aware of it beforehand.[8][9][10] The Knights' head coach and interim athletic director [George O'Leary](/source/George_O'Leary) dismissed both the trophy and the motivations for a rivalry between the two teams.[11] Diaco responded by saying, "They don't get to say whether they are our rival or not."[3][12] The *[New York Post](/source/New_York_Post)* said that Diaco created the "worst rivalry in sports history."[13]

The teams played three times during Diaco's tenure as head coach and twice following his announcement of the trophy. UConn won in 2014 and 2015. UCF won the 2016 game, and proceeded to exit the field without acknowledging or accepting the trophy.[14] The trophy was then purportedly crated and transported back to Connecticut. Following that game, Diaco said he was "shelving the venture".[15]

In 2016, UCF head coach [Scott Frost](/source/Scott_Frost) asked UConn not to bring the trophy and that UCF was officially opting out of the rivalry game. UConn elected to ignore Frost's request and brought the trophy to the 2016 game anyway. UCF went on to beat UConn that year 24–16, however the UCF team did not claim the trophy and it was left unattended on the UCF sideline after the game.[2] Diaco was fired as head coach of UConn at the end of the 2016 season after an 11–26 record over his three seasons as head coach; [Randy Edsall](/source/Randy_Edsall), who replaced Diaco, elected to not continue the supposed rivalry.[16] After leaving UConn, Diaco stated that UCF knew about the Conflict and they had been engaged prior to the announcement of the rivalry by UConn.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] UConn women's basketball head coach [Geno Auriemma](/source/Geno_Auriemma) said the rivalry "might have been the dumbest thing in the history of sports."[6]

UConn Athletic Director David Benedict, who himself never officially acknowledged the rivalry or the trophy, was asked in 2017 about the trophy's whereabouts. He replied, "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. And therefore if it left with him, I don't know that, but if it did that's fine."[17]

During the 2017 meeting in Orlando, the trophy and the claimed rivalry continued to be a subject of ridicule,[18][19] and the whereabouts of the original trophy were still unknown.[20]

On the eve of the 2021 matchup, UCF posted a video showing what was believed to be an "imposter" trophy on the field at the [FBC Mortgage Stadium](/source/FBC_Mortgage_Stadium).[2][21][22]

## Game results

UConn victories UCF victories

No. Date Location Winner Score 1 October 26, 2013 Orlando, FL #21 UCF 62–17 2 November 1, 2014 East Hartford, CT UConn 37–29 3 October 10, 2015 Orlando, FL UConn 40–13 4 October 22, 2016 East Hartford, CT UCF 24–16 5 November 11, 2017 Orlando, FL #6 UCF 49–24 6 August 30, 2018 East Hartford, CT #11 UCF 56–17 7 September 28, 2019 Orlando, FL #24 UCF 56–21 8 November 20, 2021 Orlando, FL UCF 49–17 Series: UCF leads 6–2[23]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Rodger Sherman [@rodger_sherman] (October 8, 2015). ["why is the font on the conFLiCT trophy the same font every faux Irish bar uses"](https://twitter.com/rodger_sherman/status/652165442480373760) ([Tweet](/source/Tweet_(social_media))) – via [Twitter](/source/Twitter).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Athletic2023_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Athletic2023_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Athletic2023_2-2) Vannini, Chris (November 9, 2023). ["The search for the (real) Civil Conflict trophy, monument to a rivalry that never was"](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5046482/2023/11/09/civil-conflict-rivalry-trophy-uconn-ucf/). *[The Athletic](/source/The_Athletic)*. [Orlando, Florida](/source/Orlando%2C_Florida). Retrieved November 9, 2023. This summer, I set out to find the truth behind a modern college football legend. In the years since it disappeared, the idea of the rivalry and its trophy has evolved from a joke to a more earnest appreciation. UCF, which once mocked the idea of the trophy, is now happy to have it.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ESPN_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ESPN_3-1) ["Bob Diaco of UConn Huskies – Do not need UCF Knights consent for rivalry"](https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/13036482/bob-diaco-uconn-huskies-do-not-need-ucf-knights-consent-rivalry). *ESPN.com*. June 8, 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151206031926/http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13036482/bob-diaco-uconn-huskies-do-not-need-ucf-knights-consent-rivalry) from the original on December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Wilson, Ryan (June 9, 2015). ["Diaco Embraces Contrived 'Civil Conflict' Rivalry"](http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/blogs/dog-house/Diaco-Embraces-Contrived-Civil-Conflict-Rivalry-306614071.html). NBC Connecticut. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053428/http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/blogs/dog-house/Diaco-Embraces-Contrived-Civil-Conflict-Rivalry-306614071.html) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Helwig, Brandon (November 4, 2014). ["UConn coach wants trophy game with UCF"](https://ucf.rivals.com/news/uconn-coach-wants-trophy-game-with-ucf). UCFSports.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171109134415/https://ucf.rivals.com/news/uconn-coach-wants-trophy-game-with-ucf) from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-barstoolsports.com_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-barstoolsports.com_6-1) ["A History Lesson on the Civil ConFLiCT Between UConn & UCF"](https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/1426959/a-history-lesson-on-the-civil-conflict-between-uconn-ucf). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210902132516/https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/1426959/a-history-lesson-on-the-civil-conflict-between-uconn-ucf) from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["UConn coach says he doesn't need UCF's consent for rivalry"](https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/uconn-coach-ucfs-consent-rivalry/story?id=31615489). *ABC News*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210905143241/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/uconn-coach-ucfs-consent-rivalry/story?id=31615489) from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["UConn Randomly Creates Rivalry With Central Florida, Dubs It 'Civil Conflict' - UConn - NESN.com"](http://nesn.com/2015/06/uconn-randomly-creates-rivalry-with-central-florida-dubs-it-civil-conflict). *NESN.com*. June 8, 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150627033235/http://nesn.com/2015/06/uconn-randomly-creates-rivalry-with-central-florida-dubs-it-civil-conflict/) from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Duffy, Thomas. ["UConn Promotes 'Rivalry' Game with UCF, Knights Deny Any Involvement"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150623235431/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2483215-uconn-promotes-rivalry-game-with-ucf-knights-deny-any-involvement). *Bleacher Report*. Archived from [the original](http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2483215-uconn-promotes-rivalry-game-with-ucf-knights-deny-any-involvement) on June 23, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Sherman, Rodger (June 1, 2015). ["UConn-UCF's new 'Civil Conflict' rivalry trophy is already the country's worst"](https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/6/1/8701123/ucf-uconn-rivalry-trophy). *SBNation.com*. Vox Media. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171003051308/https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/6/1/8701123/ucf-uconn-rivalry-trophy) from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["UCFSports - UConn surprises OLeary with trophy"](https://ucf.rivals.com/news/uconn-surprises-oleary-with-trophy). *ucf.rivals.com*. June 5, 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211124205721/https://ucf.rivals.com/news/uconn-surprises-oleary-with-trophy) from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Conner, Desmond (June 8, 2015). ["Diaco Won't Back Down On UConn-UCF Football Rivalry"](http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-uconn-football-0609-20150608-story.html). Hartford Courant. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230806/http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-uconn-football-0609-20150608-story.html) from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Braziller, Zach (June 8, 2015). ["Coach creates worst rivalry in sports history"](https://nypost.com/2015/06/08/coach-creates-worst-rivalry-in-sports-history/). New York Post. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171125115756/https://nypost.com/2015/06/08/coach-creates-worst-rivalry-in-sports-history/) from the original on November 25, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Taylor, John (October 22, 2016). ["UCF still has no use for faux rivalry with UConn, walks off field without 'Civil Conflict Trophy'"](http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/10/22/ucf-still-has-no-use-for-faux-rivalry-with-uconn-walks-off-field-without-civil-conflict-trophy/). NBC Sports. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171114040938/http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/10/22/ucf-still-has-no-use-for-faux-rivalry-with-uconn-walks-off-field-without-civil-conflict-trophy/) from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Fuller, Jim (October 22, 2016). ["UConn coach Bob Diaco says loss to UCF 'sickening'"](http://www.middletownpress.com/article/MI/20161022/SPORTS/161029859). The Middletown Press. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161023135617/http://www.middletownpress.com/article/MI/20161022/SPORTS/161029859) from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["The complete history of the Civil ConFLiCT, 2015-2016 (Or so)"](https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/11/6/16612520/ucf-uconn-2017-game-notes-civil-conflict-trophy). November 6, 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210902130943/https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/11/6/16612520/ucf-uconn-2017-game-notes-civil-conflict-trophy) from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Ostrout, Neill (July 19, 2017). ["Made-up UConn football rivalry with UCF over, but trophy still missing'"](https://web.archive.org/web/20171107061631/http://www.bristolpress.com/BP-UConn/293595/madeup-uconn-football-rivalry-with-ucf-over-but-trophy-still-missing). The Bristol Press. Archived from [the original](http://www.bristolpress.com/BP-UConn/293595/madeup-uconn-football-rivalry-with-ucf-over-but-trophy-still-missing) on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-espn.com_18-0)** ["The search for the Civil ConFLiCT trophy"](https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21340192/ucf-knights-uconn-huskies-search-civil-conflict-trophy). November 9, 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210901192011/https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21340192/ucf-knights-uconn-huskies-search-civil-conflict-trophy) from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Taylor, John (November 7, 2017). ["UCF continues to diminish, demean UConn's 'Civil ConFliCT Trophy'"](http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/11/07/ucf-continues-to-diminish-demean-uconns-civil-conflict-trophy/). NBC Sports. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171114092924/http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/11/07/ucf-continues-to-diminish-demean-uconns-civil-conflict-trophy/) from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Adelson, Andrea (November 9, 2017). ["The search for the Civil ConFLiCT trophy"](https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21340192/ucf-knights-uconn-huskies-search-civil-conflict-trophy). *ESPN.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171112161912/http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21340192/ucf-knights-uconn-huskies-search-civil-conflict-trophy) from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["UConn absolutely roasted UCF for using an imposter 'Civil ConFLiCT' trophy and it was glorious"](https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/uconn-absolutely-roasted-ucf-for-using-an-imposter-civil-conflict-trophy-and-it-was-glorious). November 20, 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211124173629/https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/uconn-absolutely-roasted-ucf-for-using-an-imposter-civil-conflict-trophy-and-it-was-glorious) from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["UCF Football"](https://twitter.com/ucf_football/status/1461900025840246788?s=21). UCF Football. November 19, 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211120034149/https://twitter.com/ucf_football/status/1461900025840246788?s=21) from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Winsipedia - Connecticut Huskies vs. UCF Knights football series history games list"](http://www.winsipedia.com/games/connecticut/vs/ucf). *Winsipedia*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200627004020/http://www.winsipedia.com/games/connecticut/vs/ucf) from the original on June 27, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.

v t e UConn Huskies football Venues Gardner Dow Athletic Fields (1896–1952) Memorial Stadium (1953–2002) Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field (2003–present) Bowls & rivalries Bowl games Rhode Island Syracuse UMass Culture & lore Civil Conflict 1961 gambling scandal Jonathan the Husky University of Connecticut Marching Band People Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders Seasons 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917–1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

v t e UCF Knights football Venues Citrus Bowl (1979–2006) Acrisure Bounce House (2007–present) Bowls & rivalries Bowl games Cincinnati South Florida Culture & lore Civil Conflict Knightro "Charge On" Marching Knights Space Game Citronaut Kernkraft 400 People Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders Seasons 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 National championship seasons in bold

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Civil Conflict](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Conflict) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Conflict?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.