{{Short description|American college football rivalry, Connecticut–UCF}} {{Distinguish|text = the term [[civil war]]}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2015}} {{Infobox sports rivalry | wide = yes | name = Civil Conflict | image = | image_size = | caption = | team1 = [[Connecticut Huskies football|UConn Huskies]] | team1logo = Connecticut Huskies wordmark.svg | team2 = [[UCF Knights football|UCF Knights]] | team2logo = UCF Knights logo.svg | sport = [[College football|Football]] | firstmeeting = October 26, 2013<br />UCF 62–17 | mostrecent = November 20, 2021<br />UCF 49–17 | total = 8 | series = UCF leads, 6–2 | stadiums = | map_location = | map_width = | map_label1 = | map_mark1 = | map_label1_position = | coordinates1 = | map_label2 = | map_mark2 = | map_label2_position = | coordinates2 = | map_caption = }} {{OSM Location map | nolabels = 1 | coord = {{coord|35.2|-76.7}} | zoom = 4 | width = 295 | height = 250 | caption = Locations of UConn and UCF | mark1 = Blue pog.svg | label1 = UConn | mark-coord1 = {{coord|41.807167|-72.2525}} | label-pos1 = top | label-color1 = black | mark2 = Gold pog.svg | label2 = UCF | mark-coord2 = {{coord|28.601778|-81.200549}} | label-pos2 = top | label-color2 = black }} The '''Civil Conflict''' (sometimes styled as the '''conFLiCT'''<ref>{{cite tweet |author=Rodger Sherman |user=rodger_sherman |number=652165442480373760 |date=October 8, 2015 |title=why is the font on the conFLiCT trophy the same font every faux Irish bar uses |language=English }}</ref>) was the name given by former [[UConn Huskies football]] head coach [[Bob Diaco]] to [[University of Connecticut|Connecticut's]] annual matchup against the [[UCF Knights football]] team of the [[University of Central Florida]].<ref name="Athletic2023"/><ref name="ESPN">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/13036482/bob-diaco-uconn-huskies-do-not-need-ucf-knights-consent-rivalry|title=Bob Diaco of UConn Huskies – Do not need UCF Knights consent for rivalry|work=ESPN.com|date=June 8, 2015|access-date=December 12, 2015|archive-date=December 6, 2015|archive-url=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|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/blogs/dog-house/Diaco-Embraces-Contrived-Civil-Conflict-Rivalry-306614071.html|title=Diaco Embraces Contrived 'Civil Conflict' Rivalry|publisher=NBC Connecticut|first1=Ryan|last1=Wilson|date=June 9, 2015 |access-date=December 12, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053428/http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/blogs/dog-house/Diaco-Embraces-Contrived-Civil-Conflict-Rivalry-306614071.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The teams first met in 2013 as members of the [[American Athletic Conference]].
==History== UCF and UConn first met in 2013 after UCF left [[Conference USA]] and joined the [[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?"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ucf.rivals.com/news/uconn-coach-wants-trophy-game-with-ucf|title=UConn coach wants trophy game with UCF|first=Brandon|last=Helwig|date=November 4, 2014|publisher=UCFSports.com|access-date=November 8, 2017|archive-date=November 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109134415/https://ucf.rivals.com/news/uconn-coach-wants-trophy-game-with-ucf|url-status=live}}</ref>
UCF head coach [[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."<ref name="barstoolsports.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/1426959/a-history-lesson-on-the-civil-conflict-between-uconn-ucf|title=A History Lesson on the Civil ConFLiCT Between UConn & UCF|access-date=September 2, 2021|archive-date=September 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902132516/https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/1426959/a-history-lesson-on-the-civil-conflict-between-uconn-ucf|url-status=live}}</ref> UCF's traditional [[War on I-4|rivalry]] has been with the University of South Florida located 90 miles away in [[Tampa, 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."<ref>{{Cite news|title=UConn coach says he doesn't need UCF's consent for rivalry|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/uconn-coach-ucfs-consent-rivalry/story?id=31615489|access-date=2021-09-05|website=ABC News|language=en|archive-date=September 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905143241/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/uconn-coach-ucfs-consent-rivalry/story?id=31615489|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Trophy== In June 2015, Diaco had a trophy built for the series and announced it on [[Twitter]]. UCF had not been aware of it beforehand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nesn.com/2015/06/uconn-randomly-creates-rivalry-with-central-florida-dubs-it-civil-conflict|title=UConn Randomly Creates Rivalry With Central Florida, Dubs It 'Civil Conflict' - UConn - NESN.com|work=NESN.com|date=June 8, 2015|access-date=December 12, 2015|archive-date=June 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627033235/http://nesn.com/2015/06/uconn-randomly-creates-rivalry-with-central-florida-dubs-it-civil-conflict/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2483215-uconn-promotes-rivalry-game-with-ucf-knights-deny-any-involvement|title=UConn Promotes 'Rivalry' Game with UCF, Knights Deny Any Involvement|first1=Thomas|last1=Duffy|work=Bleacher Report|access-date=December 12, 2015|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623235431/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2483215-uconn-promotes-rivalry-game-with-ucf-knights-deny-any-involvement|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/6/1/8701123/ucf-uconn-rivalry-trophy|title=UConn-UCF's new 'Civil Conflict' rivalry trophy is already the country's worst|first1=Rodger|last1=Sherman|date=June 1, 2015|publisher=Vox Media|work=SBNation.com|access-date=December 10, 2017|archive-date=October 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003051308/https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/6/1/8701123/ucf-uconn-rivalry-trophy|url-status=live}}</ref> The Knights' head coach and interim athletic director [[George O'Leary]] dismissed both the trophy and the motivations for a rivalry between the two teams.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ucf.rivals.com/news/uconn-surprises-oleary-with-trophy|title=UCFSports - UConn surprises OLeary with trophy|website=ucf.rivals.com|date=June 5, 2015|access-date=November 24, 2021|archive-date=November 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124205721/https://ucf.rivals.com/news/uconn-surprises-oleary-with-trophy|url-status=live}}</ref> Diaco responded by saying, "They don't get to say whether they are our rival or not."<ref name="ESPN"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-uconn-football-0609-20150608-story.html|title=Diaco Won't Back Down On UConn-UCF Football Rivalry|first=Desmond|last=Conner|date=June 8, 2015 |publisher=Hartford Courant|access-date=December 12, 2015|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230806/http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-uconn-football-0609-20150608-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''[[New York Post]]'' said that Diaco created the "worst rivalry in sports history."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2015/06/08/coach-creates-worst-rivalry-in-sports-history/|title=Coach creates worst rivalry in sports history|first=Zach|last=Braziller|date=June 8, 2015|publisher=New York Post|access-date=December 10, 2017|archive-date=November 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125115756/https://nypost.com/2015/06/08/coach-creates-worst-rivalry-in-sports-history/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/10/22/ucf-still-has-no-use-for-faux-rivalry-with-uconn-walks-off-field-without-civil-conflict-trophy/|title=UCF still has no use for faux rivalry with UConn, walks off field without 'Civil Conflict Trophy'|publisher=NBC Sports|first=John|last=Taylor|date=October 22, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2017|archive-date=November 14, 2017|archive-url=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/|url-status=live}}</ref> The trophy was then purportedly crated and transported back to Connecticut. Following that game, Diaco said he was "shelving the venture".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.middletownpress.com/article/MI/20161022/SPORTS/161029859|title=UConn coach Bob Diaco says loss to UCF 'sickening'|first=Jim|last=Fuller|date=October 22, 2016|publisher=The Middletown Press|access-date=October 23, 2016|archive-date=October 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023135617/http://www.middletownpress.com/article/MI/20161022/SPORTS/161029859|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2016, UCF head coach [[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.<ref name="Athletic2023"/> 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]], who replaced Diaco, elected to not continue the supposed rivalry.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 6, 2017|title=The complete history of the Civil ConFLiCT, 2015-2016 (Or so)|url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/11/6/16612520/ucf-uconn-2017-game-notes-civil-conflict-trophy|access-date=September 2, 2021|archive-date=September 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902130943/https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/11/6/16612520/ucf-uconn-2017-game-notes-civil-conflict-trophy|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.{{cn|date=November 2021}} UConn women's basketball head coach [[Geno Auriemma]] said the rivalry "might have been the dumbest thing in the history of sports."<ref name="barstoolsports.com" />
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."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bristolpress.com/BP-UConn/293595/madeup-uconn-football-rivalry-with-ucf-over-but-trophy-still-missing|title=Made-up UConn football rivalry with UCF over, but trophy still missing'|first=Neill|last=Ostrout|date=July 19, 2017|publisher=The Bristol Press|access-date=November 6, 2017|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107061631/http://www.bristolpress.com/BP-UConn/293595/madeup-uconn-football-rivalry-with-ucf-over-but-trophy-still-missing|url-status=dead}}</ref>
During the 2017 meeting in Orlando, the trophy and the claimed rivalry continued to be a subject of ridicule,<ref name="espn.com">{{Cite web|date=November 9, 2017|title=The search for the Civil ConFLiCT trophy|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21340192/ucf-knights-uconn-huskies-search-civil-conflict-trophy|access-date=September 1, 2021|archive-date=September 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901192011/https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21340192/ucf-knights-uconn-huskies-search-civil-conflict-trophy|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/11/07/ucf-continues-to-diminish-demean-uconns-civil-conflict-trophy/|title=UCF continues to diminish, demean UConn's 'Civil ConFliCT Trophy'|publisher=NBC Sports|first=John|last=Taylor|date=November 7, 2017|access-date=November 13, 2017|archive-date=November 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114092924/http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/11/07/ucf-continues-to-diminish-demean-uconns-civil-conflict-trophy/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the whereabouts of the original trophy were still unknown.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21340192/ucf-knights-uconn-huskies-search-civil-conflict-trophy|title=The search for the Civil ConFLiCT trophy|work=ESPN.com|first=Andrea|last=Adelson|date=November 9, 2017|access-date=November 13, 2017|archive-date=November 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112161912/http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/21340192/ucf-knights-uconn-huskies-search-civil-conflict-trophy|url-status=live}}</ref>
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]].<ref name="Athletic2023"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/uconn-absolutely-roasted-ucf-for-using-an-imposter-civil-conflict-trophy-and-it-was-glorious|title=UConn absolutely roasted UCF for using an imposter 'Civil ConFLiCT' trophy and it was glorious|date=November 20, 2021|access-date=November 24, 2021|archive-date=November 24, 2021|archive-url=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|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/ucf_football/status/1461900025840246788?s=21|title=UCF Football|publisher=UCF Football|date=November 19, 2021|access-date=November 20, 2021|archive-date=November 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120034149/https://twitter.com/ucf_football/status/1461900025840246788?s=21|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Game results== {{sports rivalry series table | format = compact | series_summary = yes | legend_tie_text = | team1 = UConn | team1style = {{NCAA color cell|UConn Huskies}} | team2 = UCF | team2style = {{NCAA secondary color cell|UCF Knights}} | October 26, 2013 | Orlando, FL | #21 UCF | 62 | UConn | 17 | November 1, 2014 | East Hartford, CT | UConn | 37 | UCF | 29 | October 10, 2015 | Orlando, FL | UConn | 40 | UCF | 13 | October 22, 2016 | East Hartford, CT | UConn | 16 | UCF | 24 | November 11, 2017 | Orlando, FL | #6 UCF | 49 | UConn | 24 | August 30, 2018 | East Hartford, CT | UConn | 17 | #11 UCF | 56 | September 28, 2019 | Orlando, FL | #24 UCF | 56 | UConn | 21 | November 20, 2021| Orlando, FL | UCF | 49 | UConn | 17
| footnote = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.winsipedia.com/games/connecticut/vs/ucf|title=Winsipedia - Connecticut Huskies vs. UCF Knights football series history games list|website=Winsipedia|access-date=June 23, 2020|archive-date=June 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627004020/http://www.winsipedia.com/games/connecticut/vs/ucf|url-status=live}}</ref> }}
==References== {{Reflist |refs= <ref name="Athletic2023">{{cite news |last=Vannini |first=Chris |date=November 9, 2023 |title=The search for the (real) Civil Conflict trophy, monument to a rivalry that never was |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5046482/2023/11/09/civil-conflict-rivalry-trophy-uconn-ucf/ |work=[[The Athletic]] |place=[[Orlando, Florida]] |access-date=November 9, 2023 |quote=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.}}</ref> }}
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