ORLANDO, Fla. -- Is it possible to pause the bickering over UCF, its so-called national championships and its place at the college football table, and just appreciate what this team has done over two seasons?
Because at the very least, the players deserve to have their story heard, without the College Football Playoff debate obscuring a turnaround that borders on the miraculous.
For most seniors, the story begins in 2015. When they signed with UCF, they signed to play for a program coming off an AAC championship and a 2013 Fiesta Bowl victory. They signed to play for George O'Leary, believing they too would play for conference championships and elite bowl berths.