COMMENTARY INTERVIEW

Interview with UCF junior, Kevin Kulbacki

1. Do you think the students at UCF have enough school spirit?

No, I feel that the average UCF student goes to most events solely for free stuff, like T-Shirts, and not because they are loyal to UCF athletics.

2. What else could SGA and other organizations do to increase school spirit?

I think that SGA could work on creating new traditions at UCF, similar to Spirit Splash, that could get students pumped up and excited for UCF.

3. Every football game has a lottery for free tickets, why do you think it hasn’t ever been completely filled?

I think that many students this year feel that our football team is not nearly as good as when we won the CUSA Championship a few years ago and don't want to see a team that is not absolutely amazing. Our fans will only be happy when we are the best.

4. How does school spirit at UCF compare with other universities?

I think that UCF is pretty average in terms of school spirit. It by no means matches any of the other true Southern School in which college football isn't just something to do, its a way of life. I also feel that we are much more spirited than most Northern schools.

5. What do you think is the best tradition in UCF school spirit?

Spirit Splash is by far the best tradition at UCF!

6. How does the amount of school spirit compare to when UCF did not have its own football stadium?

I think our fans have become spoiled by the on-campus stadium. Back when we played across town, people would drive out to make a day of a UCF football game. However, now that the stadium is on-campus, I feel that UCF football and tailgating has become more of "just something to do" to most students

7. How do you know what you know?

I have first hand experienced UCF school spirit for 3 years and last year surveyed students about UCF school spirit

8. Who are you to the subject?

I am a junior at UCF who has been very involved in UCF activities through UCF student organizations, individually, and through working with UCF athletics. I have seen first hand how spirited our student body is through all aspects

9. How is this event connected to other events?

Everything to do with UCF and the student body is related to school spirit. If UCF wins in one sport, then school spirit gets a boost. If we lose then the opposite occurs.

10. What if things were different?

If UCF had better sports teams, then school spirit would be far increased. Also, if we had more traditions then the students would get more interested and more involved in the school.

11. Why is this important?

It shows that in order to increase school spirit, UCF must establish itself and its sport teams in order to get the student body to really show some true school spirit. That is the only way they will ever live up to the slogan "I bleed Black and Gold."