An unexpected sports rivalry from the University of Connecticut has been unofficially declared, naming UCF as its awaited contender for the 2015 football season.

A tweet from UConn Football’s official Twitter shows a blank trophy with 9 unmarked tags and one marked below a black plate with the two mascots, a Husky and a Knight, featuring the words “CIVIL CONFLICT” at the top of the trophy. Along with the trophy is a countdown to the UConn/UCF football game on Oct. 10 and a picture of a UCF helmet with the words “BEAT UCF” to its side.


Brandon Helwig, of @UCFSports, tweeted that UCF Football acknowledged no involvement with the trophy or involvement in creating a rivalry game:


A conference realignment making UConn and UCF AAC opponents may have sparked UConn’s rivalry interest, along with a UCF upset in the 2014 football season. The Nov. 1 matchup saw UConn claim a surprise victory at home against the Knights, finishing with a score of 37-29, amidst a UCF five game winning streak. The win came as UCF’s only loss in the AAC conference and UConn’s only win against an FBS team.

After the game, UConn Football Head Coach Bob Diaco recommended a rivalry trophy during the post-game press conference:

“We’re excited about this North/South battle. You want to call it the Civil Conflict? Maybe I’ll win my money and make a trophy. I’ll buy it myself. Put a giant Husky and a big giant Knight on it, make a stand [and] put it in our hallway. The Civil Conflict. The loser, maybe they’ve got to put nutmeg on the stand when it’s not there and we’ll put a sack of oranges,” said Diaco.

Join the fan discussion of the proposed rivalry on Twitter using #CivilConflict.

UCF Football, who already has an established rivalry with the Bulls, has not officially responded to UConn’s tweet on their Twitter account.

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