Phoul Balls

By now you've heard the kickoff time for the UCF-South Carolina game at Bright House Networks Stadium as finally been set.

And you've groaned that, as dictated by the TV networks, it's going to be a noon kickoff. In September. In Orlando, Florida. (I'm groaning again.)

Take it as it comes, Knights fans. C'mon, would you trade a 3:30 or 4:30 or 7 p.m. start for the win Saturday at Penn State? Thought not.

The Orlando City Lions looked good ... real good ... 7 goals good ... in winning their 2nd USL Pro League championship in three seasons. Dom Dwyer scored four goals and Oviedo's Dennis Chin added two more as the purple-clad lads defeated the Charlotte Eagles, 7-4.

But to me, the real winners were the fans and the Orlando soccer scene. A crowd of 20,886 -- yes that is a crooked first number in a five-digit total -- came out either to support their team or to check out what all the hype was about. And, note to the Orlando Sentinel, there legitimately 20 thousand folks there, I was stuck behind every one of them trying to reach the media lot.

Yes, I understand there is football on today, and the SEC Game of the Century of the Week (South Carolina at Georgia) kicks off soon. But is anybody playing for a championship today?

A purple clad team is playing tonight right in your backyard, Orlando, and either the Orlando City Lions or the Charlotte Eagles will walk away with USL Pro League trophy.