FAU, UCF and the fine art of trolling

How to increase national exposure for your Group of 5 program in three easy steps:

Step 1: Get active on Twitter

Step 2: Make bold (albeit sometimes controversial) declarations

Step 3: Troll Alabama

OK, so it's not that simple. But if UCF and Florida Atlantic have anything in common beyond their home state, it is the way both programs have embraced outside-the-box thinking to take aim at the more serious college football establishment.

Lane Kiffin started it when he took over at FAU in 2017, using social media to build a brand, make some jokes and poke Alabama as often as possible (#ratpoison anyone). UCF athletic director Danny White took the baton in late December, when he self-proclaimed UCF…