I feel like I consume a great deal of both political and business news, and for me this was a term that I had not heard in the mainstream media narrative prior to the election.

Immediately after the election, it appeared as though top party leaders had a new talking point: fake news. The intent seemed to begin a new narrative about how 鈥渕edia鈥� or 鈥漬ews鈥� needed to be run through an appointed truth filter. Now to me that is scary stuff.

Some in the political spectrum began applying the term to what is generally called the mainstream media. Within days of the discussion of vetting the 鈥渢ruthiness鈥� of Facebook posts, the conversation pivoted to the mainstream media being called out as fake news. CNN, NYT, AP 鈥� you name the organization 鈥� it was now being classified as fake news by some.

I was thinking about an old George Carlin line when writing this: 鈥淏ipartisan usually means that a larger-than-usual deception is being carried out.鈥�

These days, it seems nothing is bipartisan. Everything appears to be 鈥渉yper-partisan.鈥� In this environment, my opinion has become that everything is a deception of some kind.

Some media outlets are more obvious in their methodology and ethos and political leanings, while some others are less obvious, even though there still may be an intent behind what is presented. Does anyone consume the 6 p.m. news anymore? I don鈥檛 because it seems that more and more they tend to be leaning toward the ends of the spectrum.

For years it seems like the division between editorial/political opinion and news has been breaking down. What happened to the days of news coverage such as when Tim Russert hosted Meet the Press? Call me nostalgic, but when I watched Russert I felt he equally grilled both sides, and I could never really tell where he stood ideologically.

Even if you look at content aggregators such as the Drudge Report, you still have to understand that everything presented has a purpose. I do not put Drudge in this category, but some of the worst news out there these days is on aggregation click-bait sites.

I decided a while back that I would consume a good portion of my news from people I felt were intelligent, antithetical ideologically and obvious in their presentation 鈥� such as Rush Limbaugh and Rachel Maddow.

Why? Pretty simple really: to understand the other point of view, get information not generally put forth by the other side, and gain insight into narrative creation. Even though it makes me want to throw things at the screen sometimes, it is more beneficial to articulate your opposition as opposed to nodding in agreement.

If you can always be looking for and questioning the motivation behind the news, understand the social narrative they are trying to create, read the tea leaves, think for yourself, and articulate a position, I believe that you will be much better off.

I think that informed people need to look at what is labeled as alternate news now, as well. Zero Hedge, WikiLeaks, Mother Jones, and Vice to name a few. I do not believe that the intentions of these organizations are any more pure than mainstream organizations, but I do believe that I see news here that I will not see anywhere else.

RT, the Russian 24-hour English news channel, is considered by many as a propaganda arm of the Russian government. But does that mean their content should not be consumed? As long as I understand who owns RT, can鈥檛 I watch and still learn things? I have seen some of the best economic reporting out there on RT in the past few years.

Maybe the only pure source of news that exists anymore is the National Enquirer!

My approach may not be the right one, but I start from the position that everything I hear is false and question why I am being presented with the information. What is the motivation behind the presentation? What do they want me to buy or support?

Sad and depressing environment? Maybe, but if we can ever get back to a discussion as opposed to a fight, we will be better off.

As Carlin said: 鈥淚 got this real moron thing I do. It鈥檚 called thinking and I鈥檓 not a very good American because I like to form my own opinions鈥 have certain rules I live by鈥nd I don鈥檛 take very seriously the media or the press in this country.鈥�

I really don鈥檛 share many of Carlin鈥檚 views, but I sure liked the way his mind worked.

Gerrod Lambrecht is director of football operations at 麻豆原创. He can be reached at Gerrod@athletics.ucf.edu.

Just when you might have thought that the soap opera that is the 2016 presidential election could not get any crazier, well, here you go.

The polling data on a day-to-day basis seems to tell us nothing that is real. They are changing faster than a wind sock in a swirling wind. Depending on who you ask, different models are as much as 15 points different. Media coverage has turned more into partisan propaganda of an Orwellian nature than real news.

Now poll sampling data cannot be trusted, as variance and process between previously respected polling organizations seems to be as different as the respective candidates. Up is down, right is left, cats are playing with dogs鈥hat are we to think?

With game day right around the corner. Maybe the ESPN crew should set up shop in D.C. now to do a few days鈥� worth of coverage. They can treat it like a national championship game. Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, and crew may do a better job of representing the nature of things at this point. Maybe Chris 鈥淭he Bear鈥� Fallica can give us a better line on this race than the polling data can. Paul Finebaum can do the hard-hitting interviews that will make all the difference in the last few days prior to the election. I cannot wait for Corso鈥檚 prediction and to see him put on either Trump or Clinton headgear.

Just a few days earlier, we were being told that the race was all but over. Down ticket was the focus, and places such as Texas were now in play. Days later all that changed.

Well, I guess this is why we play the game.

The craziness of the election cycle is almost over now. All of the primaries, debates, commercials, news stories, interviews and punditry have only served to lay the foundation for game day. Call them what you will 鈥� practices, dry runs, scrimmages 鈥� they have led up to one major game, a winner-take-all battle to be the leader of the free world.

Maybe Hank Jr. should do the theme music for the TV intro. Are you ready for some football鈥 mean an election?

All kidding aside, this is a serious deal. When I step into the voting booth, I recognize the importance of my vote, the importance of the process, and the implication of a phrase that is used all too often these days: 鈥淓lections have consequences.鈥�

I will not just pull the lever and vote the party line. I will understand the issues. I will understand what is at stake in local and regional elections. I will be prepared to articulate why I am voting for who I am voting for. I will understand both the policy and social implications of who I vote for.

This is too important of a process to not take it seriously, even though the process is being turned into a salacious reality TV show.

Blood has been shed through the generations to ensure that I have the privilege to participate in our democracy. Thomas Jefferson once said, 鈥淭he people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions it is a lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty.鈥�

I pray that this election will allow our country to move forward on a firm footing. I pray that society writ large will become more conscious of how our behavior, our votes, and our blind support of certain rhetoric is allowing the electoral process to be turned into a joke.

I pray that our betters in society will begin to understand how their behavior has set us down the path we are on today. We have serious issues in our country, and those issues deserve serious people.

May God bless this election, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.

Gerrod Lambrecht is director of football operations at 麻豆原创. He can be reached at Gerrod@athletics.ucf.edu.

Since about 90 percent of our football staff is new to 麻豆原创 in the past eight months, it seemed like an appropriate time to reflect on how we have been made to feel so welcomed, and on some of the adversity Orlando has gone through recently.

Since arriving on campus in mid-December, we have all been blown away by the hospitality, graciousness and cordial welcome we have received. Whether it has been faculty or staff members, employees of 麻豆原创 Athletics, alumni, former players, fans or students, almost everyone we have encountered has been a delight. Not only have they displayed the characteristics I just noted, but the welcome has been so enthusiastic.

While some of the new coaching staff have roots and/or ties to Central Florida, the majority of us do not.

The Orlando community has been through a lot in the past few months. When preparing to write this, I found myself ruminating on how resilient the greater Orlando community is and how welcoming the residents have been to us. These two things seem to speak toward the character and resolve of Central Floridians at large.

Something we discuss often with our football players is dealing with adversity. While adversity is not something that is generally welcomed, we know that it can have positive effect.

The Book of Romans tells us: 鈥淏ut we also glory in our sufferings, because we know suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.鈥� While I would never equate the sufferings and adversity of football to what the Orlando community has experienced recently, our football program looks to this season with hope and a sense of resolve. Dispositions garnered through hard work, preparation, and watching the people of Orlando.

As we have been embraced by the Orlando and 麻豆原创 communities, it is also very important to our program to reciprocate. Over the past six months, we have gone to great effort to engage with fans, alumni, students, faculty, staff, and the greater Orlando community. Our desire is to build a program that not only makes 麻豆原创 and Orlando proud, but also one which is committed to being a positive force in the community.

Our staff is made up of family men. They are men of integrity and character. They have wives and families that are already part of the Orlando family. Our staff has more than 25 children aged 5 and under. We are involved in local schools, places of worship, charities, organizations, and many other community activities. We will continue to look for opportunities to have a positive impact on those around us. We also look forward to getting to know those around us even more.

We all feel so blessed to be working in such a beautiful environment with such exuberant support where the potential truly is limitless. We are so thankful for the open arms that have already made us feel like an integrated part of this university and community.

We want to grow, learn, and strive for greatness with you.

Please come out and support us this year. We will work hard to put a quality product on the field, but more importantly, we will strive to represent 麻豆原创 in a way that makes you proud both on and off the field. Charge On!

Gerrod Lambrecht is director of football operations at 麻豆原创. He can be reached at Gerrod@athletics.ucf.edu.