FRISCO, Texas – Scott Frost’s return as a coach at UCF comes against the backdrop of a failed stint at Nebraska, the university that saw him born and of which, according to his words, he didn’t want to talk about during the Big 12 football media days on Tuesday. However, he ended up doing so. Frost declared: “I really want this to be focused on UCF”, just hours after he told a reporter from The Athletic that he never wanted to take the job at Nebraska in the first place, following a 2017 season with a 13-0 record that generated debate about whether the Knights should have had the opportunity to play for the national championship in the four-team playoff.
When the same journalist asked Frost in a one-on-one interview what he learned from his time in Nebraska, the former Cornhuskers quarterback replied: “Don’t take the wrong job.” Frost’s tone was quite different in two scenarios with reporters in the 12,000-seat indoor stadium, which is also a practice field for the Dallas Cowboys.I said I wouldn’t go unless it was to a place where a national championship could be won. I was drawn in a direction to try to help my alma mater and I really didn’t want to do it. It wasn’t a good decision. I’m lucky to be back in a place where I was much happier.
Scott Frost
Frost inherited a UCF team with a 0-12 record and turned it into the undefeated champion of the American Athletic Conference in just two years. Nebraska fans were ecstatic when he made the move 20 years after leading the Cornhuskers to a perfect season in 1997 and a national title shared with Michigan in the last season before a championship game was established. Three games after his fifth season at Lincoln, Frost was fired with a record of 16-31. Almost three full college seasons later, he returns to Orlando, after a year working under Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay.When you go through something that doesn’t work, you’re simply ready for another opportunity, and I’m ready for another opportunity. This is about the Big 12. This is about UCF. Everyone has success in life and failures in life, for all sorts of different reasons. I’m excited to return to a place where my family and I are treated well.
Scott Frost
The images of Frost celebrating a victory in the Peach Bowl by 34-27 over Auburn that secured UCF’s perfect season in 2017 remain, almost a month after he was named coach at Nebraska. Almost eight years later, Frost postponed a scheduled roundtable with reporters to take some photos with the players he brought with him to media days. Yes, being with the guys. I’m sorry, I’d rather be with the guys than with you. And there are times when Frost remembers the old days with his new players.I really enjoyed two years off. I was able to spend a whole year with Ashley and the [three] kids, and I’ll never get that time back. I played more ball with my son and touch football in the yard with him, going to little league and watching my daughter do gymnastics. And then some time in L.A. really, really helped me reset too.
Scott Frost
Frost did not share the lessons he learned in Nebraska with everyone.We talked to them about all those things. What happened in 2017 is sometimes relevant, but this is a new team. So we just point those things out, not to dwell on the past, but just to help them with any lessons we want to learn.
Scott Frost
