With the return of Scott Frost to Lincoln, it’s fair to say Nebraska football will return to glory. Here’s why that’s the case.
It’s no secret that Nebraska football is far removed from the glory years of the 1990’s and the program itself is a shell of what it once was. Following the retirement of Hall of Fame Coach Tom Osbourne, Nebraska has hired and fired four coaches in the last 20 years. However, this coaching search proved to bring something Husker fans have been looking for the last five years: Hope.
Hope came in the form of UCF head coach and former Husker quarterback Scott Frost. Frost was under center the last time Nebraska brought home a national championship in 1997. Following a brief pro career, Frost quickly rose through the coaching ranks, from grad assistant to FCS assistant, to FBS assistant, to head coach, all before he turned 41 years old.
Frost was hired as head coach on December 2nd, 2016 and has since caused a buzz of excitement in Lincoln and across the entire state of Nebraska and for good reason. Here are five reasons why he will restore the scarlet and cream colors of Nebraska.
5. Frost is a proven winner
Frost has been on winning teams since his days as a quarterback in Lincoln. He compiled a 24-2 career record in his two seasons as starter for the Cornhuskers, including their championship in his senior season. Frost returned to the coaching ranks GA at Nebraska and Kansas State before headed to FCS-power Northern Iowa. UNI made the FCS playoffs in his two seasons in Cedar Falls, and Frost was named co-defensive coordinator before his last season.
Chip Kelly took notice and hired Frost as his wide receiver’s coach before the 2009 season. Following Kelly’s departure following the 2012 season, he was named offensive coordinator, replacing Mark Helfrich who had been promoted to head coach. In his six seasons as a Ducks assistant, Frost was apart of four BCS bowl games and a College Football Playoff championship game.
When he was hired as head coach at UCF, the Knights were coming off of an 0-12 season, the lowest point for any Division I program. In his first season, Frost took UCF to a bowl game, his second season, as many know, was a storybook one as the Knights finished with a 13-0 record and are self-proclaimed “National Champions”. Nebraska fans have been looking for a coach who is a consistent, high-level winner, and they have finally found one.