Big 12 Media Day: Everything Scott Frost said from the main stage
UCF was one of eight schools featured Tuesday during the opening day of Big 12 Media Days at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
In between his TV and radio appearances, head coach Scott Frost took the main stage to answer questions from reporters. Here’s everything he had to say.
Opening statement:
“Good to be here. Before I get started, I just want to take a minute and kind of reflect on the things that have happened in Texas over the last week. Coming down here and reading about it and seeing it, it’s a good reminder to me of how much we love football and how important it is, but there’s bigger things in life. Thoughts and prayers are certainly with people around here.
“I’m excited to be here. First, want to thank my AD, Terry Mohajir and President (Alexander) Cartwright at UCF for giving me a chance to come back to a place that I love. Ashley and I were both really excited to get back to Orlando because of the way the fans and the UCF family treated us the first time. And it’s been the same since we’ve been back. I’m excited to do the best I can to help put a good product on the field for the fans and UCF family.
“Excited to be in the Big 12. I think the things the Big 12 has done have positioned itself uniquely. I think there’s some really smart moves being made. Got a lot of admiration for Commissioner (Brett) Yormark and what the Big 12 has become. I think it’s a really fair, balanced league and anybody can win if you do things right. We’re working hard to push ourselves in that direction.
“I see (UCF offensive tackle) Paul (Rubelt) out there to just give a shout out to the four young men that are here with me today. Paul Rubelt, Nyjalik Kelly, Keli Lawson and Myles Montgomery. They’re unbelievable representatives of our football team and our university, and proud to have them with me. So happy to be here.”
On what Paul Rubelt has meant to the program (this will be his sixth and final year at UCF):
“Well, I see him right now. He’s about as tall sitting down as you are standing up. He’s almost like an ambassador for UCF. He came from Germany. He’s been there six years, right, Paul? Six years at the university. Great human being, fun to be around every day. Love everything he stands for. And I’ve seen him get even better than what he was last year in my short time at UCF. So excited to watch him continue to blossom and I’m just lucky to be around him for a year.”
On what’s different at UCF coming back for his second stint:
“UCF is unique, in my opinion. It’s so young compared to most of the other schools in Power Four leagues. It certainly feels like home to me and feels comfortable, but it has grown since I’ve been there and it’s amazing to see the changes.
“I think we’re just scratching the surface of what UCF can be as a university and athletic department. If we keep working hard to push it, I think UCF can become something even far greater than what it has become today. The support of the people around Orlando and the alumni that we have are certainly pushing us in a good direction.
“And again, I’m really excited to be able to represent that group again.”
On the changes he implemented during the offseason:
“We had a lot of work to do when I got to UCF again. I think we had 48 scholarship players on the team when I got there. So it’s gonna be almost a complete reset.
“I think we have close to 70 new football players in our program. That being said, almost every one of them is new to me since I just got there. We have a lot of work to do to make sure we get to know each other and take a collection of individuals and turn them into a cohesive unit.
“And that doesn’t just happen. We have to be very intentional about that. I guess the good side of that is we were able to flip the roster and bring in some new players and bring kids in largely that fit us from a scheme standpoint and from a character and culture standpoint. It’s been fun watching that group of guys come together.”
On the biggest things he’s learned that will help him at UCF:
“I think all experience, good and bad, gives you a wisdom and a new perspective. Biggest thing I’ve learned, probably, you can’t do anything alone. And the family at UCF, the way they’ve treated us the first time, the way they’re continuing to treat us. My wife and I are so happy there. And we were looking forward to getting back there and planting roots and growing up. And helping bring our kids up and raise our kids in Orlando.
“But knowing that you can’t do anything yourself, I’m really excited about the group of guys that we brought together on the coaching staff, the people in the building and administration and coaching. And it takes a group and it takes a team. And I’m really excited about the people that I’ve surrounded myself with.”
On getting another chance to coach at UCF while still being in the “prime” of his coaching career:
“I don’t know where I am in my career for sure, but I’m happy to be back in Orlando. Going home isn’t always easy. Going back isn’t always easy. This was an easy choice for me because of how much we liked it there.
“I think UCF has grown so much and has so much growth potential. I’ve said this a lot today, but our 2017 run, I think had a lot to do with UCF positioning itself in a place where it could become a candidate to be in a league like the Big 12.
“It’s my goal to continue to try to help UCF push forward. If there’s any more changes coming, we need to be positioned in the right place and to do everything that we can to make it a legitimate competitor in this league and beyond. We have a lot of work to do to get there, but it’s probably the only place that I would want to be doing this in college football.”
On what he hopes the Big 12 prioritizes as a league:
“Well, what the Big 12 prioritizes is gonna be decided by people that are smarter and higher up than I am. I played in the Big 12 the first couple of years that it was the Big 12. Obviously, it’s changed since then. Had a ton of admiration for the league, watching from afar.
“The parity in this league, the different types of styles in this league, the high-scoring brand of football that they play, I think it makes for an exciting product. There’s so many good schools in this league. Great guys are coaching them.
“You can make an argument that any team in this league, if they do things right, can win this league. That makes a fun product for us to coach in and I think a fun product for people to watch.
“And it makes it a fair game where if we do things right and come together as a team and play well, we’re gonna have a chance. And we’re doing everything we can to give ourselves a chance. But I think Commissioner Yormark and the rest of the people in the league have uniquely positioned this league. I think it’s a fast, exciting brand of football. And like I said, I’m just honored to be a part of it.”
On what he learned working with Sean McVay and the LA Rams:
“Yeah, I was really lucky to get there. I’m grateful to Sean and Les and the rest of the guys out there, giving me a chance to be out there for a year. It really kind of reignited my passion for what I love to do, being around the game and coaching. I didn’t really have an intention of leaving pro football. UCF opened and that was an easy decision for me because it was a place that I had so much fun at before.
“Those guys out in LA have an unbelievable building. They surrounded themselves with unbelievable people, top to bottom on that staff. If I can’t compliment it enough, I’m grateful to them for letting me spend a year out there.
“And there’s a lot of things. Sean McVay is one of the best innovators in pro football in a long time as far as offensive scheme. And I was able to pick up some of those things too.
“So again, just adding to the experience that I had, I think I’ll be able to take some of those things and use them. Mostly, I’m grateful to Sean and Les for letting me spend a year out there.”
On making a quick turnaround of UCF the first time he was there and whether he can do the same now:
“Yeah, we had a lot of success probably earlier than we thought we would, my first stint at UCF. I think that’ll be even bigger mountain to climb because of the level of football that’s played in this league. I loved being in the American, but it wasn’t the same level of teams that we’re gonna be facing now.
“That being said, now that we’re in Orlando, Florida and in a big time league, the type of talent that we can attract to Orlando is a lot better. And if we do things right, we’re gonna have a chance. So again, I’m excited about the players we have.
“We flipped the roster, made a lot of changes. We have a lot of talent. It’s just we don’t have a lot of production, returning production or experience. And it’s gonna be a challenge for us to see how fast we can take that collection of individuals and turn them into a team. But it’s gonna be a fun ride.”
