Written by Brian Pohl
After a historic season, the SkyBoat awards UCF’s Scott Frost as the 2017 SkyBoat Coach of the Year.
Frost took over as the head coach at UCF in 2016 following a 0-12 season. In just two years, Frost and the Knights turned the program completely around and finished their 2017 campaign undefeated at 12-0 heading into their Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl matchup against the Auburn Tigers. No other team has gone from winless to a 10-plus win season in just two years, and the impact of Scott Frost on the UCF program is unmatched.
2017 was a year of many accolades for Frost and the Knights. Along with finishing undefeated for the first time in school history, UCF would finish 12th in the College Football Playoff Rankings, as well as tying their highest ranking ever of tenth in the AP Poll. Averaging 49.4 points per game, the UCF offense led the nation in points per game.
The Knights overcame difficult challenges during their historic season. After being forced into an early bye week due to Hurricane Irma, UCF would then not play a game for 17 days. After the long break, the Knights would play a game in each of the next 11 weeks, and overcome the adversity to finish undefeated. Frost spoke about the adversity his team faced saying, “There's a reason a team doesn't go undefeated. It is reasons like that, we are tired. It's hard to be at your best every week. These guys just keep answering the bell." The success UCF had was in large part due to the leadership of its head coach.
Under Frost, the Knights would achieve their third ever American Athletic Conference championship in 2017 after a thrilling 62-55 victory over the Memphis Tigers in double overtime. The win secured UCF’s spot in a New Year’s Six bowl, and the Knights will battle the Auburn Tigers in the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl. This will be Scott Frost’s final game as the head coach at UCF, as he will head to his alma mater as the head coach of Nebraska next season.
During his post-game press conference after winning the AAC championship, Frost spoke about the impact UCF and Orlando have had on him,
“I love this community, I love UCF, I love Orlando, and no matter what I do I'm probably going to retire here. I don't think I'm going to sell houses or anything if I leave. This university, Dr. Hitt, Danny White, UCF, Orlando; just an unbelievable place with unbelievable potential and you're seeing it this year with these guys. This place has given me more than I've given this place."
UCF and its fans will remember Scott Frost and the 2017 season for a long time. Taking the program to new heights, Frost will leave the program with a wealth of talent for the Knights to sustain success going forward.
The SkyBoat would like to congratulate Scott Frost and the UCF Knights on their historic season, and award coach Frost as the SkyBoat Coach of the Year.
Frost took over as the head coach at UCF in 2016 following a 0-12 season. In just two years, Frost and the Knights turned the program completely around and finished their 2017 campaign undefeated at 12-0 heading into their Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl matchup against the Auburn Tigers. No other team has gone from winless to a 10-plus win season in just two years, and the impact of Scott Frost on the UCF program is unmatched.
2017 was a year of many accolades for Frost and the Knights. Along with finishing undefeated for the first time in school history, UCF would finish 12th in the College Football Playoff Rankings, as well as tying their highest ranking ever of tenth in the AP Poll. Averaging 49.4 points per game, the UCF offense led the nation in points per game.
The Knights overcame difficult challenges during their historic season. After being forced into an early bye week due to Hurricane Irma, UCF would then not play a game for 17 days. After the long break, the Knights would play a game in each of the next 11 weeks, and overcome the adversity to finish undefeated. Frost spoke about the adversity his team faced saying, “There's a reason a team doesn't go undefeated. It is reasons like that, we are tired. It's hard to be at your best every week. These guys just keep answering the bell." The success UCF had was in large part due to the leadership of its head coach.
Under Frost, the Knights would achieve their third ever American Athletic Conference championship in 2017 after a thrilling 62-55 victory over the Memphis Tigers in double overtime. The win secured UCF’s spot in a New Year’s Six bowl, and the Knights will battle the Auburn Tigers in the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl. This will be Scott Frost’s final game as the head coach at UCF, as he will head to his alma mater as the head coach of Nebraska next season.
During his post-game press conference after winning the AAC championship, Frost spoke about the impact UCF and Orlando have had on him,
“I love this community, I love UCF, I love Orlando, and no matter what I do I'm probably going to retire here. I don't think I'm going to sell houses or anything if I leave. This university, Dr. Hitt, Danny White, UCF, Orlando; just an unbelievable place with unbelievable potential and you're seeing it this year with these guys. This place has given me more than I've given this place."
UCF and its fans will remember Scott Frost and the 2017 season for a long time. Taking the program to new heights, Frost will leave the program with a wealth of talent for the Knights to sustain success going forward.
The SkyBoat would like to congratulate Scott Frost and the UCF Knights on their historic season, and award coach Frost as the SkyBoat Coach of the Year.