1999 was the last time Nebraska won an out right conference title-almost twenty years ago. The last time that they defeated a top-five opponent was in 2001. If you listen closely in Lincoln Memorial Stadium today, you can hear the faded cheers of fans rooting on Tommy Frazier as he runs through the enemies of Tom Osbourne and the Husker faithful. That was a fun era of Nebraska football. But what happened? Since the turn of the century, Nebraska has only had one National Title appearance (which was against a great Miami team). It’s no secret that replacing a legend like Osbourne has not come easy: Frank Solich was doing well until all of Tom Osbourne’s players graduated or got drafted. Bill Callahan was a complete disaster and hated the college game. And Bo Pelini was not taking Nebraska to the next level. Now the school finally got smart and got a Nebraska man- Scott Frost.
Scott Frost Resume:
- Nebraska 2002-2005 Grad Assistant
- Kansas State 2006 Grad Assistant
- Northern Iowa 2007-2008 Linebackers/Co-Defensive Coordinator
- Oregon 2009 – 2015 Wide Receiver’s coach/Offensive Coordinator
- UCF 2016-2017 Head Coach
When Scott Frost heard about the opening at Nebraska, he knew he had to go back to Lincoln. And why not? To be a head coach at your alma mater and create your own legacy at a place filled with tradition and history is every coaches dream. Not to take away from Central Florida, but they’re still babies when it comes to big time college football, unlike Nebraska, who hasn’t been much of anything in two decades. Yes, it’s sad when a school that was once considered a “powerhouse”, no longer scares anyone on Saturday’s in the Fall. But Frost is determined to change that.
The transformation process began when over 87,000 fans showed up for the Spring game back on April 21. Though the team was playing each other, there was a sense of unity and bonding building in the team. “Unity of purpose” and “no fear of failure” are the themes Frost has been teaching his players and staff and it’s well under way of catching like a wildfire. What he has to do is find leadership in the locker room.
The B1G didn’t role out the red carpet for Frost inaugural season. The cornhuskers play Michigan, Ohio St, and Wisconsin all on the road. Add an old Big 12 matchup with Colorado early in the season and it could be a long first season for Frost and company.
It won’t be an easy job to make Nebraska a winner again and Frost knows that –“”Sometimes you get impatient as a coach and think that it’s going to happen overnight,” Frost said. “And it’s not.”
College Football has changed dramatically since the last time the cornhuskers were among the elite. Yet, I believe Frost is one of the most popular offensive minds in the nation and is exactly what the cornhuskers need. Frost is someone who knows the program inside and out and it’s the job he’s been wanting since day one. What Frost did at Central Florida was no fluke, he’s a winner. The B1G will soon find out.
JDubb's Sideline Report 