UCF Sports Thread: 2025 Spring Football is Underway

Post #121 » by **UCFJayBird** » Tue Dec 3, 2024 1:49 pm

For the record, outside of wild speculation on twitter I don't think i've seen a single well connected source say Frost is a possibility. In fact everyone connected to the program with any merit I've seen has stated he's not as far as they're aware. I see a million other names, Chadwell from Liberty seems to be the guy with the most smoke at the moment, but I don't think UCF is going to rush it at this point. Maybe if it's Chadwell it's announced quickly because signing day is tomorrow and they want him to have a chance to reach out to recruits. But it's probably too late even if that happens.

Post #122 » by **Knightro** » Tue Dec 3, 2024 2:34 pm

Certainly sounds like it's going to be Jamey Chadwell of Liberty.

Post #123 » by **UCF** » Tue Dec 3, 2024 7:20 pm

Seems odd there’s been no press release, etc, since the coaching change.

Also, Liberty has the pockets to up the salary for their coach. Not done until it’s signed imo.

Post #124 » by **UCFJayBird** » Tue Dec 3, 2024 8:31 pm

Worth saying that despite all the smoke for Chadwell, it might be that he was having an interview and his camp and those closest to him are pumping out rumors of it being a done deal to try and press momentum in his favor. Or maybe they're just excited about the possibility and would be reporters are running with any potential rumor.

Sounds like UCF is interviewing and plans to meet with candidates that are coaching in CCGs this weekend, so this is probably going to go into next week. Which I think is smart. There's no reason to rush at this point. Sure, early signing day is tomorrow, but prospects aren't going to just take a single call from the new coach and go "Sure i'll stick with you" or "i'll flip to UCF". Anyone considering UCF seriously will probably just hold off on signing until a later date.

Post #125 » by **UCFJayBird** » Wed Dec 4, 2024 2:16 pm

UCFJayBird wrote:For the record, outside of wild speculation on twitter I don't think i've seen a single well connected source say Frost is a possibility. In fact everyone connected to the program with any merit I've seen has stated he's not as far as they're aware. I see a million other names, Chadwell from Liberty seems to be the guy with the most smoke at the moment, but I don't think UCF is going to rush it at this point. Maybe if it's Chadwell it's announced quickly because signing day is tomorrow and they want him to have a chance to reach out to recruits. But it's probably too late even if that happens.

And now that has changed, lol. Now the rumors of Frost being a possibility have gained a little legitimacy. I still don't think it happens but seems he's at least in the discussions (along with another 20 candidates mind you), where as before it sounded like nothing more than wishful thinking from the Frost camp.

Post #126 » by **UCF** » Wed Dec 4, 2024 2:35 pm

I think people forget the impact Frost had on making the program’s modern identity. Gus just spent the last four years running it into the ground. We’re a different program now, with more resources, new league, but I won’t forget how excited the city was to watch the team when Frost was our coach. No one is winning anything in Nebraska and his record didn’t reflect how close he came to making it work there.

Post #127 » by **Knightro** » Wed Dec 4, 2024 2:58 pm

I just want to fully go on record and say that I do not in any way, shape or form support the re-hire of Scott Frost.

Leave the memories alone.

Post #128 » by **UCFJayBird** » Wed Dec 4, 2024 3:21 pm

UCF wrote:I think people forget the impact Frost had on making the program’s modern identity. Gus just spent the last four years running it into the ground. We’re a different program now, with more resources, new league, but I won’t forget how excited the city was to watch the team when Frost was our coach. No one is winning anything in Nebraska and his record didn’t reflect how close he came to making it work there.

This has been my take as well. The sheer excitement and hype he brought and how quickly he turned around the program then was great. He inherited a winless team and a fanbase that was miserably depressed, worse than it is now IMO, and he got us on the right track almost immediately. Players were having fun, we were fun to watch, we had great social media awareness, he was at least partly involved in getting us the new Nike jerseys and having some fun there. I imagine Danny White was also hugely involved in a lot of that as well, but I think people aren't appreciating what he did anymore.

Could he do it again? Tough to say. He's been out of college football for over two years now. His reputation has obviously suffered, could he drum up the same enthusiasm from recruits? Maybe not. But he wouldn't be coming alone, there are a LOT of big name UCF football player alums that would drop everything to come help him recruit and infuse the program with new energy. The return of KZ? Shaquem and Shaquill? Loudermilk? Those guys would be all over it, and I would wager a lot of HS kids in Florida remember UCFast and that era from when they were playing peewee.

Does he have a good grasp and strategy for NIL? What would he do for assistants? There are A LOT of questions he would need to answer.

Frost would be a huge swing at a HR. Could easily whiff and be a mistake. But there are a lot of those honestly.

I don't think it will be Frost, I won't be upset if it is though. i'd rally behind it for sure. If we can find an OC or HC that could bring that same swag and energy back to the program and revitalize it, I'm all for that guy.

Post #129 » by **UCF** » Wed Dec 4, 2024 5:45 pm

Still baffled there hasn’t been a statement, anything, officially. Just staffers responding personally on X to Gus’ post.

dsg2003mach1 · Post #130 » by **dsg2003mach1** » Wed Dec 4, 2024 6:55 pm

i feel like trying to capture lightning in a bottle twice with Frost just isn't likely. Leave that memory un-tarnished in the past (well. outside of the whole leaving thing)

Post #131 » by **UCFJayBird** » Wed Dec 4, 2024 10:17 pm

UCF wrote:Still baffled there hasn’t been a statement, anything, officially. Just staffers responding personally on X to Gus’ post.

It's a little odd but I don't think it's a big deal like some are making it out to be. Some are like "it's unprofessional! It makes us look lazy and like we don't care!"

To me i'd rather they spend every moment looking for the next hire. I don't need a statement or a press conference to tell me what is obvious, Gus didn't work out, they came to an agreement to amicably split, and they're looking for a replacement. Does anyone think anything more than that is going to come out of the AD spending time putting together a press release or press conference?

I mean I guess since it's the norm it's odd not to do it so I guess it's worth doing, but it's a waste of valuable time IMO.

Post #132 » by **UCF** » Thu Dec 5, 2024 2:48 pm

It’s a task that could be delegated imo. Just strange in general.

Post #133 » by **Knightro** » Thu Dec 5, 2024 10:26 pm

*Allegedly* the three finalists are...

Former UCF and Nebraska head coach Scott Frost
Current UNLV head coach Barry Odom
Current Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki

I would say Kotelnicki is my preferred choice of those three.

Post #134 » by **UCF** » Fri Dec 6, 2024 3:59 am

Knightro wrote:*Allegedly* the three finalists are...

Former UCF and Nebraska head coach Scott Frost
Current UNLV head coach Barry Odom
Current Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki

I would say Kotelnicki is my preferred choice of those three.

It’ll be interesting to see how this ends. AK won’t get people excited, at first.

Post #135 » by **UCFJayBird** » Fri Dec 6, 2024 4:22 am

Knightro wrote:*Allegedly* the three finalists are...

Former UCF and Nebraska head coach Scott Frost
Current UNLV head coach Barry Odom
Current Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki

I would say Kotelnicki is my preferred choice of those three.

For me it's...

1a - Frost
1b - Kotelnicki
3 - Odom

Frost - So long as he has gotten his life together and back on track with his personal issues I think he'll be great. I think people vastly underestimate how much the pressures of taking over Nebraska sooner than he was probably ready for to please his dad who was battling cancer impacted his mental health and ability to handle the pressures.

Kotelnicki - I don't think he'll have the aura of a Frost or get players necessarily ready to run through walls for him, but his offense is exciting and a good fit IMO.

Odom - I won't be terribly upset, especially if he can bring his OC Marion. He didn't fair too well in Missouri but has killed it at UNLV. My main concern is that Marion is rumored to be up for some other gigs so not sure Odom will be bringing him. I do like that Odom is a defensive minded coach that goes out and finds an OC and truly lets them run the show there. So if he can find another Marion then i'm all for it.

Frost is the swing for the fences hire, I think Kotelnicki is the safer bet. I'd rather swing for the fences.

Optimus_Steel · Post #136 » by **Optimus_Steel** » Sat Dec 7, 2024 10:57 pm

UCFJayBird wrote:
Knightro wrote:*Allegedly* the three finalists are...

Former UCF and Nebraska head coach Scott Frost
Current UNLV head coach Barry Odom
Current Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki

I would say Kotelnicki is my preferred choice of those three.

For me it's...

1a - Frost
1b - Kotelnicki
3 - Odom

Frost - So long as he has gotten his life together and back on track with his personal issues I think he'll be great. I think people vastly underestimate how much the pressures of taking over Nebraska sooner than he was probably ready for to please his dad who was battling cancer impacted his mental health and ability to handle the pressures.

Kotelnicki - I don't think he'll have the aura of a Frost or get players necessarily ready to run through walls for him, but his offense is exciting and a good fit IMO.

Odom - I won't be terribly upset, especially if he can bring his OC Marion. He didn't fair too well in Missouri but has killed it at UNLV. My main concern is that Marion is rumored to be up for some other gigs so not sure Odom will be bringing him. I do like that Odom is a defensive minded coach that goes out and finds an OC and truly lets them run the show there. So if he can find another Marion then i'm all for it.

Frost is the swing for the fences hire, I think Kotelnicki is the safer bet. I'd rather swing for the fences.

What personal issues does Frost have?

Also sounds like its a done deal, Frost. What a crazy turn of events.

ucfmay2000 · Post #137 » by **ucfmay2000** » Sat Dec 7, 2024 11:39 pm

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/12/07/ucf-knights-big-12-terry-mohajir-scott-frost/

Post #138 » by **Knightro** » Sun Dec 8, 2024 1:21 am

Just an awful, awful hire.

Terry Mohajir is such a small time loser.

Post #139 » by **Knightro** » Sun Dec 8, 2024 5:12 am

Optimus_Steel wrote:What personal issues does Frost have?

Also sounds like its a done deal, Frost. What a crazy turn of events.

The rumor is that Frost had problems with both alcohol and marriage infidelity while in Nebraska. The former especially so.

Kent · Post #140 » by **Kent** » Sun Dec 8, 2024 5:50 am

Color me excited.

People can bring up what happened during his time away in Nebraska, but that's the result when heart and mind aren't in alignment.

Frost never should have left and he'll be the first to tell you that.

He's back and he's the still the right person for the job. With respect to Nebraska, no one is winning there, not easily, in today's CFB world. Frost will recruit better in Orlando than he ever did or could have in the Midwest.

Outsiders are seriously sleeping on UCF and the inherent potential the university has, but it still requires the right person leading the program. He genuinely loves this place and its people. And he understands where we want to go and believes in the vision.

We're back on track.