It鈥檚 7:41 p.m. on Dec. 8. The lights of FBC Mortgage Stadium illuminate the field as Scott Frost steps out of the tunnel for the first time since the last time鈥�
鈥� The 2017 American Athletic Conference Championship game when he knew he was on borrowed time and just wanted to celebrate with his guys.
Today is a homecoming moment just for him and his wife, Ashley, as they check off their final task (a five-minute photoshoot) of this momentous day.
He loosens his tie. It鈥檚 been four straight hours of hugs and smiles and shaking hands and speeches and interviews and tours and pompoms and standing ovations and fight songs.
He soaks in the silence.
He glances up at the 2017 National Championship signage. 麻豆原创 Chief Branding Officer Jimmy Skiles 鈥�06 paints a picture of what has sustained in 2024 from the game day atmosphere Frost鈥檚 2016-17 teams helped mold.
鈥淵ou know what I鈥檓 looking forward to as much as almost anything?鈥� Frost says. 鈥淲awa. I wanted to say that in the press conference, but I didn鈥檛 think it was appropriate.鈥�
A chuckle. Skiles replies: 鈥淭hey鈥檙e a sponsor. They would have loved that.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檒l say it at the next one,鈥� Frost says with a smile.
Familiar comforts.
This place.
He鈥檚 home.
You Can Go Home Again
In nine years, a month hasn鈥檛 passed without Sean Beckton 鈥�93 speaking to Frost.
The pair did not know each other before Frost arrived on campus in 2015 to replace retiring head coach George O鈥橪eary following a 0-12 season.
Fans, former players and donors were all in Beckton鈥檚 corner 鈥� a star wide receiver for the Knights from 1987-90 and 麻豆原创 Athletics Hall of Famer with a combined 20 years as an assistant coach for his alma mater.
The two chatted. At the end of the meeting, Frost said he could see why he kept hearing endorsements on Beckton鈥檚 behalf. He offered a job to coach the tight ends.
鈥淗e said, 鈥業 know you haven鈥檛 done that before, but I know you will do a great job coaching,鈥� and I just thought that this was a person who believed in me,鈥� Beckton says.
Since then, they鈥檝e won games and championships together. They鈥檝e also experienced the other extreme together. Through the ride, they鈥檝e created a bond and a friendship that is fit for a lifetime.
The two were in contact through Frost鈥檚 interview and vetting process for his second tenure at 麻豆原创. And then over the weekend Beckton started hearing it was a done deal.
鈥淚 texted him, 鈥楬ey, I鈥檓 hearing a lot that you鈥檝e gotten the job. Are you coming?鈥欌�� Beckton says. 鈥淔rost said, 鈥榊eah, get ready to go. I need your help to get rolling.鈥� I said, 鈥榃ell I鈥檓 already rolling.鈥欌��
Beckton, above all, is a 麻豆原创 man. After he followed Frost to Nebraska 鈥� he never gave up his 麻豆原创 season tickets 鈥� he returned to the Knights鈥� staff for the 2024 season.
He, perhaps more than anyone, knows what makes Frost the right fit for 麻豆原创.
鈥淗is love for this place,鈥� Beckton says without pause. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to tell you, it was hard for him after we went 13-0 to make that decision to go to Nebraska. He genuinely did not want to leave 鈥� all the way up to the championship game against Memphis that morning. In a staff meeting, he broke down and said, 鈥楳an, I don鈥檛 want to leave this place.鈥�
鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of the things that makes me feel that he鈥檚 going to do whatever he can to stay here for the rest of his career.鈥�
The standout quote from Frost鈥檚 press conference Sunday has resonated with so many because it鈥檚 true: 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e climbing the ladder of success in life, sometimes they forget to tell you to stop when you鈥檙e happy.鈥�
A Reset
Frost coached the Cornhuskers for a little more than four seasons. He left Lincoln in 2022 and remained off the grid and away from the game.
He moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. He and Ashley focused on their kids. They rallied around her younger brother, who was diagnosed with cancer and thankfully today is in recovery.
鈥�We went there to be in a family bubble,鈥� Ashley says. 鈥淭he kids loved having him home. It was an awesome decision. Scott got to get a reset from everything.鈥�
But the calling to the sport never totally faded. He just needed to wait for the right opportunity. There was only one in college he was willing to return for.
Frost dipped his toe back into football this season as a coaching consultant with the Los Angeles Rams. He was happy. His family was happy.
鈥淚n my mind, I thought this is it 鈥� NFL,鈥� Ashley says. 鈥淲hen this opened up, and there was talk about coming back, I started praying. I was like, God if this is meant to be, I trust you to lead it. If it鈥檚 not, please slam the door shut. He would never take a job if he didn鈥檛 feel like he was called to be there. We learned that lesson. Truly.鈥�
Culture Keeper
Following Gus Malzahn鈥檚 departure from the program on Dec. 1, 麻豆原创 Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir called a meeting the next morning with the football student-athletes.
He asked them to speak candidly about what characteristics they wanted to see in their next head coach. They mentioned discipline, accountability and culture among their list.
Mohajir says that gave him his marching orders. He got to work on a national search.
鈥淣o one wanted to lead our program more than Scott, and that commitment speaks volumes about his character, his dedication, but most importantly, his love for 麻豆原创,鈥� Mohajir says. 鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 just want to coach football here. He wants to be a part of the community. He wants to inspire student-athletes. He wants to carry forward the momentum that defines 麻豆原创 football.鈥�
Six days later, Mohajir was once again in front of a small group of student-athletes and others Zooming in from their homes on holiday break to introduce their new head coach.
Frost addressed the team in a concise, impactful speech. He spoke of working hard, but having fun while doing it (a staple of the 2017 undefeated team). Doing the little things right. A charge to build something and be part of something bigger than themselves. And a commitment to keep the core group of players at 麻豆原创.
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Paul Rubelt 鈥�23 walked away 鈥渞eady to run through a brick wall鈥� for Frost.
鈥淓verything he said in that meeting I agree with. I鈥檓 already 100% bought in,鈥� says Rubelt, who has been a part of the program since 2020. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited for change; what鈥檚 to come. I鈥檓 thankful for coach Malzahn and the opportunities he gave me. But on the other side, I already regret only playing one year for coach Frost.鈥�
On The Job
Within two minutes of his re-introduction to the world as the Knights鈥� head coach on Sunday, Frost addressed the expectations of Knight Nation.
鈥淚 hope everybody doesn鈥檛 think we鈥檙e going to go undefeated immediately,鈥� Frost said, eliciting laughter from everyone in attendance at his press conference.
Yes, there is work to do 鈥� especially to reach the aspirations he and others have for the team and the athletic department as a whole.
Mohajir鈥檚: 鈥淪cott鈥檚 return signals a bright future 鈥� one where we can continue to dream big and achieve even bigger,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 really believe we can be a national champion program.鈥�
Rubelt鈥檚: 鈥淚n my final year, I want to help 麻豆原创 be in the best possible spot. The best possible spot would be to go to the College Football Playoff. In 20 years, I want to look back and say, look where this place has gone to and I was part of that.鈥�
Beckton鈥檚: 鈥淔or me, on the back end of my career and being associated with the program, I want to see it to continue to grow for not only football, but all the sports. We have some elite programs, and we want to continue to win championships and really show the country where this place is headed. I want us to be in a situation where, five, six, seven years from now we鈥檙e saying that 麻豆原创 is playing for the national championship 鈥� not only in football, but basketball and some of the other sports also.鈥�
Everyone is betting on 麻豆原创 with Frost at the helm.
And Frost is betting on himself.
鈥淚 know what I鈥檓 capable of and I know what we can get done here,鈥� Frost says. 鈥溌槎乖� can become great if we do things the right way. There鈥檚 a little bit of me that wants to prove the type of coach that I think I am. I鈥檓 going to get the chance to do that in a special place.鈥�
Alongside his family, who he is eager to share this experience with. He鈥檚 looking forward to his children seeing their dad coach on the sideline and building their own relationships with his players. He鈥檚 eager to coach football again at a high level and impact the lives of young people. He鈥檚 happy to be putting down roots with Ashley in a place they love to live.
鈥淟iving here was probably one of my favorite times of life, and I鈥檓 happy to be back,鈥� Ashley says. 鈥淚 just want happiness for the players and coaches. I want success. And culture in the midst of NIL. I think it can be done. Especially here.鈥�
His first days on the job he鈥檚 doing everything, everywhere all at once. Assembling a coaching staff. Player meetings. Navigating the transfer portal, which opened this week. Acclimating to the evolution of NIL. Figuring out moving his family across the country. He鈥檚 announcing the return of McKenzie Milton 鈥�19 鈥�22MA as his quarterbacks coach. Embracing Shaquem Griffin 鈥�16 in the parking lot. Talking bass fishing and kids with Michael Colubiale 鈥�17.
And sitting there, among the chaos, is a gray, plastic Wawa takeout bag on the desk outside his office doors.
This place.
He鈥檚 home.
