American Stories – Frost, Family and Football

DALLAS– UCF took another step toward an historic undefeated season last Saturday night when the Knights defeated improved SMU, 31-24, at Ford Stadium here. UCF piled up 615 yards, but the game still came down to a final SMU possession after the Knights missed out on three scoring opportunities inside the red zone.

The 8-0 Knights may not have been dominant, as they had been in most of their previous seven victories, but they kept their composure when it counted, making the most of a career-best 412 passing yards from sophomore quarterback McKenzie Milton and an electrifying 145-yard performance by sophomore running back Adrian Killins Jr., the Olympic-caliber sprinter who broke off touchdown runs of 64 and 34 yards.

Scott Frost will take the win and move on.

The Knights’ coach said earlier in the week that this had a chance to be a dream season and he didn’t want anyone to wake him up.

“I’m still asleep,” he admitted. “Our team has found a way. This was a new one. We were going up and down the field. Any time you have 615 yards, you should have more points. We should have made it easier on ourselves but you can’t turn the ball over.”

This was the closest game the Knights — who came into the game leading the country in scoring with an average of 51 points– have played all season. But they survived. “There are five teams still unbeaten in the FBS and we’re one of them,” Frost said. “So we still got a chance.”

The Knights have three regular season games remaining – Saturday against UConn, Nov. 18 at Temple and then Thanksgiving weekend in the War on I-4 against USF in a game that will likely determine the East Division representative in the American Athletic Conference Championship.

Frost looked emotionally exhausted in the postgame aftermath Saturday – and for good reason. He had other, more important things, on his mind all week.

Frost’s wife, Ashley, was back in Orlando, past her scheduled due date with the couple’s first child. At one point Frost considered missing the trip to Dallas to be with his wife.

“It took a lot out of me,” he said. “I just didn’t have the energy. I’m glad the kids brought it. I’m glad the assistants brought it. Everybody tells me when your first child is born it’s the best moment of your life. I’m 42 years old so I’m going to be an old dad,  but I’m blessed it’s coming. I’ve been nervous not wanting to miss that and wanting to be there with her.

“I told my team in the locker room after the game whenever the baby comes, thanks for making his birthday happier for me.”

Frost made sure he prepared for any eventuality. He put together a plan in the last two weeks in the event his wife went into labor while he was away. Frost decided he would leave any game if something happened.

Thankfully, the phone didn’t ring while the game was on the line.

“It would have been tough to leave a game like that,” Frost admitted. “But some time during that game I thought about handing the calls over to (offensive coordinator) Troy (Walters), just because I knew he was prepped and ready to go. Shoot, I’ve got a ton of confidence in myself to call plays. I’ve been doing it a long time and I think I’m pretty good at it, but sometimes you’ve got to bring in a relief pitcher.”

It was a rare view into the human side of coaching. Frost visited with his team, then spoke with his wife. UCF director of athletics Danny White arranged for a private jet for Frost to get home as quickly as possible should the need arise. Frost talked about the possibility of coming to Dallas Saturday in case the baby arrived Friday night, but he wanted to be with his team. Quarterback coach Mario Verduzco’s wife stayed with Ashley.

Aside from his family matters, Frost’s success at UCF in two years has made him one of the most talked-about head coaches when it comes to jobs across the country. But if the chatter is filtering to the Knights, the players appear to be immune to it.

“We’re not worried about any of that right now,” said Killins. “We’re about winning division championships, conference championships, national championships.”