Scott Frost has changed UCF's culture

You can not find a worse team than the 2015 UCF Knights. The team was a disaster on and off the field. The offense looked slow and outdated. The defense looked terrible and played on their heels in every game. The whole system needed an overhaul. A change in not only scheme, but philosophy. That is why Scott Frost is perfect. He continued the run first approach that O'Leary emphasized, but switched it from a traditional single back/I-Formation to a spread zone run scheme. The traditional I formation/single back has become so outdated atleast for UCF. So how much difference has Frost's switch in the running attack made? Well on 254 carries UCF's running attack has managed 1164 yards and 15 touchdowns. These totals already surpass UCF's running totals from last year. But here is a fun fact: UCF had 17 total touchdowns on offense last season, the running game is already in track to surpass that total. So the switch in schemes has worked.

But it's not just the switch in offensive schemes that has been a marvel. It's mostly the defense. I have already sang the praises of Erik Chinander multiple times. But let us really dig deep into the stats about the defense. Let's look at the traditional metrics first. In total defense, the Knights rank 24, in run defense the Knights rank 15th, in sacks UCF ranks 22 in the country. Efficiency according to ESPN ranks 21 in the country. But what about football outsiders, one of the best college football advanced metric sites? Where does this defense rank? 37th overall, while being ranked 28th in rushing S&P(rushing defense) and 30th in passing S&P. So what do the standard and advanced metrics tell us about this defense? It means this unit is really good. Do you remember last year where the glorified JV coach  turned defensive coordinator ruined this defense. A defense that was slow and probably the softest unit in the country. There were so many players out of position(Shaqueem), and so many players that were not playing or had limited time(Brim and Rucker). All it took was a first year defensive coordinator to bring a new life and vision. Seriously this is not the same defense it was last year, hell the defense has never looked this good. Ever.

There was another shift in philosophy. Frost is not afraid to play or start freshman. It felt like later in O'Leary's tenure that he wouldn't play freshman unless he had to. Be it injuries or what have you, George wouldn't play the young kids unless his hand was forced. Well that is not the case with Frost. He has brought a if you win the job, you start regardless of age mentality in. Name the last time a true freshman had an impact on a George O'Leary team. Was it Stanback in 2013? That's how difficult it is to answer. A true freshman being a game changer. Already Frost has had  several impactful freshman that add excitement to this team. There is McKenzie Milton the quarterback that has already shown flashes of brilliance that UCF fans haven't seen since Blake Bortles. There is Jawon Hamilton, the player that Stanback should have been. Of course everyone knows the impact of Adrian Killins has had on the offense. Jordan Johnson has become the anchor on this offensive line that this unit has been desperate for. Defensive End Trysten Hill is only 18 years old, yet has already setting the record for squatting at 730lbs. That is terrifying. Here's the scary part: Frost and his staff recruited see players in essentially 2 months. Imagine what it is going to be like once this staff has a whole year to recruit.

You see the reason why UCF is so much better this year than last year  is because UCF actually has a coaching staff. Not a group of sycophants that  are so far in above their heads. I firmly believe that George O'Leary quit being the head coach after the Fiesta Bowl win. He checked out and his recruiting and decision making clearly showed. Hell Yahoo had put out a story practically verifying this theory, but that was shot down by angry Twitter UCF  fans. But I personally still subscribed to this theory. So if you now come around to that Emory en who you may ask was Thad coach? I believe it was Charlie Taffee and Tyson Summers. But then Charlie retired and Tyson left. So 2015 I wholeheartedly believe that the imbecile Brent Key was the head coach. George was busy being temporary AD and Key took over as head coach. Of course he couldn't even coach the offensively line properly, so he was in over his head. That was why this 2015 team looked so bad. So mistake prone, so slow, so passive,  in essence not an O'Leary team. That is why UCF needed a complete and utter overhaul. To get rid of this stink.

Those who were on the sidelines at the Maryland game have said that this moment occurred: a senior UCF player turned to another player and said "The Bouncehouse is back". Well that sure is a change from last year. Frost has brought back a buzz to this fanbase. An excitement that seemingly died following the Fiesta Bowl win. Of course when Frost was hired there was initial excitement, but there was still a question of how well the team would perform under him. Would the Oregon offense translate well to UCF? Well as the season has progressed we have seen the answer to those questions. The more and more we see of this team and Frost the more the excitement has begun to build. Consider this: most UCF fans thought that 5 or 6 wins and a bowl would be the high mark and exceed most expectations. Now, however, there are some fans talking 7-8 wins and challenging for the East division. That is thanks to Frost and his staff. This was supposed to be a mulligan season and has turned into one in which a bowl game is not out of the question.

When George O'Leary came to UCF, he was the perfect coach at the perfect time. He was the hard nose old school coach to right the ship. Well Frost was the perfect coach to take over from O'Leary. In fact he is the polar opposite of O'Leary. Where is George was stubborn and stuck in his way, Frost is willing to look at things in different angles. He does not rule with a iron fist. He operates on understanding rather than fear. Which is why Frost is already more beloved within the UCF fanbase than George ever was. You see Scott Frost has changed everything about this program from top to bottom. He is the one that helped bring in new Nike jerseys and put names on the back of those jerseys. That was something that UCF fans had been begging for. Then there is the reaching out to the old UCF football alumni. Frost and his staff sent out brand new UCF colored Nike shoes. These players have no connection to Frost, yet there he was sending out these shoes as gifts. Of course there are the little things: Frost attending a Marching Knights practice and thanking the band for their contributions. He also plays popular music in practice rather than Dire Straights(O'Leary's favorite band). Frost has embraced the UCF community and we have embraced him. 

Sure he may leave in a few years, but Scott Frost has made a lasting impact on UCF and changed a culture that was on the brink of collapse.