Michigan State Football: How will Scott Frost’s hiring affect the Spartans?
By Stephen Robb
How will Nebraska’s hiring of Scott Frost shape the Big Ten West division and affect Michigan State football for years to come?
Scott Frost was the exciting name this season as he led UCF to a 14-0 record. The same team that was 0-12 in George O’Leary’s last season in 2015. It’s important to note that while Frost made an unbelievable turnaround in two years, this UCF program was 12-1 in 2013 and 9-4 in 2014. Essentially they had been good before a disastrous 2015 campaign.
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Frost is an excellent offensive coach — he was at Oregon during the Marcus Mariota years and after he left, Oregon went 4-8 and coach Mark Helfrich was fired.
What is Nebraska getting? An up-and-coming head coach who can spot talent like he did with quarterback McKenzie Milton, a three-star player from Hawaii. What does in mean for Michigan State? UCF did not play much defense albeit Frost should be able to get better players to fit his scheme.
I would imagine much like his time at UCF, Frost will take a huge step his second season. Former Nebraska coach Mike Riley had more of a drop back passer in Tanner Lee. Frost will need to get his QB in order for his offense to work.
The Oregon Ducks’ offense challenged the Spartans discipline and Frost will do the same at Nebraska. The Cornhuskers will be a tough win for the Spartans going forward as they always are. The Frost offense will put pressure on MSU’s defense to be disciplined. If not, then Frost will get his athletes in space and it will be a long day for Sparty. Also, Wisconsin’s days of dominance in the weak West division could be numbered.
Personally, I was disappointed for the players at UCF. To go 13-0 is quite an accomplishment but I do not blame Frost for wanting to move on and improve the life of his family with better pay. However, it would have been nice to see him stay at UCF and what he could have done there. The same could be written about when Mark Dantonio left Cincinnati for MSU, yet he made East Lansing not a pit stop job but a destination.
In some ways, a coach leaving players high and dry after they bought into the message is disappointing. That is the game college football coaches and college administrations play, though.
The real question going forward will be can Frost live up to the unrealistic expectations of the Nebraska fan base. Winning nine games a year is not enough. They want to be in the national championship picture again. The high expectations will be like a pressure cooker on Frost. He is part of that last national title team in Lincoln.
Some people have said that you can never go home because the people there will still think of you in the same light as before. For Frost, the clock is ticking on a national championship and will be expected that he delivers.