ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – For the last two weeks, UCF Football head coach Scott Frost has pulled double duty.
In just his second year, Frost has taken the Knights to new heights with their best in-season ranking in program history at No. 12 in the Coaches Poll. The Black and Gold boast the best scoring offense in the nation with 48.5 points per game.
Last week, UCF tallied 615 yards of total offense, and quarterback McKenzie Milton threw for a career-high 412 yards in a 31-24 victory on the road at SMU.
Despite all the on-field success, it was apparent after the game in Dallas that Frost had his mind focused on something more important.
"I'm just ready to go home and become a dad," a visibly tired Frost said in his postgame interview on ESPN2.
Frost's wife, Ashley, pregnant with the couple's first child, passed her due date earlier in the week. Fortunately, for the UCF head coach, a jet was on standby at a local Dallas airport should Frost have received a call that his wife went into labor.
But until his cell buzzed with the best news of his life, Frost was locked in on the sidelines to lead his team.
"That's my job to go with them no matter what, unless the call came," Frost said earlier this week at his press conference. "The call didn't come though. I thanked the players for making this week a little easier and more special for me."
The Knights had a contingency plan in place if Frost needed to leave mid-game. Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander would take over as acting head coach, and offensive coordinator Troy Walters would be in charge of the offensive play calling.
"I was prepared. If he had to leave, I was prepared to call the game," Walters said earlier this week. "We have our call sheet. That stays the same. The adjustments within the game and even before he told me that I was going to have a bigger role just of where his mind was. Considering everything that took place and happened, he called a great game."
After a good practice to start the week on Monday, Frost was absent on Tuesday. The couple checked into Florida Hospital for Women. With speculation buzzing, the Knights were elated for their coach, but continued preparations for this weekend's showdown with UConn.
"The players did a great job of executing the game plan, had a good day," Walters added on Tuesday. "I know when Coach Frost watches the video on his iPad wherever he is in the hospital, he'll be pleased with the work we put in today."
After Ashley delivered a healthy boy just after midnight on Nov. 8, Frost was back at practice on Wednesday with a new look on life as a first-time father
"There's been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of satisfying things have happened to me in my career, but I don't think any of them can match the sheer joy of holding a baby for the first time," Frost said on Thursday.
Frost will be on the sidelines as UCF takes on UConn at noon on Saturday at Spectrum Stadium. The Knights can improve to a school record 9-0 with a win if Frost gets his first win as a first-time dad.
RISE AND CONQUER
The second season of UCF Football under head coach Scott Frost is now underway. Fans can explore all of the new ticket options at Spectrum Stadium by visiting WeRiseandConquer.com or calling (407) 823-1000.
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