The Competitive Success Fund, part of the ChargeOn Fund, serves as a crucial initiative to strengthen �鶹ӳ����ý Athletics’ commitment to student-athlete excellence. The fund is designed to support revenue sharing efforts, bolster scholarship opportunities, and elevate the overall competitiveness of �鶹ӳ����ý’s athletic programs. The Frost Family’s contribution to the Competitive Success Fund is a testament to the lasting impact of the �鶹ӳ����ý experience and the collective effort to propel the Knights forward in this new era of college athletics.

Frost, who led the Knights to an undefeated season and a Peach Bowl victory in 2017, expressed his deep connection to �鶹ӳ����ý and the importance of giving back to the program that has meant so much to him.

“�鶹ӳ����ý is a special place to my family and me,” Frost said. “The experience we had here, the people, the culture, and the passion for excellence all played a huge role in shaping who I am today and why we came back. Ashley and I are honored to support the Competitive Success Fund because we believe in the vision of �鶹ӳ����ý Athletics and want to contribute to the continued success of its student-athletes. The future is incredibly bright for the Knights, and we are excited to be part of it.”

The Frosts also encouraged Knight Nation to join his family and make a gift to �鶹ӳ����ý as part of��, which is Thursday, April 10. During the 24-hour fundraising event, donors rally together to celebrate �鶹ӳ����ý and give to the causes that mean the most to them, including student scholarships, life-changing research and .

Pending final approval of the House Settlement, beginning July 1, 2025, universities will be permitted to share revenue directly with student-athletes. �鶹ӳ����ý’s Competitive Success Fund is a proactive measure to ensure that the department is prepared to support its student-athletes at the highest level as college athletics continues to evolve.

“We are grateful to Scott and Ashley Frost for their gracious commitment,” said �鶹ӳ����ý Vice President and Director of Athletics, Terry Mohajir. “Their generosity will directly benefit our student-athletes as we continue to elevate our athletics programs on the national stage.”

The Competitive Success Fund plays a critical role in advancing �鶹ӳ����ý’s����initiative. For more information on how to support �鶹ӳ����ý Athletics through the Competitive Success Fund,��.

All contributions to the fund count towards Shareholders Society status. For those interested in joining the Shareholders Society and providing a higher level of support,��

… 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’s 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. �鶹ӳ����ý Chief Branding Officer Jimmy Skiles ’06 paints a picture of what has sustained in 2024 from the game day atmosphere Frost’s 2016-17 teams helped mold.

“You know what I’m looking forward to as much as almost anything?” Frost says. “Wawa. I wanted to say that in the press conference, but I didn’t think it was appropriate.”

A chuckle. Skiles replies: “They’re a sponsor. They would have loved that.”

“I’ll say it at the next one,” Frost says with a smile.

Familiar comforts.

This place.

He’s home.

You Can Go Home Again

In nine years, a month hasn’t passed without Sean Beckton ’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’Leary following a 0-12 season.

Fans, former players and donors were all in Beckton’s corner — a star wide receiver for the Knights from 1987-90 and �鶹ӳ����ý 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’s behalf. He offered a job to coach the tight ends.

“He said, ‘I know you haven’t done that before, but I know you will do a great job coaching,’ and I just thought that this was a person who believed in me,” Beckton says.

Since then, they’ve won games and championships together. They’ve also experienced the other extreme together. Through the ride, they’ve created a bond and a friendship that is fit for a lifetime.

The two were in contact through Frost’s interview and vetting process for his second tenure at �鶹ӳ����ý. And then over the weekend Beckton started hearing it was a done deal.

“I texted him, ‘Hey, I’m hearing a lot that you’ve gotten the job. Are you coming?’” Beckton says. “Frost said, ‘Yeah, get ready to go. I need your help to get rolling.’ I said, ‘Well I’m already rolling.’”

Beckton, above all, is a �鶹ӳ����ý man. After he followed Frost to Nebraska — he never gave up his �鶹ӳ����ý season tickets — he returned to the Knights’ staff for the 2024 season.

He, perhaps more than anyone, knows what makes Frost the right fit for �鶹ӳ����ý.

“His love for this place,” Beckton says without pause. “I’m 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 — all the way up to the championship game against Memphis that morning. In a staff meeting, he broke down and said, ‘Man, I don’t want to leave this place.’

“That’s one of the things that makes me feel that he’s going to do whatever he can to stay here for the rest of his career.”

The standout quote from Frost’s press conference Sunday has resonated with so many because it’s true: “When you’re climbing the ladder of success in life, sometimes they forget to tell you to stop when you’re happy.”

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.

“We went there to be in a family bubble,” Ashley says. “The kids loved having him home. It was an awesome decision. Scott got to get a reset from everything.”

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.

“In my mind, I thought this is it — NFL,” Ashley says. “When 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’s not, please slam the door shut. He would never take a job if he didn’t feel like he was called to be there. We learned that lesson. Truly.”

Culture Keeper

Following Gus Malzahn’s departure from the program on Dec. 1, �鶹ӳ����ý 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.

“No 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 �鶹ӳ����ý,” Mohajir says. “He doesn’t 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 �鶹ӳ����ý football.”

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 �鶹ӳ����ý.

Redshirt senior offensive lineman Paul Rubelt ’23 walked away “ready to run through a brick wall” for Frost.

“Everything he said in that meeting I agree with. I’m already 100% bought in,” says Rubelt, who has been a part of the program since 2020. “I’m excited for change; what’s to come. I’m 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.”

On The Job

Within two minutes of his re-introduction to the world as the Knights’ head coach on Sunday, Frost addressed the expectations of Knight Nation.

“I hope everybody doesn’t think we’re going to go undefeated immediately,” Frost said, eliciting laughter from everyone in attendance at his press conference.

Yes, there is work to do — especially to reach the aspirations he and others have for the team and the athletic department as a whole.

Mohajir’s: “Scott’s return signals a bright future — one where we can continue to dream big and achieve even bigger,” he says. “I really believe we can be a national champion program.”

Rubelt’s: “In my final year, I want to help �鶹ӳ����ý 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.”

Beckton’s: “For 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’re saying that �鶹ӳ����ý is playing for the national championship — not only in football, but basketball and some of the other sports also.”

Everyone is betting on �鶹ӳ����ý with Frost at the helm.

And Frost is betting on himself.

“I know what I’m capable of and I know what we can get done here,” Frost says. “�鶹ӳ����ý can become great if we do things the right way. There’s a little bit of me that wants to prove the type of coach that I think I am. I’m going to get the chance to do that in a special place.”

Alongside his family, who he is eager to share this experience with. He’s looking forward to his children seeing their dad coach on the sideline and building their own relationships with his players. He’s eager to coach football again at a high level and impact the lives of young people. He’s happy to be putting down roots with Ashley in a place they love to live.

“Living here was probably one of my favorite times of life, and I’m happy to be back,” Ashley says. “I 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.”

His first days on the job he’s 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’s announcing the return of McKenzie Milton ’19 ’22MA as his quarterbacks coach. Embracing Shaquem Griffin ’16 in the parking lot. Talking bass fishing and kids with Michael Colubiale ’17.

And sitting there, among the chaos, is a gray, plastic Wawa takeout bag on the desk outside his office doors.

This place.

He’s home.

“Today marks an exciting reunion for �鶹ӳ����ý Football as we welcome back Scott Frost, a coach who ignites the spirit and passion of Knight Nation,” Mohajir says. “Scott’s love for his players along with his leadership, enthusiasm and vision were pivotal in making the decision to bring him back to �鶹ӳ����ý. Throughout this national search, his passion for �鶹ӳ����ý was clear. I believe no one wanted to lead our program more than Scott.”

Frost originally served as �鶹ӳ����ý’s head coach from 2016 to 2017, culminating in a historic 13-0 season, an American Athletic Conference (AAC) championship and a national championship that captured the nation’s attention. In his final game, Frost guided �鶹ӳ����ý to a victory over No. 7 Auburn in the 2018 Peach Bowl, securing the program’s first undefeated season in school history.

Frost posted the greatest two-year turnaround in college football history at �鶹ӳ����ý, inheriting a 0-12 team in 2015 and taking the Knights to a perfect season in his second and final year, when he was named the national coach of the year.

“I’m deeply honored to return to �鶹ӳ����ý, a school that has always held a special place in my heart,” Frost says. “The foundation we built here has only grown stronger, and I am thrilled to continue shaping this program’s legacy. As we prepare for year three in the Big 12 Conference, I look forward to working alongside our dedicated student-athletes, talented staff and passionate fans to reach new heights together.”

Frost went a combined 19-7 in two seasons at �鶹ӳ����ý, helping turn an 0-12 team into a 13-0 squad in just two years. In Frost’s first season, he took the Knights to a bowl game and finished with a 6-7 record. The turnaround was historic, as Frost became the only first-year coach in FBS history to make a bowl game with a team that was winless the previous season. �鶹ӳ����ý led the nation with a six-win improvement in 2016 and exceeded that mark in 2017 as the nation’s only undefeated team. The Knights put together the first undefeated regular season in �鶹ӳ����ý and AAC history in 2017, posted the longest winning streak in school history at the time of his departure (13 games), achieved the highest in-season ranking in program history (10th), highest final ranking (sixth) and set an AAC record with 16 all-conference selections.

�鶹ӳ����ý was led by its high-powered offense and improved defense under Frost. The Knights led the nation in scoring at 48.2 points per game and were the only FBS team to score at least 30 points in every game in 2017. Defensively, �鶹ӳ����ý improved its scoring defense by 65 spots in Frost’s two seasons.

In addition to being the unanimous choice as the 2017 AAC Coach of the Year, Frost was honored as the national coach of the year by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, the Touchdown Club of Columbus, the Lombardi Award and FCA in addition to winning the Home Depot, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Eddie Robinson coach-of-the-year awards.

Frost began his coaching career at Northern Iowa in 2007 as a linebackers coach and was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2008. That season, his defense excelled, tying for third in the FCS with 40 takeaways and ranking ninth in scoring defense, allowing just 17.7 points per game. The 12-3 Panthers also led the Missouri Valley Football Conference in both rushing defense (107.1 yards per game) and scoring defense.

In 2009, Frost joined the Oregon coaching staff as the wide receivers coach under head coach Chip Kelly and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich. Frost helped Oregon post a 79-14 record in his seven seasons, during which time the Ducks won four conference titles and twice played for the national championship.

Oregon never ranked lower than eighth nationally in scoring offense during Frost’s seven seasons on staff, and the Ducks led the nation in scoring in 2010. Frost was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2013, and Oregon ranked in the top five nationally in both scoring and total offense each of his three seasons calling plays. The Ducks scored 681 points in 2014, the second-highest total in NCAA history. Oregon made it to the College Football Playoff Championship Game that year, when Frost was one of five finalists for the Broyles Award, presented annually to the nation’s top assistant. Frost’s quarterback, Marcus Mariota, won the Heisman Trophy and was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

After Kelly left for the Philadelphia Eagles, Oregon promoted Mark Helfrich to head coach and named Frost offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2013. In this role, Frost guided Marcus Mariota to a Heisman Trophy win and a berth in the national championship game. During Frost’s tenure as offensive coordinator, Oregon recorded a 33–8 record and consistently ranked among the nation’s top teams in scoring and total offense. His standout performance in 2014 earned him a finalist spot for the prestigious Broyles Award, recognizing the nation’s top assistant coach.

Following his two years at �鶹ӳ����ý, Scott Frost served as the head football coach at the University of Nebraska for four-plus seasons from 2018 to 2022, coaching the first three games of the 2022 season. Frost posted a 16-31 record with the Cornhuskers. His tenure was defined by close losses, as 23 of his 31 losses were by single digits, including each of his final 13. Nebraska lost 22 one-score games during Frost’s career, including 12 games by five or fewer points.

This season, Frost has been serving as a coaching consultant for Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams.

FROST CAREER COACHING ACCOLADES:

• Consensus National Coach of the Year (2017)
• AFCA Coach of the Year (2017)
• Bear Bryant Coach of the Year (2017)
• Home Depot Coach of the Year (2017)
• Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (2017)
• FCA Coach of the Year (2017)
• AP Coach of the Year (2017)
• American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (2017, Unanimous Selection)
• Broyles Award Finalist (2014)
• Led �鶹ӳ����ý to a 13-0 record in 2017, when the Knights were the nation’s only undefeated team
• Led �鶹ӳ����ý to the first perfect regular season in school and American Athletic Conference history in 2017
• Head coach of the greatest two-year turnaround in college football history (0-12 to 13-0)

During my junior year of undergraduate education at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, I participated in the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. To be honest, before that time I was hard-pressed to find Nebraska on a map. Furthermore, I did not know how much of an impact this opportunity was going to have in my life and how it was going to intertwine with my academic career at �鶹ӳ����ý.

As I prepared to leave home for the summer, I started learning more about Nebraska and its university. It was 1995, the Huskers football team had just won the 1994 NCAA national championship defeating Miami for the title, and the expectations were high for another championship run. As it turned out, they did go on to be national champions again, crushing Florida for back-to-back championships.

I returned to UPRM to complete my degree in sociology and after graduation joined the graduate sociology program at UNL. In 1997, Nebraska was again in the hunt for a national championship. Aided by a strong defense, a transfer student from Stanford took over the quarterback position to lead the Huskers to the team’s fifth national championship. His name: Scott Frost.

Years passed and I joined the �鶹ӳ����ý faculty as an assistant professor of sociology. I still followed the Nebraska football team and had experienced no conflict in doing so while cheering on the �鶹ӳ����ý Knights. In reality, both teams were worlds apart: different conferences, regions of the country, etc. The only remembrance was a 1997 game in Lincoln, when the then “Golden Knights” under quarterback Dante Culpepper played toe-to-toe against the Huskers before losing 38-24. Outside of the rare baseball or basketball games against Nebraska, both my college athletic programs were worlds apart.

Forward to 2015, the Knights football program had come full circle under Coach George O’ Leary, from 0-11 in 2004 to 0-12 in 2015 and the need for a change. At the conclusion of the 2015 season the announcement came out: A young offensive coordinator from the University of Oregon became the head coach of the Knights. His name: Scott Frost. Slowly – and for the better – my worlds started to collide.

Coach Frost was new to many at �鶹ӳ����ý, but I knew great things were bound to happen under his leadership. In his first season, he was able to put the Knights back in the winning column and the expectations for his second season were high, but nobody could forecast what transpired.

Coach Frost guided the Knights to an undefeated regular season and a New Year’s Peach Bowl victory against Auburn. Referred to as National Champions by some, Frost had elevated the course of the Knights football program to new heights.

But as we know, there wouldn’t be another �鶹ӳ����ý season with him at the helm. Days earlier, after the Knights won the American Athletic Conference championship, news headlines came in: Scott Frost was named head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football program.

Just like that, my worlds collided again. Nebraska and Frost were no longer foreign concepts to the Knights nation and I could no longer separate the two. In a strange twist of fate, my academic homes, my athletic programs had intertwined, forever tied to each other under one name: Scott Frost.

I am not a psychic and cannot predict the future. I can only hope that both the Knights and Huskers continue to be outstanding college athletic programs and academic institutions.

For me, cheering for the Huskers under Coach Frost will inevitably be connected to �鶹ӳ����ý.

Now the question remains: Go Huskers or Go Knights? If you read closely, the answer is both: Go Big Red and Go Black and Gold. Charge On!

Fernando I. Rivera is an associate professor in �鶹ӳ����ý’s Department of Sociology. He can be reached at Fernando.Rivera@ucf.edu.

The Knights were ranked 25th��in both the Associated Press Poll and the Coaches Poll in week six of the NCAA college football season.

The last time �鶹ӳ����ý was ranked in the Top 25 was after winning the Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl to close out the 2013 season. The Knights finished 10th��in the AP Poll and 12th��in the Coaches Poll four years ago.

“I don’t really care where they rank us. I could care less,” �鶹ӳ����ý head coach Scott Frost��said after Saturday night’s win over Memphis. “I told the team I want us to enjoy this win; we’re flushing it. We’re pretending these first three games never happened because we’ve got an 8-game season in front of us. If these guys play like they did tonight, we can accomplish whatever we want to accomplish.”

The Knights defeated visiting Memphis by a score of 40-13 in both teams’ American Athletic Conference opener Saturday night at Spectrum Stadium, handing the Tigers their first loss of the season. �鶹ӳ����ý opened the season winning 61-17 over FIU, before defeating Maryland 38-10 on the road last weekend.

�鶹ӳ����ý is set to begin preparing for next weekend’s game at Cincinnati. The Knights and the Bearcats are scheduled for an 8 p.m. kickoff on ESPNU.

1. Stadium Club��We’ve converted the concourse area on the west side of the stadium into a new premium space and added chairback seats to many sections on the west side of Spectrum Stadium. Fans in these areas now have access to dedicated food and drink options, as well as plenty of other amenities.

2. Expanded Carl Black and Gold Cabana��We’ve added a premium club space to the concourse on the east side of the stadium. This brand-new space, along with added chairback seats to many sections on the east side of Spectrum Stadium, serve as an expanded Carl Black & Gold Cabana. Fans in these areas now have even more access to dedicated food and drink options, as well as plenty of other amenities.

3. Field Cabanas��Some of the best seats in the house will be on the field. These unique spaces combine great premium amenities with the ability to get closer to the action than ever before. Patrons of the field cabanas also have access to a new lounge space, available to them before, during and after the game.

4. New student sections in both end zones��Our opponents will be facing the Knightmare no matter which direction their offense is heading. In addition, more of our student fans will be closer to the field than ever before.

5. Reserved Student Knights Club (SKC) section��The SKC is our new student donor group.

6. #�鶹ӳ����ýlags��Fans are encouraged to plant and fly their flags at their homes, on their cars, at work and at their tailgates. And make sure to represent the Knights with the #�鶹ӳ����ýlags hashtag on your favorite social media platform.

7. New ribbon board��A new LED display has been installed above the south end of the stadium, giving fans at the north end a great view of the score, time remaining and other cool content.

8. New concessions

9. New catering partner in premium areas��The food just got that much better if you’re sitting in the Carl Black & Gold Cabana, Roth Tower or the new Stadium Club.

10. Student concessions specials��Hot dogs and bottles of water will be $2 each with your valid �鶹ӳ����ý student ID at concession stands near Gates 9 and 16.

11. More free ice water��There will now be four free ice water stations on the concourse — two in the OneStop Cool Zones and two provided by the Student Government Association under the student sections.

12. More of your social content on the video and ribbon boards Share your game day fun on social media and see if your posts make the big screen.

13. Season Ticket Holder of the Game��.

14. New �鶹ӳ����ý Knights App features��Additional features include game day maps, timelines, in-stadium push notifications and corporate sponsor discounts for fans.

15. New performers for the free Tailgate Concert Series Headliners include Luke Combs, Drake White, Seth Ennis and many others. These free concerts begin two hours prior to kickoff and are held just west of Spectrum Stadium on IOA Plaza.

17. The return of new OYO Sports �鶹ӳ����ý figurines for Junior Knight Program
OYO Sports are licensed collectible��mini-figures designed to be compatible with major building block toys, such as Lego.

18. Ride share��Ride-sharing drivers will drop off and pick up patrons near the stadium. The rides-share lot (E3) located in front of the Wayne Densch Sports Center (football building).

19. Additional Waterfront parking in the Softball Lot

20. Updated game day Park & Ride and Courtesy Shuttles from all sides of campus

Bonus��The Knights will add many more uniform combinations this year, with the addition of two new jerseys and a new color for pants.

“It affected me most when she lost her hair and saw her struggling a little bit, and so this game, I’m pretty much dedicating it to her,” Rucker said at a bowl game press conference Thursday.

Now in its second year, the AutoNation Cure Bowl’s proceeds go to breast-cancer research, specifically the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Some of the proceeds have already supported the work of College of Medicine cancer researcher Dr. Annette Khaled. She attended the press conference with Cure Bowl officials, �鶹ӳ����ý players and Coach Scott Frost.

The game is equally significant for Rucker’s teammate, linebacker Shaquem Griffin, who said he is inspired by a family member battling the disease.

“Seeing her keep fighting and keep pushing, it just reminds us that anytime there is a bad play or anytime something goes wrong, you know, why can’t we keep fighting,” said the AAC defensive player of the year.

Griffin is looking forward to “a great experience” being able to play for such an important cause.

“It’s more than just us when it comes to this game. Just like the name says, it’s the Cure Bowl. We’re fighting for a cause. We are playing more than just football, and that’s the biggest thing – that’s the biggest impact for us.”

The Knights will face Arkansas State University at Camping World Stadium in Orlando with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m.

Khaled, chair of the medical school’s Cancer Research Division, will join Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the �鶹ӳ����ý College of Medicine, and others on the field during the game to receive a check of Cure Bowl proceeds going to breast cancer research.

To purchase tickets or get more information on the game, visit��. The game will be shown on CBS Sports Network.

�鶹ӳ����ý will face off with Sun Belt co-champion Arkansas State in the Cure Bowl, which is set for Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m. inside Orlando’s Camping World Stadium.

“We’re thrilled to be in a bowl game,” �鶹ӳ����ý head coach Scott Frost said Sunday. “Our guys have done a lot to earn a chance to play in the post-season. I think it’s wonderful that we get to play right here in the great city of Orlando. I think it’s going to give us an opportunity to have a lot of fans. It’s going to make travel and logistics easy for our football team and I can’t wait to give our seniors another chance to play football. I would love to see this team end this season on a good note. We’d love to send our seniors out on a good note. So we’re going to prepare as hard as we can.”

Frost said he is proud to take part in the Cure Bowl, which donates proceeds from the game directly to individual breast cancer researchers through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Cure Bowl proceeds directly benefit breast cancer research at �鶹ӳ����ý. Dr. Annette Khaled, head of the College of Medicine’s Cancer Research Division, has received $645,000 from the Cure Bowl through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Khaled and her team of graduate students have discovered a way to kill breast cancer cells, and their work is moving forward to preclinical testing and then clinical trials.

“Bowl games are exciting no matter where they are and which game they are,” Frost said. “The Cure Bowl stands for something maybe a little more than most, to be a bowl that helps raise awareness and money for breast cancer. That’s as good a cause as you can find.”

�鶹ӳ����ý Vice President and Director of Athletics Danny White said playing in the Cure Bowl will benefit the football program and Knights fans.

“Taking part in the Cure Bowl will be a great experience for our student-athletes,” White said. “Congratulations to our football team and our coaching staff for earning the reward of participating in a bowl game. I know our fans will be excited about supporting their Knights right here in Orlando at Camping World Stadium.”

Below are reasons to support the Knights and buy your bowl tickets through �鶹ӳ����ý:

�鶹ӳ����ý fans can purchase tickets to the Cure Bowl by calling 407.823.1000. Information on student tickets will be available later this week.

Parking information will also be available at a later date.

Since about 90 percent of our football staff is new to �鶹ӳ����ý in the past eight months, it seemed like an appropriate time to reflect on how we have been made to feel so welcomed, and on some of the adversity Orlando has gone through recently.

Since arriving on campus in mid-December, we have all been blown away by the hospitality, graciousness and cordial welcome we have received. Whether it has been faculty or staff members, employees of �鶹ӳ����ý Athletics, alumni, former players, fans or students, almost everyone we have encountered has been a delight. Not only have they displayed the characteristics I just noted, but the welcome has been so enthusiastic.

While some of the new coaching staff have roots and/or ties to Central Florida, the majority of us do not.

The Orlando community has been through a lot in the past few months. When preparing to write this, I found myself ruminating on how resilient the greater Orlando community is and how welcoming the residents have been to us. These two things seem to speak toward the character and resolve of Central Floridians at large.

Something we discuss often with our football players is dealing with adversity. While adversity is not something that is generally welcomed, we know that it can have positive effect.

The Book of Romans tells us: “But we also glory in our sufferings, because we know suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” While I would never equate the sufferings and adversity of football to what the Orlando community has experienced recently, our football program looks to this season with hope and a sense of resolve. Dispositions garnered through hard work, preparation, and watching the people of Orlando.

As we have been embraced by the Orlando and �鶹ӳ����ý communities, it is also very important to our program to reciprocate. Over the past six months, we have gone to great effort to engage with fans, alumni, students, faculty, staff, and the greater Orlando community. Our desire is to build a program that not only makes �鶹ӳ����ý and Orlando proud, but also one which is committed to being a positive force in the community.

Our staff is made up of family men. They are men of integrity and character. They have wives and families that are already part of the Orlando family. Our staff has more than 25 children aged 5 and under. We are involved in local schools, places of worship, charities, organizations, and many other community activities. We will continue to look for opportunities to have a positive impact on those around us. We also look forward to getting to know those around us even more.

We all feel so blessed to be working in such a beautiful environment with such exuberant support where the potential truly is limitless. We are so thankful for the open arms that have already made us feel like an integrated part of this university and community.

We want to grow, learn, and strive for greatness with you.

Please come out and support us this year. We will work hard to put a quality product on the field, but more importantly, we will strive to represent �鶹ӳ����ý in a way that makes you proud both on and off the field. Charge On!

Gerrod Lambrecht is director of football operations at �鶹ӳ����ý. He can be reached at Gerrod@athletics.ucf.edu.

�鶹ӳ����ý Football Head Coach Scott Frost:

“I want our guys to feel good about what they’re coming out of the tunnel wearing on Saturdays. I think it’s important. It gives you some confidence. It makes you feel good, something you can be proud of when you’re sporting the school’s colors. As much as anything it’s important for recruiting. Guys want to go to schools these days that are places where they can wear nice uniforms and look good on the field. We’re going to try and provide that as much as we can for our guys.

“I called Phil Knight, he’s been great to me my entire career at the University of Oregon. When we got to Orlando, I can’t tell you how many messages we got about changing the uniforms, putting names on the back of the jerseys, getting up to speed with current looks that football players want to wear and Phil was great. We’re going to get a lot of things from Nike and he’s going to do a lot of stuff for us.

“This is the first design, and I’m sure these uniforms we’re wearing this year will make it to next year. I don’t think they will make it much farther than that. I want to keep moving the ball down the field with our uniforms and I think we will come up with some new things down the road. But with this first effort, I think we wanted something that was new and different but also played back to the tradition that �鶹ӳ����ý has had. So there’s some obvious changes and some good ones, but we haven’t really pushed the envelope yet.”

Senior Graphic Designer – Nike Football Josh Iverson:

“The unique thing for �鶹ӳ����ý is where it is and how the school is set up. So we really rally around that, just being in Orlando, the connection to the space program, mascot and the Pegasus (university logo). Those are a few very cool things to look at with �鶹ӳ����ý.

“Overall, very bold, very tough, high-contrast uniform that hopefully will look very tough on (the) field, but very fast.

“One of the things the school asked for was an interchangeable system that they could mix and match. Instead of having three or four uniforms, they have multiple, multiple combinations so you can create a unique look for almost every game. … Really it’s almost an unlimited possibility set of uniforms that they have now.”

The Relationship and Quick Jersey History

�鶹ӳ����ý and Nike first formed a partnership for the 2010 football season, and made a second change to the uniforms in 2013, a look that lasted through the 2015 campaign.

Since the football program’s inception in 1979, �鶹ӳ����ý has worn several different uniforms, as well as 10 different helmets including two special helmets used for just one game.

The Process

Nike began by analyzing �鶹ӳ����ý’s current uniform kit, which featured black, gold and white jerseys and pants as well as a white helmet. It then focused on its current Mach Speed uniform chassis as the base for �鶹ӳ����ý’s next look.

About Mach Speed Chassis

Up next for the Nike team was researching �鶹ӳ����ý to draw inspiration for the new uniforms. That research included respecting the University’s past, location, mascots (Knights and Pegasus), former players and the football program’s #�鶹ӳ����ýast, #�鶹ӳ����ýierce and #RiseandConquer mantras.

Nike delivered three key ingredients:

A final piece of the puzzle was developing �鶹ӳ����ý’s own custom number font.

The Result

Jerseys

Pants

Helmets

In all, when looking at just helmets, jerseys and pants, �鶹ӳ����ý will have 64 different uniform combinations to choose from in 2016.