{"id":144414,"date":"2024-12-12T11:30:09","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T16:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=144414"},"modified":"2024-12-12T11:34:36","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T16:34:36","slug":"hes-back-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/hes-back-home\/","title":{"rendered":"He\u2019s (Back) Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s 7:41 p.m. on Dec. 8. The lights of FBC Mortgage Stadium illuminate the field as Scott Frost steps out of the tunnel for the first time since the last time\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026 The 2017 American Athletic Conference Championship game when he knew he was on borrowed time and just wanted to celebrate with his guys.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

He loosens his tie. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

He soaks in the silence.<\/p>\n

He glances up at the 2017 National Championship signage. UCF Chief Branding Officer Jimmy Skiles \u201906 <\/strong>paints a picture of what has sustained in 2024 from the game day atmosphere Frost\u2019s 2016-17 teams helped mold.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what I\u2019m looking forward to as much as almost anything?\u201d Frost says. \u201cWawa. I wanted to say that in the press conference, but I didn\u2019t think it was appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n

A chuckle. Skiles replies: \u201cThey\u2019re a sponsor. They would have loved that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll say it at the next one,\u201d Frost says with a smile.<\/p>\n

Familiar comforts.<\/p>\n

This place.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s home.<\/p>\n

You Can Go Home Again<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In nine years, a month hasn\u2019t passed without Sean Beckton \u201993<\/strong> speaking to Frost.<\/p>\n

The pair did not know each other before Frost arrived on campus in 2015 to replace retiring head coach George O\u2019Leary following a 0-12 season.<\/p>\n

Fans, former players and donors were all in Beckton\u2019s corner \u2014 a star wide receiver for the Knights from 1987-90 and UCF Athletics Hall of Famer with a combined 20 years as an assistant coach for his alma mater.<\/p>\n

The two chatted. At the end of the meeting, Frost said he could see why he kept hearing endorsements on Beckton\u2019s behalf. He offered a job to coach the tight ends.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018I know you haven\u2019t done that before, but I know you will do a great job coaching,\u2019 and I just thought that this was a person who believed in me,\u201d Beckton says.<\/p>\n