UCF head coach Scott Frost runs scout team in prep for Navy

Playing against an option offense is a unique challenge, so UCF head coach Scott Frost saw an opportunity to help his defense.

Football players at our service academies make a unique dual-commitment to serve their country and play football, and those schools also run unique, run-heavy triple-option offenses. Navy (5-1) has the country’s No.1 rushing attack so far this season (397.5 yards per game), and on Saturday they’ll look to take down head coach Scott Frost’s 5-0 UCF Knights.

Frost was an accomplished option quarterback himself at Nebraska. He put up 2,677 passing yards, 1,533 rushing yards and 46 total touchdowns over two seasons (1996-1997), with a 24-2 record over that span.

So, despite running a totally different offense at UCF, you could say Frost is uniquely qualified to know how an option offense will attack a defense and how said defense should prepare to face it. At 42 years old and presumably still in pretty good shape, Frost decided to take a hands-on approach during practice earlier this week.

UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin pointed to the challenge of practicing against the head coach.

"“You see him in there running around getting us prepared,” “It’s crazy because he is running so fast that if you are slacking it’s going to show. When you see Coach Frost outrunning you you know you are doing something wrong. It’s kind of good when you can get a good look from your head coach. It makes you work that much harder.”"

Frost tried to dismiss his role on the practice field, under the umbrella of “whatever we have to do.” He also offered his unique take on the endangered species that is the option quarterback.

"We’re gonna use quite a few different guys to try to get our guys ready — anything we can do,” he said. “It’s hard to simulate their looks and especially at the tempo they run it and the execution they run it, so we’ll do whatever we have to do to try to get the guys ready.”"

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Frost is boosting his resume as a candidate to make the jump to a Power 5 school with each win UCF has this season. A win over Navy on the road this week would stand out, no matter what his future holds, and Frost is pulling out all the stops.