As I explained in the thread earlier today, the original plan was for Scott Frost to do one-on-one interviews with everyone, which apparently was the request of the TV stations. WKMG went first, but that was when we all went outside to speak with new defensive coordinator Erik Chinander. As we re-entered the lobby, I decided to record the interviews Frost did with WESH, Fox 35 and WFTV. I was standing 15 feet away, so the audio reflects that but you should be able to hear everything. I tried to clean up background noise.
The video above is about 13 minutes. We did do a group interview with Frost after this, so I will be posting that next.
The biggest takeaways from the TV portion of Frost's media session:
-He wanted to emphasize this team is a "brotherhood" and he doesn't want any current player to feel like he's going to be treated any differently than a new incoming recruit.
"One of the first things I told the players already on campus is they wouldn't have to worry about them not being my guys. If I was in their seat I'd be a little worried about a coach favoring some people that they recruited. We're a family. We're going to be a brotherhood. The guys that are already on campus and have devoted themselves to this program and this university, we're going to give them every chance to be on the field and the same opportunity that anybody that's new is going to have."
-He said he has spoken to George O'Leary.
"Yeah, I talked to George. He's been great. He's been helpful. Look forward to keeping him a part of this."
The majority was basically a repeat of what we've heard previously. He was vague on current team issues because he hasn't had the opportunity to be on the practice field yet.
-Christian Bruey of WFTV asked about his Phil Knight connections and whether that could pay off.
"I sat with Phil actually at Oregon's bowl game. I think change is on the way."
There's a little more meat in the next video I'll be posting, but I did go ahead and transcribe this one as well.
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This first part of the video is questioning from the WESH camera man. I've seen him around for years, but I don't know his name. First question was about leaving Oregon for UCF.
"I have a lot of respect and I'll always have a lot of fond memories about the University of Oregon," Frost said. "It's a hard place to leave. I wouldn't have left there for just any opportunity, but I thought this opportunity was special. I think the potential at UCF is so great and the opportunity to build something that can be a winner for a long time is so great, that this is an opportunity that I couldn't pass up."
And then more about getting offered the UCF job:
"I was thrilled to get the offer. In the coaching hire practices, you don't have a lot of time to make a decision so I had to make a fast one. But it was an easy decision to come here. Since I've been here I've only been more impressed with the things around here. I'm thrilled to be here and excited to move forward."
What are the most pressing team needs?
"I think the first thing the team needs is to get confidence again and find a love for the game again. Any time you go through a season like they went through, it's hard. We have plenty of young talent on this team to make a move in the right direction and do some good things. I want these kids to learn the love of the game again. To get back here and start working hard and doing something that they enjoy doing."
A question about the type of offense.
"The offense? We need to score points. We'll do everything we can to score points. I think we have a good formula for how to do that. Once these kids know it and buy into it, we'll be just fine."
A question about the state of the quarterbacks and Justin Holman.
"Everybody is going to have a fresh start with us. We're going to give every kid on this campus a chance to earn it in our eyes. Every kid that's going to join this program down the road will have a chance to earn it. Justin Holman has done a great job at UCF in the time that he's played. I can't wait to work with him. I certainly foresee him having a great career, but I think these all these kids are anxious for a fresh start."
On his biggest concerns, position wise:
"I haven't watched the tape enough to know. I'll be able to make more of those judgments once we got on the field in spring ball."
On his message to recruits:
"I can't believe the excitement around the area among recruits with what's going on at UCF. We're going to keep building on that. I think kids recognize that something special is happening here and is about to happen here. We're going to keep pushing that message. There's a lot of kids believing in what we're building right now."
What does he want to tell the fans?
"Hey, we're going to have fun and we're going to do things the right way. We're going to go fast and play hard. I think it's something fans will want to be a part of."
And last question from WESH was about new DC Erik Chinander.
"I want this whole football program to feel like a family. I want this to be a brotherhood here of guys and people that are pulling in the same direction and have a common goal and are working hard to get there. I'm surrounding myself right now with some high character and intelligent people. That's what I value more than anything. Erik Chinander is certainly one of those people. One of the smartest football coaches I've been around. Usually smart people find a way to get it done. As long as I have a lot of those guys around me it'll make my job easier."
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Next up was Holly Bristow of Fox 35. You may know her from the Orlando City TV broadcasts (she was the sideline reporter).
The obligatory "why UCF" opening question:
"It's a place people want to be. It's a beautiful town. It's a great university with a huge enrollment. There's a lot of things that drew me here. I think those are the same things that are going to draw football players here."
General question about recruiting.
"I've just been thrilled with the amount of interest we're getting from recruits. I believe we're going to be able to get a lot of really good football players in here. It's already started to happen in recruiting. We're going to try to capitalize on this momentum and finish with a strong recruiting class."
Bristow name dropped all the Florida schools and then asked what UCF's biggest selling point is.
"I think once people recognize the way we're going to do things here, people will want to be a part of it. We're going to have fun. It's going to be a family. We're going to play a brand of football that no one else in this state is playing. With all this speed and talent here in the state of Florida, it's going to be the perfect fit for those attributes in our program. I think kids are starting to recognize that and they're going to flock to us."
Bristow says Jim McElwain at Florida set the benchmark for a turnaround season and whether there was pressure to duplicate that sort of success in year one.
"There's always pressure to win. Nobody is going to want to win more than me and our staff and our players. Obviously the year went poorly last year. I think we have plenty of young talent to build around and add to. I know we're going to get it done. I don't know if it will be game one or game two, or year two, but we're moving in the right direction already and looking forward to the possibilities."
What's the biggest need on the team?
"I won't be able to know roster issues until I get a chance to get on the field with them. There's going to be a lot of guys that play different in my scheme compared to someone else's. I watched a few of the games from last year, but until I get out there and watch them in our scheme and our offense and our defense, I won't be able to, it would be unfair to comment."
Bristow then said she had "questions from Twitter" and asked whether UCF will run a "spread offense" or "the option like at Nebraska."
"We're always going to do what's best for the talent that we have on the team. One of the things that drew me to UCF was the fact that we don't have to change our offense much from what we did at Oregon to come here. I think the players that we can get in this place fit the scheme perfectly. I think the scheme fits them perfectly."
How important are academics to Frost?
"Academics are vital. We're going to make sure we recruit the type of player that can be great students at UCF. We're going to make sure they're doing the right things in staying on top of their academics. They call them student athletes for a reason. They're students first. It's going to be a privilege to play football that they have to earn on campus."
What's Frost's message to the players?
"One of the first things I told the players already on campus is they wouldn't have to worry about them not being my guys. If I was in their seat I'd be a little worried about a coach favoring some people that they recruited. We're a family. We're going to be a brotherhood. The guys that are already on campus and have devoted themselves to this program and this university, we're going to give them every chance to be on the field and the same opportunity that anybody that's new is going to have."
Then a question about his parents, who were high school football coaches.
"Dad is a great football coach. Mom is a great football coach. I said this earlier today, I think both my parents did a great job of working hard at their job but not bringing it home with them. We can spend so many hours in this job that sometimes we forget we have a life too and there has to be a separation also."
Then a follow-up question about his mom.
"Everybody loves mom. If I get done coaching here and have people like me as much as people like her then I'll have done a good job."
What's his message to the fans?
"Come see us play. It's going to be a heck of a lot of fun. We're going to do some new and innovative things that they're going to want to be a part of, so we look forward to seeing people in the stands."
What are his first impressions of the area?
"This place is great. I can't believe the support that we've gotten already. The people reaching out to us. I think there's a lot of excitement built up around this university and this city. We're going to capitalize on that."
What does he want his brand of football to be?
"UCFast. We're recruiting fast. We're hiring fast. We're going to play fast. We're going to practice fast. It's going to be a lot of fun."
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The last of the TV interviews I recorded was from WFTV. Anchor Christian Bruey led the questioning.
What's the last month been like?
"We've been busy. I've been trying to get a staff hired and put the right pieces in place to make sure our players have every advantage. In the meantime we've been trying to recruit new players to come here and help the guys who are already here."
What's the challenge of putting a staff together?
"Listen, the staff is important. I want high character people who are extremely intelligent. People who are going to treat players the right way and mentor the players. I want this place to be a brotherhood. So far I'm thrilled with the people I have in here. The hardest thing is I wish I could hire 30 people. I have to pick the right 9 or 10."
Question about new DC Erik Chinander.
"Erik is a really good football coach. He's one of the smartest coaches I've been around. He's a man of good character. He's going to inspire guys and teach guys the right way. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do on that side of the ball."
Bruey, who did his research or perhaps saw my tweet, says he knows he was roommates with Chinander previously so he asks about that.
"I respect him so much as a person but also respect him as a football coach. He's been on both sides of the ball. He's been in college football and the NFL, learning from some fantastic people. It's time that he got a chance to run his own show. I'm looking forward to finishing the staff and putting as many good people around him. He's going to do a phenomenal job."
What's the reception been like with recruits?
"There's a lot of excitement about this right now. I think the brand of football that we're going to play is something that appeals to kids in the state of Florida. A lot of high schools around here are running the same types of things. We're going to be one of the few in this area that's running this type of offense and this type of defense. We're going to attack and have kids do what they're used to doing. The reception so far has been great."
And a question about the current players.
"There's some really good football players on this campus. I know it was a tough year this year, but I know they were young and had some injury problems. We're looking forward to working with them. Hopefully we can help those guys to achieve the goals they want to achieve and sprinkle in some new players to help them along the way."
Has he talked to George O'Leary?
"Yeah, I talked to George. He's been great. He's been helpful. Look forward to keeping him a part of this."
And the Phil Knight/Nike question.
"I sat with Phil actually at Oregon's bowl game. I think change is on the way."
