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Frost ends up-and-down career on top
By Shannon Heffelfinger
It didn't take long. "Why do you think Nebraska fans were so quick to criticize you?" a reporter asked. "You'd think they'd just support someone from their own state?" Frost glanced at the reporter, sighed and then smiled. For two years Frost had filled the role as NU's starting quarterback, regularly drawing praise from NU Coach Tom Osborne while commanding the Cornhuskers' option offense. But for the better half of those two years, commanding the respect of fans proved a more difficult challenge than anything he ever faced on the field. The road less traveled Frost struggled to earn the respect and appreciation of fans from the first time he entered Memorial Stadium as NU's starting quarterback. Most fans considered Frost's entrance a late arrival. He was a junior. Perhaps the most highly regarded talent in Nebraska during high school, Frost took the road less traveled when he decided to leave the Cornhusker state in 1993 to accept a football scholarship from Stanford. Frost justified his choice to fans: He wanted to have the opportunity to play under former NFL Coach Bill Walsh, and he hoped that running a pro-style, drop-back passing offense might prepare him for a career at the next level. But after two years of playing at both quarterback and free safety for the Cardinal, second thoughts crept into Frost's mind. When Walsh left Stanford, Frost decided to transfer home to Nebraska. But several Husker fans cried foul, viewing his actions as disloyal. "It's a pipeline in Nebraska," Frost said. "Every kid in the state dreams of going there, and I guess I just never really got into that rhythm. "I made a decision that I thought was best for me at the time. I tried something else and it upset people." A slow start Early criticisms only represented a sign of things to come. The beginning of Frost's troubles with fans began with 10:38 remaining in the first quarter of Nebraska's 19-0 loss at Arizona State when a snap to Frost by center Aaron Taylor sailed past the signal caller, flew into the end zone and resulted in a safety.
It was the end of Nebraska's two-year dominance over college football, which had been led by quarterback Tommie Frazier. Frost totaled minus-7 yards rushing and 66 yards passing but rebounded from the loss, moving on to set the Nebraska single-season record for a junior with 1,878 yards of total offense. The late-season accomplishment quieted some fans. But when his actions on the field weren't enough, Frost pleaded his case vocally. It proved to be a no-win situation, he said. "There are two ways you can handle things like that," Frost said. "You can sit back and not say anything, or you can defend yourself. It's hard not to take the second choice if you have any pride. "But when I did defend myself, it was taken the wrong way. I was being arrogant or cocky." But NU Coach Tom Osborne never wavered in his support for Frost. "I left (Osborne) and Nebraska for what I thought was something better for me at the time, and he welcomed me back with open arms," Frost said. "He compared my situation with his when he took over for Devaney. He said, 'It's hard to replace someone who's considered the best there's ever been.'" A turnaround In the final season of his career, Frost turned the criticism to his advantage. After playing to the sounds of booing students during a close game with Central Florida Sept. 13, Frost rebounded against then-No. 5 Washington in Seattle. Frost totaled 172 yards of total offense and scored two touchdowns in a 27-14 Husker win. "For someone who sits at home and watches maybe three or four games to say someone shouldn't be on the field, it's ridiculous," Frost said. "If you haven't been there then you don't know what it's about. "But it motivated me. When things like that happen, it upsets you at first. But you know what you accomplished whether you get credit for it or not." As the season progressed, fans began to give Frost some credit for NU's success. The final three games of the season proved critical for Frost. In a near-devastating loss at Missouri Nov. 8, Frost delivered, totaling five touchdowns and 316 yards of total offense - the second best mark in Nebraska history. The following week, as the NU seniors were introduced to the Memorial Stadium crowd in the final home game of their careers, fans gave Frost a standing ovation. In the final week of the regular season, Nov. 28 at Colorado, Frost became the first Husker and the only the 10th player in NCAA Division I history to pass for more than 1,000 yards and run for more than 1,000 yards in a season. The Big 12 Conference coaches recognized his accomplishment by voting him third-team all-conference. But many of his teammates said Frost was slighted. "I don't really put a lot of importance on individual honors," Frost said. One month later, Nebraska earned the highest team honor possible against No. 3 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl Jan. 2. A 42-17 victory was enough for the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll to give NU a share of the national championship. Frost completed nine of 12 passes for 125 yards and scored on runs of 1, 11, and 9 yards. Frost's passing total fell just nine yards short of Heisman Trophy runner-up Peyton Manning - the third-leading passer in NCAA history. "Scott was the man," NU defensive tackle Jason Peter said. "He outplayed Peyton Manning. People have given him a hard time, but he has proven without a doubt that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country." A proven winner Now, as a two-year chapter of his life comes to a close, Frost hopes his senior season performance impressed more than just his NU teammates and fans. A career in the NFL may await Frost. Draft experts have listed him as a possible safety, quarterback, running back and tight end. "Why wouldn't teams seriously look at someone who's 6-foot-3, 220 pounds that has his quickness and strength?" NU Quarterbacks Coach Turner Gill said. "He's also very smart. He catches on to things quickly. "But more than anything, he is a proven winner." Winning, Frost said, was all he wanted his career at Nebraska to be about. Frost does not regret anything, he said, because throughout his struggles and achievements the Huskers continued to win. "Now that I've seen everything and been through it all, I would have liked the chance to have been here for four years," Frost said. The legacy After spending more than an hour discussing the highs and lows of his career at Nebraska, Frost answered a final question. "How do you want the Nebraska fans to remember you?" a reporter asked. "I don't have anything to say about how Nebraska fans remember me," Frost said quickly. "People can make their own minds up about that." Prompted by a another reporter, Frost then rethought his response. "I guess I want to be remembered as one of the great quarterbacks in Nebraska history," Frost said. "I'd like to fall into that category. "I also want to be remembered as someone who took pride in being tough through everything on and off the field." | |||||
