The new era of UCF Football starts off with talking season

Big 12 Media Days were held July 8th and 9th at The Star in Frisco, Texas, the training home of the Dallas Cowboys. The Sons of UCF were one of only a handful of local media outlets to be in attendance for the event, which features players, coaches, and administrators from all sixteen teams coming together to talk about the upcoming season (commonly referred to as ‘talking season’). The setup and layout of the event affords the media multiple opportunities to talk directly with people, both on and off the record. The Sons crew was able to record multiple videos throughout, but there are still plenty of behind-the-scenes nuggets to share. So, let’s recap:

The quote heard around the internet – First, it is important to explain the setup of the venue, as it plays a role in explaining this moment. The event is held on a full-size football field, with one half arranged to accommodate the main stage, and the other half housing radio row and small interview tables. This year, the conference also arranged several private rooms for national media outlets, including CBS, Fox, and The Athletic, among others. These rooms were located in hallways in and around the locker room areas. As part of their schedule, coaches visited each of these rooms to talk with media members from the respective outlets. It was that setting that produced this:

Word quickly began to spread through the stadium about this quote, and it continued to ignite over the next few days. Understandably, UCF leadership was not pleased with the quote, and took exception with the way the it was framed. Later, it was stated by some that UCF and Scott Frost felt that this quote was off the record, however in a follow-up conversation with the Sons, Chris Vannini shared that in his view, the entire conversation was clearly established as being on the record.

In this instance, it was the direct nature of the quote that caught many off guard. Since he returned to UCF, Frost has offered several less direct comments that spoke to his experience at Nebraska through the framework of his return to UCF. He has also been very clear with local and national media that he does not want to talk about Nebraska, so what gives in this situation? For a more thorough examination, check out the latest Sons of UCF Newsletter.

The Interview Process – Both Scott Frost and Terry Mohajir told the Sons of UCF that they felt really good about the players they have brought onto this team. Mohajir specifically mentioned that he felt like the staff was interviewing the players as much as the players were interviewing the staff. Their focus wasn’t on star rankings or previous schools, but rather how they fit into the culture the Knights are trying to build.

The Talent – In a sit-down interview with Scott Frost, he mentioned that he felt really good about the talent on this team. In talking with other members of the media who also spoke with Frost, they shared that he has a quiet confidence in the talent level of this team, and thinks they might surprise some people.

The Inexperience – Despite the talent, Frost mentioned that he is still not sure how his team will respond when adversity strikes. Moreover, he also shared that while this team might have talent, they are also unproven and inexperienced. This is likely something to file away as the season gets rolling. You can have all of the talent in the world, but if you can’t stay away from mental mistakes, fatigue, and turnovers, it will be hard to win games.

The Quarterbacks – Frost was asked several times by multiple outlets about his decision at QB, and he did not divulge much by way of info. In his interview with the Sons of UCF, he shared that he doesn’t have a timetable to make a decision, and that he’ll know when he knows. However, one interesting note is that Frost consistently mentioned how he has three guys he trusts, presumably Tayven Jackson, Jacurri Brown, and Cam Fancher. In fact, when Andrew Cherico from Knights247 referred to the battle as a two man race, Frost was quick to throw in that there are three guys vying for the job, not two. This also likely means that Davi Belfort, the latest addition to the QB room from Virginia Tech, still needs time to develop and learn the playbook.

The Chip – We all know that athletes and coaches often look for any advantage, real or imagined, as fuel for performance. However, in this case, the players and coaches at UCF appear to have a legitimate chip planted firmly on their shoulders. In speaking with LB Keli Lawson, he stated that he and his teammates love being counted out and overlooked. RB Myles Montgomery stated that he is ready to prove himself to the doubters. In talking with several members of the national media, many think that both Scott Frost and Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch will be coaching with something to prove. Will a little extra motivation make the difference this year for the Knights?

The Questions – In talking to other members of the media, the belief is that the Knights success will hinge solely on if UCF can find the right quarterback. From the current crop of QBs, most expect Tayven Jackson to be the choice based solely on his skill set and pedigree of playing at other P4 schools. However, keep in mind that these are just predictions, and Frost has not tipped his hand to anybody.

Next up for this Knights football team is the start of fall camp, tentatively scheduled to begin the week of July 28th, 2025.