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Scott Frost: ‘Culture eats scheme for breakfast’
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Scott Frost has been all about establishing a winning culture since his feet hit the ground in Lincoln. Putting pride back into Nebraska’s football program has been a priority for the head coach.
On Wednesday, Frost spoke to the importance of creating a culture and recruiting players who believe in the message at Nebraska. It’s his firm belief that having a locker room full of guys with that mindset makes all the difference when it comes to winning and losing.
“Culture eats scheme for breakfast,” Frost said at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce annual luncheon, according tot he Omaha World-Herald. “And I think that’s true.
“I can put the guys in the best scheme, the best offensive plays, the best defensive plays I can come up with. But at the end of the day, if we don’t have corners who can run through tackles and knife-knees, if we don’t have O-linemen coming off the ball, if we don’t have people holding each other accountable, and we don’t have our team making smart decisions and grinding and working hard, I’m not sure the best scheme in the world matters.”
Frost’s first season didn’t go quite as planned, as the Huskers got off to a program-worst 0-6 start and finished the year 4-8. After leading UCF to an undefeated season and a Peach Bowl victory over Auburn, many thought Nebraska would enjoy immediate success.
But frequently throughout his first year, Frost talked about the culture in Lincoln. He wasn’t satisfied with the mindset of several players and a lack of discipline consistently showed on the field.
As the season progressed, Nebraska gelled. Things were starting to come together, though it was far too late to make any sort of B1G or postseason push. Still, Frost’s first year established a foundation and the culture has already changed drastically.
Just a few weeks ago, Frost said he’s seen an incredible difference in the attitude of his team this year from when he first arrived in Lincoln.
“The biggest difference I see is how kids walk onto our floor more often. They’re around the coaches, they have smiles on their faces. I think everybody is excited,” Frost said, according to Christopher Heady of the Omaha World-Herald. “And that’s a far cry from where we were. When I walked into the first team meeting room it was — you coulda heard a pin drop in there. That’s not the team I wanna coach.
“The attitudes I see and the comradery that I see isn’t even on the same level. Not even close to where it was a year ago.”
Because of Nebraska’s finish to the 2018 season and its incoming recruiting class, the Huskers are considered a top 25 team in several way-too-early polls. Entering Year 2 of the Frost era, players are already having to deal with expectations.
Handling those expectations is a huge part of establishing a winning culture, too.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB