...Ducks Add Scott Frost to Football Coaching Staff...

Courtesy of Ducks.com

Scott Frost, who served as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Northern Iowa a year ago, has been named wide receivers coach at the University of Oregon, according to the Ducks’ head coach Mike Bellotti.

The 34-year-old Lincoln, Neb., native and six-year NFL veteran was elevated to co-defensive coordinator for the Panthers in 2008 after serving as linebackers coach in 2007. He also quarterbacked the University of Nebraska to the 1997 national championship and a 42-17 Orange Bowl win over Tennessee.

Northern Iowa finished tied for third in the Football Championship Subdivision in takeaways (40) and ninth in the country in scoring defense a year ago (17.7 ppg), dropping a 21-20 decision to Richmond in the national championship semifinals. In 2007, the Panthers’ defenders finished sixth in the country against the run (91.0 avg.) and seventh in scoring defense (16.9 avg.).

UNI completed last year with a 12-3 record, leading the Missouri Valley Football Conference in rushing defense (107.1 avg.) and scoring defense, after posting a 12-1 mark in 2007.

Frost (1/4/75) was tutored by some of the legendary football coaches of all time, including Stanford’s Bill Walsh, Nebraska’s Tom Osborne and the New York Jets’ Bill Parcels.

He brings with him a wide array of experience as a standout collegiate quarterback and a coaching background that encompasses the defensive side of the ball, as well as special teams.

“Scott was one of the most impressive young men I have ever had the opportunity to interview,” Bellotti said. “I felt his passion and knowledge for the game was extremely enlightening and believe that will carry over into his ability as a coach and a recruiter.”

After quarterbacking the Huskers to an unblemished 13-0 record in 1997, the second-team all-Big 12 Conference standout broke into the coaching ranks as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2002 before filling the same role at Kansas State in 2006.

He began his collegiate career as a two-year letterman at Stanford in 1993 and ’94 before transferring to Nebraska in 1995. The Huskers’ two-year starter and 1997 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist quarter-backed teams to a 24-2 record while completing 192 of 359 passes for 2,677 yards and 18 career touchdowns. Included was a senior season in which he became only the 10th player in college football history to both run (1,095 yds.) and pass (1,237 yds.) for 1,000 yards in a single season.

His 2,332 yards of total offense fell one yard shy of what was then the school’s single-season record set in 1971.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic about this opportunity to coach at the University of Oregon and am excited for the chance to work with Mike and Chip (Kelly, Oregon’s offensive coordinator),” Frost said. “They have some unique things to offer and the ability to attract some of the best athletes in the country. I feel the offense at Oregon is the best in the country and their potential to what they can accomplish is unlimited.

“I feel blessed to have played and been around some really good coaches and have benefited from some of the best offensive minds with the likes of Bill Walsh and Tom Osborne,” Frost added. “Before his passing, I had the privilege to get counsel from Coach Walsh regarding my desire to break into the coaching profession. He advised me to get in wherever I could. He actually began his career coaching defense, which I didn’t know until then.”

Following his collegiate career, Frost was selected in the third round (67th pick) of the 1998 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, where he played safety and special teams from 1998-2000. His professional football career included stops in Cleveland (2001), Green Bay (2001-02) and Tampa Bay (2004).

The two-time first-team academic all-conference choice and 1997 second-team Academic All-American graduated with a B.A. degree in finance from Nebraska in 1997.

He replaces Robin Pflugrad, who had served as Oregon’s wide receivers coach for the past three seasons.

Frost’s appointment is effective immediately, with his contract to run through June 30, 2010.

...Member Spotlight...

Beginning with the Baylor game, the OR4NE will start a new activity called Member Spotlight.  About 30 minutes before the game, we will feature an open mic for our members to:  
 
1.  Plug a business--whether it be a home based business, something at your work that you are participating in and would like others to join you, or a new business owed by a fellow Nebraskan.
 
2.  Plug a fundraising activity--Breast Cancer walks, pet adoptions, Support the Troops, etc.
 
3.  Make an announcement about an organization that you participate in that you think someone else might be interested in.
 
The OR4NE is a tightly knit club when we get together on Saturdays.  The board thinks it would be neat to add a networking aspect to our association offering our members other avenues to support one another.
 
Member Spotlight will begin about 30 minutes prior to kick-off.  An announcement will be made and we'll take as many volunteers as time permits.   
 
Plug away . . .Please no politics or religion! 

...Letters from Nebraska!...

...OR4NE Means Volunteerism...