UCF this offseason hired Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost as its new coach, and his previous relationship with Nike co-Founder & Chair Phil Knight "essentially is how" UCF extended and expanded its apparel deal with Nike, according to Mike Bianchi of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. UCF's new uniforms were unveiled last week, and AD Danny White said, "I've never seen uniforms become this important of a topic. ... From what I heard, every Twitter handle associated with the new uniforms was trending in Orlando." Bianchi wrote this is "what happens when you hire the offensive coordinator at Oregon." Not only is Frost "bringing Oregon's fast and furious offense to Orlando; he's bringing the Ducks' daring and dashing fashion trends as well." Bianchi: "The UCF Knights are now the UCF Phil Knights. Don't underestimate the ancillary benefits of Frost's connection." There is no guarantee Knight "will ever become a big-money UCF donor, but you never know where this relationship could go." The new Nike uniforms "aren't just a big deal to fans; they're a big deal to players and recruits as well." Frost: "I was part of that (uniform craze) for a long time at Oregon. Uniforms should never be a reason why a kid picks one school over another and we told them that, but, at the same time, kids get excited about what they wear." Bianchi wrote it is "truly amazing how one man has changed the entire look -- and outlook -- of the UCF football program." It is "almost like 0-12 didn't happen last season." White: "In terms of marketing, I was excited about what Scott brought to the table as far as the exciting style of play and the up-tempo offense. I wasn't even thinking about uniforms" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/8).
