I get a kick out of the fact that Scott Frost is the face of that 1997 team in all of these photos. He was NOT well received when he came back to Nebraska in 1996, after having spent his first couple of years at Stanford under Bill Walsh, but time heals all wounds. Most people have forgotten about that, especially after how well he played on the way to the 1997 National Championship.
He's not the "face." He's the jersey reference.
And he wasn't as good as you remember in 97.
He developed a TON in '97 and by the end of the season, he was the vocal leader of the offense. His speech after the Orange Bowl was key in swaying voters to Nebraska in the final coach's poll.
Really? His passing average was up 3% in 97 vs 96. But he threw for fewer yards, way fewer TD's and more INT's in 97. Lower passer rating too.
His running was much better.
I wouldn't go so far as to say A TON
Osborne developed a whole new QB run game specifically for Frost in '97. It was unleashed at Washington and they (and many future opponents) didn't have an answer.
You can't look at Frost's passing stats. It was a totally different offense. He more than doubled his rushing yards in '97.
Maybe we should discuss the word
develop in your post. I see development of a QB as getting BETTER as a passer AND a runner. Not just succeeding as a runner in a system designed around you.
Don't you think that part of Osborne's decision to design an offense around Frost's running abilities had to do with Frost's overall improvement as a player? Osborne designed brand new offense plays based on Frost, which where college football ended up going in the early 2000's.
Frost was a huge reason that NU won the national championship in 1997. I saw it first-hand. I am sure you saw those games, as well. I am sorry if you have a stick up your butt towards the guy.