Scott Frost will be cheering for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV this Sunday. The reason is personal, too.
Frost finished his NFL playing career in Tampa Bay. The Huskers’ head coach—having switched to defensive back—played four games for the Buccaneers to end that 2003 season. He made only one tackle in December of that season, on a 27-yard punt return by the New Orleans Saints.
That’s not why Frost is cheering for Tampa Bay in Sunday’s Super Bowl though. In fact, Frost—who met with the Nebraska media on Thursday—said he’d typically root for the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s from the Midwest so it’s probably the team he’d have chosen in any other scenario.
“I root for the Chiefs because they’re a Midwest team and they’re fun to watch,” Frost said. “I love their creativity on offense.”
In this scenario though? The Buccaneers have three former Huskers playing in Ndamukong Suh, Lavonte David and Khalil Davis. They also have a couple of additional ties on the staff.
“It’s hard not to root for the Buccaneers right now with all of the Nebraska ties you have there,” Frost continued. “You know, Suh has meant so much to this program and has such an unbelievable career that I’m really pulling for him to maybe be able to put a ring on. Lavonte David, same way. He’s one of the best in the business and has been. He deserves more accolades than he gets. Having Khalil down there too as somebody that I coached.
“I’ve actually been on the phone with Jason Licht, he’s a Nebraska guy, and I’ve congratulated him on getting where he is. We even have a strength coach, Chad Wade, that worked her for a long time that now works for the Bucs.”
David, who has been with Tampa Bay since he was drafted in 2012, has waited for this moment. He’s built a reputation over that time for being one of the best in the business, and that started with the Huskers. At Nebraska, he spent two seasons with the Huskers in 2010 and 2011, setting the single-season record for tackles and earning first-team All-America honors. He also was a finalist for the Butkus Award.
I got the opportunity to play with a lot of great ball players…this dude right here is different 😤 https://t.co/x4jMW4WDow
— Josh Mitchell (@J_Mitch05) January 28, 2021
“It’s an unreal moment,” David said during a virtual media session with reporters in advance of the game. “It took forever to get here, so I’m just trying to take it all in.”
Back in Nebraska, Frost will be rooting for David and the other Huskers who have now found their way to Super Bowl LV.
“I’ve got to be pulling for them because of the Nebraska ties but I’m looking forward to watching,” he said. “Good luck to those Nebraskans for the Bucs.”
