Late Sunday night, UCF offensive line coach Shawn Clark passed away at the age of 50. This follows a medical emergency that occurred 12 days prior. With the unexpected death of Clark, the team now stands at a crossroads.
How we react to death varies from person to person. Some people are very reserved, while others let their emotions pour out. That’s not to say one is more correct than the other. It’s just who we are. The school provided services to the players and coaches, but ultimately, how we each handle death is unique.
The question is, what happens next? Does this galvanize the program to dedicate the rest of the season to Clark, or does the emotional toll of his death distract the team from their goals? After UCF’s win against North Carolina this past Saturday, before Clark’s passing, everyone who came up to the podium was asked about Shawn Clark, and they all generally said the same thing. “We’re playing for him.”
Rescheduled Press Conference
UCF canceled Scott Frost’s regular Monday press conference, which is a very rational and understandable decision. That was a time for processing, mourning, and supporting each other. The press conference was rescheduled for Wednesday.
During Frost’s press conference on Wednesday, he was asked bout how the team has been handling things. “The best thing you can do is keep going. I’m better when I’m working, but we’re still going to get our work done, and we’re still going to work hard. I just think the emotions of the last couple of weeks have worn people a little bit…I just miss my friend. I wasn’t around him as long as I’ve been around some other people, but he just had an energy and spirit about him, and one of my favorite guys I’ve ever been around and coached with. It’s just a tough deal, but we have a football game to play too.”
Frost knew immediately that Clark was the right man for the job. When asked when he knew, he said, “When I interviewed him. It was obvious cause who Shawn was; he didn’t hide it. He was who he was. Everything that was great about him showed through right away when I met him…He always had a smile on his face.”
Frost mentioned that he and Clark were able to bond due to their shared experience as head coaches and some of the parallel difficulties they had faced.
Moving Forward Without Shawn Clark
The early portion of the press conference was about Shawn Clark and how the team is moving forward. He said that game planning for the game has helped. When Clark had the initial medical emergency, Alex “Bear” Farah, an offensive quality control coach and Clark’s “handpicked assistant,” stepped in to fill the role. He continues to do that, and the team has responded positively. To help with the offensive line, former Purdue coach Danny Hope is joining the staff. Clark was Hope’s offensive line coach during stops at Purdue and Eastern Kentucky.
Frost did discuss the upcoming game at Kansas State. His first coaching job was at Kansas State, where he was a graduate assistant. His second job was at Northern Iowa, where he worked alongside Kansas State head coach Chris Kleinman as co-defensive coordinators. Frost has fond memories of Manhattan. He made sure to point out that the Wildcats have kept all of their games close and that Manhattan is a hostile environment. This will be UCF’s first road game.
The team has the opportunity to continue playing for Clark, along with his wife, Jonelle, and children, Giana and Braxton. The team will wear helmet stickers to honor Clark.
