You might not realize it, but what we just witnessed on Tuesday was UCF firing a preemptive strike at Nebraska, Tennessee and other Power 5 programs that potentially could make a run at football coach Scott Frost and his coaching staff after the season.

UCF issued a news release on Tuesday afternoon in which athletics director Danny White announced the school will aggressively try to raise more than $1.5 million a year from donors for the school’s “Football Excellence Fund.”

Actually, it should be called the “Keep Scott Frost in Orlando Fund” because much of the new money would presumably be used to pay Frost and his staff of highly respected assistant coaches.

Smart move on White’s part. With the Knights being unbeaten, ranked 20th in the country and boasting the No. 1 scoring offense in the nation, UCF should pull out every weapon in its financial arsenal to keep Frost in Orlando.

That, of course, starts with a salary increase not only for Frost, who makes about $2 million a year, but his assistant coaches as well. Frost and his staff are a tightly knit group and keeping other schools from pilfering UCF’s assistants could go a long way in keeping Frost in Orlando for a few more years.

UCF currently has a salary pool for its assistant coaches of about $2.3 million, which is about $1 million less than what rival USF will pay its head coach Charlie Strong’s assistant coaches in the coming years.

Taking care of his assistant coaches is so important to Frost that he is personally donating some of his own money to the Football Excellence Fund.

“I’m very excited about the success we've had in our time here and I’m committed to helping this program continue growing,” Frost said in a statement as his team prepared to take on Navy Saturday. “I’m happy to be part of the UCF Football Excellence Fund. We need more resources to keep taking this program where we want it to go. I’m hopeful my support will be a catalyst for others to jump on board and take part.”

UCF coach Scott Frost talks about the team's preparations for its upcoming game with Navy. UCF coach Scott Frost talks about the team's preparations for its upcoming game with Navy.

Does this sound like a coach who plans to leave UCF after the season?

I don’t think so.

I think it sounds more like a coach trying to get boosters and donors on board so he can continue the process of turning UCF into a national power.

“Competitive excellence in today's college football landscape requires exceptional resources,” White said in a statement. “UCF Football can continue to grow and get even better with the great support of Knight Nation. By supporting the UCF Football Excellence Fund, our fans and donors can have a dramatic impact on the future of the program and help build the financial foundation necessary to compete at the highest level.”

Translation:

“We Must Keep Frost.

At All Cost.”

According to UCF’s news release, The Football Excellence Fund was established shortly after the Knights hired Frost with a stated goal of annually helping to provide operating resources for the football program. In January 2016, more than 20 donors pledged nearly $400,000 annually over four years to get the fund off the ground.

However, now that Frost’s program is blasting off and Power 5 programs will soon start courting Frost and his coaches, UCF is pursuing more commitments ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 annually.

Will the renewed financial resources be enough to fend off Nebraska, Frost’s alma mater, if the Cornhuskers fire coach Mike Riley and come after UCF’s head coach? Hard as it is to believe, I’ve been told it’s not a foregone conclusion Frost will leave UCF after only two seasons.

In fact, Frost and his new wife Ashley love Orlando and are expecting a new baby boy in a few weeks. Frost also has let it be known he loves what he’s building at UCF and feels a sense of loyalty to the young players he has recruited.

I believe Scott Frost is looking for reasons not to leave UCF, and the Football Excellence Fund might just be another one on a growing list.

If you read between the lines of Tuesday’s news release, the message to UCF donors is loud and clear.

Closing the the door on Power 5 poachers begins with opening your wallets.

Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on Twitter @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio show every weekday from 6 to 9 a.m. on FM 96.9 and AM 740.