Indiana University Athletics
Frye Embraces Leadership Position for 2006
7/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 17, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Veteran offensive lineman Justin Frye has not only started 33 of the last 34 games of his college career, but he has seen action at center, guard and tackle. Thus, the 6-5, 296-pounder is the consummate "coach on the field," and he has high aspirations for himself as well as the Hoosier program in 2006 and beyond.
"Growing up, I always wanted to play Big Ten football at Indiana," Frye said. "My dad (Kevin, a former Hoosier fullback and tight end from 1977-81 who passed away in May after a long bout with cancer) played here, and he started taking me to games when I was really young. I remember the (Coach Bill) Mallory years, continuing on watching guys like (current Chicago Bears defensive end) Adewale Ogunleye and (current Washington Redskins wide receiver) Antwaan Randle El."
While Frye can recall numerous on the field highlights, he was most struck by the off-field camaraderie.
"My dad would bring us back for the (1979) Holiday Bowl reunions, and these guys came back, successful businessmen with families, and they would get tears in their eyes reminiscing about their playing days," Frye said. "IU Football is a close, tight family atmosphere. It always has been a prideful, family atmosphere, and Coach `Hep' (Terry Hoeppner) is going to keep that going. Like he says, recruit `em every day."
Frye certainly heeds his coach's motto, serving as a mentor for an offensive line group that includes seven new freshmen, creatively dubbed the "Seven Blocks of Limestone" by Hoeppner.
"Since the coaching staff is not around us during summer workouts, it helps develop the team mentality, because guys have to feed off each other," Frye said. "It has been a really productive summer, and it is good that the freshmen have been here this summer."
Frye's leadership role extends well beyond effort in the weight room and conditioning field.
"With everything that the coaches throw at you at your first training camp, it can be mind-boggling," Frye said. "They change your stance, your start, and you have to learn the plays. That is why we have been watching a lot of tape this summer - `This is what you have to do on this play, this is what you have to communicate.' This gives them building blocks for camp."
Of course, Frye is helping lay the groundwork on top of a solid foundation.
"These guys will be good because they ask a lot of questions," Frye said. "They set their ego on the back burner so that they can learn. They have been very receptive."
Frye is a natural-born teacher and coach, following in the footsteps of his father, who served at the helm of the Elwood (Ind.) High School program for several years."
"I've been around the game for as long as I can remember, and some of my greatest memories are getting on the bus with my dad's team to go be the ballboy at road games," Frye said. "Then, when I got to college, it was like a seminar. The x's and o's were intriguing, and it just started clicking. It comes natural because I have been around it all my life."
Frye quickly grasped the value of hard work and perseverance.
"In football, the only thing that changes is the verbiage," Frye said. "Steps are steps, zone schemes are zone schemes. I have learned things from all of my coaches throughout my career that I still use. I also watch a lot of film, which keeps things second nature to me and also helps me learn to break things down to teach other guys."
Frye is trying to mold his younger line mates, just as former Hoosiers and eventual NFL offensive linemen Isaac Sowells and Enoch DeMar influenced him.
"Isaac has good size for a guard, and if he stays healthy, he could be a long-term NFL guy," Frye said. "He is always going to be Isaac - just a great guy. Here he is, getting ready for his first training camp, looking at houses and cars, and he came to Bloomington a few weeks ago. He stayed with us and slept on our couch just because he wanted to see us."
DeMar, Sowells, and Frye serve as positive role models for their younger teammates.
"When you get to that level, it is a business. You need to take care of yourself and get your stuff done," Frye said. "Enoch was a free agent with the Browns (2003) who ended up starting quite a few games for them. He said that every day was a battle, and you come to work fighting for your job."
Indeed, Frye's work ethic and leadership are setting the tone for a productive 2006 campaign.
