Andy Frye (Centre College Athletics Photo)
Centre College football coach Andy Frye understands how much 10 extra days of practice that his team got this spring because it is playing an exhibition game in Scotland means to his team. However, he also knows those 10 days along with the regular 15 days of practice can be physically draining on players.
“Your fear is injury. That’s just a lot of work on your body. That’s a long year when you add 10 more practices. If they’re injured, they’re not getting better. You just want to make sure you stay healthy,” said Frye.
His team leaves Friday for Scotland and did stay injury free during the spring. Frye knows the 10 extra practices were especially beneficial for his younger quarterbacks even though there’s no doubt returning starter Jack Gohmann, who threw for 3,58 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, is No. 1.
“So getting extra reps for the backups with those extra practices could turn out to be really important next year if something did happen to Jack and we could still drive on all cylinders with them,” Frye said.
Frye started taking his team on an overseas exhibition trip in 2001 and was one of the few NCAA Division III teams to do so. At that time, Division III teams were not allowed to have spring practice.
“We had a jump on everybody getting those 10 practices,” Frye said. “Fortunately, the following year we were usually really, really good. You could do things that you didn’t normally do like see how guys looked at a different position. Secondly, what a great way to develop morale when your whole team got to share in something so unique as playing abroad against a professional team.
“We have played the British national team twice and they were really good. I don’t know if we can beat them now like we did then because football has really developed overseas. You could tell it was improving when the NFL came in and now there are some high level teams there.”
Frye used to rely on an international sports agency to plan his team’s trips. Now he does it himself because it is a major cost savings for players and their families
“I realized for us to be able to make it work year in, year out I would have to take it that way and pass the savings on to the team. Quite frankly, every year after I do it, I go, ‘Well, that’s the last time I’m doing it.’ And then three years later it’s like, ‘Hey, we gotta get back to make us better.’” Frye said.
Finding competition is no problem. Frye estimated there are close to 40 teams in Great Britain playing American football now. He has a former player playing for a team in Finland.
“The Germans and Belgians play really good football,” Frye said. “France plays good football. Ireland is behind but they’ll get better. And Germany is the real deal.”
Frye anticipates the team his Colonels will play in Scotland will be equivalent to a lower level Division III team. The Colonels went 8-3 last year and qualified for the Division III national playoffs.
“The game is really the joy of celebrating your 10 extra practices and being over there and being able to experience a broad program and cultural exchange,” the Centre coach said. “But the best part is the gatherings after the game and being able to share something we all have in common. Those players over there love playing football. Our guys love playing football. We all get a chance to celebrate that love after the game.”
While Frye wants to win, every player on the team will play.
“It should be a great game for everybody on our team to play and enjoy. We’re not going to try and run the score up or anything like that. Jack will probably get a couple of series (at quarterback) and that’s it,” Frye said. “But the whole overseas thing is about team morale and having a blast together.”
