W. Michigan and son of ex-Husker Fryar embrace underdog status
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By CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star
Londen Fryar appreciates that his dad works nearly as hard now at staying in shape as he did 20-some years ago. But it still cracks him up.
And yes, his dad is former Nebraska All-American receiver Irving Fryar, who was a five-time Pro Bowl selection during his 17-year NFL career.
“He still works out because of me,” the senior Western Michigan cornerback said of his dad. “He thinks I’m going to ‘try’ him.”
Not about to happen, Fryar promises. Right now, he’s really only interested in ‘trying’ the Huskers during Saturday’s season opener for both teams in Memorial Stadium.
Like NU, the Broncos are coming off a surprising 5-7 season. But with a veteran group, they believe they have what it takes to prove 2007 was not a true barometer of the program’s strength.
Western was the media’s preseason choice to win the Mid-American Conference, but wound up a disappointing 3-4 in league play. The season was defined by three MAC losses — to Akron on a last-play kickoff return in which league officials later apologized for missing calls that would have negated the runback; to Ball State on a score with 1:07 left; and to Central Michigan on a TD with 12 seconds to go after a pass interference call kept that drive alive.
“We came out in the summer concentrating on finishing — during runs, seven-on-seven drills, everything,” Fryar said. “It’s all about finishing.”
The Broncos actually showed progress in that area in their last two games last season, winning at Iowa before closing up with a convincing victory against vastly improved Temple.
“As far as those two wins, definitely Iowa was a very big win for us, beating a Big Ten school,” said Jamarko Simmons, who two years after converting from running back earned first-team All-MAC honors as a wide receiver. “At the same time, we’re going to let last year be last year.”
The disappointment of last year is probably why, despite having 20 returning starters, Western is the media’s pick to finish just third in the MAC’s West Division.
Simmons says he and his teammates are OK with that because “we’ve always been the underdogs. It really doesn’t matter to our players. We just have to go out and execute.
“We knew exactly why we struggled (last season). But we know what we can do.”
Indeed, the Broncos appear to have plenty of weapons.
As a sophomore last year, Tim Hiller became only the second quarterback in school history to pass for 3,000 yards in a season. He’ll be working with three new offensive line starters in 2008, but Western is stacked with quality skill-position players.
Simmons thrived in big-game situations while grabbing 84 passes for 980 yards last season. Against West Virginia, he hauled in 14 balls for 144 yards and two scores. He had 14 receptions for 158 yards and a TD against Indiana and 10 for 98 yards against Missouri.
The Broncos’ senior tight end Branden Ledbetter in on the preseason John Mackey Award watch list.
And junior running back and kick returner Brandon West comes into the year with an opportunity to set the school career record for all-purpose yards after setting the single-season mark of 2,119 last season.
Western’s defense also has three fifth-year seniors starting on the line. And Fryar, who since switching from receiver after his freshman season has twice been named first-team All-MAC at cornerback, is part of a secondary foursome that has 25 career interceptions.
“I can’t predict wins and losses,” Fryar said, “but I see that everybody’s working hard. I’m excited. Everybody’s playing for the team now. There’s no selfish motives.”
Fryar, who moved around while his dad played in the NFL for New England, Miami, Philadelphia and Washington, graduated from high school in Jobstown, N.J.
He calls being the son of a sports celebrity a great experience.
“I was a ball boy for the Eagles when he played there. Guys were great to me and I learned a lot of stuff about football.”
Not surprisingly, he learned how much he loved the sport. At a younger age, baseball was Fryar’s thing, but once he got into flag football he was hooked on that sport.
As a youngster, Fryar did come to Lincoln with his dad for some games, but he has faint memories.
“It’s a nice place to play, a lot of people there, real loud,” he said.
Naturally, he had occasional thoughts of following his dad’s collegiate path, but as Fryar got older he recognized the value of making his own way.
“People think you grow up to be just like your father,” he said, “but it’s not always like that.”
And wouldn’t it be cool if Fryar could show dad a thing or two about that against the Huskers on Saturday?
“We look at them as a dangerous team,” he said. “It’s going to be a fight.”
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckever@journalstar.com.
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