Sept. 10, 2009

By Mandrallius Robinson, The Greenville News

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Antonio Frazier could drive the stretch of U.S. 123 between Clemson and Greenville with his eyes closed.

Frazier is a junior offensive lineman on the Furman football team, but he is also enrolled at Clemson University. As part of the schools' dual-degree program, Frazier has already earned his liberal arts degree from Furman and is pursuing a degree from Clemson in ceramic and material engineering.

Frazier lives in Easley, nearly equidistant between the two campuses, but in order to tackle the books and keep his spot as starting right tackle, he spends more time on the road than AAA.

"It's all worth it," Frazier said. "I've always wanted to be an engineer. I signed here knowing this was going to be the case. It's a great education at Furman, and I'll get a degree from Clemson, a pretty good engineering program. It's going to work out."

"He gets to practice every day on time," said Furman head coach Bobby Lamb. "He's committed to being a Furman football player. When it's all said and done, two years from now, he'll have a degree from Furman and a degree from Clemson. He'll be able to ride that a long way."

Frazier will ride a long way this weekend, but to a place he knows even better than 123. Furman will travel to Frazier's hometown, Chattanooga, Tenn., to open the Southern Conference schedule against the Mocs. Frazier expects nearly 30 family members to attend Saturday's game, which is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

"Last time I went home, I didn't play very much," Frazier said. "It's always good to see your family, but for them to actually get to see me play, it's going to be a lot of fun."

It is difficult to classify any man who completes the Furman curriculum in three years as patient. However, before making his first start last Saturday against Presbyterian, Frazier spent two years studying patiently behind All-SoCon tackles Thomas Slaughter and Joel Bell.

"It was definitely hard coming out of high school thinking you could play," Frazier said. "I just tried to learn from the guys in front of me. I still talk to Joel Bell on a regular basis. He helps me with the things he's learned. It worked out well."

"He's gotten the first ball game under his belt, now he can really take some steps forward," said Furman offensive line coach Carroll McCray. "He did really well last week. I think he has progressed every week, and I think he's continued to learn. He's got loads of potential and athletic ability. We're just trying to hone that in as he matures through our program."

Meanwhile, as he matures through Clemson's program, unlike his classmates, Frazier is cautious about mixing orange with his purple.

"I haven't fallen for the whole Clemson lore yet," Frazier teased. "It's is exciting to be on that big campus and see all the stuff that they have going on, but I'm still a Paladin all the way."