Lafourche voters keep library mills in tact
November 17, 2013CCA pushes forward with win
November 20, 2013
UNO freshman and Houma Christian graduate Nate Frye admits he was a ball of nerves before last Tuesday night’s season-opening game against Millsaps.
But once on the floor, the Houma native said he put his emotions in God’s hands and did what he knew best – played basketball.
The 6-foot, 1-inch guard scored 11 points and had a team-high 4 steals in the Privateers’ 81-45 win against the school – Frye’s first career collegiate game.
In addition to the successful debut, the game also marked a victorious comeback for Frye, who had surgery on July 2 for a labrum injury that he battled while at Houma Christian.
“I had been out for months and months and months,” Frye said. “I had a few practices – that’s about it. And I actually didn’t have a very good practice in my last practice before the game, so that made me nervous because I was basing my performance on that last practice.
“So I came into the game hesitant, but I just prayed, asked God to give me strength and then my basketball instincts kicked in. It all sort of came together from there. It was amazing. It felt great.”
For Frye, the return to the court marked a sigh of relief on a number of fronts.
Start with the labrum.
Frye said he played through pain throughout his time at the small Houma-based private school.
“My senior year, it actually would pop out of place from time-to-time,” Frye said. “It came out of place during a playoff game – I remember that. It just was something that I learned to deal with.”
The injury was diagnosed as a tear this past summer, and Frye opted to have surgery to repair the injury.
Frye said the entire process was tedious and often very painful. He said he traveled three times a week to New Orleans to do rehab so that he could be ready for the start of UNO’s season.
“It’s really a miracle – through the grace of God, I was able to get better in a timely manner,” Frye said. “I have six anchors in my arm right now – that’s a lot of anchors for one shoulder. I have that in there with a couple of screws, too. … It was a really rough process, but I knew it would pay off. I had some really good people in my corner – the doctors I saw, the surgeon and the people who helped me rehab and get back to 100 percent. I knew that I was in good hands.”
With the labrum in the rearview mirror, last Tuesday’s game also was special for Frye because it marked the beginning of his newest chapter in life.
The UNO engineering major said he’s dreamed of being a college athlete his entire life.
Frye averaged 19 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists per game as a senior with the Warriors. He earned six letters for the basketball program in his career.
But more important than the letters earned or the statistics accumulated, Frye said he cherished his time at the prep level because of the change he helped spark within the Warriors’ program.
During Frye’s career, Houma Christian transitioned from a little-known program to an annual playoff contender in Class 1A.
He said that entire process is one of the biggest reasons he chose UNO – a program that is in similar transition. The Privateers are shifting back into Division I athletics and are currently enjoying their first season back in the Southland Conference.
Frye said the challenge of re-establishing the Privateers into a winner is a huge motivating factor for him as the team enters the meat of its schedule.
‘I’m not green to new beginnings,” Frye said. “I’m not afraid to be a part of a program that’s getting itself started. At Houma Christian, we had to build from the bottom-up. We started my career as that team nobody ever heard of. But my classmates and I built it up and we became a top program in Class 1A basketball. This is nothing new to me. I know what it takes. I’m just willing and ready to get the work done and get it all underway.”
The opportunity to play some of the best players in the country also has Frye and the Privateers itching, as well.
After the Millsaps game, Frye and his teammates headed to Baton Rouge to take on LSU last night. The score of that game was not available at press-time.
After tangling with the Tigers, UNO will make a road trip at Hawaii.
“How awesome?” Frye said with a laugh. “I’ve never been to Hawaii. But I can’t wait to get out there and play.”
UNO will also play Minnesota and No. 1 Michigan State in their pre-Southland slate.
Frye admitted that the Privateers will be huge underdogs in all of the above-mentioned games.
But that’s just fine by him. Since walking the halls at Houma Christian, Frye said he and his teams have been expected to come up on the short end of the scoreboard.
But more often than not, fans have left the gym surprised at the actual end result of the game.
“Our coach believes in us and thinks that we have what it takes to compete in all of these games,” Frye said. “It’s up to us to reward that belief and put the work in to build confidence. For me, I know LSU is a tougher opponent than any team we’ve faced – we have to go out and play great basketball in that game. Against Michigan State, some of their guards are about to go into the league, so it will be so exciting to see where I stand against those guys on such a big stage.
“It’s just about being better every day. I know 11 points in my first game is awesome. But I can’t be contented by that. I have to just keep working. If my teammates and I do that, we’ll be amazed at how far we end up going.”
ELLENDER’S TALBOT ALSO HAS A STRONG START
While Frye showcased his talents to Millsaps, former Ellender High School standout and current Louisiana Tech center Gibby Talbot was also busy making his mark.
The Bulldogs’ sophomore had a big night in Louisiana Tech’s second game of the season – a 106-59 thrashing of Centenary.
The 6-foot, 11-inch big man had 11 points in the win, including a perfect 5-of-5 from the field.
The victory was a special night for the entire Bulldogs’ team. Louisiana Tech got their championship rings from winning the WAC last year.
UNO freshman guard Nate Frye passes the basketball during his first game of the season – a Privateers’ victory against Millsaps. Frye scored 11 points in the win and had an impact on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. The Houma native and Houma Christian graduate said he is happy to be playing at the collegiate level of play.
