Frye's career went by in a snap, even though he snapped more than 100,000 times

When Zach Frye was on the field, his team was usually having a moment.

It wasn't first down. It wasn't a play call in hopes of gaining four yards to set up third down with countless options.

As long snapper, Frye was on the field for a clutch field goal or one-chance-only punt. The Fremont Ross graduate played five years of football at Notre Dame College and Shepherd University.

"You're put in awkward situations, it's mentally straining," Frye said. "Life can be mentally straining. The moment, you don't know until you're in the moment. The moment makes people great. It's not playing a game, but when the game comes down to a moment and you need this.

"My position, I'm in the moment a lot. You're backed up in the end zone, if they get a block that's a moment. If we pin them deep and kill momentum, we killed their moment."

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Frye knew the moment would never last long.

"Six seconds," he said. "I love that about my position. There was pressure, but it's only six seconds. There's not a lot of thinking."

Frye started each of the 59 games he played in and was twice All-American. Still, it was mostly anonymity.

"No one knows who you are until you're the guy who messed up," he said. "My mistake is two or three times greater than another player's mistake. It's tough. My mistake can automatically impact points or field position.

"If you miss a gap, the running back gets six yards instead of two. It's different. Hopefully, you don't see mistakes from a long snapper. You notice it. It's not that hard, but you have to be prepared mentally. That's the big thing you have to do."

On a team led by Tyson Bagent, who started three games for the Chicago Bears this season, Shepherd's field goal unit ran onto the field with the clock running and forced overtime as time expired.

Shepherd booted the winning field goal to top California (Pennsylvania). Lineman Joey Fisher (Steelers) and running back Ronnie Brown (Buccaneers practice squad) were also on the team.

"There were scouts from 32 NFL teams there," Frye said. "We were loaded with NFL talent."

Quarterbacks repeat throws, but they aren't all the same, especially on the run. Pitchers execute the same delivery repeatedly, but they throw different pitches.

Ideally, every snap is the same for Frye. The only time he's recognized on the field is when one isn't.

"I had a method about consistency," he said. "Always warm up from a shorter distance. Take video to see what you're doing. Third, if you're struggling, just stop. I'd develop worse mechanics when I'd struggle and keep going.

"It's 90% mental and 10% physical."

Frye started the grind as a junior in high school. His father, Bobby Frye, encouraged camps and lessons online, and Frye found virtual trainer Nolan Owen.

"It's like a batting coach or tennis instructor for technique," he said. "My dad pushed me and led me in the right direction. My first college coach, Mike Jacobs, gave me a chance and believed in me. He got on me, but he had my best interest in mind.

"I only had him for a year, that's the impact he had. I'm not 6-foot-5. I played and won at a high level."

Frye sandwiched two conventional seasons at Notre Dame College around the reduced schedule campaign during the pandemic. He played two years at Division II Shepherd University in West Virginia.

Shepherd lost to Colorado School of Mines in the national semifinals in 2022.

"It was like a paid vacation by the NCAA," Frye said in appreciation of the circumstances.

He earned strategic communication and public relations degrees at Notre Dame and is finishing his master's at Shepherd.

"I'm seeing where it takes me, like I did with football," he said. "It feels like yesterday I started and now I'm finishing my senior year. I can't believe it. It went fast. All the time I've spent snapping a football — 100,000 times. More.

"That's how you get better. I can't believe how many times I've done that."

mhorn@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Ross grad Zach Frye reflects on long-snapping and life