Quarterback Tim Frazier walked into Hampton (Va.) University coach Joe Taylor's office Monday and told him it was time to put his medical school career first and football second.
The former Poly standout delivered the news to Taylor just two days after he had come home to Baltimore and led Hampton on a relentless comeback journey that fell just short against Morgan State.
Hampton was trailing 49-13 midway through the third quarter when Frazier, who had started the game, returned and engineered a 29-3 surge that left the Pirates with a much more respectable loss, 52-42.
Frazier, 6 feet 2, 200 pounds, threw a 3-yard touchdown pass in the comeback, and finished the day with 10 completions in 17 attempts for 86 yards. He also rushed seven times for 43 yards. For the season, Frazier completed 101 of 201 passes for 1,351 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Frazier still has one year of playing eligibility, even though he is a senior in the classroom.
"I'm behind some in my med school preparation because of football and I'm giving the game up for now," Frazier said. "If I get the proper score for a scholarship on the medical school exam, I'll come back next year and play."
On the football field, Frazier was prepared as a quarterback for Taylor's run-oriented offense by late Poly coach Augie Waibel.
"Coach Waibel made me understand how much he needed me for that third-down pass," Frazier said. "He gave me a heavy dose of his philosophy that translated right into what Coach Taylor was doing."
Frazier is a biology/pre-med major with a 3.5 grade point average. He is a member of the Beta Kappa Chi, Alpha Kappa Mu and Golden Key International honor societies.
Frazier has been named to the District III Verizon Academic All-America second-team along with Hampton teammate Ira David Dawson, giving the two players the distinction this season of being the only Division I athletes selected from a historically black college or university.
Anthony starts fast
It may take a long time for anybody to top freshman Carmelo Anthony's performance for Syracuse University in his first two collegiate basketball games.
The former Towson Catholic star scored 55 points and had 21 rebounds in the two games, shattering a Syracuse record for the most points (27 in 70-63 loss to Memphis Nov. 14 in Coaches vs. Cancer Classic) ever scored by a freshman in his first game.
The 6-8 forward followed that with 28 points and 10 rebounds in an 81-68 victory over Valparaiso Sunday night.
More big-timers
Freshman Marshall Strickland (South Carroll) was called on by Indiana coach Mike Davis for four minutes of playing time in an 84-71 victory over Massachusetts in the Maui Invitational on Monday night.
Strickland, 6-2, had one rebound and one turnover and was 0-for-2 from the free-throw line in his collegiate debut.
Another Baltimore-area freshman, Todd Galloway (City College and Notre Dame Academy), scored five points as a backup point guard in his debut with Florida State on Sunday in a 79-46 victory over Savannah State.
Goodman golden
Shippensburg University junior forward Jerome Goodman (Glen Burnie) scored 28 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in two games. Goodman, a transfer from Hagerstown Community College, leads the 1-1 Raiders in rebounding and is second in scoring.
On the mat
West Virginia sophomore Brandon Lauer (River Hill) and teammate Shane Cunanan shared the wrestling titles at 141 pounds in last weekend's Navy Classic and the West Virginia Open the previous weekend. Lauer is expected to drop to 133 pounds.
At the Keystone Classic at Penn on Sunday, Penn freshman Matt Eveleth (Chesapeake-AA) took third at 133, and Boston freshman Zak Johns (McDonogh) took fifth at 149.
Have a Postcard? Contact Bill Free by e-mail at bfree706@hotmail.com or by phone at 410-833-5349.