Tommie Frazier
Encyclopedia
Tommie James Frazier, Jr. (born July 16, 1974) is a former American football
player and coach in the United States
. He played quarterback
for the Nebraska Cornhuskers
.
Frazier led his team to back-to-back consensus national championships in 1994 and 1995, and he remains the only quarterback to have done so since the 1950s. The 1995 Nebraska team is considered to have been one of the most dominant in the history of American college football. In a 2006 ESPN.com
poll, the results of which aired on SportsCenter
, the 1995 Nebraska team was voted the best college team of all time.
In 1999 Frazier was selected by Sports Illustrated as a back-up quarterback in their "NCAA Football All-Century Team." The starting quarterback was Sammy Baugh
and the other back-ups were John Lujack, Roger Staubach
and Doug Flutie
. Frazier was one of six Nebraska Cornhuskers on this 85 man roster; the others being Johnny Rodgers
, Rich Glover
, Dave Rimington
, Dean Steinkuhler
and Aaron Taylor.
In 2004, CollegeFootballNews.com named Frazier the #33 player on their list of the Top 100 Greatest College Football Players of All-Time.
Frazier was never drafted in the NFL due to a serious blood clot in his left leg, a side effect of Crohn’s disease.
and attended Manatee High School
. Frazier is married to the former Andrea Stephens, who is originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
. The couple has a son, Tommie James Frazier III and a daughter Ava.
Frazier is also a member of Iota Phi Theta fraternity.
and Florida State
in the seemingly annual Orange Bowl matchups. Frazier, a prized blue-chip recruit ranked No. 3 in the country from his high school senior class by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, was the final piece of the puzzle and led the Huskers to four straight New Year's Day bowl games. Reports were Osborne had shed some tears upon receiving the news of Frazier's verbal commitment with Nebraska.
At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, an 18-year old true freshman Tommie Frazier joined the Nebraska football team and started off backing up senior Mike Grant for the 1992 season
. Grant got Nebraska off to a 4-1 start, but an early season 27-14 loss to highly regarded Washington
set up for Frazier's chance to take over as the team's starter. And he would become Nebraska's starter at Missouri
on Oct. 24 as the Huskers won the game, 34-24.
The two games that followed up the Missouri win would firmly place Frazier into the minds of college football fans nationwide. Both were night games nationally televised on ESPN
, and they were blowout wins showcasing Frazier's talented skill set. The Colorado game on Halloween Day
resulted in Frazier destroying a powerful 9-1-1, Kordell Stewart
-led Colorado team
, 52-7. Frazier passed sparingly going 4-for-12 for 55 yards with two TD passes, but did his damage on the ground rushing 16 times for 86 yards with his option trickery leading the way to 373 team rushing yards for the Huskers.
The following week, Nov. 7, Frazier showcased his strong arm in a 49-7 win over Kansas
. The playaction fake resulted in long touchdown passes of 36 and 46 yards from the true freshman. Frazier finished the game going 6-for-11 passing for 161 yards and three TD passes against the Jayhawks.
In 1992, Nebraska managed a 9-2 record with Frazier registering seven starts at quarterback. He had a memorable bowl game performance against an outstanding 11-1 Florida State team led by quarterback Charlie Ward
, wide receiver Tamarick Vanover
, and outstanding linebacker Marvin Jones
. On January 1, 1993, Florida State jumped out to a 20-0 lead by the 2nd quarter, but Frazier - who opened up the game in the shotgun formation - responded with two touchdown passes - a 41 yarder to Corey Dixon and a redzone touchdown pass to Gerald Armstrong - to cut FSU's lead to 27-14 which was the final score.
Frazier's statistics in nine games for the 1992 season included him completing 44-of-100 passing attempts for 727 yards with only one interception while rushing for 399 yards and finishing with 17 rushing and passing touchdowns. He had a longest run of 52 yards against Iowa State
on Nov. 14.
On January 1, 1994 as a sophomore, Frazier kept pace with Heisman Trophy
winner Charlie Ward of Florida State in the Orange Bowl in a rematch from the season before, but fell just short of leading the Huskers to the National Championship because of a last minute drive by Ward and field goal by the Seminoles. Amazingly, Frazier still got his team in position for a game-winning 45 yard field goal attempt. He did this by throwing a perfect 29 yard spiral downfield to his split end Trumaine Bell - leaving just 0:01 left on the game clock. However, the field goal attempt sailed wide left giving FSU
an 18-16 win. Frazier was still named MVP of the National Title game despite the loss as he was 13-of-24 passing for 206 yards with a 34 yard TD pass while rushing 14 times for 77 yards including a 32 yard run.
That season - 1993
, Frazier led Nebraska to an 11-1 mark and rushed for slightly more than 1,000 yards when his sack yards are removed and the bowl performance against Florida State is added. The option quarterback had nine rushing touchdowns and recorded a longest run of 58 yards. Frazier completed right at 50 percent of his passes as a sophomore if a 5-of-17, 57 yards passing performance in a snow storm against Oklahoma
on Nov. 26 is removed from his accumulative passing statistics' totals. A wind chill of minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded that day. Frazier passed for 1,159 yards on 77-of-162 passes with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 games. His longest pass play was a 60 yard strike to Corey Dixon against Colorado on Oct. 30, 1993.
Remarkably, Frazier, with help from reserves Brook Berringer
and Matt Turman, would put together three straight undefeated regular seasons from 1993 to 1995, but none of this would have been possible if he had not put forth the fine individual performance at UCLA when the Husker signal caller completed 13-of-19 passes for 145 yards with an 11 yard TD pass - as he did just enough to help Nebraska escape, 14-13, on September 18, 1993.
The following year was trying for Frazier as he battled a blood clot in his leg which held him out of the second half of the season. He had a remarkable start that year giving him much Heisman Trophy consideration in the early part of the season as on Aug. 28, 1994, Frazier exploded on West Virginia
in a Husker win, 31-0. That game, Frazier finished 8-of-16 passing for 100 yards with an 11 yard TD pass and ran 12 times for 130 yards while scoring on touchdown runs of 25, 27, and 42 yards.
All of the early season successes of 1994 came to end for Frazier when on Sept. 24, he began experiencing difficulties in the calf of his right leg - which was the result of blood clotting. Nebraska beat Pacific, 70-21, but Frazier played sparingly completing 1-of-2 passes for 26 yards as this game would be the last he would play in for the regular season.
The rest of the season resumed as dropback passer Berringer, I-back Lawrence Phillips
, wingback Abdul Muhammad, offensive tackle Zach Wiegert
and the talented Blackshirts picked up the slack. Without Frazier, the Nebraska defense rose to the occasion on Oct. 29, 1994 when a splendid 11-1 Colorado team, led by Stewart and Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam
, came to Lincoln, Nebraska
. Nebraska won the contest, 24-7.
The Huskers got back to the Orange Bowl
on January 1, 1995 with a 12-0 record and played the Miami Hurricanes
(10-1) for a shot at the National Championship. In the game, Coach Osborne started Frazier but then pulled him for backup Berringer after a botched deep throw into the endzone on Nebraska's initial drive resulted in a turnover. All momentum had shifted Miami's way as the Hurricanes led by as much as 17-7 early in the 3rd quarter. In the fourth quarter and trailing, 17-9, Nebraska's offense had clearly stalled even though Berringer had succeeded in completing a 19 yard TD pass to tightend Mark Gilman midway through the 2nd quarter.
With only seven minutes left in the game, Osborne went back to Frazier, his starting quarterback. Frazier responded with two touchdown drives giving Nebraska its 24-17 victory. The tired Miami defense led by defensive tackle Warren Sapp
and linebacker Ray Lewis could not keep up with the Nebraska option as fullback Cory Schlesinger
scored from 15 and 14 yards out off Frazier's fake of the option play as the Huskers celebrated their first national title since 1971 and the first of Coach Osborne's career. Frazier was once again named MVP as he was 3-for-5 passing for 25 yards and ran the ball seven times for 31 yards including a 25 yard option keeper - performing to this level after not having played in a game for three months.
In 1995, Frazier was finally healthy and led the Huskers on a dominating march through college football. Despite always having great arm strength, Frazier was never known for his passing accuracy. Frazier consistently improved his passing - particularly when throwing touch passes - and by his senior year completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 17 touchdowns and a pass efficiency rating of 156.1.
Frazier's finest game passing that year came in the form of a 44-21 victory on Oct. 28 at Boulder, Colorado
where he threaded the needle against a 10-2 Buffaloes team by completing 14-of-23 passes for 241 yards which included two touchdown passes and one of those covering 52 yards to wingback Clester Johnson. This game also gave Frazier much consideration for the Heisman Trophy. However on Dec. 2, Ohio State's
runningback, Eddie George
, wound up winning the award while Frazier finished as the runner-up.
Frazier teamed up with Phillips, Taylor, Ahman Green
, Damon Benning, Clinton Childs, Chris Dishman
, Aaron Graham
, Matt Vrzal, Eric Anderson, and Steve Ott that season to form one the most punishing rushing attacks in college football history, setting an NCAA record for averaging 7.0 yards per rushing attempt. The Huskers averaged 399.8 rushing yards and 52.4 points per game. Frazier's regular season statistics had him completing 92-of-163 passes for 1,362 yards with four interceptions and rushing 97 times for 604 yards with 14 touchdowns. He was never sacked the entire season. Frazier's longest pass play was a 76 yarder to split end Reggie Baul against Oklahoma State on Aug. 31.
The Huskers finished the regular season undefeated at 11-0 and were matched with the also undefeated Florida Gators
in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
on Jan. 2, 1996. Nebraska defeated the Gators
'Fun-N-Gun' team 62-24, and Frazier garnered his third straight National Title Game MVP Award. He finished with 16 rushes for 199 yards while completing 6-of-14 passes for 105 yards which included a 16 yard TD pass to Phillips. The highlight of the game came on what appeared to be a short yardage routine option play sweeping to the right sideline - which happened in the closing seconds of the 3rd quarter. Frazier ran the play with the decision to keep the ball and turned up field. The result was several exhausted defenders hanging onto and clinging to Frazier as, one by one, each defender fell off - a total of seven broken tackles. The last defender was Florida's cornerback Fred Weary
as Frazier kept his balance and raced 75 yards down the sideline to paydirt in what was the longest run of his career. Sports Illustrated named it one of college football's greatest plays.
At the conclusion of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, there was a postgame celebration that involved a large gathering at midfield. CBS' reporter Michele Tafoya
had a microphone and was asking Coach Osborne a series of questions. She then turned to Frazier looking for his response. "Oh listen, I had a great career at Nebraska," Frazier explained with gratitude as he gave back to the Cornhusker fan base. "There is no better way to end it; I want to thank all the fans for all the support, and I want to thank all my teammates - most of all important, I want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ above, because without him, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish anything I have."
by winning the MVP award for his 34-18 victory in the East-West Shrine Game
which was nationally televised on ESPN on January 13, 1996. After the college all-star football game, West Coach Terry Donahue
said there was no doubt Frazier improved his stock with his performance. "I think he came here with all kinds of doubts," the former UCLA head football coach added. "This game really helped him and somebody is going to invest in him. I am really high on him. When I did the Fiesta Bowl, I said the guy was the most dangerous player in college football and I mean it more now. This guy's dangerous. He's great." Frazier finished that afternoon going 11-for-20 passing for 163 yards and rushed six times for 33 yards while scoring on a five yard keeper and throwing a 52 yard touchdown pass to teammate Kevin Jordan with 5:57 left in the contest.
The East-West Shrine Game showcased Frazier's skill set for the many NFL scouts that were in attendance. Unfortunately, leading up to the NFL Scouting Combine, Frazier started experiencing more problems with blood clots. Results from recruiting analyst Forrest Davis' publication had Frazier listed at 4.50 seconds in the 40 yard dash coming out of high school, and his test results at Nebraska from 1992-1995 had been very similar. However, Frazier's performance in late February 1996 at the NFL Scouting Combine was reported as being pedestrian-like by the Atlanta Journal Constitution from its March 3, 1996 edition.
As a result of the combination of many factors - primarily health issues, Frazier was not drafted in the NFL. However, the Montreal Alouettes
from the CFL
went after the rights to acquire Frazier away from the NFL as he was still a free agent option for the many NFL franchises. Montreal succeeded and began making offers to Frazier as early as May 1996.
Frazier signed a contract with the Alouettes on July 15, 1996 and became a backup quarterback behind starter Tracy Ham
and top reserve Jim Kemp. Frazier only played in one game on August 30 in which his team lost to the Ottawa Rough Riders
, 17-6. Frazier came off the bench in the 4th quarter of this contest and completed 6-of-17 passes for 55 yards.
However, his brief professional football career came to an end with a life-threatening scare. On September 4, 1996, Frazier was admitted to Montreal General Hospital
because of pneumonia
. He was put on blood thinners as a precaution because of two previous blood clots in his right leg while at Nebraska and after Frazier spit up blood the day he was hospitalized. It would take Frazier two weeks to recover as he was released from the hospital on Sept. 17. It was after this that Frazier decided to give up football and try other options in life.
and as assistant director of athletic development at Nebraska. At Baylor
, Frazier joined the coaching staff, led by head coach Kevin Steele
, as a graduate assistant and worked with the quarterbacks in 1999. Frazier was quickly promoted to a full-time position and became Baylor's running backs coach from 2000 to 2002. This assignment he and Steele inherited was tough considering the Bears' lack of success as Baylor had suffered through three losing seasons in a row going 8-25 from 1996-1998. Steele's record was 9 wins, 36 losses, and 0 ties while Frazier was an assistant. Steele was fired on Nov. 3, 2002 as Baylor finished 3-9 that season.
In 2005, Frazier became the 32nd head football coach for the Doane College Tigers
located in Crete, Nebraska
, and he held that position for two seasons, 2005 and 2006. His coaching record at Doane was 3 wins, 17 losses, and 0 ties. As of the conclusion of the 2007 season, this ranks him 22nd at Doane in total wins and 33rd at Doane in winning percentage (.150).
Notes - Statistics from the wikitable include bowl game performances.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
.
Frazier led his team to back-to-back consensus national championships in 1994 and 1995, and he remains the only quarterback to have done so since the 1950s. The 1995 Nebraska team is considered to have been one of the most dominant in the history of American college football. In a 2006 ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
poll, the results of which aired on SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
, the 1995 Nebraska team was voted the best college team of all time.
In 1999 Frazier was selected by Sports Illustrated as a back-up quarterback in their "NCAA Football All-Century Team." The starting quarterback was Sammy Baugh
Sammy Baugh
Samuel Adrian "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh was an American football player and coach. He played college football for the Horned Frogs at Texas Christian University, where he was a two-time All-American. He then played in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1937 to 1952...
and the other back-ups were John Lujack, Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
and Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
. Frazier was one of six Nebraska Cornhuskers on this 85 man roster; the others being Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Steven Rodgers is a former American college football player voted the University of Nebraska's "Player of the Century" and the winner of the 1972 Heisman Trophy.-College career:...
, Rich Glover
Rich Glover
Richard Edward "Richie" Glover is a former professional football player, a defensive tackle for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. He played college football at Nebraska under head coach Bob Devaney. Glover played his high school football at Snyder High School in Jersey City, NJ...
, Dave Rimington
Dave Rimington
Dave Brian Rimington is a former American football center. He is considered by many to be the greatest center in the history of college football.-College career:...
, Dean Steinkuhler
Dean Steinkuhler
-College career:Steinkuhler attended the University of Nebraska, where he won the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top offensive lineman, in 1983. This marked the third consecutive time a Cornhusker had won the award as Dave Rimington had won back to back Outland Trophies in 1981 and 1982...
and Aaron Taylor.
In 2004, CollegeFootballNews.com named Frazier the #33 player on their list of the Top 100 Greatest College Football Players of All-Time.
Frazier was never drafted in the NFL due to a serious blood clot in his left leg, a side effect of Crohn’s disease.
Personal
Frazier grew up in Bradenton, FloridaBradenton, Florida
Bradenton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2007 population to be 53,471. Bradenton is the largest Principal City of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2007 estimated population of 682,833...
and attended Manatee High School
Manatee High School
Manatee High School is an American public high school in Bradenton, Florida operated by the Manatee County School District.- History :What is now Manatee High School has had at least four names over the years and has had several different grade configurations during that time...
. Frazier is married to the former Andrea Stephens, who is originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
. The couple has a son, Tommie James Frazier III and a daughter Ava.
Frazier is also a member of Iota Phi Theta fraternity.
Collegiate playing career
When Frazier arrived in Lincoln, the Huskers had suffered years of bowl game blowouts. Coach Tom Osborne made a strategic decision to recruit faster players at all positions in the early 1990s to compete with MiamiMiami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
and Florida State
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
in the seemingly annual Orange Bowl matchups. Frazier, a prized blue-chip recruit ranked No. 3 in the country from his high school senior class by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, was the final piece of the puzzle and led the Huskers to four straight New Year's Day bowl games. Reports were Osborne had shed some tears upon receiving the news of Frazier's verbal commitment with Nebraska.
At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, an 18-year old true freshman Tommie Frazier joined the Nebraska football team and started off backing up senior Mike Grant for the 1992 season
1992 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1992 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1992 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
. Grant got Nebraska off to a 4-1 start, but an early season 27-14 loss to highly regarded Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
set up for Frazier's chance to take over as the team's starter. And he would become Nebraska's starter at Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
on Oct. 24 as the Huskers won the game, 34-24.
The two games that followed up the Missouri win would firmly place Frazier into the minds of college football fans nationwide. Both were night games nationally televised on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, and they were blowout wins showcasing Frazier's talented skill set. The Colorado game on Halloween Day
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
resulted in Frazier destroying a powerful 9-1-1, Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart, nicknamed "Slash" , is a former American NFL quarterback. Stewart attended the University of Colorado and was drafted 60th in the 1995 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers...
-led Colorado team
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, 52-7. Frazier passed sparingly going 4-for-12 for 55 yards with two TD passes, but did his damage on the ground rushing 16 times for 86 yards with his option trickery leading the way to 373 team rushing yards for the Huskers.
The following week, Nov. 7, Frazier showcased his strong arm in a 49-7 win over Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. The playaction fake resulted in long touchdown passes of 36 and 46 yards from the true freshman. Frazier finished the game going 6-for-11 passing for 161 yards and three TD passes against the Jayhawks.
In 1992, Nebraska managed a 9-2 record with Frazier registering seven starts at quarterback. He had a memorable bowl game performance against an outstanding 11-1 Florida State team led by quarterback Charlie Ward
Charlie Ward
Charlie Ward, Jr. is a retired American professional NBA basketball player, college football Heisman Trophy winner, Davey O'Brien Award winner and a Major League Baseball draftee. Ward is considered one of the best all-around athletes in the last quarter century...
, wide receiver Tamarick Vanover
Tamarick Vanover
Tamarick Vanover , is a former professional American football player in the NFL and CFL.Vanover spent two seasons at Florida State University, where he was named a first-team All-American in 1992 as a freshman kick returner...
, and outstanding linebacker Marvin Jones
Marvin Jones
Marvin Jones may refer to:*John Marvin Jones, United States congressman, aka Marvin Jones and J. Marvin Jones*Marvin Jones , American football player...
. On January 1, 1993, Florida State jumped out to a 20-0 lead by the 2nd quarter, but Frazier - who opened up the game in the shotgun formation - responded with two touchdown passes - a 41 yarder to Corey Dixon and a redzone touchdown pass to Gerald Armstrong - to cut FSU's lead to 27-14 which was the final score.
Frazier's statistics in nine games for the 1992 season included him completing 44-of-100 passing attempts for 727 yards with only one interception while rushing for 399 yards and finishing with 17 rushing and passing touchdowns. He had a longest run of 52 yards against Iowa State
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
on Nov. 14.
On January 1, 1994 as a sophomore, Frazier kept pace with Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Charlie Ward of Florida State in the Orange Bowl in a rematch from the season before, but fell just short of leading the Huskers to the National Championship because of a last minute drive by Ward and field goal by the Seminoles. Amazingly, Frazier still got his team in position for a game-winning 45 yard field goal attempt. He did this by throwing a perfect 29 yard spiral downfield to his split end Trumaine Bell - leaving just 0:01 left on the game clock. However, the field goal attempt sailed wide left giving FSU
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
an 18-16 win. Frazier was still named MVP of the National Title game despite the loss as he was 13-of-24 passing for 206 yards with a 34 yard TD pass while rushing 14 times for 77 yards including a 32 yard run.
That season - 1993
1993 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1993 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
, Frazier led Nebraska to an 11-1 mark and rushed for slightly more than 1,000 yards when his sack yards are removed and the bowl performance against Florida State is added. The option quarterback had nine rushing touchdowns and recorded a longest run of 58 yards. Frazier completed right at 50 percent of his passes as a sophomore if a 5-of-17, 57 yards passing performance in a snow storm against Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
on Nov. 26 is removed from his accumulative passing statistics' totals. A wind chill of minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded that day. Frazier passed for 1,159 yards on 77-of-162 passes with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 games. His longest pass play was a 60 yard strike to Corey Dixon against Colorado on Oct. 30, 1993.
Remarkably, Frazier, with help from reserves Brook Berringer
Brook Berringer
Brook Warren Berringer was an American quarterback for the University of Nebraska football team in the mid-1990s. Berringer came to Nebraska from Goodland, Kansas, and played a back-up role to Tommie Frazier...
and Matt Turman, would put together three straight undefeated regular seasons from 1993 to 1995, but none of this would have been possible if he had not put forth the fine individual performance at UCLA when the Husker signal caller completed 13-of-19 passes for 145 yards with an 11 yard TD pass - as he did just enough to help Nebraska escape, 14-13, on September 18, 1993.
The following year was trying for Frazier as he battled a blood clot in his leg which held him out of the second half of the season. He had a remarkable start that year giving him much Heisman Trophy consideration in the early part of the season as on Aug. 28, 1994, Frazier exploded on West Virginia
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
in a Husker win, 31-0. That game, Frazier finished 8-of-16 passing for 100 yards with an 11 yard TD pass and ran 12 times for 130 yards while scoring on touchdown runs of 25, 27, and 42 yards.
All of the early season successes of 1994 came to end for Frazier when on Sept. 24, he began experiencing difficulties in the calf of his right leg - which was the result of blood clotting. Nebraska beat Pacific, 70-21, but Frazier played sparingly completing 1-of-2 passes for 26 yards as this game would be the last he would play in for the regular season.
The rest of the season resumed as dropback passer Berringer, I-back Lawrence Phillips
Lawrence Phillips
Lawrence Lamond Phillips is a former professional American football and Canadian football running back. Phillips's trouble with the law and inability to produce in the NFL have led many critics to label him as a bust....
, wingback Abdul Muhammad, offensive tackle Zach Wiegert
Zach Wiegert
Zach Wiegert was an American football offensive tackle. He started 37 consecutive games at right tackle for the Cornhuskers, helping the University of Nebraska to a national championship as a senior.- College career :...
and the talented Blackshirts picked up the slack. Without Frazier, the Nebraska defense rose to the occasion on Oct. 29, 1994 when a splendid 11-1 Colorado team, led by Stewart and Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam
Rashaan Salaam
Rashaan Iman Salaam is a former professional American football player. Salaam won the 1994 Heisman Trophy as a running back for the University of Colorado at Boulder, rushing for 2,055 yards by the end of the season. Salaam is the fourth major college football player to rush for over 2,000 yards...
, came to Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
. Nebraska won the contest, 24-7.
The Huskers got back to the Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
on January 1, 1995 with a 12-0 record and played the Miami Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
(10-1) for a shot at the National Championship. In the game, Coach Osborne started Frazier but then pulled him for backup Berringer after a botched deep throw into the endzone on Nebraska's initial drive resulted in a turnover. All momentum had shifted Miami's way as the Hurricanes led by as much as 17-7 early in the 3rd quarter. In the fourth quarter and trailing, 17-9, Nebraska's offense had clearly stalled even though Berringer had succeeded in completing a 19 yard TD pass to tightend Mark Gilman midway through the 2nd quarter.
With only seven minutes left in the game, Osborne went back to Frazier, his starting quarterback. Frazier responded with two touchdown drives giving Nebraska its 24-17 victory. The tired Miami defense led by defensive tackle Warren Sapp
Warren Sapp
Warren Carlos Sapp is a retired American football player who played defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during his 13 year professional career, and college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes. He was then...
and linebacker Ray Lewis could not keep up with the Nebraska option as fullback Cory Schlesinger
Cory Schlesinger
Cory Schlesinger is a former American football fullback of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft...
scored from 15 and 14 yards out off Frazier's fake of the option play as the Huskers celebrated their first national title since 1971 and the first of Coach Osborne's career. Frazier was once again named MVP as he was 3-for-5 passing for 25 yards and ran the ball seven times for 31 yards including a 25 yard option keeper - performing to this level after not having played in a game for three months.
In 1995, Frazier was finally healthy and led the Huskers on a dominating march through college football. Despite always having great arm strength, Frazier was never known for his passing accuracy. Frazier consistently improved his passing - particularly when throwing touch passes - and by his senior year completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 17 touchdowns and a pass efficiency rating of 156.1.
Frazier's finest game passing that year came in the form of a 44-21 victory on Oct. 28 at Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
where he threaded the needle against a 10-2 Buffaloes team by completing 14-of-23 passes for 241 yards which included two touchdown passes and one of those covering 52 yards to wingback Clester Johnson. This game also gave Frazier much consideration for the Heisman Trophy. However on Dec. 2, Ohio State's
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
runningback, Eddie George
Eddie George
Edward Nathan "Eddie" George, Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played for the Tennessee Titans both in Tennessee and in Houston when the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers, and spent his final season with the Dallas Cowboys...
, wound up winning the award while Frazier finished as the runner-up.
Frazier teamed up with Phillips, Taylor, Ahman Green
Ahman Green
Ahman Rashad Green is a retired American football running back. He is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
, Damon Benning, Clinton Childs, Chris Dishman
Chris Dishman
Christopher Michael Dishman and grew up in Cozad, Nebraska where he played on the 1991 Class B state champion team. He is a former offensive lineman in the NFL. He played 8 seasons in the NFL, including 7 for the Arizona Cardinals and 1 for the St. Louis Rams. He played college ball at Nebraska....
, Aaron Graham
Aaron Graham
Aaron Geddes Graham is a former professional American football center in the National Football League. He played six seasons for the Arizona Cardinals , the Oakland Raiders , and the Tennessee Titans ....
, Matt Vrzal, Eric Anderson, and Steve Ott that season to form one the most punishing rushing attacks in college football history, setting an NCAA record for averaging 7.0 yards per rushing attempt. The Huskers averaged 399.8 rushing yards and 52.4 points per game. Frazier's regular season statistics had him completing 92-of-163 passes for 1,362 yards with four interceptions and rushing 97 times for 604 yards with 14 touchdowns. He was never sacked the entire season. Frazier's longest pass play was a 76 yarder to split end Reggie Baul against Oklahoma State on Aug. 31.
The Huskers finished the regular season undefeated at 11-0 and were matched with the also undefeated Florida Gators
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
on Jan. 2, 1996. Nebraska defeated the Gators
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
'Fun-N-Gun' team 62-24, and Frazier garnered his third straight National Title Game MVP Award. He finished with 16 rushes for 199 yards while completing 6-of-14 passes for 105 yards which included a 16 yard TD pass to Phillips. The highlight of the game came on what appeared to be a short yardage routine option play sweeping to the right sideline - which happened in the closing seconds of the 3rd quarter. Frazier ran the play with the decision to keep the ball and turned up field. The result was several exhausted defenders hanging onto and clinging to Frazier as, one by one, each defender fell off - a total of seven broken tackles. The last defender was Florida's cornerback Fred Weary
Fred Weary (defensive back)
Joseph Frederick "Fred" Weary is a former American college and professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League for six seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Weary played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for...
as Frazier kept his balance and raced 75 yards down the sideline to paydirt in what was the longest run of his career. Sports Illustrated named it one of college football's greatest plays.
At the conclusion of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, there was a postgame celebration that involved a large gathering at midfield. CBS' reporter Michele Tafoya
Michele Tafoya
Michele Tafoya is an American sportscaster.-Early life and career:Tafoya received a B.A...
had a microphone and was asking Coach Osborne a series of questions. She then turned to Frazier looking for his response. "Oh listen, I had a great career at Nebraska," Frazier explained with gratitude as he gave back to the Cornhusker fan base. "There is no better way to end it; I want to thank all the fans for all the support, and I want to thank all my teammates - most of all important, I want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ above, because without him, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish anything I have."
Professional playing career
Frazier had a good start at setting himself up for the 1996 NFL Draft1996 NFL Draft
The 1996 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996...
by winning the MVP award for his 34-18 victory in the East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
which was nationally televised on ESPN on January 13, 1996. After the college all-star football game, West Coach Terry Donahue
Terry Donahue
Terry Donahue is a former American football, player, coach, and executive and, currently, a football analyst. He served as the head football coach at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1976 to 1995, compiling a record of 151–74–8. From 2001 to 2005, Donahue served as...
said there was no doubt Frazier improved his stock with his performance. "I think he came here with all kinds of doubts," the former UCLA head football coach added. "This game really helped him and somebody is going to invest in him. I am really high on him. When I did the Fiesta Bowl, I said the guy was the most dangerous player in college football and I mean it more now. This guy's dangerous. He's great." Frazier finished that afternoon going 11-for-20 passing for 163 yards and rushed six times for 33 yards while scoring on a five yard keeper and throwing a 52 yard touchdown pass to teammate Kevin Jordan with 5:57 left in the contest.
The East-West Shrine Game showcased Frazier's skill set for the many NFL scouts that were in attendance. Unfortunately, leading up to the NFL Scouting Combine, Frazier started experiencing more problems with blood clots. Results from recruiting analyst Forrest Davis' publication had Frazier listed at 4.50 seconds in the 40 yard dash coming out of high school, and his test results at Nebraska from 1992-1995 had been very similar. However, Frazier's performance in late February 1996 at the NFL Scouting Combine was reported as being pedestrian-like by the Atlanta Journal Constitution from its March 3, 1996 edition.
As a result of the combination of many factors - primarily health issues, Frazier was not drafted in the NFL. However, the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
from the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
went after the rights to acquire Frazier away from the NFL as he was still a free agent option for the many NFL franchises. Montreal succeeded and began making offers to Frazier as early as May 1996.
Frazier signed a contract with the Alouettes on July 15, 1996 and became a backup quarterback behind starter Tracy Ham
Tracy Ham
Tracy Ham is a retired Canadian Football League quarterback for the Edmonton Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts, Baltimore Stallions, and the Montreal Alouettes. He was known for his abilities as a dual threat quarterback...
and top reserve Jim Kemp. Frazier only played in one game on August 30 in which his team lost to the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
, 17-6. Frazier came off the bench in the 4th quarter of this contest and completed 6-of-17 passes for 55 yards.
However, his brief professional football career came to an end with a life-threatening scare. On September 4, 1996, Frazier was admitted to Montreal General Hospital
Montreal General Hospital
The Montreal General Hospital is a hospital in Montreal, Canada, established on May 1, 1819 and an early teaching hospital. First located on the corner of Craig and St-Lawrence Streets with only 24 beds, it moved in 1822 to a new 72-bed building on Dorchester Street. It is currently situated on...
because of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. He was put on blood thinners as a precaution because of two previous blood clots in his right leg while at Nebraska and after Frazier spit up blood the day he was hospitalized. It would take Frazier two weeks to recover as he was released from the hospital on Sept. 17. It was after this that Frazier decided to give up football and try other options in life.
Coaching career
Frazier served as assistant football coach at Baylor UniversityBaylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
and as assistant director of athletic development at Nebraska. At Baylor
Baylor Bears
Baylor Bears refers to the sports teams of Baylor University. Baylor's men's sports teams are nicknamed the Bears, and some women's teams are nicknamed the Lady Bears. Student athletes participate in the NCAA's Division I, and Baylor is the only private school in the Big 12 Conference...
, Frazier joined the coaching staff, led by head coach Kevin Steele
Kevin Steele
-External links:* *...
, as a graduate assistant and worked with the quarterbacks in 1999. Frazier was quickly promoted to a full-time position and became Baylor's running backs coach from 2000 to 2002. This assignment he and Steele inherited was tough considering the Bears' lack of success as Baylor had suffered through three losing seasons in a row going 8-25 from 1996-1998. Steele's record was 9 wins, 36 losses, and 0 ties while Frazier was an assistant. Steele was fired on Nov. 3, 2002 as Baylor finished 3-9 that season.
In 2005, Frazier became the 32nd head football coach for the Doane College Tigers
Doane College
Doane College is a private liberal arts college in Crete, Nebraska, United States, with additional campuses located in Lincoln and Grand Island.-History:...
located in Crete, Nebraska
Crete, Nebraska
Crete is a city in Saline County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 6,960 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Crete is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, and he held that position for two seasons, 2005 and 2006. His coaching record at Doane was 3 wins, 17 losses, and 0 ties. As of the conclusion of the 2007 season, this ranks him 22nd at Doane in total wins and 33rd at Doane in winning percentage (.150).
Records and statistics
- Record as starter (33-3)
- National championships (2)
- Big Eight Conference championships (4)
- former University of Nebraska school record for total offense, career (5,476 yards)
- former University of Nebraska school record for touchdown passes, career (43)
- former University of Nebraska school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, season (14)
- former NCAA record for rushing yards in a bowl game by a quarterback (199)
- former University of Nebraska school record for total offense in a bowl game (304 yards)
- longest touchdown run in a bowl game (75 yards)
Passing Rushing YEAR CMP ATT CMP% YDS TD INT ATT YDS TD 1992 54 121 44.6 873 12 3 93 400 7 1993 90 186 48.4 1365 13 6 140 781 9 1994 22 49 44.9 298 4 3 40 279 6 1995 98 177 55.4 1467 18 6 113 803 16 Total 250 509 49.1 4003 47 18 386 2263 36
Notes - Statistics from the wikitable include bowl game performances.
Additional accolades
- Football Writers 1995 First Team All American
- Walter Camp 1995 First Team All American
- Associated Press 1995 First Team All American
- United Press International 1995 First Team All American
- AFCA 1995 First Team All American
- Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year 1995
- TD Club of Columbus Quarterback of the Year 1995
- Sport magazine Top 10 Players of the Century
- Heisman Trophy Runner-Up - 1995
- ESPY's College Football Play of the Year - 1996 - Nebraska's Tommie Frazier's TD scramble in Fiesta Bowl
Additional sources
- Strong Arm Tactics: A History and Statistical Analysis of the Professional Quarterback
- T. Frazier
- VHS recording of CBS Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Jan. 1, 1996
- Phil Steele's 1995 College Football Preview, Volume 1 (magazine)
- Bob Schaller's "Touchdown Tommie - The Tommie Frazier Story"
- Athlon Football - Nebraska & the Big Eight - 1995 Edition, Volume 19 (magazine)
- Sports Illustrated Presents - College Football '95 - Premier Edition (magazine)
- Athlon Football - Nebraska & the Big Eight - 1994 Edition, Volume 18 (magazine)
- Athlon Football - Nebraska & the Big Eight - 1993 Edition, Volume 17 (magazine)
- Athlon Football - Nebraska & the Big Eight - 1992 Edition, Volume 16 (magazine)
- Lindy's Big Eight Football Annual / 1992, Volume 6 (magazine)
- The Washington Post - "Frazier Shows Off Arm for Scouts", Jan. 14, 1996 (newspaper)
- USA Today "East-West Shrine Game" (box score), Jan. 13, 1996 (newspaper)
- Atlanta Journal Constitution, March 3, 1996 edition (newspaper)