Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/412449
the situation much differently. "Earlier years here at Virginia I had the mindset, feeling like the world was against me and kind of getting down when any- thing negative would happen," Frye said. "But this year has been really different for me. The issue with my dad arose, but I had a different mindset that with anything that came up I had to overcome it." Head coach Mike London gave Frye the freedom to make whatever choice was best for the player. "Whatever he wanted to do, I would sup- port him 100 percent," London said. "He chose to stay. His parents have been very much involved with Ian kicking and this whole process with him. It doesn't surprise me that they would say, 'Listen, go back out there and play and kick and do well.'" Frye did go back and make his fourth field goal of the afternoon, a 46-yarder that cut an 11-point BYU lead to eight points at 27-19. (UVa eventu- ally fell 41-33.) The kicker's new perspective on life helped him remain calm and effective. But the catalyst for Frye's new approach to life was mainly personal. "Applying life lessons and be- ing engaged has really helped, having someone else in my life constantly that I care for greatly," said Frye, who will tie the knot in the summer of 2016. "I've always had my parents there and I know that they love me un- conditionally, but with someone else in your life you have to mature and become a better person, and having that has really helped." Those personal experiences and the maturity Frye has gained from them have carried over into his approach to kicking. "In practice I've trained myself, not really taking steps, when I kick in the game I take my steps, but I've tried to simplify everything down to its core," he said. "As a result I'm feeling a differ- ent level of confidence in myself and my sur- roundings." Frye said he's not brooding over every little nuance of the game and not being bothered by things he can't control. "Previous years I used to worry about everything from big to small, the crowd, weather conditions — c o n s t a n t l y t h i n k i n g about all that and trying to kick the perfect ball every time," he said. "So with all that on your mind it makes your job very dif- ficult." Frye has had his share of ups and downs. He's learned a valuable lesson that many never learn or that some learn too late in life — trials and troubles can make us stronger if we don't let them break us. ◆ Frye connected on 17 of 20 field goal attempts, and all 27 extra point tries, in Virginia's first nine games this season. PHOTO BY JIM DAVES/COURTESY UVA