Applying the Freas

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2002 | 9:09 a.m.

NEXT UP

What: Wisconsin at UNLV

When: Saturday, 5:45 p.m.

Where: Sam Boyd Stadium

TV: ESPN2, Cox cable ch. 31

Radio: KBAD, 920-AM

Line: Wisconsin by 31/2. Total is 51.

Tickets: A crowd of more than 40,000 is expected, and fewer than 1,000 seats remain. Standing room tickets will be sold. Order online at unlvtickets.com or call 739-FANS.

Brrrrr!

Even though temperatures have been well over triple digits for most of fall practice, things have gotten a little chilly at times on UNLV's practice field.

One reason for that has been the surprising play of senior offensive tackle Eddie Freas -- pronounced "Freeze."

"We call him Dr. Freas," senior guard Tony Terrell said. "And when he gets a good block on someone, we say, 'You've been frozen!' "

Freas, expected to split time at quick tackle with highly touted JC transfer Matt Williams in Saturday's season opener against Wisconsin at Sam Boyd Stadium, almost got frozen out of Division I football, despite earning all-state honors his sophomore year at American River JC in Sacramento.

The reason? Freas is just a shade over 6-foot-2, about three or four inches shy of what most Division I schools prefer.

"My height really hurt me," Freas said. "The only offers I got were from UNLV and Wyoming to walk on."

But Freas, who was almost as wide (330 pounds) as he was tall when he arrived at UNLV, didn't give up. Instead, he spent a lot of time in the weight room with strength coach Mark Philippi and became a jack-of-all-trades backup at every line spot.

Now he tips the scales at 295 pounds with improved strength and quickness. And it's possible the lineman that no Division I school would give a scholarship to a couple of years ago could be starting games for the Rebels.

"He's going to play half (the game)," UNLV coach John Robinson said. "Eddie has done a great job here. He came here as a walk-on and got real big, over 300 pounds. But he trimmed down some. He's a tough guy ... a short, stocky and hard-working guy. He does a great job."

"Eddie Freas has grown as a football player and a man so much," Terrell added. "Eddie will do anything for this team. This camp he's played three positions --- center, guard and tackle. It's hard enough to learn to play one line position, much less three.

"You look at him and he's not that big and he's not that strong. But he plays like he's 6-6. You look into his eyes and you can see the passion he has for the game. ... He deserves everything he's got."

Freas, who redshirted in 2000 and became the team's long snapper and backup to tackle Brandon Bair last season, says there is no secret to his success.

"It's been a lot of hard work," he said. "It's kind of a dream come true for me. It just shows you that hard work does pay off."