There is an odd man out for the starting quarterback position at Notre Dame. And that guy is Zach Frazer.
Irish fans were expecting a twosome to contend for the starting job this fall, as was told to us by Coach Weis, but the tricky Chuck named three potential gunslingers yesterday per a press release.
Zach was the first quarterback recruited by Weis and a 4 star prospect according to Scout.com. There has been a lot of speculation on Zach’s future in the last few weeks and his father let it be known that Zach did not want to transfer. Now there is an article out that may prove otherwise…
Frazer’s future at Notre Dame appears in doubt
By Eric Thomas, May 31, 2007
Last updated: Thursday, May 31, 2007 1:53 AM EDT
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Mechanicsburg alum Zach Frazer has been loyal to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, but if a statement released by head coach Charlie Weis on Wednesday afternoon is any indication, then Frazer’s Irish eyes may no longer be smiling.Weis released a statement through the media relations department at Notre Dame stating that the quarterback competition is open into the fall, and only three quarterbacks are gunning for the top spot.Frazer is not one of them.”After concluding spring ball evaluations, Evan Sharpley, Demetrius Jones and Jimmy Clausen remain as the main contenders,” Weis said. “Each of these three men brought something unique to the quarterback competition. Evan ran the operation the best, Jimmy threw the best ball, and Demetrius made the most plays. For these reasons, they will compete for playing time.”And so the dream of running out of the tunnel in front of “Touchdown Jesus” as the top dog on the South Bend campus could come to a screeching halt for Frazer.
His father, David, hinted that a transfer could happen if Zach does not gain any opportunities in South Bend.”If the opportunity is out there and they (other schools) come calling, he wants to play,” David Frazer said. “He’s a kid that wants to play. He’s not going to run the scout team or do mop-up duty, he wants to play.”Zach Frazer, home on break from school, is unavailable to the media per university rules. He received a phone call from Weis Wednesday afternoon and was informed of the decision with his parents by his side.”We were with him when Coach Weis called,” said David Frazer. “Coach Weis called at about 1:30 p.m. and informed him that he did not see Zach having any opportunities to be the No. 1 quarterback at Notre Dame (this season.)”
Frazer was the only one of the four quarterbacks who did not complete a pass in the annual Blue-Gold game earlier this spring, but got the starting nod for the game based on a coin flip with the coaching staff.”At this point he’s a little disappointed,” said David Frazer. “He’s worked very hard in the last year and a half and he’s been extremely loyal to Notre Dame. He loves the university.”Frazer’s name has been tossed around as a possible transfer since the Irish recruited Jones and Clausen. For the upcoming season, the Irish landed four-star prospect Dayne Crist from Sherman Oaks, Calif.Frazer, who did not see time a season ago, has four years of eligibility remaining. Should he transfer to another Division I school, he would be required to sit out a season, but would still have three years left. A transfer before the fall, to a Division II or III school, means he could play all four years.”If he could fulfill his desire to be a starting quarterback at a Division I university, he might look at that,” David Frazer said.”We owe a lot to Charlie Weis. He is a phenomenal coach. The coaches are putting together an offense that will match the talent on the team. The style of play of Zach as a quarterback might not match the other players or the scheme the coaches need to develop the offense that’s there.”Frazer chose the Irish back on April 14, 2005, over Penn State, Duke, Connecticut, Syracuse, Louisville and Georgia Tech. Schools such as West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and other southern-based schools that showed some interest during Frazer’s recruitment may all be interested if he indeed does seek a transfer from Notre Dame.Should he decide to leave the Irish, any school that would be willing to accept his transfer must go through the Mechanicsburg coaching staff. Wildcats assistant coach Tony Rivito would act as the go-between according to David Frazer. Schools may not have direct contact to Frazer since he is under scholarship with the Irish and may not have contact until he is released from that scholarship.Frazer was named the Class AAA Associated Press Player of the Year after his junior season in which he threw for 3,674 yards and 27 touchdowns.
