On Tech’s side stood junior Scott Blair, a kicking phenom for Calhoun before he graduated in the spring of 2007. On UGA’s side stood sophomore Ty Frix, a long snapper extraordinaire for Calhoun until his graduation in the spring of ’08.
The UGA-Tech game was the first time the two players had met at the college level. Before the meeting they had only met on the field as part of the same team.
“Scott was the first person that I ever snapped to growing up,” said Frix of his first game with Blair in seventh grade at Calhoun Middle School. “I’ve gotten to be really close with Scott over the years and his family too.”
“We always had a really good friendship and great chemistry on the field,” added Blair. “I always knew what to expect from him, a perfect snap.”
As for getting a chance to talk to each other on the field, time was short so both players kept the conversation brief and exchanged pleasantries.
”We got a chance to talk but not really much,” said Frix. “It was different seeing him on the other side of the field but I guess that is just how things go.”
“It was interesting,” added Blair about seeing Frix on the far sideline. “He is doing well and It was good to see him over there.”
As for the game itself, both players played key roles in the match-up.
Blair connected on 1-of-2 field goals. He missed his first opportunity in the opening quarter but connected from 42 yards out with 14:17 left in the second quarter.
Frix teamed up with kicker Blair Walsh, who connected on all three of his field goal attempts. He was good from 22, 38 and 42 yards.
“It was crazy,” said Frix of being on the field during the game. “It is hard to even put into words. “You can sit here and talk about how big it really is but it doesn’t hit you until you are out on that field.”
“In a way I sort of felt bad for Scott,” added Frix after his team beat Tech, “but I can’t really feel too bad when Georgia is going out with the win.”
Blair might have been disappointed in losing this year’s but still holds one win against the Bulldogs, which came last season. But that doesn’t make the rivalry any less meaningfull.
“It is a big rivalry… It was very disappointing,” said Blair. “We fought hard but they played a really good game.”
“You always want to come out with a win but someone has to be a loser and unfortunately it was us,” Blair added.
Both Blair and Frix managed to work their way on to their respective teams as preferred walk-ons.
In his freshman year, Blair handled 68 of Tech’s 70 kickoffs. In 2008, Blair, who was awarded a scholarship by coach Paul Johnson prior to the season, took over all the kicking duties, including field goals and punting. He was the first Tech player to handling both kicking and punting in the same season since 1983.
This season Blair relinquished his punting duties but still handled the kickoffs, field goals and point after attempts. Blair has had an up-and-down season. He missed four of his first 10 field goal attempts but finished the season 10-for-15 (66.7 percent).
“The beginning of the year I was still working on some things,” said Blair. “I am approaching the ball a little different than I have before and it has taken me a little longer to get use to it.”
“I definitely feel more comfortable kicking now,” he added. “It feels a little more fluid and consistent now.”
Frix redshirted his freshman year and then took over all long snapping duties this season. He has played in all 12 games for the Bulldogs. In his freshman year, Frix earned SEC Academic Honor Roll and Director’s Honor Roll distinctions.
“Last year I got to travel to a lot of the games but I was basically a fan,” said Frix. “I didn’t have any responsibilities and I was pretty much just along for the ride.”
“This year, when you are actually playing… it is a total different change,” Frix added. “I really enjoy it and it is what I have wanted to do for a really long time.”
This season Frix and Walsh have made a great team. Walsh has connected on 19-of-21 field goals, a 90.5 percent average. Walsh is an outstanding 10-for-11 from beyond 40 yards. The percentages also show how consistent Frix has been with his snaps.
“Blair (Walsh) is also my roommate and me and Blair get along great,” said Frix. “He has been a great asset to this Georgia program. He is a great kicker and a great kid and it has just been a privilege to get the opportunity to work with him.”
Both Scott Blair and Frix still have plenty of college left in them and both have enjoyed their ride so far and both will carry many memories for the rest of their lives.
In Blair’s mind the UGA game from last year and the Clemson game from earlier this year stick out in his mind. Both were big Yellow Jacket wins. Blair also looks forward to the ACC Championship game against Clemson this weekend.
“It is another huge game,” said Blair. “I don’t think Tech or Clemson have ever won the ACC Championship outright.”
“I expect a hard fought game just like the one earlier this season,” he added.
For Frix, in his first year as a starter, he will remember what it was like to step out on the field for the first time as a Georgia Bulldog.
“Running out on the field for the first time against Oklahoma State [is my best memory so far],” said Frix. “I know the game didn’t go that well but It was just a very exciting memory for me.”
“I have watched the Bulldogs my whole life and I don’t think I ever realized that I would actually have a chance to run out onto the football field and play until I was halfway out on the field. It was a pretty awesome experience.”
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