One-on-One with Dustin Fry
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Dustin Fry has more than football on his mind these days. The former Summerville and Clemson football standout has been busy preparing for a May 10 wedding to his fiancée, Laura. Fry, who recently completed his rookie season as an offensive lineman with the St. Louis Rams, took a few minutes to go One-on-One with The Post and Courier's Larry Williams:
So what have you been up to since your season ended?
"Our last game was at Arizona on Dec. 30. I drove from St. Louis to Nashville and met Roman Fry and his fiancée for New Year's Eve. Came back to Clemson after that and have been kind of hanging out. Went to Charleston twice. I'm getting my suit tailored at Brooks Brothers on King Street. We turned it into a mini-vacation and went two weeks in a row."
Where did you stay in Charleston? Favorite restaurants?
"The first time we stayed at the HarbourView Inn. The other time at the French Quarter Inn. We had one of the best dinners we've ever had at Charleston Grill. They put us right in front of a jazz quartet or quintet or whatever they are. Good little band. Their sommelier was there and he picked us out some nice wines. For sushi we go to Wasabi. There are so many great restaurants down there; it's unbelievable. Can't go wrong with too many of them."
So was your first year in the NFL a pretty cool experience?
"It was nice. I got activated pretty early and got to be on the active roster the whole second half of the season. At practice on a Monday morning right after the bye week, the offensive line coach told me he was going to activate me. I got a big pay raise and just felt more a part of the team. I dressed for seven of the last eight games. I only played on field goals and extra points, though."
How much were you able to follow Clemson?
"Watched them a lot the first part of the year when I wasn't traveling. I'd watch games on TV or order them. Me and
Tye Hill (former Clemson cornerback from St. George) would always talk trash to the other players and take their money. I'm just glad there were no Georgia Tech or Virginia Tech players on our team. The day Clemson played Florida State, Tye wore his Clemson jersey."
What do you make of the Tigers coming so close to the ACC title game but falling short yet again?
"It (stinks). I know how it is. But sooner or later the ball's gonna bounce their way. They were closer than ever with that Boston College game. It always goes back to something early on in the season that holds them back. Or early in a game. Messing up on a certain drive or missing a kick. But I think with the people they're bringing in with this recruiting class, they're on up and up."
Your fiancée went to South Carolina. Any potential strife there?
"She doesn't like the Gamecocks. She just got her education there. Her major was art education, and they didn't offer it at Clemson. The only South Carolina games she went to in four years were South Carolina-Clemson. She was always going to Clemson games if she could."
How did you propose?
"Did it in the preseason. She was in St. Louis for a couple of days. We went to one of our favorite restaurants, a tappas bar. Not a topless bar, a tappas bar. It's called Barcelona's. The place was unbelievably packed, with no room to move or anything. I wasn't able to get on one knee. If I would have done that, I'd have backed off the entire restaurant."
Is Widespread Panic still your favorite band?
"Yes, definitely. I listen to a lot of things. Widespread, Dave Matthews, Allman Brothers. Been listening to a lot of Allman Brothers lately."
Last show?
"The last time Widespread came to Clemson, in 2005 at Littlejohn. I used to do a lot of traveling over the summers to see shows, but I don't have as much time anymore."
What former Clemson guys are you closest to?
"I'm pretty close with Zach Green. Roman and I are friends, but we don't talk every day. Tim DeBeer is a good friend. He and Will Proctor and I are meeting in Las Vegas for Super Bowl weekend."
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