The center of his world

Around Justin Frye's neck on any given day -- except that three-hour stretch Saturdays when he plays as IU's starting center -- hangs a necklace with a ring commemorating IU's victory in the 1979 Holiday Bowl, in which the Hoosiers beat Brigham Young University 38-37.\nJustin wears the ring to remind himself of the hard work that goes into making a bowl game, something the Hoosiers are on the cusp of doing for the first time since 1993. \nThe ring, which rests above Justin's heart, doesn't just commemorate a bowl game. It is a reminder that his father Kevin Frye is still with him every day. \nKevin Frye, who played tight end and fullback at IU from 1977 to 1981, passed away in May at the age of 48 after a lengthy battle with cancer.\n"Dad was one of those guys that could still melt me. If I had problems or troubles, a hug from Dad would kind of melt me. I always miss that," Justin said. "(I wear the ring) just as a reminder that that was hard work he put in, and that he could show it to his kids 20, 25 years later."\nAfter his playing days were over, Justin's father settled in the small central Indiana town of Elwood and became the head football coach at Elwood Community High School, which had just 607 students during Justin Frye's senior year.\nWith his father coaching, football started at a young age for Justin. He started going to practice with his dad when he was 5, running over tackling dummies and getting in the way, he said.\nColleges began recruiting Justin his junior year of high school at Elwood. In the 2001 season, his senior year, he was named to the all-state team. Justin attended IU football games growing up, so it was natural for him to follow in his father's footsteps and become a Hoosier after he graduated.\n"I love this school. I've been an IU fan forever," Justin said. "I got a look here, my dad was excited. In the end this was the best fit."\nJustin sat out his first year in the IU program as a redshirt, then started immediately the following season.\nSince taking the field in the 2003 season opener, Justin has missed only one game and has played every position on the offensive line.\nAfter moving around in his first three years, Justin started this season at left tackle. \nWith freshman linemen working their way into the rotation, the coaching staff moved Justin to center in hopes of making the line better overall. Freshmen Rodger Saffold and Pete Saxon took over on the left side.\nMaking the transition from high school to Division I football can be difficult, but with Justin, a fifth-year senior, hovering over the ball to their right on every snap, change has been easier, the freshmen said.\n"It's great having Justin on the field because it's almost like taking (offensive line) coach (Bobby) Johnson out on the field with me because he knows everything," Saxon said. "He knows where everybody is supposed to go. He can play any position at any time. He's just great."\nJustin has been more than another coach on the field -- he's been a mentor, Saxon said. He's someone Saxon can turn to for advice about not only football but life and school, too.\nJohnson, who has coached Justin for two years, appreciates not only what he does on the field at center but what he does in practice coaching young players. After college, Justin said he plans to pursue a career in coaching. \nHe's already a coach in the way he leads his younger teammates, Johnson said. \n"He's of the highest character. As a coach, as a parent, that's the kind of guy you want around," Johnson said. "As a father, you'd say 'that's the kind of son I want to have.' And if you have daughters you say 'that's the kind of guy I want my daughter to marry.'"\nSaturday against No. 2 Michigan, Justin will take the field at Memorial Stadium for his final time. With his family in the stands, Justin will make his last stand at home for a university he loves, trying to lock up a chance to add another ring to that chain around his neck.\n"This will be the first big game that my dad's not been here," he said. "I have to be happy because I know if he were here, he'd want me to play hard and not worry about anything off the field"