Pasadena RFC Player of the Year: 2007

Mark Frazier came to Pasadena RFC in 1999, but to hear him tell it, he was just breathing heavy. He began playing rugby while at the Virginia Tech for Blacksburg RFC. Virginia’s loss is California’s gain!

Mark, better known to us as Frazier, started his playing career at PRFC on the wing. Like all good backs, he wanted to get closer to the action. He found his true calling when, in the 2000 season he moved to scrum half. His speed, elusiveness and near rodent like ability to squeeze through the tightest of spots has made him one of Pasadena’s most feared players. Upon review of the PRFC Award Winners of years past, you may wonder why such a revered player who is spoken of at the pub with such admiration hasn’t had more Awards? Easy Answer. He makes everyone else around him better. I would venture to guess that in previous years, if we kept such records, Frazier was probably the runner up in the MVP and Best Back categories. I certainly do not want to downplay the accomplishments (well deserved at that) of any other player. If asked, I am positive every past MVP, Best Back and Best Forward would give a substantial amount of credit for his success to the stellar play of Frazier. Frazier’s play speaks volumes that can only be heard if you pay attention. Much like Roosevelt, he walks softly and carries a big stick (I mean have you sent that thing…he must be working out…is this thing on, hello?).

In 2004, Frazier was voted the teams Best Defender. Typically this award is bestowed upon a player who makes the big “highlight” hits. However, Frazier is a pit bull defender who rarely misses a tackle, even when asked to tackle the biggest of forwards or the fastest back. Frazier is the kinda guy that when a buddy says, “I can’t play rugby, I am too small” you can point to Frazier and say, “That guy is pound for pound the best rugby player on our team.” This year, as with any year, Frazier is much more likely to talk about the stellar play of a teammate, a rookies first try or the efforts of others off the filed than he would talk about his play. He is a true quiet leader.

Before the start of the 2007 season, many would have bet Frazier would not have played. As one player has said many times, “Frazier is held together with duct tape, chewing gum and spit.” Soaking wet, he is 140 (ish) pounds, his wife had just given birth to their first child, mighty Quinn, and he was recuperating from another injury prone season. A betting man would have lost a lot of money. His desire to help our rookie coach, his wife’s insistence that he is “grumpy” when he “isn’t playing rugby” and his Jedi like ability to foresee the potential of a Perfect Storm type season allowed the stars to align just right for his most memorable season to date.

Frazier’s 2007 season saw his first playing time against the odds on favorites for this years title, South Orange County. Substituting in at the halftime for our injured flyhalf, Frazier was able to direct our offense with ruthless efficiency and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope. Frazier would not return to the scrumhalf position until 3 weeks later when our starting scrumhalf was injured just minutes into the Eagle Rock game. Despite limited practice time at the scrum half position, He, along with Andy Ramirez who replaced Frazier at fly, played to near perfection. ERAC was held scoreless as we walked to an easy victory. Pasadena was now 5 and 0 with two of our three toughest opponents behind us. It would not be until we played the OC Bucks that we would see how devastating a player Frazier is.

Anyone present during the festival style season finale on March 31st 2007 saw Pasadena play, without dispute, the most clinically sound example of rugby all season and possibly all decade. Frazier, from moment one, directed Pasadena with precise passes that decimated the Bucks. I do not have the words to describe just how efficient Frazier was all day. As soon as a player was tackled and a ruck formed, Frazier would, with Copperfield like slight of hand, have the ball in hand and delivered to the next player in the blink of an eye. Because of this, several of our scores were practically walked in for a try. I have played with Frazier for nearly 10 years and have never seen him play better. Come to think of it, I have never seen one player make an entire team play so well. We did not rely on one player to make a 60-yard run to score the winning try in the final seconds. With his guidance, we accomplished two things by seasons end. It gave our team a level of confidence for the playoffs and secured the first perfect season in…well, a long time.

The true test of a leader is when the team has their collective “backs against the wall” and others look to him to respond. The semifinal battle against ERAC was Pasadena first and only test of the 2007 season. Each time we found ourselves against the hard place, Frazier was there to lead us back and reassert ourselves. Scrumhalf, to the casual observer may seem like a glorified ball retriever. After all, they just pick up the ball and give it to someone else who does all the hard work…right? Without a veteran scrumhalf, plays can’t be run, forwards have absolutely no idea what to do and scrums would last…forever. Frazier was able to keep his head while others, on both teams, were losing theirs. His play in the second half showed just how valuable he is as we walked away battered, but winners.

Being named Man of the Match in the So Cal DIII Championship game was just the icing on the cake for Frazier in the 2007 season. In a game that was never really in question, Frazier played the only way Frazier can…with 100% effort. This year, Frazier scored the most try’s for the team, set up the most try’s for the team and lured opponents into penalties that allowed us to score over 400 points for the season. His father saw him play for the first time…as did his son. He led us to the DIII National Championships in South Carolina and, despite our loss, we walked away a better team because of his play.

Frazier’s work was “formally” rewarded at this years Players Banquet. Not only did the team vote him as the Best Offensive Player and Best Back, but also he was voted the Team’s Most Valuable Player. He would not be a bridesmaid this year as his play and leadership (on and off the field) was recognized by all.

Oops,Tanner