Clemson's Fry says he'll overcome ACL tear too

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Clemson left guard Roman Fry lay on his back in the first quarter Saturday night, clutching his right knee as team trainers and coach Tommy Bowden tried to discover what was wrong.<br> <br> ``How bad do you think it is?&#39;&#39; Bowden asked.<br> <br> ``I think I tore something,&#39;&#39; Fry answered. And with that, the senior&#39;s season of tragedy took another downward turn.<br> <br> Fry has dealt with his share of misfortune and sadness this year. He was driving the personal watercraft that fatally struck the head of his friend, Clemson assistant track coach Jarrett Foster, who had fallen into the water moments earlier at a lake outing this past July.<br> <br> Then in September, Fry deferred to his family&#39;s wishes and started for the Tigers against Louisiana Tech on the day of his grandfather&#39;s funeral.<br> <br> Now early on against then No. 13 Georgia Tech, Fry had torn the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee, effectively ending his Clemson career and robbing him from the daily practices and team camaraderie that had helped him deal with his adversity.<br> <br> ``I know I can&#39;t be out there with them,&#39;&#39; Fry said Monday. ``That&#39;s going to be tough. But these are the guys I&#39;ve been around for years. They&#39;ll still be my family.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Fry was a talented, experienced offensive lineman, part of a group that had started together much of the past few seasons. The unit is a big reason the Tigers lead the Atlantic Coast Conference and are fourth nationally in rushing at nearly 261 yards a game.<br> <br> Fry was considered one of the country&#39;s top guards and expected to be a midlevel NFL draft pick this spring. He was just named to SportsIllustrated.com&#39;s midseason all-America first team. He was also a candidate for the Outland Trophy, given the nation&#39;s best lineman.<br> <br> Fry had led the Tigers so far this year with 62 knockdown blocks.<br> <br> ``When you look at our high national rankings in rushing, scoring and total offense, Roman has had a lot to do with it,&#39;&#39; Bowden said. ``We will certainly miss him.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> He wasn&#39;t doing anything fancy, simply pass protecting on Clemson&#39;s third offensive play, when he heard a ``pop&#39;&#39; in his knee.<br> <br> ``They always say you can hear it,&#39;&#39; he said. ``That&#39;s what happened.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> He spent the rest of Clemson&#39;s 31-7 victory over the Yellow Jackets trying to cheer on his teammates, yet wondering if there was still a chance things might not turn as badly as he feared. ``I knew what it probably was,&#39;&#39; he said. ``You always hope, though.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> An examination on Sunday confirmed what Fry thought. He had torn his ACL and could not play again this season.<br> <br> ``It&#39;s hard because I&#39;ve never missed a game with anything serious,&#39;&#39; he said. ``I&#39;ve had some broken fingers and other things like that. But nothing that&#39;s kept me out until this.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Since the injury, Fry said a steady stream of teammates have dropped by his place to find out how he&#39;s doing and what they can do to help. But Fry says it&#39;s been that way his entire career, and particularly since this summer.<br> <br> Fry was on Lake Keowee on July 8 with friends, including linemate Nathan Bennett and Foster, Clemson&#39;s popular assistant track coach. Foster was riding on a personal watercraft driven by Bennett with Fry close behind. When Foster fell into the water, Fry could not avoid him. Foster&#39;s death was ruled accidental.<br> <br> Still, state agents from the Department of Natural Resources investigated for several weeks while Fry retained an attorney and waited out the inquiry.<br> <br> The agency found no reason to levy serious charges against Fry, who pleaded guilty to reckless operation of a watercraft and paid a fine of $257.50. Bennett was fined a similar amount.<br> <br> Fry said that Clemson&#39;s players and coaches, along with Foster&#39;s family, helped him overcome those tragic events.<br> <br> Fry says he&#39;ll draw on the same support he&#39;s used after Foster&#39;s death and the death of his grandfather.<br> <br> ``I feel like everything happens for a reason. I don&#39;t feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders,&#39;&#39; he said. ``I&#39;m about overcoming things, and I&#39;ll overcome this too.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Fry expects to graduate with a bachelor&#39;s degree in technology and human resource development on Dec. 21. He&#39;s even more excited that Bennett and center Dustin Fry (who is no relation to Roman) will be right there ``to walk along with me.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Roman Fry expects to need up to six months to recover and then regain his sharpness in time for next summer&#39;s NFL camps. He doesn&#39;t think he&#39;ll lose much of his edge. ``Skill guys, they have this injury, they could lose some of their speed. If I&#39;m running 40 yards, it&#39;s probably backward chasing&#39;&#39; an opponent who took the ball away, Fry said, chuckling.<br> <br> Fry knows he&#39;ll struggle at times to keep positive for his friends and teammates like junior Chris McDuffie, who filled in at left guard after Fry went out.<br> <br> ``But I&#39;m still part of this team,&#39;&#39; he said. ``You&#39;ve got to realize what you&#39;re role is now. ... I want to be with them.&#39;&#39;