THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 3, 1995 TAG: 9508030630
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FROSTBURG, MD. LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
It was the worst experience of Cam Cameron's playing career.
He was second-string quarterback at Indiana behind Babe Laufenberg. Friends told him that he was just as good as The Babe, that he should be playing, that they didn't know how he withstood such an injustice.
He heard and believed. He lost hope - and interest.
Then one Saturday against Illinois. Laufenberg got hurt. Cameron replaced him and threw two interceptions.
``It was completely my fault,'' he says. ``I was unprepared. Everything the coaches told me could happen did happen. I never listened to any outsiders again.''
The next season, Laufenberg went down again. Cameron doesn't remember his statistics, but he knows his attitude was different and ``I played much better against really good competition, Ohio State and Illinois again. I did what I was there to do.''
Cameron, now Washington Redskins quarterback coach, has thought about that whenever Gus Frerotte's name has been mentioned at Redskins training camp.
Frerotte was Washington's story of the year in 1994. A seventh-round draft pick making minimum wage the same year as the team flashed $19 million at their No. 1 pick, quarterback Heath Shuler.
Granted, everyone loves an underdog, but Frerotte was different. When Shuler was benched following five interceptions against Arizona, Frerotte led the team to its first victory, albeit over the Indianapolis Colts. He showed a big, accurate arm other NFL teams already covet.
His next two games, against Philadelphia and San Francisco, weren't as successful and he was yanked the following week in Dallas. Redskins fans didn't care. They had a new hero, somebody who wasn't being paid more money than they'd see in their lifetimes.
Although Shuler is far more popular than he was a year ago, little about Frerotte's fan appeal is different. Several times since camp opened, clusters of autograph-seeking fans literally have chanted his name as he left the field.
``Gus ... Gus ... Gus ...''
When he pauses to sign, which is often, the conversations turn to the inevitable:
``Do you think you'll play?''
``Will you get a chance to beat out Shuler?''
``Man, too bad you're behind that guy.''
Says Cameron: ``It can build up if you're not careful. As a player, you need someone to talk to. That's my job, to be there when he needs me.''
Cameron might have had to talk up a blue streak after Wednesday's practice. Several members of Frerotte's family came to watch. After listening to a reporter ask Norv Turner about Gus, an uncle approached the writer and wondered why the Redskins' press guide listed his nephew as only 6-foot-2. Was it because Shuler is 6-2, and they don't want anyone to know Gus is taller?
Half-jokingly, Cameron even wonders what impact Frerotte's bride will have on his outlook. Players' wives are notorious for reminding husbands how they're being mistreated by management.
``It comes at you from all sides, from media, family and friends,'' Cameron said. ``They tell you you're overlooked. It can wear on you. It's tough and it has nothing to do with the physical. It's all mental.''
And it is there that Cameron says Frerotte has made his biggest strides. He, Shuler and Frerotte met every day at Redskin Park starting Feb. 1. Although most of the work done was analysis of last season's films, Cameron stressed to Frerotte daily that being No. 2 doesn't give him the right to be any less involved.
The message appears to have gotten through.
``He's always thrown the ball well,'' Cameron said. ``His preparation off the field is much better, as is his ability to get to the third and fourth wide receiver on a play. He's not so surprised when the first receiver is covered.''
Although Turner already has named Shuler the starter, Frerotte shares almost equally in practice time. Turner even raised the possibility that Frerotte could see time with the first unit Saturday night against Kansas City.
Turner hopes that will help Frerotte maintain enthusiasm.
``The biggest thing for me is that this year I know I have a job,'' Frerotte said. ``I'm also more aware of my ability to play football and of Norv's way of thinking. I know what he wants.''
Though he refuses to look far into the future, Frerotte benefits from a free-agent system that dictates players are unrestricted after four seasons. That's just enough time for Frerotte to learn his craft from Turner, regarded as one of the game's best QB tutors.
``I'm impressed that his approach is that over the course of time, Heath's success does not have to be a negative for him,'' Cameron said. ``I've told him, `You do the things you need to and the next 10 years, you'll get all the playing time you want in the NFL.' '' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
BILL ABOURJILIE/Staff
Heath Shuler, left, is the starter, but Gus Frerotte must take the
long view, Cam Cameron says.
by CNB