BASKING IN IRISH TRADITION.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

I had breakfast recently with former local football standout Chris Frome, and afterward it occurred to me: Sometimes I wish I was him.

Can you blame me? Frome is a strapping, ruggedly handsome former High School All-American at Hart who's preparing for his third season as a defensive end at Notre Dame, perhaps the nation's most storied college football program.

And I'm, well, me.

But alas, if I can't be Frome, at least I can help celebrate his success. After seeing action on special teams and as a reserve during his first two seasons, Frome is competing for a starting spot on the defensive line as a junior. Of course, he's in the best shape of his life - 6-foot-5, 271 pounds (with a mere 7.5 percent body fat), and bench-pressing more than 400 pounds - and is carrying a 3.4 GPA as a business major.

``There's nothing like the experience of playing football for Notre Dame,'' he said. ``You can kind of get a feel for it just walking through the campus. There's just a lot of really cool tradition. Every stadium we go to, it seems like there are just as many Notre Dame fans as the other team's fans. We've got a great fan base.''

After every home game, Frome and his teammates spend the better part of an hour signing autographs.

``You just can't explain what it's like. Football is so hyped up, and there's so much exposure that it's like the NFL,'' he said. ``The noise when you walk out of that tunnel is unbelievable. People are cheering and stomping their feet. I just can't explain what that experience feels like.''

Ten of Notre Dame's 11 regular-season games are scheduled to be televised nationally, including the finale at USC on Nov. 27.

``There's even an NBC camera downstairs in the stadium filming us as we walk out of the tunnel,'' he said.

As for his social life, football and studying take up most of Frome's time. He said he doesn't have a steady girlfriend and isn't a big fan of parties which undoubtedly remain a rich tradition on all college campuses.

But he loves Notre Dame.

``I went to Notre Dame to play football, and that's all we do,'' he said. ``This is my big chance. I'm supposed to play a lot and get into the rotation this year. I'm kind of a utility player between defensive end and defensive tackle, and they've switched me around a little bit. But I'm definitely in the mix.''

Over the years, Frome said he's kept up with Hart football and remained friends with his former teammates such as Chad Michaud, Jeff Taylor and Chris Steck, among others.

``Hart's a dynasty. There's no other word to explain it,'' he said. ``Even in Indiana they know about Hart football.''

For Frome, the experience at Hart meant a lot more than championship rings and trophies.

``At Hart, I learned my work ethic and that's been the most important part of being a success,'' he said. ``You see kids from other high schools, and you can tell right away if they've learned that work ethic like they do at Hart. That really helps the transition.''

Frome said he's never felt homesick - though being back does give him a chance to reunite temporarily with his beloved Camaro. His parents, tired of paying $250 a night at a South Bend hotel to watch their son play, have even bought a home there.

Nevertheless, Frome eventually plans to return. He's a California boy and readily admits he always will be.

``The summers are great in Indiana and the fall is beautiful, but there's a cold chill in the winter and I don't really like that,'' he said.

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Former Hart football standout Chris Frome will compete for a starting spot on the defensive line as a junior at Notre Dame.

David Crane/Staff Photographer