Aug. 8, 2008
By Matt Bixenstine, Maryland Athletics Media Relations Assistant
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Midway through many summer days, Maryland football player Mack Frost can be seen undergoing a transformation of sorts, shifting his attention from one passion to another.
Both roles can involve aiding turtles, at least indirectly. But when Frost is not proudly adorning his red Terrapin football uniform, it is because the fifth-year defensive end has gone green. He temporarily trades in his football mindset for that of an environmentalist.
As a participant in the Conference Of Minority Transportation Officials' (COMTO) Careers In Transportation for Youth (CITY) internship program, Frost works for the Federal Transit Administration's Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation, where he is part of a team striving to provide environmentally-friendly approaches to solving transportation problems. The 10-month program has enabled Frost to foster a growing passion for preservation and to receive credit toward his pursuit of a Master of Environmental Health Sciences degree.
"I see him coming into the football complex every day wearing a shirt and tie," said Maryland defensive line coach Dave Sollazzo. "Mack is the kind of guy who does things the right way and takes everything to heart, so I could see helping the environment being right up his alley."
Frost's interest in global issues originates from an environmental studies class he took in January taught by Penelope Koines. He began the FTA-funded CITY program in March as one of nine interns situated in New York City, Houston or Washington, D.C. The experience has included researching transportations systems in cities like London and Beijing, as well as attending environmental conferences, such as one hosted In June by the Federal Highway Administration to discuss climate change issues.
Edwin Rodriguez, Transportation Management Specialist for the FTA, serves as supervisor for Frost and knows firsthand the application process the Terrapins defensive end endured in order to obtain the internship. Written essays, interviews and a panel review each were utilized in determining Frost was the best candidate for the position.
"Mack had all the credentials we were looking for," Rodriguez said. "He's really hard-working and motivated, and he realizes the issues we deal with involve the entire world and are not just U.S. problems."
For Frost, who completed a communications degree in May, his long-term aspirations involve establishing a career in an environmental field at the grassroots level. He envisions himself as a spokesperson advocating the fight against global warming.
"I think that should be an important issue to everybody," Frost said. "That sort of career will let me bridge the gap between my degrees. I'll be able to raise public awareness about an issue that I have background knowledge for."
Unfinished Business
Before that career can truly materialize, however, Frost has matters to attend to on the football field. The 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound defensive end recently took a break from his internship at the end of July in order to participate in preseason football camp, which began Aug. 4.
Frost posted career highs in tackles (9), tackles for loss (3.5), pass-breakups (2) and sacks (1.5) during 2007, despite playing in only seven games before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Georgia Tech Oct. 6. After sitting out spring practice to rehab his knee, Frost has returned to full strength and will be called upon to help anchor a defensive line that lost NFL-bound Dre Moore and Carlos Feliciano.
"I'm hungry to come back," said Frost, who hopes to end his Terp career by winning the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship. "That knee injury took a lot out of me, but I've been working hard and I had a good first half of the season. That gives me motivation to get better and build on what I did last season."
Sollazzo, the longest-tenured position coach on the team now entering his 10th season, has coached such Terrapins defensive line standouts as Randy Starks and Kris Jenkins. He likes what he sees in Frost and his teammates in the trenches.
"Maryland has always had great defensive linemen, starting back with Randy White back when I played (at The Citadel)," Sollazzo said. "Even though we lost two key guys, I think the guys playing for us now are exactly what we've been looking for - unselfish and hard-working players. And we have two strong leaders in Jeremy Navarre and Mack."
Maryland outside linebackers coach Al Seamonson recruited Frost out of Spring Valley High School in Columbia, S.C.
"It's been a good union for everyone," Seamonson said. "He's been really productive, and it's unfortunate that he got hurt last year. Hopefully he can have a strong finish this year to his career at Maryland."
But when the football portion of his career finally does conclude - whether after this season or years from now - Frost will be ready to transfer his efforts from his lifelong passion to his developing one. And the field of environmentalism will be better off for it.
