Home is where you make it
E.T. doesn’t need to call home
By: Malamute, 1 September 2002

Charles "E.T." Frederick was highly recruited out of Pope John Paul II High School in Boca Raton, Fla., where he was a Parade All-American. Kicked around like an old wet shoe in Seattle, by fans and coaches alike, Frederick is emerging as a bona-fide superstar. With homesickness left behind, E.T. has found a new home in Seattle.

His play against Michigan was scintillating. E.T. has the moves and the motor to bring it to the house, and he did just that at the Big House, hauling in a 51-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Sandwiched between two defenders, E.T. caught the pass with the magic of a Spielberg special effect, and then raced to the goal line.

Just a sophomore, Frederick was the leading receiver for Washington against Michigan; he caught 5 passes for 88 yards and 1 touchdown. He was quarterback Cody Pickett’s favorite target in the early going, since Michigan was doubling up on WR Reggie Williams, Washington’s other sophomore sensation.

E.T. was more than ready for the task, having taking most of the reps in fall camp due to injuries to Paul Arnold and Williams. E.T. took full advantage of the opportunity.

His play against Michigan was no fluke.

Last season, Frederick ran a punt back 87 yards for a touchdown against Idaho. Used primarily as punt and kickoff return man last season, he averaged 14.6 yards per punt return while taking 13 kickoffs for 214 yards.

But playing football hasn’t always been so easy for him.

A two sport athlete, playing both football and basketball, Frederick was kicked off the football team last April for missing scheduled therapies for a shoulder injury and for missing two scheduled practices. He said that playing two sports had taken a toll on his body.

“If we stand around and wait for him, it holds up the whole train, so we are moving on,” Coach Rick Neuheisel said. His suspension from the team was indefinite, and Neuheisel would not say on what conditions, if any, would allow his return.

At that time, fans lined up on both sides of the issue, some wanting to give E.T. a break and let him back on the team, while others wanted him permanently suspended so that he could concentrate on basketball. We called them the “ones” and “twos.”

The twos, those against his return, thought they had a case, since incidents like this one had happened before.

Prior to the April imbroglio, Frederick walked out on the team in August of 2001, during fall practice. He said he was homesick. There was that abdominal sprain and all the rain in Olympia, Washington’s away-from home training camp. And then there was the ruckus with tight end Jerramy Stevens. Also, the coaches wanted to try him at corner back, and Frederick resisted. He was reinstated in September.

Once divided on the subject of his future, the ones and twos have joined forces and are behind him now—one hundred percent. 

As far as homesickness goes, E.T. has found a new home in Seattle. E.T. doesn't need to call home; home is where you make it.