That is when Spencer Vickery came out for the Titan football team after moving in from Australia.

Vickery, who was second team all-state at center last year, was living in the southern hemisphere with his parents.

His parents were working with the LDS Church in Australia, but they decided they wanted Spencer to move back to the states and live with his brother in Holladay. Still, Vickery was able to gain some valuable lessons while living in the outback.

"It was culture shock," Vickery said. "It was a lot different, driving on the other side of the road, the school system was a bit different, sporting events were not as big."

One thing that Vickery did pick up

while he was living there was the national sport of Rugby.

Vickery, who didn't play the sport before living there, said while he missed playing football, there were some things about Rugby he really liked.

"I like to run the ball, and that is something I don't get to do in football," Vickery said.

Smith has numerous players on the Olympus team who also play for the Highland Rugby club. He said the sport translates over well to football.

"I think rugby helps players," Smith said. "It teaches them toughness that you can't learn without running into people."

Vickery, who was nicknamed "Captain America" and "Croc Hunter" when he first arrived at Olympus, helped spread football while he was in Australia.

"All the time people asked about football," Vickery said. "I tried to teach a couple of my friends down there, there was one kid who was a huge NFL fan, which was kind of weird because he knew more about it than I did."

Whether it was throwing the football around with friends or waking up at nine in the morning on Saturdays to watch the NFL on ESPN, Vickery kept in touch with football.

His parents are trying to do the same thing while they are in Australia.

"We tape the games and send them to my parents," Vickery said.

Smith credits Vickery living basically on his own as being a big factor in why he has been so successful.

"He has had to grow up at a young age and do a lot of things most kids don't do until they are out of high school," Smith said. "He has a really good attitude and is willing to do whatever the team needs him to do."

One request that Smith has had of the all-state center was asking him to move from his natural position to guard to help improve the Titan offensive line.

"We are better off as a team," Smith said. "We shored up our o-line."

The move paid off for the Titans as quarterback Jordan Price rushed for 144 yards last week against West.