Fletcher dominated at St. Anthony's, starting three seasons at center while earning Newsday All-Long Island football honors in 2003. At Stanford, he has started 31 games and was named second-team All-Pac-10 after a strong junior season, highlighted by the Cardinal's win over then-No. 2 USC.
But Fletcher's life is about much more than pancake blocks.
The Old Brookville, NY native made the decision to attend Stanford for the education and opportunities it would afford him beyond the realm of football. The Science, Technology and Society major will graduate in March and move on to grad school. Fletcher has so far resisted the lure of the NFL. He redshirted as a freshman and still has one year of eligibility remaining.
No doubt Fletcher will be a first-day NFL draft pick in 2009. But he's already a pro in the business world. Fletcher's resume includes work for a private equity firm and other consulting jobs. It was all just a dress rehearsal for his latest foray into business. Fletcher, 22, took on the part-time role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for a startup called Earth Ocean Farms in January.
Friars Football caught up with Fletcher as he rolled up his sleeves to help expand his new company, all while balancing classwork and off-season conditioning. And Friars Football thought we were busy! We emailed Fletcher and he was kind enough to talk about life after St. Anthony's, Signing Day and his brother Austen:
Friars Football: Signing day might be the biggest moment in the life of a high schooler. How was it for you?
Alex Fletcher: It is essentially the first contract that you sign. It almost feels like high school football graduation day. It is a big moment, but you can't replicate the feeling of winning football games and having success with your teammates.
FF: Knowing what you do now, what key piece of advice would you give to an athlete at St. Anthony's looking to play sports at the next level?
AF: The most important thing you can do is take a year round approach to training. Football games are not won in the Fall, they are won between January and August. The reason why St. Anthony's has been successful is because they have implemented a plan for the players such as Sunday mornings with Coach Maier or having a core group of players in the weight room everyday. This philosophy can be applied to any sport, but nothing beats hard work and a positive attitude on the practice field.
FF: You made an interesting decision to choosing a college about as far from Long Island as you could get. What drew you to Stanford?
AF: I looked for the school that gave me the best opportunity on the football field and after my football career is over. The slogan that Stanford athletics put to use in recruiting is college is not a four year decision, but a forty year decision. Stanford was the school that gave me the best chance to fulfill my aspirations both on and off the field.
FF: Did reality live up to the expectations you had?
AF: It definitely has because of the opportunities that I have been given and the doors that have been opened. I didn't choose a school for a particular coach or football only. The expectations that I had going into school was to maximize my potential in as a person and a football player.
FF: Stanford went a combined 10-25 in your three years as a starter. That's had to be tough to take after a very successful career at St. Anthony's. What keeps you going?
AF: St. Anthony's spoiled me in terms of winning football games. That can be attributed to the coaching staff because every year they are successful and different players are just inserted in. They have a clear cut plan to success and they do things the "right way" both a moral and athletic level. When I came into Stanford they were a couple years removed from being in the Rose Bowl and had a proud football tradition. We have lost a lot at Stanford as a team and I obviously take that very personally as well. When you lose in anything it hurts, but when you lose in something you spend so much time and energy in it hurts worse. Its been tough at times because I have had three head coaches and three different position coaches. An important facet to a winning team is continuity in a system and with the coaching staff. I have learned to really cherish the games we have won more because they obviously don't come along as frequently as in high school. Dealing with adversity and losing has also taught me a lot about myself and how to overcome obstacles. Every year I feel a new hope and believe harder and look for that light at the end of the tunnel. I really believe that this upcoming year will be the best team that I have been apart of because of the great senior leadership, talented underclassmen and Jim Harbaugh our head coach.
FF: What is your greatest regret or failure?
AF: I try not live with regret, but not finishing Notre Dame off at the end of the game two years ago still haunts me. If we won we would have gone to a bowl game and that game was painfully close.
FF: What is your proudest achievement?
AF: Beating No. 2 USC this past year hands down. We went into The Coliseum with 95,000 screaming fans as 41 point underdog and silenced the crowd. It will be tough to replicate that experience from an emotional standpoint.
FF: It seemed you were destined to play in the NFL someday. With one year to play at Stanford, what are your pro chances?
AF: I would say the NFL door has opened gradually over the years. I know the chance will be there for the taking. I just need to put myself in a position to succeed once I get that chance. The only way to do that is to have a strong year and finish up my Stanford football career on a high note.
FF: After three very strong seasons in the Pac-10, did you consider leaving early for the NFL?
AF: I have thrown the idea of leaving early around. The reason for this is because I was working at an accelerated pace in school and felt as if I was ready this past year. Projecting where you rank as a pro prospect is tough to do because there are many factors that you can not control that determine where you will be picked up. A factor that may not have been beneficial to me was that I played guard this past year as opposed to my natural position and the position I am projected at which is center. When I am evaluated as a guard I definitely have less value to a team because I lack the standard size of much heavier and taller NFL Guards. I would be considered an average size NFL Center but an undersized NFL guard. I have played both positions extensively throughout the three years that I have played.
FF: What round were you projected to go?
AF: I submitted my paperwork to the NFL and received a 4/5 round grade for this upcoming draft. Hopefully with another year and possibly playing more at center I can improve that projection. The chance of playing in the Senior Bowl which is very similar to the U.S. Army All-American Game that I played in as a senior in high school would help my status The Combine would also be another opportunity to improve my projection.
FF: Speaking of projections, your younger brother, Austen, dominated at your old position of center, earning All-Long Island honors like you once did. How does he compare?
AF: When I turn on his film I see a lot of very similar characteristics that we both share as a football player. He plays very hard, from whistle to whistle and has a knack for finishing his blocks. I would say some noteworthy differences in our play would be that he is more powerful lower body wise than I am. He is stronger as a north and south blocker and my game would be more favorable in space downfield.
FF: Austen has expressed interest in playing at Stanford. What advice have you given him?
AF: Austen decided his college fate himself when he applied early decision to Dartmouth. Early decision is a binding agreement and even when Stanford started contacting him he already was committed to Dartmouth. Stanford was a possibility at one point, but he wanted to go to Dartmouth for a while and really liked the coaching staff and opportunity of playing early.
