 | | Alex Smith | Cardinal Commitment:
Alex Smith continues a series of twice-weekly chats by Stanford Football players during 2004 spring practice.Smith to Visit Chat Room on April 13 Senior tight end Alex Smith, a 2004 honors candidate, will make a special visit to the gostanford.com moderated chat room on Tuesday, April 13 at 1:00 pm. Smith is the third Cardinal to take part in a series of on-line chats that will continue through spring practice. Smith enters his final campaign on the Farm having established himself as one of the top tight ends in the Pacific-10 Conference. He has started the last 21 games for Stanford and his 55 receptions for 585 yards and five touchdowns makes him one of the school's most prolific tight ends over the past 25 years. Smith will be one of the team's top offensive weapons in 2004. He caught 30 passes in 2002 and 24 in '03. Look for the 6-5, 255 pound Smith to be a focal point of the Cardinal's offense in 2004. If you would like to ask Alex a question ahead of time, feel free to leave them now and we will save them for his arrival. |
 |
| Moderator: Alex is here in the Chat Room and ready for your questions. Let's get started. |
|
| Fan (Oklahoma): What is the best defense you have faced while in college? And who is the guy who has hit you the hardest while in college? |
 |  | Alex: I think the best defense I have faced today would have to be the USC Trojans from last year. I don't know of one person that has hit me the hardest. I think maybe one of those hits I took while going across the middle and knocking my helmet off against Arizona would be the hardest. | |
|
| DeAndre (East Palo Alto): The Tight End Corp is probably the best in the nation this year. How many balls do you expect the position to have as a whole? Also, is practice much easier with 4 tight ends compared to the 2 that you has during spring ball your redshirt freshman year. Finally who do you sit by in the locker room? |
| | Alex: Well I am hoping that as a position we will catch at least 70 or 80 balls this year. All of our guys have the potential to catch at least 20 balls. And practice is definitely a lot easier. Honestly I don't know how I made it through the spring when there were only 2 of us. I sit next to Matt Traverso, a fellow Tight End. | |
|
| Janice (toyan): Do you have any pregame superstitions or rituals? Boxer or briefs dude? |
| | Alex: Some of my pregame superstitions are, I always listen to a Jay-Z cd, eat the same thing everytime, and I pray. I usually wear boxers, but every now and then I'll bust out the boxer briefs. | |
|
| Carl (Modesto): What have you done during the offseason to improve your blocking and make yourself a more complete tight end? |
| | Alex: I have really tried to increase my strength in the weightroom especially in my lower body, which I feel will be a big help. I have been studying a lot of film from past seasons and of other tight ends as well to try and find techniques that I could use. | |
|
| Hot for you in Honolulu: Do you have a girlfriend, and if so are you truly happy with her? What kind of cologn do you wear so I can smell you while I watch you on TV? |
| | Alex: No, I do not have a girlfriend at this moment in time, I am looking for one though. I wear all kinds of cologne, usually im wearing Curve. | |
|
Gerald, Marin: WILL THERE BE MORE BALLS THROWN TO THE TIGHT ENDS THIS YEAR AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? HAS THE TERMINOLOGY CHANGED FROM LAST YEAR? |
| | Alex: We are really trying to make it a point of emphasis to get the ball to the tight ends this year. It seems like we are always saying that, but I really feel like our schemes are geared towards the tight ends. Fortunately we have kept our terminology the same as it was last year. I think it gives us a certain level of comfort, when we don't have to learn a whole bunch of new terms. | |
|
Jim (Sunnyvale): Alex, What role do you expect to play for the Cardinal in 2004? You are one of the team's best players - do you expect to be more of a focal point this season? |
| | Alex: I am hoping to play a very intrical role for the Cardinal this year. I feel like I could definitely help the team by being a focal point, but I am willing to fill what ever role the team needs me to. | |
|
| Sandy (Menlo Park): Hi Alex:I read that Coach Teevens is opening up the offense. What does he mean by that? Do you think the offense will be more productive this year? |
| | Alex: Coach Teevens is referring to our offense using more of the plays from our playbook. Last year we were somewhat constrained and could not do everything that we would have liked. But this year guys are more experienced and this should allow us to use our playbook to its fullest. | |
|
| Barbara (San Francisco): Alex: How is spring practice going? Is the team ready to forget last season and show everyone what Stanford football is all about? |
| | Alex: In my opinion, we have made some pretty big strides this spring, at least from an offensive standpoint. The offense is coming together quite well. I personally, have already forgotten about last season, all my attention is on winning the Pac-10 this year. | |
|
| Eric Bennett (Mirlo, Stanford): Which dorm did you live in Freshman year? |
| | Alex: I lived in Schiff at Fro So Co. Waaaaaaay in the back of campus. | |
|
| Derek (San Francisco): Alex - You've emerged as a clutch player and made some insane catches. Who do you think has the best hands on the team? GO CARDINAL! |
| | Alex: I would have to say the guys with the best hands is one of our wide receivers, Greg Camarillo. He catches everything (almost). | |
|
| Fred: How hard is it to be a student-athlete? How do you find the time to balance yourself with games happening every week? |
| | Alex: It is very difficut to be a student-athlete. I find myself complaining all the time. But really I am quite fortunate. I have to manage my time wisely. I try to get stuff done early in the week, knowing that I will be busy on the weekend. | |
|
| Slick (Stanford): Alex,What are your goals this year and what will be the keys to your successes? |
| | Alex: My first goal is getting to the Rose Bowl. For me personally, I want to be the best tight end in the nation. I feel like I need to continue to work hard, do what is asked of me, and I think it will all work out. | |
|
| Mary (Redwood City): Where are you from - what city? Why did you come to Stanford? Do you play other sports? |
| | Alex: I am from Denver Colorado. I came to Stanford because it had the best combination of athletics and academics of any other school. I love to play basketball, but I haven't played as much as I would have liked to. | |
|
| Frederick (Los Angeles): Alex:I'm a big Cardinal fan in L.A. and am tired of hearing about USC. Tell me why Stanford will be a better team this season? I need to have something to tell all those Trojans. |
| | Alex: I'm tired of hearing about USC too! We were very young last year, and at times it showed. But we have our whole defense coming back, and our offense has a year of experience under its belt. So tell those Trojans to watch out. | |
|
| Max (San Jose): Alex: I've seen you play in person several times. I like your game. Any thoughts of playing at the next level? The Sabre Cats could use you! I think you're a natural for their style of play!! |
| | Alex: It is definitely a goal of mine to play in the NFL. If that doesn't work out, hopefully the Sabre Cats would pick me up. | |
|
| Jose (Mexico): How do you feel the offense will cope with the loss of Luke Powell, Nick Sebes, and Brandon Royster? Are you worried at all about the receiving core? |
| | Alex: We are definitely losing some quality receivers. We will certainly miss them, but we have a lot of talented young guys coming back like Bradford, Moore, and watch out for McCutcheon. So no I am not worried at all. | |
|
| Lola O (Naperville,IL): What is your support system? i.e what motivates you to go out there to be one of the best defensive player in the Stanford football team especially in adverse situation? |
| | Alex: I guess I got my drive from my parents. They have always encouraged me to excel in anything I was involved in, so when I am on the field I am determined to be the best player on the field. | |
|
| Papatunde (Naperville): What are your ultimate goals this year for the team and for yourself? Keep up the good work. See you at the games and the Rose Bowl. GO CARDINAL!!! |
| | Alex: Well you said it, my ultimate goal is getting to that Rose Bowl. I hope I continue to improve, and in the end I want to be the best tight end in the nation. | |
|
| Papatunde (Naperville): How does having an ex-NFL player as a father help you with your game? Does he give you tips? Say hello to grandma! GO CARDINAL!!! |
| | Alex: My dad is definitely a big influence on my game. He has been through it all before, so he would never give me bad advice. I just try to keep my ears open when he has something to say. | |
| Moderator: Alex has to go to a team meeting. Thanks for your questions. We've got Leigh Torrence in the Chat Room on Thursday. |
|
|
