Fletcher Absorbs This Lesson in Perspective

Seven days in Nigeria plus seven in the Ivory Coast equals one tight end who no longer gets uptight at the small stuff.

Last summer Bryan Fletcher witnessed millions living in extreme poverty, met college students with little hope for better lives and walked through deplorably neglected neighborhoods.

So the fact that he had only one pass thrown to him in UCLA’s season-opening victory against Alabama despite promises of more is nothing to get worked up about.

“It’s incredibly frustrating, but I’m just trying to be patient,” he said.

Coach Bob Toledo, on the other hand, spent his summer vacation relaxing in Cancun. He left his calmness on a hammock between two palm trees.

“There were at least five or six plays designed for the tight end and for one reason or another we didn’t get the balls to them,” Toledo said.

Bruin tight ends caught 24 passes last season, a number Toledo wants to increase. Quarterback Cory Paus still seems uncertain about throwing to Fletcher and his frequently used backup, Mike Seidman.

“We could have had a higher completion percentage if Cory would have thrown to them,” Toledo said. “If you look at the film, there are tight ends open. [Paus] went through his progressions too fast.”

Paus sees it differently.

“I didn’t miss them too many times, maybe once or twice,” he said. “There weren’t too many plays designed for the tight ends.

“It’s not a case of a tight end being open time and time again and me missing him.”

The quarterback, tight end and coach are quick to agree that the issue is minor. Just something to be ironed out in preparation for their second consecutive road game. Paus and Fletcher talked amiably as they walked onto the practice field Monday afternoon.

Boosted by the landmark victory in Tuscaloosa, Ala., the Bruins are encouraged about playing at Lawrence, Kan., against a Jayhawk team that struggled to defeat Division II Southwest Missouri State.

And nobody is happier than Fletcher, a fifth-year senior who grew up near St. Louis. Even though it’s a four-hour drive to Lawrence, this is as close as he will get to playing in front of his home fans.

UCLA originally was scheduled to play Missouri this week. Fletcher was thrilled--his parents, sister, a brother and friends, they all would be there.

But Missouri backed out of its contract in 1999, and it took UCLA until last summer to fill the date. Fletcher was crushed.

“It was a chance to get back home to familiar territory,” he said. “I know a lot of players on Missouri’s team.”

He’ll settle for Kansas. There’s no place like home, or even 230 miles from it.

“It’ll do,” he said.

Bryan is the fourth of Hosea and Edna Fletcher’s five children and by far the biggest at 6 feet 5, 235 pounds. Terrell, a San Diego Charger running back, is the most successful so far. Shaun is a junior defensive back at San Jose State. Bryan’s oldest brother, Myron, 31, and sister, Tracy, 25, will accompany their parents to Kansas.

“My dad loves sports,” Fletcher said. “He was the one who taught us by throwing the ball in the streets. He taught us the basics.”

Fletcher found himself doing the teaching in Africa. He, Terrell and UCLA safety Marques Anderson staged several clinics through Athletes in Action, a fellowship group.

“The clinics were advertised city-wide and there were 100-some people at each one ranging in age from 12 to 60,” he said. “Football was totally new to them. They had no frame of reference. They were grabbing the ball by the point and slinging it.”

Anderson put on full gear and pretended to tackle a local.

“Everybody went into a roar,” Fletcher said. “They’d never seen anything like that.”

The feeling was mutual.

“The strength of the people in the face of their difficult lives was incredible,” he said.

“They let us know right off the bat that they would appreciate any help we could give them but that they didn’t need anything.

“That was striking to me. They realized how bad their situation was, but they have tremendous dignity.”

Those images stay with Fletcher during his own tough times, insignificant as they may be in comparison.

He still would like the ball though.

“A few plays were called for me and I was open several times,” he said. “Cory either didn’t see me or didn’t have time. He told me he’d get it to me next time. He has other stuff to worry about. We all do.”