Thu Sep 01 10:16am EDT
Doug Flutie’s daughter makes Patriots’ squad … as a cheerleader
By Jim Weber
LostLettermen.com, the college sports fan site and player database, regularly contributes to Shutdown Corner. Here's a look at rookie New England Patriots cheerleader Alexa Flutie, daughter of Doug Flutie.
There will once again be a Flutie on the New England Patriots sideline this season. No, Doug Flutie isn't coming out of retirement at the age of 48.
Instead, the former NFL quarterback's daughter, Alexa, will be making her debut as a rookie cheerleader for the Pats.
Just like her father, Alexa took the long road to make it in the NFL. After just four years in the league, the Patriots released Doug after the 1989 season. He then spent eight years in Canada and won three Canadian Football League titles before getting another job stateside. Doug eventually proved he belonged in the NFL, leading the Bills to two playoff appearances and finishing his career after the '05 season with the Pats.
For her part, the 23-year-old Alexa is trying to prove she belongs after previously being turned down four times by the Patriots' cheerleading squad. This spring, she finally landed a spot with her dad's old team.
Alexa can relate to the grueling process that her dad went through of making an NFL roster. Cheerleading tryouts for the Patriots started with approximately 300 girls and was whittled down to 31 members after three rounds that included a two-week boot camp at the end.
"It was very hard, very draining, but [I'm] very excited to get through everything," Alexa said.
Those that don't realize Alexa had been turned down four previous times have made claims of nepotism, but she brushes off the criticism like any good NFL quarterback.
"I've heard a couple people — maybe comments online or people just talking about [how] I got it because of my dad," Alexa said. "…The cheerleaders have been absolutely great, they don't judge me in any way whatsoever."
Alexa has big shoes to fill. To this day, her dad is a demigod in Boston for winning the 1984 Heisman despite his 5-foot-10, 180-pound frame, and connecting on "Hail Flutie," a Hail Mary pass that enabled Boston College to defeat Miami (Fla.) in November of '84.
Doug Flutie’s daughter makes Patriots’ squad … as a cheerleader
By Jim Weber
LostLettermen.com, the college sports fan site and player database, regularly contributes to Shutdown Corner. Here's a look at rookie New England Patriots cheerleader Alexa Flutie, daughter of Doug Flutie.
Instead, the former NFL quarterback's daughter, Alexa, will be making her debut as a rookie cheerleader for the Pats.
Just like her father, Alexa took the long road to make it in the NFL. After just four years in the league, the Patriots released Doug after the 1989 season. He then spent eight years in Canada and won three Canadian Football League titles before getting another job stateside. Doug eventually proved he belonged in the NFL, leading the Bills to two playoff appearances and finishing his career after the '05 season with the Pats.
For her part, the 23-year-old Alexa is trying to prove she belongs after previously being turned down four times by the Patriots' cheerleading squad. This spring, she finally landed a spot with her dad's old team.
Alexa can relate to the grueling process that her dad went through of making an NFL roster. Cheerleading tryouts for the Patriots started with approximately 300 girls and was whittled down to 31 members after three rounds that included a two-week boot camp at the end.
"It was very hard, very draining, but [I'm] very excited to get through everything," Alexa said.
Those that don't realize Alexa had been turned down four previous times have made claims of nepotism, but she brushes off the criticism like any good NFL quarterback.
"I've heard a couple people — maybe comments online or people just talking about [how] I got it because of my dad," Alexa said. "…The cheerleaders have been absolutely great, they don't judge me in any way whatsoever."
Alexa has big shoes to fill. To this day, her dad is a demigod in Boston for winning the 1984 Heisman despite his 5-foot-10, 180-pound frame, and connecting on "Hail Flutie," a Hail Mary pass that enabled Boston College to defeat Miami (Fla.) in November of '84.