Biography

Because of him, first downs were made. Because of first downs, touchdowns were scored. Because of the touchdowns, the “glory boys” were All Stars. As with most linemen, his name rarely made the write-ups but to those that mattered, his performance made all the difference. Coaches know where games are won and lost. Backs and receivers know who is most responsible for their being able to score, and the brotherhood of linemen continues to revel in its obscurity. So it was for Steve Fletcher, the 6'1", 215 pound tackle whose bone crunching blocks and steady defensive play anchored a line for two of Feehan's most dominating teams in the mid 1990’s. In the years that he started, the Shamrocks won sixteen games including their first Super Bowl in 1997.

As a junior in Coach Gary Dohery's first year, the hard-nosed Fletcher teamed with Matt and Nick Blair, Rich Nighelli, and Pete Golenia in shutting out three opponents and opening gaping holes for Chad Carges, Joe Gazzola, and Renato DePaolis to run through as Feehan scored impressive wins over North Attleboro, East Bridgewater, Bishop Stang and Oliver Ames. In the Shamrocks last Thanksgiving Day game against Coyle in 1996, his blocking paved the way for five Shamrock touchdowns and spearheaded a defense that shut out the Warriors in a 32-0 victory.

His senior year Fletcher was an integral part of Feehan's first Super Bowl winning team. For the second year in a row, Feehan's defense gave up less than 90 points and this year shut out four opponents, allowing only one team to score two touchdowns. Because of Fletcher being double teamed so often in his position as a defensive lineman, the linebackers were free to make the tackles. The line did the work, the linebackers got the recognition. The humble Fletcher went about his job in anonymity but was highly regarded by those who counted most. On offense, Feehan had one of its most productive years averaging over 300 total yards per game. When the key first down was needed, it was a running back following the blocking of Fletcher and Company to “seal the deal.” In the Super Bowl win over Duxbury at Boston University, the Shamrocks amassed a remarkable 347 yards rushing in an emphatic 26-7 victory.

For his efforts, Fletcher was named to the Sun Chronicle, Pawtucket Times, and Eastern Athletic Conference All Star teams. After graduating from Feehan, Steve went to the University of Connecticut where he obtained his PhD in Pharmacy. This evening, the Attleboro Area Hall of Fame welcomes a “Feehan Block of Granite” Steve Fletcher.