Before the men's basketball game against Colorado, I interviewed grad transfer target Alec Bank. Below are key quotes. The rest will be saved for the article.
gocrimson.com
On how things are coming with Stanford: "Things have been going great with Stanford so far since the offer. I’m in constant communication with Coach Adams the offensive line coach, Coach Eubanks with recruiting personnel. Just trying to work this application. It’s a very tedious one, figuring out which program you want to get into. I’m actually almost done with it. I was just on the phone with Coach Eubanks before. We’re working together trying to get in and get it read. Also setting up an official visit. Roughly set for January 20th to the 22nd to try and go out there. And also making sure that I get the application in so that they can try and work with the school to see if they can get a read on the acceptance or not before I’d come out there. Just to make it easier on us and on them. Things have been going great overall."
On his experience at Harvard: "It was all the way across the country. It was different from what I knew. The environment. As a freshman, you don’t get to pick your roommates. So, my roommates, I had three roommates. One was a soccer player from DC, one was a track kid from California, and a roommate from Nepal. So going in you get that diversity that you look at and you’re like ‘Wow, I’m really at Harvard.’ And, it just allows you to see a different side of the world that you haven’t seen. And you also get that view with football.
"Just coming in as a freshman, at the bottom of the pole, you gotta work your way up, you make friends with your teammates, you live with these guys, you train with these guys, you’re with each other around 15 hours a day through almost four years straight and you make your best friends, lifelong friends, and create unbelievable memories. And then also being able to hear their stories. That’s really been unbelievable. See how they ended up at Harvard, what their lives are like back home, being able to meet their families, them to meet mine, and really just having, get to experience a pivotal part of our lives together. It’s really unbelievable and obviously there’s gonna be stuff with any school you go to that isn’t perfect, that you’re gonna find faults with, but in terms of the people, and the teammates that I’ve had, I wouldn’t trade that for the world."
On how Stanford sees him: "They see someone that can come in and compete to play. They like how athletic I am, I’m a very technical player. And size, obviously, I’m not the height that they are used to at left tackle, but I definitely think I make up for it with my quickness and technique. They see me as someone who can come in and compete whether it be at tackle or potentially swinging me in at guard. Really just looking to play wherever I can get on the field."
On Klayton Adams: "He [Coach Adams] reached out the day they offered me and we had an unbelievable conversation. Just about Stanford. Just kinda what he sees, what they’re looking at in the offensive line room, expectations, and eventually ended up offering me and through the conversation. And has been kinda texting me occasionally. Every other day, here and now. Just kinda checking in, seeing how I’m doing, if I have any questions, and it’s been awesome to see the effort that he’s putting in and the intent behind it."
On a decision timeline: At the latest, Alec would like to have a decision made by beginning of March/end of February. Just because he wants something set so he can enjoy his final spring at Harvard and enjoy school. He’s heard senior spring is one of the best experiences at Harvard and he doesn’t want that part of his Harvard experience to be weighed down by an impending decision.
Note: Alec is targeting the MS&E grad program.
Alec Bank - 2022 - Football - Harvard University
Alec Bank (71) OL - 2022 Phil Steele Preseason First-Team All-Ivy League... Bluebloods Preseason All-Ivy League... CSC Academic All-District... Phil Steele Fourth-Team
gocrimson.com
On how things are coming with Stanford: "Things have been going great with Stanford so far since the offer. I’m in constant communication with Coach Adams the offensive line coach, Coach Eubanks with recruiting personnel. Just trying to work this application. It’s a very tedious one, figuring out which program you want to get into. I’m actually almost done with it. I was just on the phone with Coach Eubanks before. We’re working together trying to get in and get it read. Also setting up an official visit. Roughly set for January 20th to the 22nd to try and go out there. And also making sure that I get the application in so that they can try and work with the school to see if they can get a read on the acceptance or not before I’d come out there. Just to make it easier on us and on them. Things have been going great overall."
On his experience at Harvard: "It was all the way across the country. It was different from what I knew. The environment. As a freshman, you don’t get to pick your roommates. So, my roommates, I had three roommates. One was a soccer player from DC, one was a track kid from California, and a roommate from Nepal. So going in you get that diversity that you look at and you’re like ‘Wow, I’m really at Harvard.’ And, it just allows you to see a different side of the world that you haven’t seen. And you also get that view with football.
"Just coming in as a freshman, at the bottom of the pole, you gotta work your way up, you make friends with your teammates, you live with these guys, you train with these guys, you’re with each other around 15 hours a day through almost four years straight and you make your best friends, lifelong friends, and create unbelievable memories. And then also being able to hear their stories. That’s really been unbelievable. See how they ended up at Harvard, what their lives are like back home, being able to meet their families, them to meet mine, and really just having, get to experience a pivotal part of our lives together. It’s really unbelievable and obviously there’s gonna be stuff with any school you go to that isn’t perfect, that you’re gonna find faults with, but in terms of the people, and the teammates that I’ve had, I wouldn’t trade that for the world."
On how Stanford sees him: "They see someone that can come in and compete to play. They like how athletic I am, I’m a very technical player. And size, obviously, I’m not the height that they are used to at left tackle, but I definitely think I make up for it with my quickness and technique. They see me as someone who can come in and compete whether it be at tackle or potentially swinging me in at guard. Really just looking to play wherever I can get on the field."
On Klayton Adams: "He [Coach Adams] reached out the day they offered me and we had an unbelievable conversation. Just about Stanford. Just kinda what he sees, what they’re looking at in the offensive line room, expectations, and eventually ended up offering me and through the conversation. And has been kinda texting me occasionally. Every other day, here and now. Just kinda checking in, seeing how I’m doing, if I have any questions, and it’s been awesome to see the effort that he’s putting in and the intent behind it."
On a decision timeline: At the latest, Alec would like to have a decision made by beginning of March/end of February. Just because he wants something set so he can enjoy his final spring at Harvard and enjoy school. He’s heard senior spring is one of the best experiences at Harvard and he doesn’t want that part of his Harvard experience to be weighed down by an impending decision.
Note: Alec is targeting the MS&E grad program.
