Bison Football Q&A: Alex Pechin

Punter Alex Pechin will go down as one of the finest student-athletes in Bucknell football history. A rare two-year captain, he has been recognized on seven FCS All-America Teams and three All-Patriot League First Teams to date. The Biomedical Engineering and Management for Engineers double major has also excelled in the classroom, most notably becoming only the third football player to be named the Patriot League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year following the 2018-19 school year. Pechin sat down to talk about his record-setting career, his favorite memory from his time at Bucknell and much more.

Q: Going into your second (and final) Senior Day, what's on your mind?

A: The biggest thought on my mind is 'Wow, that went fast.' It feels like yesterday I was going out for last year's Senior Day. At the time, I thought 'It's crazy I'll be completely done in a year from now.' Now a year has passed, and I can't stop thinking about how I've spent five years here already. I can't thank Bucknell enough for the opportunities and memories it has given me.

Q: What has it meant to you to be the 11th Bison to serve as captain more than once?

A: Coming in as a freshman, I never thought I'd be voted as a captain once, let alone twice.
I was worried about being a punter/kicker because I knew it would be harder for me to gain the respect of my teammates. Now that I'm a captain, it means a great deal to me. The captains who came before me were exceptional football players, students and people, and they set the bar high for everyone in our program. I looked up to them, and it means a lot to me that the younger guys in our program now look up to me.

Q: During your time at Bucknell, you've set almost all of the program's punting records. Did you expect to do that going in? What does it mean to you to see your name peppered throughout the record book?

A: I expected none of these records. I came in thinking I may be able to play for a couple years, and I would work towards having an All-Patriot League season. It's still a bit odd to think I have any records at all. Seeing I do is incredible. It's a testament to the people who have helped me along the way. I just hope to see another punter from Bucknell break my records in the future.

Q: You've led the FCS in punting average for the majority of this season, and you've led the entire NCAA in punting average at various points. How have you been able to so consistently punt at such a high level?

A: One of the biggest things is confidence. As a fifth-year player, I'm much more confident. I trust myself to be able to do precisely what I need to, and I trust my teammates to do what they need to as well.

Q: What's your favorite memory from your time as a Bison?

A: My favorite memory is playing at Lincoln Financial Field this year. I'm a life-long Eagles fan, and it has always been a dream of mine to play at that stadium. I was a freshman when I first heard we would play Temple in 2019. I was ecstatic because I thought that would be my senior season. I was quickly shot down and reminded I would have graduated in the spring of that year, and the game would be played the following fall (laughs). Receiving a fifth year made me realize that maybe things happen for a reason.

Q: What was your favorite class at Bucknell, and what was your favorite class project?

A: My favorite class was physics 212, which dealt with the physics of electricity and magnetism as well as quantum mechanics. My favorite class project was senior design in biomedical engineering. I was able to create a simulation for Geisinger residents to practice their skills with ultrasound-guided biopsies.

Q: For the past two summers, you interned for Orbit Biomedical, a start-up company dedicated to revolutionizing gene and cell therapy treatment for patients suffering from sight-threatening diseases. Talk about that experience.

A: It was an incredible experience, and I'm extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to intern for them twice. I was able to work in engineering the first summer and in business this past summer. I learned so much about upcoming technology and biology, as well as how a medical device company operates.

Q: What's the best piece of advice you have for incoming freshmen?

A: Make the very best out of every opportunity. Regardless of your position or status, don't take anything for granted. In any situation—success or failure or anywhere in between—there is always something that can be learned. By learning and making adjustments, we can improve.

This Q&A originally ran in the program for Bucknell's game against Georgetown on Nov. 16, 2019.

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