Fowler dreams of earning degree

By Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 12, 2008 at 9:59 p.m.
Updated August 12, 2008 at 9:52 p.m.

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Harvard was interested in Dexter Fowler, wanting him to come there and play basketball, even though he didn't play as a senior at Milton High School in Alpharetta, Ga.

Fowler was headed to the University of Miami to play baseball, so intent on going there, scouts believed, that he languished in the 2004 draft before the Rockies took him in the 14th round. The money for scouting director Bill Schmidt to sign Fowler - he received a $925,000 bonus - materialized in August when Larry Walker was traded to St. Louis.

John Fowler said three or four days before his son was to go to Miami, when his bags already were packed, Fowler and his parents had a discussion. This was after Walker was traded but before the Rockies made an offer to Fowler.

"I said, 'Dexter, what is it you really want to do?' " John Fowler recalled. "He said, 'Oh, Dad, I'll go to college, but I really want to go there to play baseball.' "

Ultimately, John Fowler and his wife, Trudy, decided to let their son play professionally.

"Our goal was to ensure that he was happy because if he's happy, he's going to do well, regardless of where it is or what he's doing," John Fowler said.

Fast forward to 2006, and Fowler's brother, Wesley, is graduating from Tennessee State.

John, Trudy and Dexter were offering a toast to Wesley when John said, "See this here. Dexter, you've accomplished a lot, and you will continue to accomplish a lot. But until you get this (a degree) - this is big.' He told us specifically he would and is committed to getting an education."

That wasn't mere idle talk, which doesn't wash in the Fowler family.

"I'm definitely going to go back and get my degree, probably in computer science," Fowler said. "Either that, or business and marketing."

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