With son's signing, Alexander family will represent OU, OSU and TU

BY ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
2/06/13 at 7:50 AM

Related Story: OU sets start time for spring game

The Alexander family has Sept. 14, 2013, circled on the calendar.

On that Saturday, brothers Dominique (Oklahoma) and Derrick (Tulsa) will compete against each other for the first time in a football game.

What will it be like for the parents?

"I don't think it'll be hard for Dad," Dominique Alexander said. "He'll love it. He has a competitive edge. For Mom, it will be tough. She always wants us on the same team."

The visits from college football coaches and phone calls from reporters have finally ceased for Dominique.

The Booker T. Washington star said he'll seal his commitment to Oklahoma at a national letter of intent signing ceremony on Wednesday.

Expected at his side will be his father Derrick Alexander Sr., mother Nicole Holman-Alexander and brother Derrick Alexander Jr.

When Dominique plays his first game at OU, fans of the state's football programs will have rooted for at least one of the talented trio.

Derrick Sr. has already heard the college cheers. He played at Oklahoma State after he was named the Tulsa World's metro defensive player of the year.

Now it's time for dad to be a proud spectator.

"I've always told them that I played my ball back in the day," said Derrick Sr., who is nearing his 20th year as a Tulsa police officer. "This is my time to sit back and watch."

Representing the state schools makes Dominique smile.

"Not many people can say that they've done that," Dominique said. "All three are dominant programs. It's a proud family thing."

The sons have heard plenty about their father's playing days at Booker T. Washington.

"I'd heard he was pretty much like a beast and the real deal," Derrick Jr. said. "Those are the stories I grew up with."

Added Dominique: "Everybody said he was a monster. Sometimes I'd do interviews with people that interviewed him and they'd all tell me that."

Dominique's decision to choose OU came after careful consideration. He originally planned to attend Arkansas but changed his mind after the coaching situation in November. In a matter of hours, he pledged to Oklahoma.

That didn't keep recruiters from coming after him. He took late visits to Arkansas and Kansas State before affirming his commitment to the Sooners last weekend.

Derrick Sr. said recruiting was much different when he was in school. He only dealt with one recruiter per school and spoke only on his home telephone.

What would it have been like in the mid-'80's with text messages and social media?

"It probably would have been just as hectic as it is now," Derrick Sr. said. "Reporters were always trying to get in touch with him. We're the parents and we don't know what's going on until he tells us. Coaches will call him ... when I was getting recruited, they would only make contact with my parents."

Derrick Jr. went through a recruiting process shortly after he was named the Tulsa World's state player of the year in 2010. He offered advice to his younger brother.

"He received more calls than my dad and I ever got," said Derrick Jr., who had 19 tackles and three sacks as a TU freshman last season. "He handled it well. He matured faster. It's one of the biggest decisions you'll make in your life, it's when you step into being a man."

Dominique knows he was carefully watched during the recruiting process. He's ready to prove that he made the right decision.

"(Wednesday) will be somewhat of a relief," he said. "But now I have to live up to the hype. I have to go out and work hard.

"I'm going to sign on Wednesday and start workouts that night."

Signed letter of intent (2)

Pos	Player	Ht	Wt	Hometown/last school
K	Jed Barnett	6-2	215	Laney (Calif.) C.C.
DT	Quincy Russell	6-3	311	Trinity Valley (Texas) C.C.

Verbal commitments (21)

Pos	Player	Ht	Wt	Hometown/last school
ATH	Dominique Alexander	6-2	195	Tulsa B.T. Washington
DB	Dakota Austin	5-11	167	Lancaster, Texas
WR	Austin Bennett	6-0	170	Manvel, Texas
DB	Hatari Byrd	6-1	190	Fresno, Calif.
WR	Dannon Cavil	6-5	205	San Antonio
OL	Christian Daimler	6-6	270	Houston
DE	Matt Dimon	6-2	252	Katy, Texas
LB	Jordan Evans	6-3	205	Norman North
RB	Keith Ford	5-11	195	Cypress, Texas
DT	Kerrick Huggins	6-4	283	Dallas
DE	Ogbonnia Okoronkwo	6-3	220	Houston
DT	Matt Romar	6-3	268	Port Arthur, Texas
OL	Dionte Savage	6-5	245	Arizona Western CC
WR	Jordan Smallwood	6-2	190	Jenks
OL	Josiah St. John	6-6	305	Trinity Valley (Texas) CC
ATH	Stanvon Taylor	5-11	165	Tulsa East Central
DB	Ahmad Thomas	6-1	199	Miami, Fla.
QB	Cody Thomas	6-5	220	Colleyville, Texas
DT	Charles Walker	6-4	280	Garland, Texas
DE	D.J. Ward	6-3	245	Southmoore
WR	KJ Young	6-0	180	Perris, Calif.

Signing Day schedule

The following schools have reported to the Tulsa World their National Signing Day ceremonies on Wednesday:

7 a.m.: Broken Arrow

7:30 a.m.: Owasso

9:30 a.m.: Union

9:40 a.m.: Lincoln Christian

11 a.m.: Central

11:30 a.m.: McLain

11:45 a.m.: Metro Christian

1 p.m.: Memorial

1 p.m.: Sapulpa

1:50 p.m.: Glenpool

2:45 p.m.: Bixby

3 p.m.: Booker T. Washington

3 p.m.: Bishop Kelley

3 p.m.: East Central

3 p.m.: Edison

Original Print Headline: All in the family

Eric Bailey 918-581-8391
eric.bailey@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Derrick Alexander Sr. (center), who played at OSU, stands inside S.E. Williams Stadium on Tuesday with his sons Derrick Alexander (right), who is currently playing at TU; and Dominique Alexander, who is expected to sign Wednesday with the University of Oklahoma. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World

Booker T. Washington football standout Dominique Alexander (left), who is expected to sign Wednesday with the University of Oklahoma, shakes hands with his brother Derrick Alexander Jr., who is currently playing at TU, inside S.E. Williams Stadium. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World