OU-Tulsa a Family Affair for Alexander

NORMAN — Two schools. One game. One family.

As the University of Oklahoma football team heads into its third matchup of the season against in-state rival Tulsa on Saturday, one Sooner prepares for a more personal on-field battle. A battle between brothers.

For the third and final time, Oklahoma junior linebacker Dominique Alexander will face older brother and Golden Hurricane defensive end Derrick Alexander on the gridiron. When competition begins the Alexander brothers will not go head to head, but each will be watching the other's every move.

"If I was on offense and he was on defense this all would be totally different," Dominique said. "It's a great thing for our family, though, and it's the last time so it will be something special.

"But hopefully we'll be able to do it again in the NFL."

Dominique, who joined the Sooners in 2013, expects to cheer a lot this game, even at times when Sooner fans may not be doing so. For the Tulsa natives, rooting on a brother, even one on the opposing team, is much more important.

"It's all love between me and my brother so when he's in, I hope he does well and when I'm in he hopes that I do well," said Dominique. "He used to wake me up at 5:30 in the morning in the offseason, and after going through his college workouts, I knew what it was like to work hard. He made me the player I am today so shout-out to him."

Their bond is deeper than anything that happens within the pylons, but Dominique still hopes to notch his third straight victory against his brother Saturday. In the siblings' final square-off as collegiate student-athletes, much is at stake for both teams. After a pulsating win over then-No. 23 Tennessee last week, the Sooners look to keep that momentum going, while delivering the Golden Hurricane (2-0) its first loss of the season.

"We want to keep dominating as a defense, and the offense is going to do what they do and get rolling," Dominique said. "They need to be looking out for me to make some plays that will have everybody watching."

For Dominique, the bragging rights at the dinner table are also at risk, but that does not concern him. In fact, he does not think he deserves to brag at all. He credits his brother, whom he played alongside at Booker T. Washington High School, for his athletic accomplishments.

Dominique Alexander played alongside his brother Derrick at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Okla.

"Seeing the level of success he had in high school and the level of success he's having now, it was like 'Why not follow his success?' Dominique said. "Hard work beats talent and my dad also taught us how to work hard."

Derrick Sr., who played football for Oklahoma State and is now a police officer in Tulsa, got Dominique and his brother into football during elementary school. Their mother, Nicole, is also a football fan and loves the fact that both her sons have reached one of their goals to play collegiate football.

 The Alexander brothers with their father, Derrick Sr.

"Oh, we're a football family," said Nicole. "There are definitely discussions about football around the dinner table. It's the fun stuff, though. They talk about what people said on the field and the locker room."

At one point when her sons were younger, finances became tight when the stock market struggled. The brothers had a life-altering decision to make.

"I said 'Listen. We can't depend on this market stuff for college, but what I can do is put this money into you for these sports," Nicole recalled. "But if I do you better go get it. I told them to make the decision and let me know."

Within 24 hours both Dominique and Derrick individually came back to their mother and told her to keep investing in their athletics.

"They said, 'We're going to go get it,' and they were serious," Nicole continued. "You could see it in their faces. I think that's the grace of God to keep them healthy and strong. It's been great to see."

Dominique and Derrick with their 
mother, Nicole Alexander.

Despite growing up in the same household, playing on the same high school team, and being members of the defense, Dominique and Derrick have very different personalities and skill sets.

"We're really two totally different people in life," Dominique said. "I bring a lot of speed and finesse to the game. I'm able to do a lot of stuff with my feet. He has a lot of power and quickness off the line. He has really good techniques that makes him the player that he is.

"Outside the field, though, he's humble. But me? I'm loud, I like to get into stuff and be busy. I'm always around doing something, but he's more of laid-back and on-the-couch type of person."

Mom agrees.

"Their personalities are a lot like the schools they attend," she said with a laugh. "Derrick Jr. is a little more reserved; he's not as flashy. And Dominique has a little more flare and a little more flash. They both can hold their own, though."

It's all love between me and my brother so when he's in, I hope he does well and when I'm in he hopes that I do well.
Dominique Alexander

The Sooners have decisively won the last two meetings against Tulsa, outscoring it a combined, 103-27. In OU's 52-7 road win last year, Dominique recorded seven tackles. In their 2013 matchup in Norman, Dominique's four total tackles bested Derrick's two as the Sooners won 51-20.

Derrick's 6-2 frame stands a couple of inches above Dominique, who is 6-0, and the older Alexander is nearly 65 pounds heavier at 284. Those numbers may have meant something to Dominique when he was still a child, but as he's matured, so has his ability to go against tough competition; even when that competition grew up in the same household.

Dominique Alexander embraces older brother Derrick after the Sooners' 2014 win against Tulsa.

Dominique has racked up 203 career tackles in college thus far compared to Derrick's 98. While that number sits well with Dominique, he is still behind in careers sacks (Derrick leads 17 to 3.5) and tackles for loss (27 to 12.5). The younger Alexander indicated that stats are not his focus, however.

"I just want to do what's best for this defense. I'm not chasing any stats," Dominique said. "The stats are going to come as long as I'm doing my job."

Regardless of the Saturday's final score, a pair of siblings will leave Owen Field in the same manner they walked in; with brotherly love.