That’s pretty good company to have access to considering Lehman (2003), Calmus (2001) and Bosworth (1985, 1986) have a combined four Butkus Awards between them.
And as one of the preseason favorites for the 2006 Butkus, Alexander would seemingly do well to tap such resources.
But Alexander just shakes his head when asked whether he patterns himself after any of those OU greats. Same goes for other recent standout Sooner linebackers - Torrance Marshall, Lance Mitchell, Clint Ingram. All good examples says the senior, just not his.
“The guy I really learned a lot from, the guy who helped me out the most was Gayron Allen,” Alexander said.
Allen’s name never appeared on the Butkus watch list, and he wasn’t tabbed as preseason Big 12 defensive player of the year, but he’s a big reason Alexander is reaping both of those benefits.
“There’s a great legacy of linebackers here,” Alexander said. “I’ve seen how Teddy really studied film and how Lance was never too emotional. Things like that helped, but Gayron was the guy who taught me a lot when I got here. I asked him a lot of questions, and he helped me learn the process.”
The 25-year-old Allen, who lives in Norman and works for a financial firm, played at OU from 2000-2004. He was an undersized (5-10, 235) linebacker from Orange, Texas, who got by on effort and know-how more so than pure athletic ability. He might have been a career special teams guy, if not for a rash of injuries that gave him his shot in 2003. After Mitchell and his replacement, Wayne Chambers, both were sidelined, Allen stepped in and ended up on the All-Big 12 honorable mention list.
“I waited for my turn and when it came I was ready,” said Allen, who had a team-high 12 tackles against Oklahoma State in his first extensive action. “A big reason I was ready is because I had a guy who showed me the ropes when I was young and I knew how things worked.”
Allen’s guy was former OU and San Francisco 49erslinebacker Brandon Moore. When Alexander came to Norman for his recruiting visit, Allen was his host. As it turned out, Allen would show Alexander the way around a lot more than just for the weekend.
“Basically, I just let him know what to do and what the coaches expect,” Allen said. “Some of the other guys, like Teddy and Lance, they were so busy playing that they didn’t have much time to talk to the new guys.”
The 23-year-old Alexander, who led OU with 102 tackles last season, echoed the same story.
“Teddy and Lance were starters and the starters have a lot going on,” he said. “They can’t always take some young player aside and teach them things.”
When asked whether Alexander can be the next great OU linebacker, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Brent Venables refers to the examples Alexander has had before him.
“Guys like Rocky and Teddy have left a legacy for Rufus to follow,” Venables said. “And Rufus has a chance to be in the company of the awfully good linebackers that we’ve had since we’ve been here.”
True, yet even without all the trophies, Allen may be an even better example of leaving a legacy to follow.
“Someone helped me out when I needed it, so I helped someone else out, and he’ll help out the next guy,” Allen said. “That’s just the way we do it. It helps make the whole process a lot easier for the players, the coaches and the whole team.”
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Sooner Caravan
The annual Sooner Caravan stop in Oklahoma City is scheduled for Aug. 3 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Headlined by OU coach Bob Stoops, the event will also feature athletic director Joe Castiglione and basketball coaches Jeff Capel and Sherri Coale. Several athletes will also attend.
Tickets for the event, which will begin at 6:30 p.m., are $25 for adults and $12 for children age 12 and under. The admission price includes dinner.
For more information, call 325-8000.
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