Rufus Alexander - Early Years

Early Years

Alexander was raised by a mother who worked all of the time to support her family while his father was in prison. His oldest brother was in and out of legal trouble and the middle brother was following suit. Alexander met the Barham family, David and Melinda, while he was in junior high. In need of a stable living environment, the Barhams spoke to Alexander's mother, Siene, about having Alexander move in with them. The Barhams never legally adopted Alexander. David Barham accepted a job as the football coach at Christian Life Academy in Baton Rouge, LA and he brought Alexander with him. Alexander became a dominant player, leading his team to district titles his junior and senior year. Barham began to actively pursue colleges on his behalf as Alexander was listed as a top 20 high school linebacker. Barham initiated contact with Oklahoma's defensive coordinator Brent Venables in December 2001. The Sooners offered Alexander a scholarship and he chose Oklahoma over several other offers.

Read more about this topic:  Rufus Alexander

Famous quotes containing the words early and/or years:

    No two men see the world exactly alike, and different temperaments will apply in different ways a principle that they both acknowledge. The same man will, indeed, often see and judge the same things differently on different occasions: early convictions must give way to more mature ones. Nevertheless, may not the opinions that a man holds and expresses withstand all trials, if he only remains true to himself and others?
    Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749–1832)

    If you feed a man, and wash his clothes, and borne his children, you and that man are married, that man is yours. If you sweep a house, and tend its fires and fill its stoves, and there is love in you all the years you are doing this, then you and that house are married, that house is yours.
    Truman Capote (20th century)