TOUCHDOWN DINNER INDUCTEE PROFILE: STEVE ALEXANDRE

Looking ahead to next week's Touchdown Dinner in collaboration with and support from the 1881 Gee-Gees Football Alumni Association, uOttawa is pleased to profile each of its new Football Hall of Fame Inductees. Vanier Cup champion Steve Alexandre was a defensive lineman for the Garnet and Grey from 1998 to 2001 who stood out with his speed and leadership.

The uOttawa 2018 Touchdown Dinner in collaboration with and support from the 1881 Gee-Gees Football Alumni Association will be held at the National Arts Centre on Saturday, April 28 to honour the accomplishments of Alexandre and fellow inductees Marcel Bellefeuille, Al Moffat, Josh Sacobie, and the 1965 team. Tickets can be purchased here for $150 each with tables of 10 available. Registration is open to all alumni, family, and friends of the Gee-Gees football program. The registration deadline is April 23.

Steve Alexandre sums up his perspective on the game of football with a humourous approach which belies his serious philosophy. "I really played football for fun. And the harder you worked to prepare, the more fun you had on the field," he laughs as he remembers bringing opponents to the ground.

After struggling to stay in soccer games without picking up red cards, the fourteen-year-old was struck by the team discipline required in football. Alexandre remembers his first football practice clearly. "For the first time in my life, I saw everyone join in and not complain about taking orders. I also remember my first tackling drill - I laid someone out and everyone went nuts cheering. I thought wow, this is different. This is my sport."

Before coming to uOttawa Alexandre starred at CEGEP du Vieux Montréal, where he learned the type of leadership that he wanted to be surrounded by. When Gee-Gees coaches Denis Piché, Marcel Bellefeuille, and Mike White began recruiting him he felt an extension of his Vieux Montréal support.

"Denis had been at Team Quebec tryouts and other games and he used to say, 'I'm going to come and get you one day.' That always stayed in my head. And then Marcel came down to Montreal to visit us at the sports store where we were working. They found ways to connect with us and it was always genuine. The people taking care of the program took care of people and were class act gentlemen."

"Steve had one of the quickest first three steps off the edge we had seen at the Gee-Gees," remembers Piché. "He was a great captain, always ready to help the younger players - a natural leader."

Coach White would have a profound impact on Alexandre as well - so much so that years later when his second son was born Alexandre named him Kaizen, after the motto of continuous improvement that White instilled in his team. "I sensed a certain confidence in Coach White when I spoke to him on the phone, and I liked that. They were looking for elements to make sure that they got back to the Vanier and win it."

It was not only himself that Alexandre was concerned with as he came to uOttawa. The soon-to-be Gee-Gee was also ensuring that his younger brother would have a place to thrive, and the Gee-Gees coaching staff understood this perfectly.

"My first day of practice at uOttawa, Marcel asked me where my brother was. He was supposed to get registered for high school that day and I thought I would go after practice. But coach went himself and took care of it, got him registered. I stayed at practice and I knew my feeling about them was right. My name was not Number 55 - I really felt special, and they took a lot of stress off your shoulders by taking care of you."

Another person who took stress away from Alexandre was Whendy Menard. "He came with me, and also helped me make the choice to go to Ottawa. Whendy was someone I could trust. We supported each other and we could count on each other for everything," says Alexandre.

Alexandre's debut season in Garnet and Grey was 1998, a 6-2 campaign. As a CEGEP champion at Vieux Montréal, the first-year Gee-Gee was as eager as anyone else to return to the championship games. "Part of the continuity for me coming from Vieux Montréal was winning. This was a winning program, and we didn't lose a lot of games."

In 1999 the Gee-Gees went 8-0 in regular season play before edging McGill 24-21 in the semifinals. Disappointment struck a week later against Laval, but the bitter loss served as a turning point. "At the Monday meeting we all looked at each other and said this is not happening again."

"That 2000 year - forget about it. It was the best football year of my life. Week after week everybody was on the same page. It was a group that was ready to work hard, and get prepared to achieve what we wanted. People were feeding off each-other."

When the Gee-Gees defeated Laval in the Dunsmore Cup, then took down McMaster in the Churchill Bowl, it was time for Alexandre and the team to ensure that their legacy was clear. Alexandre was one of the captains on stage at the SkyDome to receive the Vanier Cup, and is front and centre in the pile of players celebrating.

"I just couldn't believe it - I remember holding the Vanier Cup, going on stage and just being speechless. That feeling is indescribable because so much goes through your mind."

"Looking back, I know that moment can't be taken away your whole life. You're a champion - you know how to work in a team and you know what determination can do. And it can affect the man that you become."

Alexandre completed his Gee-Gees career in 2001 and was signed as a free agent by the Hamilton Tiger Cats for the 2002 and 2003 seasons, where he served as a long snapper and collected 10 tackles in 22 career games. In 2004, he took a year off from football but in 2005 he was back on the field as a coach in Montreal, both at the high school level and at Vieux Montréal. He taught elementary school and then high school, chasing his goal of becoming a high school principal. Then, an opportunity at Vieux Montréal brought him full circle.

"My friends encouraged me to apply and everything lined up right. The help that I got at uOttawa was important - they made sure that us players got what we needed to succeed," reflects Alexandre who now holds the position of Academic Advisor for the athletics department, concurrent with managing the football program. "It's the best of both worlds - I am involved in academics and involved in athletics."

One of the first people who Alexandre helped out was his brother who came with him to Ottawa. The pair will both be in attendance to see Steve be inducted into the Hall of Fame. "Ottawa was good to us. I'm very proud to be a Gee-Gee and I'm very proud to be a graduate of the school. I learned to fly there, and this is what I'm very thankful for."