UA ATHLETE WARNS D.A.R.E. STUDENTS OF DRUG PITFALLS

"People who do the wrong things and try to get you to do them as well
are people who really don't care for you at all."

That was former University of Alabama offensive lineman Dennis
Alexander's message to Drug Abuse Resistance Education students in
Russellville, Belgreen, Vina and Red Bay on Thursday as part of the
program's ongoing efforts to teach county students about the dangers
of drugs.

D.A.R.E. officer Mike Franklin said that the visit was part of a
series from the university in recent years to help get the word out to
children on the seriousness of drug abuse.

"We had Tyler Watts a couple of years ago. Last year, Brodie Croyle
and Freddie Roach came up to speak with the kids," Franklin said.

Alexander, who completed his eligibility for the Crimson Tide last
season, spoke about experiences from his own life to relate the
message to a packed auditorium at Belgreen.

"I had a friend who graduated high school with me. We both had
scholarship offers to go wherever we wanted. I went to Alabama and he
went to Auburn," said Alexander, who played high school football in
Memphis, Tenn.

"We both were doing bad things in high school. In college, he kept
doing wrong and I didn't. He was given three chances, but he was
finally kicked out of Auburn after failing three drug tests. He threw
away everything," said Alexander, who received his degree in Financial
Planning from UA.

The 6-4, 334-pound former freshman All-American was quick to give
credit for his success.

"There are two groups trying to raise you right now," he told the
students. "They are your parents and your teachers. I was very
fortunate to have parents who helped me when I was
struggling."

Alexander, who has been working out in preparation for this weekend's
National Football League draft, said that taking advantage of
opportunities and not wasting them is very important to future success.

"Don't take chances to waste your opportunities. Listen to your
parents and teachers and hang out with people who make right
decisions, that don't lead you to wrong ones," he said.

The D.A.R.E. program aims specifically at fifth graders in Franklin
County, but the foundation begins as early as kindergarten.

"Mainly our focus is on the fifth grade, but D.A.R.E. has a safety
program for K-5," Franklin said. "We try to touch all grade levels."

He said that more work is involved in events such as this than people
know.

"Jennie Long, our D.A.R.E. secretary, has been working on this for
awhile. She lined everything up for this," Franklin said while also
giving credit to several others. "Sheriff Larry Plott does so much for
us. He provides the officers and the vehicles. The awards that we give
out each year are donated by businesses all over Franklin County," he
said. "D.A.R.E. is funded by the communities and really is a community
project."