TU's Dixon Living the Best of Both Worlds
10/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 8, 2001
Playing college football is the dream of just about any youngster who has ever strapped on the shoulder pads and helmet and spent even just a few minutes on the playing field. Although college football game is not for everyone, there are a few chosen individuals who are talented and fortunate enough to earn a spot on a NCAA Division I team roster.
But playing college football is not easy, not in the world of today or 50 years ago. Aside from juggling classes, study time and practices, most football players must move hours from the only home they've ever known and the close friends and relationships they've had since the kindergarten playgrounds.
However, fate sometimes intervenes and there are a small percentage of players who have to look no further than their own city for a great college education and the opportunity to not only play football, but keep friends and relatives just an arms-length away. The latter is the exact scenario for Tulsa senior Justin Dixon.
Dixon grew up just minutes away from The University of Tulsa campus in nearby Jenks, Oklahoma. He played on back-to-back state championship teams as a junior and senior and helped lead the Trojans to a 27-1 record in his two seasons as a letterman. He was recruited by many schools, but decided TU was his best choice to play college football. Dixon came to The University of Tulsa in 1998, but unlike most players who walk into the team meeting for the first time only to be greeted by 80 or so strangers, he was not alone. Dixon's high school teammates Brett Butler and close friend Brad Hawkins all decided to attend TU. Dixon said having his former high school teammates join him at TU has been a real plus for his career.
"There's some advantages to having my friends play on the same team," Dixon said. "We've been through all the practices together and we really push each other. It's nice having the support and the close bond we have with each other."
Other than having friends and relatives nearby, perhaps the best aspect of attending TU is being close to his fianc? Beth Taruscio. Like Dixon, Taruscio is a common name to most Hurricane fans that follow the Tulsa athletics. She is a three-year letterwinner and starter for the Golden Hurricane women's soccer team. Taruscio also attended Jenks High School and was a standout for the Trojans on the soccer field.
Dixon and Taruscio were engaged in December 2000 during a visit to the Cayman Islands. The couple plans to get married in May 2003. Looking back, Dixon said it's been great that both he and Taruscio could attend the same college.
"We talked about it, but we never really thought we were going to the same school. I didn't really start getting recruited by TU until late in my career and she wanted to play college soccer for (former TU head coach) Amy Edwards, who was also her club coach. We were both really happy, but we weren't really thinking about getting married while we were both in college."
Dixon and Taruscio were introduced to each other by a close friend of Taruscio's after a Jenks football game during their junior year. The two became friends and began dating shortly thereafter. Now in their fifth year together, Taruscio said attending the same college has been great for the two of them, but like every relationship there are downfalls.
"Going to the same college has been great because we get to hang out with a lot of the same people and friends. But on the other hand, it's hard because athletics and school take up a lot of our time," Taruscio said. " We both support each other as far as going to each of our games. I like watching his football games and he comes to most of my soccer matches."
Dixon and Hawkins' relationship dates back to the playground days in sixth grade. The two have been great friends ever since. The duo played high school football together and roomed with each other during their first two years at TU. Aside from football and attending TU, Dixon and Hawkins also share one more common trait.
Hawkins recently married Olivia Keller, who is a member of the TU cheer squad. With Dixon and Taruscio on the threshold of marriage, Dixon has already learned a great deal of what it would be like to be married in college.
"After seeing them get married, it made me realize I wasn't ready to get married right now. I can see where there would be a lot of stress. It's tough enough balancing school and football. We're all pretty good friends and we all go out a lot. Even though he is married, it really hasn't changed our relationship," Dixon said.
After five years of dating, it would be a logical guess to think that both Dixon and Taruscio knew each other pretty well. However, there is one side to Dixon that Taruscio has never seen, Dixon's football player side.
"Justin is a pretty quiet person until you get to know him. He likes to have fun and get along with everyone. But I've been told that once he gets on the field he's very intense. My brother told me that on the field he is a mean guy that you don't want to meet up with. " Taruscio said.
Dixon enters today's Homecoming game against New Mexico State with five tackles, including one quarterback sack and two tackles for lost yardage. This finance major has started all three games this season after earning a starting spot during the spring practice and fall preseason drills. Tulsa's Defensive Coordinator Jeff McInerney thinks this could be a big year for Dixon.
"Justin has really come on this season," McInerney said. "He's improved his body language and he's making plays as well as playing hard. It's great to see a senior get that chance. He's been a backup his whole career and now he's a starter. I'm really proud of him after the first three games. Justin has been a good leader and has really gotten after it. He's a tough guy."
