More to the story: Former Bombers and Sooners star Brent DeQuasie
Former Midwest City and OU football linebacker Brent DeQuasie is the subject of a “Catching up with … ” feature story included in the “Page 2″ package of the Oct. 19 edition of The Oklahoman. In the short piece that appears in the paper, DeQuasie expounds on his life after football and his career among other things.
This is a longer version of the story with further insight and information from the 37-year old:
By Justin Harper
Staff Writer
jharper@opubco.com
CHOCTAW — Over the course of a sterling athletic career, Brent DeQuasie spent a lot of time dragging people to the ground. These days, he pulls them to safety.
Fourteen years after his playing days came to a close, DeQuasie is still making his mark on the community he grew up in, just in a much different way. Once a star outside linebacker for Midwest City High School and the University of Oklahoma, as well as a two-time state champion wrestler for the Bombers, DeQuasie now serves as a fire fighter at the Midwest City fire department.
“Being a fireman was always a dream of mine,” said DeQuaise. “So somewhere around 2001 or 2002, I decided to just go do it.”
Now 37, DeQuasie played for the Bombers from 1989-91, then became a three-year starter at OU under both Gary Gibbs and Howard Schnellenberger. When his career as a Sooner ended following the 1995 season, he went into business for himself in the automobile accessories field. DeQuaise helped open a Line X Protective Coating franchise in Norman and now owns his own branch in Shawnee.
But it’s his other career that speaks to the character of DeQuasie.
“It’s pretty neat to be able to go back and do something that helps people and to do it in the same place you grew up in,” said DeQuaise, who lives with his wife and three daughters (McCall, 11; McKaelyn, 8 and Abigail, 5) in Choctaw. “Doing this (fighting fires), gives you a great rush. Being a fireman, you’re there to help the community. That’s why the job fits me like a glove.”
Outside of the name Gundy, DeQuasie is probably the most recognized surname in Midwest City. One of his older brothers, Greg, was an All-State football player and wrestler for the Bombers (as a quarterback, his career was sandwiched between those of Mike and Cale Gundy) and he went on to have a stellar career as a strong safety at OU. However, for all the success the DeQuasie brothers enjoyed at MWC, Brent holds a distinction.
