The title was The Best That Never Was, the moniker forever a noose around Dupree's neck.It all returned as I watchedthe speed and power and poetry of the way he ran; the willful puncturing of that by Barry Switzer in the . Dupree played in four games in his sophomore season and suffered a concussion against the University of Texas. I first heard about his legend a few years back and I've found it to be utterly captivating and fascinating. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Marcus Dupree, who rose to fame in Mississippi and beyond after a brief but impressive football career that became the subject of an ESPN documentary, is speaking out about his alleged role in a sprawling welfare fraud case that has also entangled Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Brett Favre and dozens of others. Be patient and stay with the process.. Even with these setbacks, he still managed to run for a Fiesta Bowl record 249 yards, a record that still stands today. What Happened to ABC7 Reporter Rachel Anderson? Barry Switzer heard the news Tuesday morning that Marcus Dupree had dropped out of school at Southern Mississippi. He rushed for 2,955 yards in his final year of high school. "I worked too hard on my reputation to do the right thing and be the right person, and I don't like what's going on. Feb 14, 2009. I had forgotten about Marcus Dupree.Until roughly a month ago, when I watched a brilliant documentary on ESPN that was conceived, written, and directed by Jonathan Hock. He was born and grew up in Philadelphia, Mississippi, where his playing in high school attracted national attention. He had a quick, spectacular impact on Norman, and that fact did not help the relationship with his coach. Dupree's mother was supporting the family by herself on the salary of a school teacher. He was big, fast, and strong with incredible football instincts. He had surgery on the knee and recuperated in Portland, celebrating his 21st birthday with friends and teammates. As a freshman in 1978, he scored five touchdowns as wide receiver and seven more as a kickoff and punt returner,[1] including a 75-yard kickoff return touchdown on his first play in high school. ", Dupree, 58, grew up in Philadelphia, Mississippi, where his highlight-reel-worthy performances as a high school running back made him the most sought-after football recruit in the country. Dupree said he was not aware the money New had used to pay him had come from misappropriated welfare funds. Dupree attended Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia, Mississippi, where he played for the Philadelphia Tornadoes high school football team from 1978 to 1981. I was 19 years old at the time. This time, however, he isn't running for glory or Heisman Trophies. For every Marcus Allen, Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith, there's an Anthony Thompson, a Paul Palmer and a LeShon Johnson, guys who never matched their college success in the NFL. Since then, he has wrestled, worked as a VIP host for a casino group and also made ends meet by driving a truck. Switzer was on Dupree about his weight and sometimes called him out for being lazy. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Sadly, he was cut from the team as his coach, Chuck Knox, thought his performance wasnt up to the mark. In addition, it changes what Dupree should do. In 1984, Marcus Dupree signed with the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL and had a pretty good season, scoring nine touchdowns. He also played on Philadelphia High's basketball team, which finished the year with a 334 record and reached the semifinals of the Mississippi state basketball tournament, and played first base and catcher for the baseball team, hitting for a .481 average.[3]. The late Reggie White remains one of the greatest linemen to play any brand of football. He is carried off the field in a stretcher. Afterwards, Dupree earns his commercial drivers license and becomes a truck driver, aided by Price Jr. and his father. But Dupree insists he did mentor teens at his 15-acre horse farm in Flora, Mississippi. He finally got what he deserved. Marcus dupree was once the biggest name in the future of football. Text messages show he pressured Phil Bryant, a former Mississippi governor, to obtain $5 million in funds to help build a new volleyball center at his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter played the sport. He also noted the "unreasonableness" of using federal welfare money, intended for job training and assistance for needy families, to help purchase a five-bedroom home and a horse farm for a state-contracted employee. Breakers fans saw him as a local boy made good; the Superdome was packed with large crowds by USFL standards.[10]. He also has a grandson. Back then, Dupree playing football in school had attracted national attention. Yes, you read that right; hes wearing No. After four years away from football, he decided to give the NFL a shot in 1990. Its how quick you get up., In other news, Did Steph Curry go bald? Marc Connolly from ABC Sports Online, aptly said, For everyMarcus Allen,Barry SandersorEmmitt Smith, theres anAnthony Thompson, aPaul Palmerand aLeShon Johnson, guys who never matched their college success in the NFL. He gained 684 yards on 145 carries with nine touchdowns for a 4.7 yards per carry average. Ken is going to pay for some of the things hes done., Dupree filed suit against Fairley during the late 1980s, but I didnt see it through. The superstar that he did not become and the man he is today are the subject of a new documentary airing. Marcus has had difficulty coping with the fact he cannot play college football until 1985 and has talked of the possibility of playing professional football, Jim Carmody, Southern Mississippis head coach, said in a New York Times article in 1984. After suffering a concussion in a loss against Texas, he vanished for a week. But that he followed some bad advice. I have to give . Dupree said he wasnt having much fun. In the summer of 1990, Dupree is invited to Los Angeles to attend the Rams training camp. Make no mistake: Mr. Dupree earned the money he was paid, and he never had any reason to believe the money was being improperly spent by state officials," Eichelberger wrote. Dupree feels ostracized by Switzer, and others believe that Switzers attitude is unnecessary. Returning in week 8, he played more often and scored his only NFL touchdown that year. According to the lawsuit, from August 2017 to September 2019 Dupree was paid $371,000 from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds. Id never heard of him. These and other payments are now under criminal investigation. I didn't even know about that, nothing. This change in play style pays off, as Dupree utilizes it to achieve touchdowns. I can now answer 'yes' to that question, Dupree said. "I worked too hard on my reputation to do the right thing and be the right person, and I don't like what's going on. I think Ill play this year, but it could be my last. ESPN and First Take regular Marcus Spears married to former WNBA player. There was such a lack of communication. He still wears his OU number 22 jersey when making special appearances for Crowbar Championship Wrasslin in Oklahoma. Dupree's much-anticipated sophomore season did not turn out as planned. However, Dupree suffered a career-threatening knee injury in the first game of the 1985 season for the Breakers and doctors said hed never play football again. Everybody around me was sad when I was released, he said. According to an audit conducted by White's office, $171,000 in TANF money was used as the down payment toward Dupree's home and surrounding property. The Oklahoma coach, by issuing a statement, simply acted to protect himself and to protect his team's future. However, he did not play college football again until 1985 after the NCAA ruled that. He also wrote that Dupree could have been the greatest running back of all time. On February 12, 1982, Dupree announced he would attend Oklahoma instead of the other finalists, Texas, UCLA, and Southern Miss. Instead, he decides to visit Southern Mississippi, believing that the staff there would be more amenable to him than they were in Oklahoma. Marcus Dupree was the most heralded recruit of his time. After five and a half years away, he attempted a comeback to the NFL in 1990 with the Los Angeles Rams. Today, Marcus is a 46-year-old part-time truck driver, struggling to get . Local law enforcement seems to be complicit in their deaths and covers them up. He is not sure of his plans at this time, but it is obvious he will not be playing football at U.S.M.. But his name didn't appear with any frequency in the national media until the results of a state audit in Mississippi became public and a lawsuit was then filed by the state in May against Dupree, his foundation and dozens of other defendants. "If Mr. Dupree would like to argue that the amounts he was paid were reasonably justified for the number of speeches given and can show proof of the speeches, he will be able to make that argument in a court," White said. Dupree came home to Mississippi and enrolled at USM. Where Is Bryan Penn-Johnson from Last Chance U Season 2 Now? Secondly, he married the former Cella Ruth Dupree, the daughter of Rev.. I had the impression before I went to Oklahoma from just watching Coach Switzer on TV, Dupree told Sports Illustrated in 1983, that hes a hard guy and that he treats his players hard. It is around this time that Dupree is born, and as a child he dreams of becoming a football player. Alleged haircut has NBA fans in a spin. His football journey was profiled in a 2010 ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, "The Best That Never Was.". He recovers and despite his injury manages to perform well for a game against Kansas State. Connelly's Conference USA preview: How will four newcomers fit in? Life, to me, is like a football game. Prominent college football coaches turn up in person to speak to Dupree, and intense competition amongst them is expected. Dupree provided ESPN several photos of what appear to be teenage boys, whom he says he mentored at his stables in Flora, as well as photos from numerous public appearances. Its how you handle adversity. In 1983, Dupree declared hed be transferring to Southern Mississippi. Kiper's new Big Board rankings for the 2023 NFL draft: Top 25 prospects, Wambach to quit company over Favre allegations, Favre charity gave to USM while he sought funds, Texts: Ex-gov. His friends and teammates are also contacted and bribed into trying to influence Dupree. Switzer was raked over the coals by critics of the college football system. Maurice Carthon. Last Name: Ricky Adams 1977-1981. The documentary chronicles the life of Marcus Dupree, perhaps the greatest running back ever in high school football. He plays his first high school game on September 8th, 1978, and amazes onlookers by scoring a touchdown on his very first play. Is Larry Elder Related to the Late Golf Legend, Lee Elder. Marcus Dupree watched the Super Bowl last Sunday in the place where he grew up, the town of Philadelphia, Mississippi. Commercials deleted. Second quarter you may fumble the ball and come into halftime and have to regroup and understand whats going on. The Breakers moved to Portland, Oregon for the 1985 season. He is an actor and producer, known for fragmented. In 1991, Dupree missed the first seven games due to a toe injury suffered in practice. And it would be the best for Barry Switzer and the OU Sooners. Arizona manages to win, and Switzer laments that if Dupree was in better shape he would have performed phenomenally and led Oklahoma to victory.Switzer goes on television immediately after the game to complain about Duprees performance. Favre has denied wrongdoing. But he decided in Dupree's case that he had done all he could for Marcus. When you do wrong and just keep doing wrong, the bottom is going to finally fall out. Dupree was the center of the most heated recruiting frenzy in the history of college football back in 1981. [7], On January 1, 1983, Dupree's freshman season ended with a 32-21 Fiesta Bowl loss against Arizona State. An NCAA spokesman said Wednesday that feat is "legally" impossible. But you'll also find a select few individuals who had all the tools. In April that year, he asked his former USFL coach, Dick Coury, then the quarterbacks coach for the Rams, if he could work out for the team if he got into shape, and impressed Coury and head coach John Robinson enough to earn a contract. Among those who were issued demands to return funds are Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre, former professional football player Marcus Dupree and former professional wrestler Ted Dibiase Sr. I know I shouldnt have left [OU], but I still love Oklahoma and I still love watching [the Sooners] play., Today, Dupree goes around speaking, telling his story. In 2023, Marcus Dupree is a motivational and inspirational speaker who travels doing speaking engagements. He couldnt play college football again until 1985. Dupree and head coach Barry Switzer were at odds. Switzer and the rest of the coaching staff tell him to return, threatening to expel him from the team if he does not. While he was carrying the ball early in the second half, he suffered a severe knee injury and was taken off on a stretcher. One in this series of sports documentaries presented by ESPN about important people and events from 1979 to 2009.This film is about the tumultuous and misfortune-laden career of football player Marcus Dupree. He also ran a sports bar and worked as a casino-greeter for a short period of time. Anyone who got to know Dupree while he was at OU realized he was a good person. ). Dupree would later go to the University of Oklahoma to play for Barry Switzer. Although I don't want to overdramatize this because I don't know the seriousness of her illness, everything is changed if she's sick.". Text messages show he pressured Phil Bryant, a former Mississippi governor, to obtain $5 million in funds to help build a new volleyball center at his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter played the sport. I was still being recruited by schools from all over the country. "I mentored the kids through the horses by having responsibility, cleaning the stalls, and, if you got good with that, I'd let you ride a horse. On the front porch at 274 Davis Street one recent afternoon sits Marcus Dupree, sophomore tailback at the University of Oklahoma, blowing up and then popping his bubble gum. Marcus Dupree and OU coach Barry Switzer didnt have the best of relationships. He ran for 249 yards in the Fiesta Bowl, despite being overweight and out of shape. However, once he enrolls in Southern Mississippi, he is informed that his eligibility to play in the remainder of the 1983 season and the entire 1984 is uncertain. 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