Host . What Happened To Marcus Dupree Brother Reggieazusa Pacific University Softball Division. It was costing me so much in legal fees that I just said to forget it. He starred for the Memphis Showboats. [7] Switzer told Dupree, "If you'd have been in shape, you'd have rushed for 400 yards, and we'd have won the game."[9]. 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. The superstar that he did not become and the man he is today are the subject of a new documentary airing Tuesday on ESPN. [10], He scored a touchdown on his first professional possession. This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 13:17. As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,850 yards and 28 touchdowns, making it look easy. The documentary chronicles the life of marcus dupree, perhaps the greatest running back ever in high school football. In 1984, he joined the United States Football League and signed with the New Orleans Breakers. He died april 13, 1986, at the age of 42. It's the story of Marcus Dupree, who was one of the most famously recruited high school football players of his generation. In an Oklahoma uniform of sorts yet again, this time around Marcus Dupree isnt playing football or gunning for the Heisman trophy. "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. In his senior year, he eclipsed Herschel Walkers national high school career touchdown record when he collected 36, giving him a total of 81. 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. 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. I can't wait until we go to court. He is an actor and producer, known for fragmented. During week nine of the 1990 season, Dupree made his first appearance and rushed for 22 yards on four carries, wearing number 34 in honor of Payton instead of his usual 22. [3] For the fourth game Switzer abandoned his favored wishbone offense and made Dupree the tailback in the I formation to take advantage of his skills. Where Is Bryan Penn-Johnson from Last Chance U Season 2 Now? He receives several injuries and has to be sidelined at several points during the game; even out of condition he manages to set a Fiesta Bowl records for rushed yards, a record which still stands. Such was the case with Marcus Dupree, a star running back who lit the college football scene on fire as a freshman in 1982.. According to a 2019 state audit, Dupree was paid, in part, for "equine assisted learning," which Mississippi's state auditor, Shad White, told ESPN meant "teaching people how to ride horses.". Well see. On Wednesday, Dupree denied wrongdoing in an interview with ESPN. Reginald Paul Dupre (pronounced du-PRAY) was born 1957 in Bourg, Louisiana, to Alida D. Naquin and Reggie Dupre Sr. 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. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. A missing persons report is filed, and the FBI launches a search for him. The small, somewhat isolated town of Philadelphia, Mississippi, has a history associated with the Civil Rights Movement as the site where three civil rights workers disappeared on June 21st, 1964, creating a national controversy when their bodies are discovered in a nearby dam. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. [5] Author Willie Morris described the audience at Dupree's final high school game as "the most distinctive crowds I had ever seen four thousand or so people seemed almost an equal of mix of whites, blacks, and Indians After Marcus scored his touchdown, Sid Salter saw Cecil Price Sr. (who was linked with the murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner in Philadelphia, Miss.) 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. One of my teachers at Philly High said there was someone she wanted me to meet, Dupree said. This becomes something of a semi-common occurrence at Duprees games, and other high school teams try to adjust their strategies specifically to deal with him.By 1981, Dupree is known throughout Philadelphia and draws a great deal of attention to the football scene there. "Since the announcement was made that Marcus was leaving school, a number of pro teams have inquired," Fairley said. Dupree had not been a product of the Oklahoma system. While he was carrying the ball early in the second half, he suffered a severe knee injury and was taken off on a stretcher. He is plagued by anxiety, and on February 25th, 1985, Dupree suffers a terrible knee injury during his starting game. Back then, Dupree playing football in school had attracted national attention. The late Reggie White remains one of the greatest linemen to play any brand of football. By: Aliya Khan - Published: October 18, 2017 at 12:56 pm | Last Updated: All 3 counts., And at that exact moment, a rainbow popped out of nowhere, Dupree said Tuesday. Marcus strove to do better and work that much harder because Reggie couldn't do the thinks Marcus could. Did Steph Curry go bald? Despite his numerous successes, tension continues between Dupree and the Oklahoma coaching staff, owing to Duprees perceived laid-back attitude and lack of effort during practice sessions. All rights reserved. Marcus Dupree, a Mississippi football legend, denies that he defrauded the state's welfare system and is "shocked" to be "lumped in" with Brett Favre in the fraud investigation's findings. Marcus Dupree was born on 22 May 1964 in Philadelphia, Mississippi, USA. Breakers fans saw him as a local boy made good; the Superdome was packed with large crowds by USFL standards.[10]. At the same time, Dupree comes to feel that he is being treated unfairly and is not being given the same privileges and benefits of the other players, such as preferential housing and monetary compensation. We do the wrestling events to see kids cheer and see kids faces smile to it like I did when I was younger.. It was so bright, it looked like I could step up on it and walk right into heaven.. BIOG: NAME: 2023 www.oklahoman.com. Although Switzer was known for running a loose ship, Dupree's lackadaisical attitude was too much for him, and he called Dupree "lazy. Many editorial writers around the nation focused in on OU as an example of all that is wrong in college football. Thirty years of anger and frustration were eased when Dupree, 52, learned that pastor Kenneth Fairley, once the star football running backs adviser and business manager, was found guilty Monday in a Hattiesburg courtroom on three counts of conspiracy and theft in a federal case involving money taken from a federal housing program. College recruiters come out in droves to court Dupree; he estimates that several hundred schools attempted to recruit him. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In August 1983, Dupree snubs Oklahoma by not appearing for the team photograph, but arrives at practice the next day. In his first season at Oklahoma, Dupree didnt get a whole lot of playing time early, but after the Sooners starter 1-2, Dupree got thrown int the mix a little more. This time, however, he isn't running for glory or Heisman Trophies. "[10] Hampered by injuries, Dupree gained 369 yards on 61 carries with three touchdowns while playing in four of the first five games of the season. I signed a contract and I did my job," Dupree said. After he was released by the Rams, Dupree performed as a professional wrestler for the USWA in 1995. Instead, he decides to visit Southern Mississippi, believing that the staff there would be more amenable to him than they were in Oklahoma. Whatever Happened to Jim McMahon, the Punky QB of the Chicago Bears? Even though that sounded preposterous, he might have hit the nail on the head. D. Their conversation was cordial, direct, but brief. Dupree was the center of the most heated recruiting frenzy in the history of college football back in 1981. "But I learned today that Marcus' mother may be ill," said Switzer. The medias expectations of Dupree grow to the point where many believe that he would become the first college football player to win the Heisman Trophy in his sophomore year. Even with these setbacks, he still managed to run for a Fiesta Bowl record 249 yards, a record that still stands today. He becomes a factor in the recruitment negotiations, and he advises Dupree to join the University of Southern Mississippi, as he feels they wanted him more and would do more than other schools to ensure his safety and success.In January 1982, Dupree narrows his choices down to three: Oklahoma, Texas, and Southern Mississippi. As a junior in 1980, he rushed for 2,550 yards and scored 34 touchdowns (25 rushing, 9 by kick return). Most of the parents just wanted them to be around me. He knows that young people make mistakes. He also ran a sports bar and worked as a casino-greeter for a short period of time. He finally got what he deserved. Be patient and stay with the process.. I can now answer 'yes' to that question, Dupree said. He is not sure of his plans at this time, but it is obvious he will not be playing football at U.S.M.. Some of the unfortunate ones were too small. While finishing college at the university, he played spring football for the Golden Eagles. He also has a grandson. To date, six people have been indicted in the pending welfare fraud case. He attended Booker T. Washington High School in Philadelphia, MS. First, he married Bobbie Sue ____ and they had one child, a son. Second quarter you may fumble the ball and come into halftime and have to regroup and understand whats going on. Connelly's Conference USA preview: How will four newcomers fit in? ). He finished the season with 179 yards on 49 carries with one touchdown, in eight games played. He had two 100-yard rushing games. Brett Favre is not among those facing criminal charges, but, like Dupree, he remains a defendant in the ongoing civil lawsuit filed by the state of Mississippi in May. At this point, Duprees younger brother Reggie undergoes treatments for his cerebral palsy, which he was born with. Dupree is not permitted to play for most of their games, and the University of Oklahoma suffers a string of devastating losses.Soon after these losses, Switzer makes the surprising announcement that the team is abandoning their vaunted wishbone offensive strategy in favor of one involving a single running back, favoring Dupree. He had to leave the game several times, participating in only 34 offensive plays. In spite of this, Switzer still puts Dupree on the field and he manages to penetrate Arizonas defense, although the effort takes a toll on him physically. The NCAA ruled that Dupree would have to miss one full season after transferring, meaning he would have to miss the rest of the 1983 season and all of 1984. After four years away from football, he decided to give the NFL a shot in 1990. He finished his high school career with 7,355 rushing yards with an 8.3-yards-per-carry average. Speaking about his decision to leave Oklahoma, Dupree said in 2010: I wish (Barry Switzer) would have treated me a little bit better. He recounts his childhood, mostly spent playing football with other neighborhood kids. The season continues, and Dupree suffers chronic problems with his hamstring, sidelining him for a time. May 28, 2018 at 6:06 am. [7], When Dupree arrived at the University of Oklahoma in 1982, head coach Barry Switzer said, "He was the best player on the field. The Oklahoma coach says he has no idea what Marcus will do. Life, to me, is like a football game. He also has a grandson. By the time he is in eighth grade, Dupree is already renowned throughout the school district for his prowess, and he is recruited to the high school team early. Hopefully, Ill have a couple of more (movies) coming up pretty soon. Fairley, 62, faces up to 25 years in prison. Did that mean Marcus is now more interested in beginning a professional career? They make a grand ceremony of his signing on March 3rd, 1984 at the Superdome.Dupree plays his first game for the Breakers on March 11th, 1984, and plays well despite still being somewhat out of shape. Secondly, he married the former Cella Ruth Dupree, the daughter of Rev.. This incident serves to escalate the tension between Dupree and Switzer. In the middle of his sophomore year, Dupree left and briefly attended the University of Southern Mississippi. They're the ones who didn't achieve NFL success for reasons of circumstance. 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. Few athletes have been blessed with the size, power and speed of dupree. He rushed for 2,955 yards in his final year of high school. 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. Of course, you dont make up that kind of money.. who was 'jumping up and down and cheering as hard as anyone ain't that a kick in the pants?' He was a sought-after college recruitplaying for Oklahoma and was named Football NewsFreshman of the Year.. "I was all over the state. 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. Marcus Dupree grew up in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and played football for the Philadelphia High School Tornadoes where his spectacular play earned national recognition and admiration. He couldnt play college football again until 1985. Contact Billy Watkins at 769-257-3079 orbwatkins@jackson.gannett.com. The game takes place on October 8th, 1983, and Duprees condition takes his toll on him, affecting his performance. Texas and Oklahoma send their recruiters, Tommy Reaux and Lucious Selmon, to live in Philadelphia full-time until signing day. White told ESPN such purchases "would be unallowable because of the prohibition against purchasing real property with TANF funds." After going to Oklahoma, he eventually wound up in the USFL, where he suffered a career-threatening knee injury. As a junior, Dupree upped his rushing yards to 2,550 and had 34 touchdowns. He feels an extra twinge of regret when the 1985 Oklahoma college team goes on to win the national championship.In the present-day, Dupree visits the house that once belonged to his deceased mother, combing through his old trophies and possessions. Who Is Kimmi Chex? He is taken out of a number of games, but starts the next season. It was a major career threatening blow out . Darnell Anderson 1976-1980. In October 1990, Dupree signed with the Los Angeles Rams, who had drafted him in 1986 in case he became fit again,[11] after a five-and-a-half-year absence from the football field. Dupree and Fairley have been at odds for some time now after the former Oklahoma football star alleged that Fairley cheated him out of millions of dollars in the 1980's. Dupree sued Fairley for. "[6], Dupree was heavily recruited by the major college football programs, and during the final month of the recruiting period, his high school coach, Joe Wood, answered more than 100 phone calls a day from colleges. But statements coming out of the offices of the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League Wednesday made it sound as if Dupree will play for them this season. His friends and teammates are also contacted and bribed into trying to influence Dupree. I'm passionate about what we did, and for the state to be talking about 'Oh, none of that happened,' yes it did," Dupree said. Id done what I set out to do.. 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 . Its how you handle adversity. To meet the classroom requirements, however, Dupree would need to pass 24 more hours of work between now and September. On April 13, 2018, Dupree's foundation purchased the horse farm and residence in Flora where Dupree lives for $855,000. He enjoys the experience, and feels that he finally got some vindication after years of suffering. An investigation by Mississippi Today was the first to reveal that the nonprofits that paid Dupree and others either misspent or stole at least $77 million in welfare funds in what's considered the worst public corruption case in state history. but not at Oklahoma," Switzer said. The media interprets this as Switzer blaming the loss at the Fiesta Bowl on Dupree. Switzer was on Dupree about his weight and sometimes called him out for being lazy. Whatever happened to Marcus Dupree? Those who knew Dupree declare that he is possibly the best running back who ever played football. According to the lawsuit, from August 2017 to September 2019 Dupree was paid $371,000 from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds. Speaking about his injuries, Dupree said:Thats the injury that eventually forced me out of football. 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