PLaw
12/24/2010, 10:09 AM
ESPN documentary helps restore Marcus Dupree's connection to Oklahoma
By Berry Tramel Oklahoman 20
Published: December 23, 2010
NORMAN — Lisa DeBolt hurried through the door of the Cricket Wireless store on East Alameda Street this week, seven minutes late but thrilled to find her prey.
Former Sooner assistant coach Bobby Proctor surprises former University of Oklahoma (OU) football standout Marcus Dupree as he signs autographs on Tuesday, December 21, 2010, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Dupree, late for an appointment himself after a two-hour autograph session, gladly signed two footballs for DeBolt. She was the last of a string of Sooner fans who had come to see a mythical man.
ESPN's November premiere of “The Best That Never Was,” a documentary about Dupree's abbreviated career that was part of the network's vaunted 30 for 30 series, did more than revive the legend of Marcus Dupree.
It restored his connection to Oklahoma.
Sooner fans have forgiven Dupree for high-tailing it back to Mississippi in 1983. Forgiven him for all those touchdowns not scored, all those yards not gained.
The film warmed Sooner hearts, not for what could have been, but for what was.
In Oklahoma, “The Best That Never Was” doesn't fit. Because Dupree was here. He did score all those majestic cross-country touchdowns. The film stoked memories not of what the Sooners lost when Dupree quit the team in mid-1983, but what the Sooners had in that magical 1982 season.
Fans tell Dupree they loved the film. Loved the high school highlights of him running roughshod over Mississippi football fields. Tell him he's their new all-time favorite tailback.
“It's overwhelming,” Dupree said.
Dupree has temporarily relocated to Oklahoma for a series of public appearances through the holidays and says he's thinking about moving back permanently.
“My goal is to sign an autograph for every fan I never got to meet when I was in school,” Dupree said.
That quote looks bombastic in print. Don't take it that way. He said it humbly. Dupree seems now the same way he was in the film.
The same way he was an 18-year-old tailback in October 1982, when he took Oklahoma and college football by storm.
Quiet. Down to Earth. Amazed at all the fuss. Amazed that Nick DeBolt would hear on the radio about Dupree's Cricket appearance, call his mom and beg her to hurry to get an autograph.
“He's so friendly, just like a big teddy bear,” said former OU assistant coach Bobby Proctor, who stopped by the store to chat with Dupree.
Proctor encouraged Dupree to move back to Oklahoma. “Lots of people here would love to help you,” Proctor told him.
Dupree doesn't seem to have a bitter bone in his body. Look at it this way. Barry Switzer, maybe the greatest players' coach football ever has seen, admits he mishandled no player like he mishandled the sensitive Dupree. Yet Dupree still embraces Switzer.
“I still love Coach Switzer,” Dupree said.
That's why he came to OU in the first place. “I liked his swagger,” Dupree said. “The way he did interviews. He had good teams, good players.”
The 2010 Sooners are headed to the Fiesta Bowl. In the 1982 season Fiesta Bowl, Dupree rushed for 239 yards against Arizona State, but that wasn't enough for Switzer, who pointed out that if Dupree had been in shape, he could have run for 400 yards.
Nonsense, Dupree says today. “I should have had 500 yards.”
What would Dupree tell an 18-year-old hotshot running back who is confused and doesn't know what to do?
Said the man who once fit that exact description: “Tell him to come to Oklahoma.”
Dupree lives with regrets. He said on the film and he says on East Alameda, he should have stayed at OU.
“First of all, I could have gotten my degree,” Dupree said. “Second of all, I could have won the Heisman Trophy. Third of all, I could have won two national championships.
“That's the reason I came to Oklahoma, to do all those things.”
Those things didn't happen. But now perhaps Dupree can come back to Oklahoma and find something just as good.
Peace. Roots. Cheers. Lots of cheers. He's heard them before in Oklahoma. He's hearing them again.
Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at (405) 760-8080 or at [email protected]. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can also view his personality page at newsok.com/berrytramel.
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The article screams three things to me:
1) What if freshman had been ineligible back in '82? Would Marcus' life had been different? 30 for 30 showed Marcus had a poor work ethic early in his life - his God given talent and superhuman abilities allowed him to excel early, but when he really got coached for the first time to develop his full potential he didn't understand how to handle it.
2) I wonder what Switzer wishes he had done differently? I remember watching pre-season practice in the fall of '83 and seeing Marcus standing by Barry while the other backs ran drills. Marcus was not in shape, but an out of shape Marcus Dupree was still the best back in college football, period. Being out of shape, ultimately led to his injuries and ended his career.
3) Okies are great! Once a SOONER, always a SOONER. They like to talk about the family down at thug U and how former players influence the current team. However, it doesn't compare to what the SOONER NATION will do for a former player down on his luck. Good to see Proctor still hanging around.
And, one more - Once a school offers a scholarship to a kid, then that education opportunity should be there for the life of the athlete to the extent of paying for tuition, books, and fees.
BOOMER
By Berry Tramel Oklahoman 20
Published: December 23, 2010
NORMAN — Lisa DeBolt hurried through the door of the Cricket Wireless store on East Alameda Street this week, seven minutes late but thrilled to find her prey.
Former Sooner assistant coach Bobby Proctor surprises former University of Oklahoma (OU) football standout Marcus Dupree as he signs autographs on Tuesday, December 21, 2010, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Dupree, late for an appointment himself after a two-hour autograph session, gladly signed two footballs for DeBolt. She was the last of a string of Sooner fans who had come to see a mythical man.
ESPN's November premiere of “The Best That Never Was,” a documentary about Dupree's abbreviated career that was part of the network's vaunted 30 for 30 series, did more than revive the legend of Marcus Dupree.
It restored his connection to Oklahoma.
Sooner fans have forgiven Dupree for high-tailing it back to Mississippi in 1983. Forgiven him for all those touchdowns not scored, all those yards not gained.
The film warmed Sooner hearts, not for what could have been, but for what was.
In Oklahoma, “The Best That Never Was” doesn't fit. Because Dupree was here. He did score all those majestic cross-country touchdowns. The film stoked memories not of what the Sooners lost when Dupree quit the team in mid-1983, but what the Sooners had in that magical 1982 season.
Fans tell Dupree they loved the film. Loved the high school highlights of him running roughshod over Mississippi football fields. Tell him he's their new all-time favorite tailback.
“It's overwhelming,” Dupree said.
Dupree has temporarily relocated to Oklahoma for a series of public appearances through the holidays and says he's thinking about moving back permanently.
“My goal is to sign an autograph for every fan I never got to meet when I was in school,” Dupree said.
That quote looks bombastic in print. Don't take it that way. He said it humbly. Dupree seems now the same way he was in the film.
The same way he was an 18-year-old tailback in October 1982, when he took Oklahoma and college football by storm.
Quiet. Down to Earth. Amazed at all the fuss. Amazed that Nick DeBolt would hear on the radio about Dupree's Cricket appearance, call his mom and beg her to hurry to get an autograph.
“He's so friendly, just like a big teddy bear,” said former OU assistant coach Bobby Proctor, who stopped by the store to chat with Dupree.
Proctor encouraged Dupree to move back to Oklahoma. “Lots of people here would love to help you,” Proctor told him.
Dupree doesn't seem to have a bitter bone in his body. Look at it this way. Barry Switzer, maybe the greatest players' coach football ever has seen, admits he mishandled no player like he mishandled the sensitive Dupree. Yet Dupree still embraces Switzer.
“I still love Coach Switzer,” Dupree said.
That's why he came to OU in the first place. “I liked his swagger,” Dupree said. “The way he did interviews. He had good teams, good players.”
The 2010 Sooners are headed to the Fiesta Bowl. In the 1982 season Fiesta Bowl, Dupree rushed for 239 yards against Arizona State, but that wasn't enough for Switzer, who pointed out that if Dupree had been in shape, he could have run for 400 yards.
Nonsense, Dupree says today. “I should have had 500 yards.”
What would Dupree tell an 18-year-old hotshot running back who is confused and doesn't know what to do?
Said the man who once fit that exact description: “Tell him to come to Oklahoma.”
Dupree lives with regrets. He said on the film and he says on East Alameda, he should have stayed at OU.
“First of all, I could have gotten my degree,” Dupree said. “Second of all, I could have won the Heisman Trophy. Third of all, I could have won two national championships.
“That's the reason I came to Oklahoma, to do all those things.”
Those things didn't happen. But now perhaps Dupree can come back to Oklahoma and find something just as good.
Peace. Roots. Cheers. Lots of cheers. He's heard them before in Oklahoma. He's hearing them again.
Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at (405) 760-8080 or at [email protected]. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can also view his personality page at newsok.com/berrytramel.
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The article screams three things to me:
1) What if freshman had been ineligible back in '82? Would Marcus' life had been different? 30 for 30 showed Marcus had a poor work ethic early in his life - his God given talent and superhuman abilities allowed him to excel early, but when he really got coached for the first time to develop his full potential he didn't understand how to handle it.
2) I wonder what Switzer wishes he had done differently? I remember watching pre-season practice in the fall of '83 and seeing Marcus standing by Barry while the other backs ran drills. Marcus was not in shape, but an out of shape Marcus Dupree was still the best back in college football, period. Being out of shape, ultimately led to his injuries and ended his career.
3) Okies are great! Once a SOONER, always a SOONER. They like to talk about the family down at thug U and how former players influence the current team. However, it doesn't compare to what the SOONER NATION will do for a former player down on his luck. Good to see Proctor still hanging around.
And, one more - Once a school offers a scholarship to a kid, then that education opportunity should be there for the life of the athlete to the extent of paying for tuition, books, and fees.
BOOMER