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re: Oklahoma fans - where does Marcus Dupree rank among former players
Posted on 6/28/24 at 12:01 pm to RelentlessTide
Posted on 6/28/24 at 12:01 pm to RelentlessTide
He would have been like Derrick Henry if Derrick Henry only played in that Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma and never again.
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Posted on 6/28/24 at 12:08 pm to RelentlessTide
He was obviously great, but I grew up during and before his days at OU and I can distinctly remember that not only was he great, but so was Billy Sims and a bunch of others - and a lot of it had to do with the way superteams (OU, Texas, ND, USC, Bama, UGA, etc) back in those days could recruit in a way that the trenches were murder for their opponents. Meaning hardly any opponent they played against had any chance of making a tackle at the line of scrimmage. Teams were SO much more dominating back in that era.
It has change a lot, and even a Marcus (or Bo) would probably have a much tougher time today than back then.
It has change a lot, and even a Marcus (or Bo) would probably have a much tougher time today than back then.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 12:53 pm to Cush Creekmont
quote:Switzer knew he mis-managed a young kid in a superman body.
He did not work out and got fat.
His naturally ability carried him so far so long that he didn't put in the effort to be great. Switzer probably should have been more positive (baby him), but he tried to make him tougher.
A D came to OU as a freshman with the work effort of a walkon. He was top in the nation, but worked like he was not.
Very sad for Dupree in what he COULD have been, but most of us think we know things at 18 that we realize we did not when we reach 30.
Made him pull cars, just because he could.
Similar to Eric Dickerson, looked so smooth running he looked like he was loafing. But they put a clock on him, and ... Oh, shite!!!
Dupree could have been one of the best ever. Forever pissed he went to the land thieves, and worse, what ended up happening.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 1:28 pm to RelentlessTide
The single biggest waste that program ever had. OU has had some of college footballs best players. Tommy McDonald, Billy Simms, Keith Jackson, Adrian Peterson, CeeDee just to name a few. Marcus should have been the best.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 1:33 pm to BroHam Caddy
There was no angle on Marcus. You either got him early at the LOS or you waved goodbye
Posted on 6/28/24 at 1:53 pm to JustinOKC
I remember hearing him say for a long time he felt he’d never be welcome in Norman again. It makes me tremendously sad that he ever felt that way, but even happier knowing that he’s a fixture in Norman on game day once again.
That 30 for 30 did wonders for him and OU.
That 30 for 30 did wonders for him and OU.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 1:54 pm to bamameister
quote:
Southern Philadelphia kid. He never would have survived BAMA coaches and discipline, regardless of how we tend to look at him. He chose wisely.
Well, he didn't survive at Oklahoma either.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 2:37 pm to RelentlessTide
When Dupree played at LSU we called him Cecil Collins.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 2:56 pm to MongoSooner
quote:
There was no angle on Marcus. You either got him early at the LOS or you waved goodbye
All opponents could do was hold their breath every time he was handed the ball.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 2:57 pm to Cush Creekmont
quote:
He did not work out and got fat.
His naturally ability carried him so far so long that he didn't put in the effort to be great. Switzer probably should have been more positive (baby him), but he tried to make him tougher.
While all this was true... the picture was way more complicated than that.
(apologize for the length of this post)...
Dupree spent a lot of time in the infirmary. I know the guy who was the psychologist that worked there at that time. He dealt with Dupree and said that he felt like Dupree was clinically depressed and completely overwhelmed by being in college, being the star of the program, and all that. Then when Switzer said he was "out of shape" after he ran for like 260 in the Fiesta Bowl on just a handful of carries... his family got mad and was split about him staying at OU anymore. And his "advisor" wanted him to transfer to USM.
Then the press found out about this and SI wrote a cover story about him and whether he could get along with Switzer. My friend said his sophomore year he had all that to deal with on top of school, football and everything and that things were way worse than even before.
Finally, against Texas a guy named Richard Peavy hammered him in the head... and gave him a serious concussion. These days he would have been taken to the hospital. Back then, after the Texas game it was Switzer's tradition to let the players go home after Texas (because there was no school on Monday). With a full blown concussion, Dupree boarded a plane to go back to Mississippi.
I road home from the game in Dallas with a guy in the athletic administration. He told me that things were so bad with Dupree and the coaches that he figured Dupree wouldn't come back... He didn't.
The psychologist guy said he thought Marcus should have have gone to Southern Miss or State from the beginning or transferred there after his freshman year and that he probably would have been ok.
Finally, everybody said Marcus was a really nice guy at OU. Didn't like to practice but he didn't have a big ego. Just a country kid who was in a situation that was way to big for him.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 3:29 pm to Vulcan Materials
Dupree was a great back, but one of many that has been through there. He had the potential to be a Bo Jackson, but so did guys like AD, Joe Mixon, Billy Sims, Steve Owens, Demond Parker, Billy Vessels, and dozens of others. We will always have great backs.
Posted on 6/28/24 at 6:01 pm to SOBMarcus
quote:
never understood why the Sip or MSU were never in the running for Dupree… seems he enrolled at Southern Miss but never played
State was in it big time. Momma wanted him at State. Have heard many say that Marcus wishes he'd listen to his Momma and went to State. It was all about his uncle and Ken Fairley pimping him for as much money as they could get.
This post was edited on 6/28/24 at 6:04 pm
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