Marcus Dupree and his record breaking high school career was a stud running back from Philadelphia, Mississippi. Recruiters and coaches were hunting the 230 pound running back throughout his whole high school career. In 1982 he committed to the University of Oklahoma where he would be featured as the next best thing, not only collegiately but professionally as well. That all changed during his sophomore year at the University he suffered a horrifying knee injury, which led to him being known as the best that never was.
Friday Night Lights’ Boobie Miles and Oklahoma Sooner Marcus Dupree have quite the similarities when it comes to their football glory. Boobie Miles and his Uncle L.V. had dreams of Boobie turning professional and being a highly paid running back in the NFL. Marcus Dupree had similar goals and dreams as the media, during his college career, was making him out to be the best to ever play the game. In his high school days Boobie suffered a sickening blow to his knee that set back his dreams of playing in the pros. Boobie struggled to get back onto his feet; his Uncle L.V. was the only one that could lift Boobie’s spirits about playing in the NFL. Marcus Dupree, a standout high school football player from Mississippi was recruited by the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas on a football scholarship. Dupree signed his letter of intent to join the Oklahoma Sooners after a brilliant high school career that included 87 touchdowns and 7,355 yards; he was simply the best running back to come out of high school ever (Bissinger 1). However, things changed quickly during his sophomore year at Oklahoma. Dupree told his Coach Barry Switzer that he had a dream he would tear up his knee in that day’s game but Barry didn’t care; he played. He ended up tearing every ligament in his knee that day, season over, career in jeopardy. Boobie was never really looked at as the great, best ever, running back but he had the talent to
Citations: Bissinger, Buzz. "The Greatest Football Player That Never Was." The Daily Beast. 10 Feb. 2011. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. <http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/02/10/the-greatest-fottball-player-that-never-was>. Bissinger, H. G. Friday Night Lights: a Town, a Team, and a Dream. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Pub., 1990. Print.