In October 2021, Dupree's lawyer, J. Matthew Eichelberger, sent a sharply worded letter to White. Why Jimbo Fisher, Quinn Ewers and USC all have plenty to prove in 2023, Five big college football questions to answer this offseason. [2], As a sophomore in 1979, he was switched to running back and rushed for 1,850 yards and scored 28 touchdowns. Ive got grand kids. Thomas Tommy Conner was born September 23, 1943, to Leroy Jack Conner and Esther Conner in Neshoba County, MS. To date, six people have been indicted in the pending welfare fraud case. He reported to campus late, missed the team photo and put on considerable weight. Marcus Dupree watched the Super Bowl last Sunday in the place where he grew up, the town of Philadelphia, Mississippi. The documentary chronicles the life of Marcus Dupree, perhaps the greatest running back ever in high school football. Back then, Dupree playing football in school had attracted national attention. He finally got what he deserved. The upstart league had initially sworn off underclassmen in hopes of appeasing college coaches and officials angered by the blockbuster signing of Herschel Walker after his junior year. I can only speak for Marcus. When I got ready to buy my mother a car, I said, Let me check with Ken, Dupree recalled. The state Auditor's Office has issued demands for more than $77 million in welfare funds that were misspent, according to an audit conducted by the office. 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. In 2011, Dupree was diagnosed with prostate cancer but recovered. Even at a young age, he is noticed by his peers for his speed and strength. 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. All 3 counts., And at that exact moment, a rainbow popped out of nowhere, Dupree said Tuesday. Dupree agreed and began working out, losing 100 pounds in just over three months and going back to running a 4.3 40-yard dash. The entire team, and by extension the town, takes pride in Duprees accomplishments and abilities; some recount that his presence helped bring townsfolk of all different races together to the stands for a common purpose, something unthinkable at the time of Duprees birth.Dupree attends a high school football game taking place on September 4th, 2009. 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. Marcus Dupree was a national star as a freshman running back at theUniversity of Oklahoma in 1982. He is carried off the field in a stretcher. Marcus L. Dupree (born May 22, 1964) is a former American football player. I have to give . 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. However, he did not play college football again until 1985 after the NCAA ruled that Dupree would have to miss one full season after transferring. Unfortunately, this is how his career as a footballer ended. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Many of the things that have happened to him weren't necessarily because he had no regard for others. He gained 684 yards on 145 carries with nine touchdowns for a 4.7 yards per carry average. There are few college coaches in America with a more forgiving heart than Switzer. Such was the case with Marcus Dupree, a star running back who lit the college football scene on fire as a freshman in 1982.. Also on the porch. In 1991, Dupree missed the first seven games due to a toe injury suffered in practice. 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. After four years away from football, he decided to give the NFL a shot in 1990. I did enjoy acting, Dupree said. The chickens finally came home to roost, Dupree said. On January 1, 1983, Dupree's freshman season ended with a 32-21 Fiesta Bowl loss against Arizona State. The injury is severe enough to end his career with the Breakers, and when the NFL declares him eligible a year afterward it is already too late for him to recover. . 53. Throughout the year, he was injured and often was on the bench watching Buford Jordan take his carries. helped Favre abuse welfare funds, Winner: 2013 Peabody Award; 2011 Edward R. Murrow Award/Video Investigative Reporting, Covers breaking news, investigative pieces and human interest features. 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. Once he recovered, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL, but once again, suffered an injury and had to sit out for the first seven games. left his mother, Cella Dupree Connors, and his little brother Reggie, a 10-year-old who was born with cerebral palsy and has already endured 10 operations. I can only speak for Marcus. Marcus Dupree made a name in the 1982 OU-Texas game, but ended his Sooner career with a disappointing performance a year later. Not much is known about his personal life except that he has three sonsMarquez, Landon, and Rashad. Dupree leads his team to the Fiesta Bowl on New Years Day of 1983 against Arizona. Dupree came home to Mississippi and enrolled at USM. Im in pretty good spirits with that, he said. He recounts that his father, long after being released from prison, takes great interest in the high school football games and becomes one of Duprees fans. What has seldom been exaggerated in the stories produced by the marvelous high school career of Marcus Dupree is the scope of his talents. Now 52, the former heralded football recruit, whose career tragically vanished almost within no time, has now set foot in thepro-wrestlingring! 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. He had surgery on the knee and recuperated in Portland, celebrating his 21st birthday with friends and teammates. In his senior year, he eclipsed Herschel Walkers national high school career touchdown record when he collected 36, giving him a total of 81. After going to Oklahoma, he eventually wound up in the USFL, where he suffered a career-threatening knee injury. Dupree returned to professional football in 1990. If you look at the evidence, it seems clear the best thing Dupree can do is go pro. Theyre the ones who didnt achieve NFL success for reasons of circumstance. He instead decided to go pro with the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL in 1984, signing a five-year deal for $6 million at the age of 19. He never actually touched the field for the Golden Eagles. As a senior in 1981, he rushed for 2,955 yards and scored 36 touchdowns. Alleged haircut has NBA fans in a spin, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. "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. His second and final season in the usfl was. He played for the Breakers for two seasons before a knee injury forced him to leave the game. Im just living. He had to leave the game several times, participating in only 34 offensive plays. However, his career went awry soon after leaving the University of Oklahoma in 1983. He made a comeback with the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL mainly so my kids could see me play football, he said. Earlier in 2011, he was running a pro wrestling promotion organization, called Mid South Wrestling. Dupree broke many records in both high school and college. Connelly's Conference USA preview: How will four newcomers fit in? The injury is severe enough to end his career with the Breakers, and when the NFL declares him eligible a year afterward it is already too late for him to recover. He finished his high school career with 7,355 rushing yards with an 8.3-yards-per-carry average. A Mississippi Department of Human Services initiative called Families First for Mississippi, run by two nonprofits, illegally funneled the federal welfare money to Dupree, the lawsuit states, in exchange for his work as a "celebrity endorser" and "motivational speaker.". I can't wait until we go to court. His efforts work to reverse Oklahomas losing streak, earning him numerous accolades and great notoriety. Dupree sues Fairley in an attempt to recover some of his money. Be patient with the process, he said. This change in play style pays off, as Dupree utilizes it to achieve touchdowns. Marcus' younger brother, Reggie, has had serious physical problems since birth. "[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. Five have pleaded guilty. Marcus strove to do better and work that much harder because Reggie couldn't do the thinks Marcus could. Sports Illustrated has a look at . Schumann returning to Georgia, FSU AD: Lagging ACC revenue 'has to change', Harbaugh: Corum to miss spring to rehab knee, The new law changing service academy football, and the coaches pushing back, Realignment chatter: How the Pac-12 holds the key to it all, Connelly on transfer trends: What last season can teach us about 2023, College football's assistants and coordinators to watch in 2023. In doing so, he draws attention away from the towns checkered history; the towns schools were integrated in 1970, making Dupree and his class the first children in the county to receive entirely integrated schooling. In 1984, marcus dupree signed with the new orleans breakers of the usfl and had a pretty good season, scoring nine touchdowns. There was such a lack of communication. In the middle of his freshman season with the Sooners, he broke out with a 158-yard effort against Kansas and got stronger from there. Despite not starting until the seventh game of the season, Dupree still finished the season with 1,144 rushing yards, averaging a whopping 7.8 yards per carry. I wish (Barry Switzer) would have treated me a little bit better, Dupree told OU Daily in 2010. 2023 www.clarionledger.com. He signed with Oklahoma and rushed for 1,144 yards and 13 scores as a freshman. For several days thereafter, his whereabouts are unknown even to his mother. "I'm getting lumped in with whatever Brett Favre and the governor had going on. D. The game takes place on October 8th, 1983, and Duprees condition takes his toll on him, affecting his performance. Marcus played spring football for the Golden Eagles and finished college at the university. In mid-October of 1983, Dupree decides not to return to Oklahoma at all. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. He played in 15 games over two seasons for the Los Angeles Rams, before being waivedprior to the1992 season. 22 for the Crowbar Championship Wrasslin (CCW). But on Wednesday, Fairley said Dupree simply wanted to "play football" this year. Three trades in a chaotic top five, NCAA panel eyes shorter football games in 2023, Ex-Vols staffers agree to show-cause penalties, UNC hires ex-Browns HC Kitchens as assistant, Syracuse QB Shrader to miss spring practice, Sources: Asst. After taking a week off, Dupree surprisingly announced he was leaving Oklahoma and would be enrolling at Southern Mississippi. 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. But due to his injuries, he had to sit out for most of his games. In February of 2020, agents from the State Auditor's Office arrested Nancy New, her son Zach New, Davis, retired wrestler Brett DiBiase, agency employee Latimer Smith, and nonprofit accountant Ann. Marcus Dupree was one of the most heavily recruited high school football stars in American history. In 1984, Marcus Dupree signed with the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL and had a pretty good season, scoring nine touchdowns. Follow@BillyWatkins11 on Twitter. I was shocked when I heard it. Maybe even ready for the NFL at that age."[7]. Marcus Duprees net worth has beenestimatedat $10,000, according to sources. In 1984, marcus dupree signed with the new orleans breakers of the usfl and had a pretty good season, scoring nine touchdowns. Reginald Paul Dupre (pronounced du-PRAY) was born 1957 in Bourg, Louisiana, to Alida D. Naquin and Reggie Dupre Sr. 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. Its not how long you stay down. 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. By his senior year of high school, Dupree retains his speed despite his imposing size, and breaks several records for high school football. [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 said negative press involving Favre in recent months has damaged his own reputation. She kept saying, Something aint right about that guy. As usual, my grandmother proved to be right again.. Some of the unfortunate ones were too small. In an Oklahoma uniform of sorts yet again, this time around Marcus Dupree isnt playing football or gunning for the Heisman trophy. Host . He was a sought-after college recruitplaying for Oklahoma and was named Football NewsFreshman of the Year.. Whether he will find still another NCAA school, transfer to a small college where he can play football this fall, or whether he will turn pro. Meet the Rumored New Head Coach of the Utah Jazz. . It's been a while since a "30 for 30" film got a two-hour running time (most had to come in at an hour, and a handful got an hour and a half to two hours), and "The Best That Never Was . who was 'jumping up and down and cheering as hard as anyone ain't that a kick in the pants?' He wanted me to sign with Southern (Mississippi). Their conversation was cordial, direct, but brief. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Marcus Dupree was the most heralded recruit of his time. He is taken out of a number of games, but starts the next season. Local law enforcement seems to be complicit in their deaths and covers them up. The monthly lease payments for the property totaled $9,500, the audit states. The Breakers moved to Portland, Oregon for the 1985 season. After the first three games of the season, Dupree had just twelve carries for 20 yards and the Sooners' record was 12. In August 1983, Dupree snubs Oklahoma by not appearing for the team photograph, but arrives at practice the next day. Dupree was signed by the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League in 1984. Dupree scored 87 touchdowns total during his playing time in high school, breaking the national high school record (set by Herschel Walker) by one. Yards with an 8.3-yards-per-carry average law enforcement seems to be complicit in their deaths and them! 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