Ep 3. The Best That Never Was (Marcus Dupree)

In 1981, high-school football phenomenon Marcus Dupree was ranked as the best high-school football player in the nation. He was a powerful running back whose size, speed, and agility set him apart from his peers. He caught the attention of college recruiters across the country, and ultimately decided to sign with the University of Oklahoma, one of the most storied programs in college football.

"The Best That Never Was" tells the story of Dupree's meteoric rise to fame, followed by his eventual fall from grace. The episode explores the immense expectations placed on Dupree, both by himself and by others, and the pressures he faced as a young athlete in the national spotlight.

At Oklahoma, Dupree initially lived up to the hype, impressing coaches and fans alike with his speed, strength, and ability to elude defenders. He helped lead the team to a Big Eight championship as a freshman, and it seemed like he was on track to become one of the greatest college football players of all time.

But Dupree's success on the field was marred by personal struggles off the field. He struggled with injuries, including a knee injury that required surgery and kept him out of the game for months. He was also dealing with the pressures of fame, including constant attention from the media and fans.

As the pressures mounted, Dupree's performance on the field began to suffer. He missed games, was benched, and eventually left the team altogether. His promising career had turned into a cautionary tale, a story of what happens when immense talent is overshadowed by personal issues and mental health struggles.

"The Best That Never Was" is a moving and nuanced portrait of a young man who was thrust into the national spotlight before he was ready, and who struggled to cope with the immense expectations placed on him. It is a story of triumph and tragedy, of a young man whose immense talent was both a gift and a curse. Through interviews with Dupree himself, as well as coaches, teammates, and family members, the episode paints a complex and empathetic picture of an athlete who was both larger than life and all too human.