“I don’t understand how y’all go to class in this weather, its two degrees outside.”

That was the first sentence muttered by Marcus Dupree, former Oklahoma Sooner, USFL and NFL running back who was on the Wayne State College campus Monday morning to speak to students about his athletic experiences as well as his diabetic problems.

November is Diabetic Awareness Month, and Dupree, who was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2009, was brought to Wayne State by Novo Nordisk, a leading diabetes care company.

Besides sharing his amazing story in the athletic arena, Dupree also discussed his own experiences about dealing with diabetes in an attempt to increase awareness.

Dupree said that the condition ran in his family, and he refuses to have the same result as the rest of his family.

“I attack it just like I would any football game or any injuries that I had. It’s just a part of life and you have to take it head-on and try to deal. I’ll do what I’ve got to do to deal with it.”

Dupree started his presentation with a highlight reel of his athletic career, everything from high school, college and the professional ranks.

He then started speaking about diabetes and some statistical numbers. 29 million people in the United States live with diabetes, and of those 29 million, 13 million are undiagnosed, or don’t know that they have it. He also said by the year 2020, the number of people with diabetes would triple.

“It’s a silent disease. It took my uncle’s eyesight, it took his foot, my grandfather’s foot, took my mother’s life,” he said. “I didn’t know what diabetes was; in the south they called it sugar.”

Dupree said that diabetes kills more people than breast cancer and AIDS.

“I think it is strange, if you think about it, people are dying from eating. Not eating the right food or too much of the wrong food,” he said. “We have to figure out a way to suppress this disease, and the only way I can think of to do it is to educate people about it.”

Dupree was born and raised in Philadelphia, Miss., which was right in the middle of the civil rights struggles. One of the most sought-after recruits in college football history, Dupree signed with Barry Switzer’s Oklahoma Sooners.

“It came down to Oklahoma, Texas and UCLA,” Dupree said. “I chose Oklahoma because they were always a top team, played all over the country and ran the football.”

He scored his first career touchdown and went on to say when asked that his first touchdown was his most favorite run.

After his sophomore year, Dupree left Oklahoma, much to his mother’s chagrin, and signed a professional contract with the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL.

“My mother was a teacher, so that was always one of the goals was to get my degree,” Dupree said.

When Dupree was asked why he left Oklahoma for the USFL, his answer was simple.
“Six million dollars.”

In his second season with the Breakers franchise, Dupree suffered a significant knee injury that essentially ended his USFL career by the time he turned 21 years old.

Dupree spent several years away from the sport until he decided to give football one last shot. Getting back into shape using mostly homemade equipment, Dupree made his debut with the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, spending two years with the franchise before retiring for good following the 1991 season.

He re-entered the public eye in November 2010 when the award-winning ESPN documentary series “30-For-30” devoted a two-hour program to Dupree’s story. The well-received “The Best That Never Was,” remains one of the most popular and talked-about “30-For-30” efforts in the series history.

Dupree answered any and all questions from students, everything from unknown dirt from his playing days to how he deals with diabetes.

He was asked about concussions and his experiences with them, answering “Knowing what I know today, I’m sure I suffered around 15 concussions in my playing days,” he said. “It’s an experience I never want to go through again.

“They say when you have one you can see lights, well I saw a lot of lights playing football.”

He went on to say that his grandkids play football, not necessarily what he wants, but he says they love the game.

“Everyone is going to get hit in the head sooner or later playing football.”

He also talked to the students about finishing what you started, mainly speaking of getting your degree. Dedicating a set period of time every day to schoolwork is something that didn’t work for Dupree, but he said that every individual is different, and that you have to find what best works for you.

Dupree said that he still has two years left to get his degree, but he sent WSC students one decree.

“Finish your degree. I will. I can promise you that.”

Even if it is only two degrees outside.