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No. 62 Jimmy DuBose

Sarasota's Jimmy DuBose was on the verge of becoming an NFL star with the Bucs when a knee injury ended his career in 1978. Tribune file photo (1974)
Jimmy DuBose: Sarasota '72 Highlights: Rushed for 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns as a Sarasota senior. ... Had 2,159 yards rushing at Florida, which was the school's second-best career mark at the time. ... Had a then-UF record 1,307 yards in 1975, when he was SEC Player of the Year, a second-team All-American and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting. ... Gained 204 yards on 22 carries against Florida State. Gained 180 yards on 13 carries against Vanderbilt, including an 80-yard touchdown on the game's first play. ... He was a second-round pick of the Bucs in the 1976 NFL Draft, the franchise's second selection behind No. 1 overall pick Lee Roy Selmon. ... After injury-plagued rookie season, he rushed for 284 yards in 1977 (4.0-yard average). ... In 1978, he rushed for two touchdowns against Kansas City. He became the franchise's first 100-yard rusher with 109 yards on 24 carries against the New York Giants. In the same game, he suffered an essentially career-ending knee injury while trying to tackle Giants linebacker Harry Carson, who was returning an interception. ... Had 358 yards rushing, which was ninth in the NFC at the time. ... Sat out the entire 1979 season while rehabilitating. Traded to Miami in 1980. Played one exhibition game before getting released. ... His older brother, Ernie, was a fullback at the University of Tampa. His younger brother, Keith, played for Steve Spurrier at Duke. Today: DuBose, who turns 45 today, is a teacher in the dropout-prevention program and an assistant football coach at Chamberlain High School. He and his wife Renalia have two children … son DeWayne (18), a star defensive lineman on the Chiefs' football team who carries a 4.5 weighted grade-point average, and daughter Lauren (13). He's an avid Gator fan and season-ticket holder. The DuBose family, which religiously attends Gator games, will move to Orlando next year. Renalia has accepted the position of senior director of professional development with the Orange County School System.

Du! Du! Du!

He still hears the chant. It began at Florida Field, where fullback Jimmy DuBose established himself as one of the nation's top ball carriers. It carried over to Tampa Stadium, where he became an early bright spot for a Bucs franchise that lost its first 26 games.

Just when DuBose was emerging into NFL brilliance - coinciding with massive improvement by the Bucs - it ended so suddenly.

"You just never know,'' said DuBose, 45, from his classroom at Chamberlain High School, where he teaches in a dropout-prevention program. "We all have opportunities. They can last a long time. Or they can be taken away.''

It was Oct. 15, 1978. The Bucs, led by rookie quarterback Doug Williams, were 3-3. They were on the verge of a significant road victory, leading the New York Giants 14-3 in the fourth quarter. DuBose already had rushed for 109 yards, the first 100-yard day by a Tampa Bay running back.

"Jimmy was on a serious roll,'' said Lee Roy Selmon, then the Bucs' stalwart defensive end. "He was on the verge of becoming the running back for our team and, I thought, one of the best in the league. And we were about to turn the corner as a franchise.''

What happened next was nearly tragic.

On third-and-five, Williams was intercepted by Giants linebacker Harry Carson. DuBose, trying to make the tackle, was cleanly blocked. But his left knee suffered severe ligament damage. He missed the season and essentially never played again. Making mat ters worse, the Giants rallied for a 17-14 win.

What might have been? That isn't DuBose's approach.

"Things do happen for a reason,'' said DuBose, who cites his faith for coming to grips with the injury. "I could've helped the team, not only for that season, but for other seasons, too.''

In 1979, DuBose watched every game from the press box as the Bucs went 10-6 and won the NFC Central Division championship. He was traded to Miami the next season, but quickly was released. That was it.

"When I think back to Jimmy's injury, I was devastated,'' Selmon said. "I guess I was selfish because I wanted him to rush for our team. He was becoming an elite runner, a guy with great vision and strength.

"Nobody worked harder to return than Jimmy. He just wasn't able to come back. I'm pleased that he moved on with his life and wasn't haunted by it. He has a great outlook. But I sure would've loved to seen him run some more. I didn't see that enough.''

For those who watched DuBose at Sarasota High and Florida, they won't soon forget.

"Some players used to think the fans were booing,'' DuBose said. "They were cheering for me - Du! Du! Du! - and I loved it. I do have some tremendous memories.''

Up next, No. 61: Brandon's enigmatic Dwayne Schintzius leads Florida to its first three NCAA Tournament appearances.