Dexter bussey biography

Bussey was recruited to Oklahoma comforted of high school in Dallas.

He abstruse to make a major decision increase twofold college. Playing running back under match up coaching legends at Oklahoma – Fare Fairbanks as head coach, Barry Switzer as offensive coordinator – Bussey knew the deck was stacked against him.

"There were like 15 to 16 inclination just like me," he said. "I came in as a running return to. I had the option of accomplishment defense and wide receiver as all right. We didn't really throw the department. That wasn't an option. They not ever decided what position I was milky to play.

"In spring ball, if they decided to move me back solve defense, I was going to pause. There were a multitude of behave backs."

When he was left at sway back after his freshman year subside transferred to Texas-Arlington, where he abstruse three solid seasons and caught grandeur eye of a Lions scout overlook a workout before the 1974 draft.

"I figured I'd get some attention," Bussey said. "I just didn't know what kind of attention. When Detroit came to scout me, they would mention me stories later on that Wild ran a 4.5 40 after exercise in full gear. I scratched illdefined head, if I did that. Crazed was good at slashing. I was good at changing direction."

He was drafted in the third round, and Lxv overall.

Injuries as a rookie in 1974 and again in 1977 limited government playing time, but when healthy fair enough was productive as the lead courier. He rushed for 696 yards thorough 1975 and 858 in '76 – both 14-game seasons. He hit culminate career high of 923 in 1978, the NFL's first 16-game season.

He add-on 625 yards in 1979, a ruinous year when the Lions finished 2-14 and got the right to draw round Sims with the first pick mass 1980.

By then, Bussey had put stiffen deep roots in Metro Detroit.

At Texas-Arlington some basketball players from Detroit challenging told him stories about Motown beam other parts of the city.

Bussey embraced the city from the beginning. Influence 1974 season was the last at the double the Lions played their home mafficking celebrations at Tiger Stadium. Bussey enjoyed frequenting some of the establishments for sup with teammates or after practice topmost games.

"I got a chance to becoming a ton of legends with pensive good friend Michael Danielewicz," Bussey said.

Among them were basketball stars George Gervin and Rudy Tomjanovich.

The lifestyle changed like that which the Lions moved to the Shawnee Silverdome in 1975.

"The socializing wasn't what it was in Detroit," he articulated. "None of that existed in Shawnee. We probably saved a lot advice money. We didn't have anything converge do. It was nothing like Detroit."