Marcus Houston
Encyclopedia
Marcus Houston is a former American football
player. He was a highly touted running back
for the University of Colorado at Boulder
in the early 2000s.
Coming out of Denver's Thomas Jefferson High
in 2000, Houston was one of the most sought-after football prospects in the United States. He chose to attend Colorado to play for Gary Barnett
. However, after a promising start ("he was an eye-popping, verge-of-greatness success in the first three games of his freshman season in 2000 before his injury problems began") Houston was injured, tearing an abductor muscle. After his return, sharing running back duties with three others, he failed to live up to the expectations, and was criticized. Complaining about "Houston's willingness to play hurt," Colorado's "combustible backfield coach" Eric Bieniemy, then a "hothead" in his rookie year, caused a regional stir in 2001 when he called Houston "Markeesha."
In 2003, Houston chose to transfer to Colorado State University
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He was a highly touted running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
in the early 2000s.
Coming out of Denver's Thomas Jefferson High
Thomas Jefferson High School (Denver, Colorado)
Thomas Jefferson High School, not to be confused with the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, is a secondary school located in the Southmoor Park neighborhood, on the southeast side of Denver, Colorado. Thomas Jefferson High School is operated under the Denver Public School...
in 2000, Houston was one of the most sought-after football prospects in the United States. He chose to attend Colorado to play for Gary Barnett
Gary Barnett
Gary Barnett is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Fort Lewis College , Northwestern University , and the University of Colorado at Boulder , compiling a career college football record of 92–94–2...
. However, after a promising start ("he was an eye-popping, verge-of-greatness success in the first three games of his freshman season in 2000 before his injury problems began") Houston was injured, tearing an abductor muscle. After his return, sharing running back duties with three others, he failed to live up to the expectations, and was criticized. Complaining about "Houston's willingness to play hurt," Colorado's "combustible backfield coach" Eric Bieniemy, then a "hothead" in his rookie year, caused a regional stir in 2001 when he called Houston "Markeesha."
In 2003, Houston chose to transfer to Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
.