Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as ill-informed GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick and his supporters, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 26 in football at the professional level (especially in 1943 and 1954 championship games):

DECEMBER 26

• Washington Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (Texas Christian three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 41-21 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1943 championship contest. Bears E Jim Benton (forward was Arkansas' third-leading scorer in SWC play as senior in 1937-38) caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Sid Luckman. Luke Johnsos (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1927 and 1928) co-coached the Bears. Bears B Ray Nolting (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1936) rushed for 30 yards on seven carries and returned two punts for 17 yards.

• Rookie FB Bill Bowman (fouled out with four points in only basketball game with William & Mary in 1953-54) scored the Detroit Lions' only touchdown (five-yard rush) in a 56-10 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1954 NFL championship game. Bowman also had a 50-yard run from scrimmage in the contest. Browns DE Len Ford (center for Morgan State's CIAA hoops titlist in 1944) returned two interceptions a total of 45 yards. Browns E Pete Brewster (forward-center was Purdue's fourth-leading scorer as junior and senior) caught an eight-yard TD pass and 45-yard reception from Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43). Graham threw three first-half TD passes and rushed for three TDs. The next year, Graham threw two TD passes (50 and 35 yards) and rushed for two TDs while Ford had another INT in a 38-14 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1955 NFL title tilt.

• A fourth-quarter touchdown reception by TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) carried the Kansas City Chiefs to a 31-24 win against the Oakland Raiders in 1998 season finale.

• RB Paul Hornung (averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) opened the Green Bay Packers' scoring with a rushing touchdown in 13-10 conference championship playoff win against the Baltimore Colts in 1965.

• QB Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) passed for 471 yards - including 33-yarder for touchdown in overtime - to propel the Washington Redskins to a 26-20 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1999.

• New York Jets RB Johnny Johnson (averaged 11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 3.2 apg in 1988-89 after majority of hoop team members walked off San Jose State squad) totaled 175 yards in rushing (94 on 16 carries) and pass receiving (81 on eight catches) in a 16-14 setback against the Buffalo Bills in 1993.

• Houston Texans WR Jacoby Jones (part-time starter averaged 3.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg for Lane TN in 2004-05 and 2005-06) had five pass receptions for 115 yards in a 24-23 setback against the Denver Broncos in 2010.

• Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper under legendary coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw two touchdown passes in a 24-20 playoff setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1971 playoff divisional round.

• Cleveland Browns RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) rushed for two touchdowns in a 29-28 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in 1999 season finale.

• Chicago Bears TE Greg Latta (two-year Morgan State letterman averaged 9.3 ppg and 5.4 rpg in 15 games in 1970-71) had two pass receptions for 25 yards in a 37-7 divisional round playoff setback against the Dallas Cowboys in 1977.

• San Francisco 49ers DB Ronnie Lott (USC hooper as junior in 1979-80) returned an interception 83 yards for fourth-quarter touchdown in 26-13 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1982.

• Baltimore Colts TE Tom Mitchell (averaged 6.1 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 10 basketball games for Bucknell in 1963-64) caught five passes for 73 yards in a 20-3 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1971 NFL playoff divisional round.

• Houston Texans LB Antwan Peek (made one field goal and grabbed five rebounds in six basketball games for Cincinnati in 2000-01 under coach Bob Huggins) returned a recovered fumble 66 yards for touchdown in 21-0 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2004.

• Minnesota Vikings TE Joe Senser (two-time NCAA Division I leader in FG% averaged 11.4 ppg and 7.4 rpg while shooting 66.2% from floor in four-year career for West Chester State PA) caught 10 passes in a 42-14 setback against the New York Jets in 1982.

• Cincinnati Bengals WR David Verser (played five basketball games for Kansas in 1977-78 under coach Ted Owens) caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Ken Anderson (swingman finished Augustana IL career in early 1970s as fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,044 points) in 24-10 win against the Seattle Seahawks in 1982.

• San Francisco 49ers TE Bob Windsor (played two games for Kentucky in 1965-66 under coach Adolph Rupp) caught a touchdown pass from John Brodie in 24-20 divisional round playoff win against the Washington Redskins in 1971.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as ill-informed GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick and his supporters, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 24 in football at the professional level (especially in 1950 NFL championship contest and 1961 AFL title tilt):

DECEMBER 24

• Miami Dolphins WR Chris Chambers (played briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 24-10 win against the Tennessee Titans in 2005.

• Los Angeles Rams rookie RB Glenn Davis (Army hooper in 1944-45 and 1945-46) opened 1950 NFL championship game's scoring with an 82-yard touchdown pass from Bob Waterfield in 30-28 setback against the Cleveland Browns. Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) completed 22-of-33 passes for 298 yards and four TDs while chipping with 99 rushing yards.

• Oakland Raiders TE Rickey Dudley (averaged 13.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg as senior in 1994-95 when leading Ohio State in rebounding and finishing third in scoring) caught two touchdown passes from Rich Gannon in a 52-9 win against the Carolina Panthers in 2000.

• Dallas Cowboys CB Cornell Green (Utah State's all-time leading scorer and rebounder when career ended in 1961-62) returned an interception 60 yards for touchdown in a 50-14 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1967 Eastern Conference playoff game.

• San Diego Chargers SS Rodney Harrison (averaged 7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3 apg and 1.6 spg for Western Illinois in 1992-93) intercepted two passes - returning one 63 yards for touchdown - in a 34-21 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2000.

• San Diego Chargers rookie WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's scoring leader with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) caught two touchdown passes from Philip Rivers in a 20-7 win against the Seattle Seahawks in 2006.

• Chicago Bears DB R.W. McQuarters (Oklahoma State hooper in 1995-96 and 1996-97 started two games) returned an interception 61 yards for touchdown in 23-20 win against the Detroit Lions in 2000.

• Seattle Seahawks TE Pete Metzelaars (averaged 19.2 ppg and 11.4 rpg for Wabash IN while setting NCAA Division III field-goal shooting records for single season as senior in 1981-82 and career) had a five-yard touchdown reception in 31-7 wild-card playoff win against the Denver Broncos in 1983.

• Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) had three sacks in a 24-20 setback against the Dallas Cowboys in 2005.

• Baltimore Colts WR Freddie Scott (averaged 5.3 ppg as sophomore forward for Amherst MA in 1971-72) had two pass receptions for 45 yards in a 37-31 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1977 divisional playoff game.

• New York Jets DE Marvin Washington (played in 1985 NCAA Tournament with UTEP under Don Haskins before averaging 2.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg for Idaho in 1987-88 under Tim Floyd) had an interception in 24-10 setback against the Houston Oilers in 1994 season finale.

• San Diego Chargers rookie DB Bud Whitehead (averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.5 rpg in 15 games for Florida State in 1959-60) had two interceptions in a 10-3 setback against the Houston Oilers in 1961 AFL championship contest.

Santa should put coal in stockings of many university administrators and big-name coaches until they take the definition of student-athlete a mite more seriously than they have for decades. A striking number of schools are willing to take risks to try to keep up with the Basketball Jones' Top 10 rather than simply be ranked in Top 25 or reach NCAA playoff field of 68. In order to win a few more games and enhance prospects of advancing to the Final Four, they are willing to accept too many marginal "necessary-obligation" problems even worse than reports of James Harden (Arizona State) exotically partying during COVID pandemic.

College hoopdom would be a certifiable _ _ _ _hole if notorious criminals David Berkowitz, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Albert DeSalvo, John Wayne Gacy, Donald Harvey, Ted Kacynski, Charles Manson, Timothy McVeigh, Dennis Rader, Richard Ramirez and Wayne Williams had been 4- or 5-star recruits. Coaches, seemingly recruiting anyone with a pulse if they exhibit hoop skills, expect us to believe prize prospects arrive on campus as authentic student-athletes knowing precisely how to assemble class schedule without silver-platter input citing no-risk-to-eligibility courses. Any "stable genius" knows nothing could be further from the truth amid the institutional self-interest. What was the average SAT score differential between the Fall-Americans acknowledged below and the everyday student attending same institution?

For decades, this scholastic sham has been stacking up as a farce devaluing many diplomas and denigrating the mission of higher education. Sixty-eight is a magic number when it comes to participating in the NCAA Tournament. But it becomes a tragic number when a significantly higher total of the following All-Americans plummeted from their lofty pedestal:

Lew Alcindor, UCLA (coached by John Wooden) - Two-time national player of the year in late 1960s ran into trouble with law over marijuana twice in two years at the turn of 21st Century (paid fine after surrendering small amount to officers at Toronto airport and arrested on suspicion of driving under influence). Ridiculously compared national anthem to slave songs when he probably should have been worried a mite more about a son, Adam Abdul-Jabbar, who was charged in late summer 2020 with stabbing a neighbor with a hunting knife during an argument over trash cans.

Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech (Bobby Cremins) - Despite earning close to $63 million in his NBA career, NCAA unanimous All-American in 1990-91 declared bankruptcy shortly after retiring in 2005. "When you're an athlete, there is always someone holding your hand, helping you get it done, guiding your every step," said Anderson, who had seven children from five different women. "But that NBA lifestyle isn't real. It can gobble you up. And it did me." Anderson was fired from his coaching job at a small Jewish high school in south Florida following his arrest in Pembroke Pines, Fla., at about 4:30 a.m. in late April 2013 after police allegedly saw him driving in and out of his lane. He also was arrested in Miranar, Fla., in mid-December 2011 after leaving the scene following crashing his vehicle into two trees along a swale. In a documentary (Mr. Chibbs), Anderson said he was sexually molested by a Queens neighbor during his childhood.

Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse (Jim Boeheim) - Arrested on suspicion of drunken driving at 4 a.m. in mid-April 2008 after one of his worst games of the season in Denver. He was suspended for 25 contests during the 2006-07 campaign for punching New York Knicks guard Mardy Collins in the face during one of the NBA's worst brawls. All-American as freshman in 2002-03 took up the mantle of "stop snitchin'" movement, appearing in an underground DVD circulated in his hometown of Baltimore in 2004 encouraging those who are questioned by the police to refuse to "snitch" on drug dealers, murderers and other criminals. Suspended for one game without pay midway through the 2012-13 campaign for confronting an opposing player (Boston's Kevin Garnett) multiple times (in arena tunnel, near players' locker rooms and in parking garage) following a loss against the Celtics.

Ron Artest, St. John's (Fran Fraschilla and Mike Jarvis) - Authorities arrested him in early March 2007 after a woman called 911 from his five-acre Sacramento estate saying she had been assaulted. Deputies arrested him on suspicion of domestic violence and using force or violence to prevent his victim from reporting a crime. Five years earlier, he was ordered to attend anger management classes after another girlfriend (mother of one of his children) filed assault charges against him. His temper flared in 2003 at New York's Madison Square Garden when he smashed a video monitor valued at $100,000. He drew six suspensions in the 2002-03 season and two in the 2003-04 campaign. On November 19, 2004, at The Palace of Auburn Hills (Mich.), Artest went into the stands igniting a melee with the crowd and subsequently received the longest suspension in NBA history for an infraction not linked to drugs or gambling (86 games: 73 regular season and 13 postseason). All-Big East Conference first-team selection as a sophomore in 1998-99 changed his name to Metta World Peace in mid-September 2011.

Charles Barkley, Auburn (Sonny Smith) - Three-time All-SEC selection from 1981-82 through 1983-84 was arrested for breaking a man's nose during a fight at 2:30 A.M. just before Christmas in 1991 after a game at Milwaukee and also for throwing a bar patron through a plate-glass window in late October 1997 after being struck with a glass of ice while in Orlando for an exhibition game. In August 1997, a jury rejected a $550,000 lawsuit from a man who claimed Barkley beat him up at a Cleveland nightclub. Charges were dropped against Barkley and fellow NBA player Jayson Williams stemming from an accusation they were in a bar fight in Chicago in 1992. Compulsive gambler said in an ESPN interview in May 2006 that he lost approximately $10 million through gambling, including $2.5 million "in a six-hour period" while playing blackjack. The Wynn Las Vegas resort filed a civil complaint in May 2008 that Barkley failed to repay four $100,000 casino markers, or loans, received the previous October. He took a leave of absence from TNT Sports' broadcast booth in early 2009 after test results showed he was legally drunk (nearly twice the legal limit) on New Year's Eve when Phoenix police arrested him on suspicion of drunken driving. Barkley, who triggered a national debate with his "I am not a role model" proclamation, told police he was in a hurry to go have sex from a female passenger he had just picked up from a popular nightclub.

Marvin Barnes, Providence (Dave Gavitt) - Unanimous first-team All-American in 1973-74 was arrested for a variety of things - trespassing, being under the influence of narcotics, burglary of a locked vehicle. Homeless in San Diego, he stole X-rated videos to sell for drug money. He claimed his cocaine addiction escalated to the point where he snorted the drug on the Boston Celtics' bench during a game. Barnes contends he hit rock bottom during one of his drug-related prison stints when he almost killed a fellow inmate. Barnes attended the John Lucas Treatment Center in Houston and worked as a director at a halfway house before encountering liver problems. In mid-May 2007, he was arrested by state police on a felony charge of cocaine possession. In mid-January 2012, Barnes, 59, was arraigned in Rhode Island on a charge of soliciting a 17-year-old minor for sex after they met through his Rebound Foundation for at-risk youths. In 1972, he was charged with assault after allegedly hitting PC teammate Larry Ketvirtis with a tire iron following a scrimmage. Barnes once asked Providence Journal columnist Bill Reynolds if cocaine kills brain cells before saying: "I must have been a genius when I started out." While incarcerated, Barnes also told Reynolds: "Here I am trying to get myself straightened out and they come out with a brand-new drug (crystal meth)."

Michael Beasley, Kansas State (Frank Martin) - In the first week of August 2013, the 2007-08 first-team All-American had his fourth public run-in involving marijuana in some capacity since entering the NBA. As a rookie with the Miami Heat in 2008 before being considered expendable when the franchise cleared cap room to pursue LeBron James, he was fined $50,000 by the NBA after acknowledging he was involved in an incident involving a couple of other players at a rookie symposium in New York (they were found in a room at the resort with two women - violating NBA policy for the event - and security personnel said the scent of marijuana was detected). Checked himself into a Houston rehab center in the summer of 2009 after there was a photo of Beasley with a bag of what was assumed as pot on a table in front of him that made its way around the internet. Arrested in late-January 2013 in Scottsdale, Ariz., for multiple traffic violations (including driving on a suspended license and speeding), Beasley was investigated for an alleged sexual assault committed earlier that month. His AAU coach, Curtis Malone, was arrested in mid-August 2013 and charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin two decades after he was convicted for distributing crack cocaine in 1991. Malone is the step-father of former Duke All-American Nolan Smith.

William Bedford, Memphis State (Dana Kirk) - All-American as a junior in 1985-86 was arrested in February 2001 after Taylor, Mich., police said they found 25 pounds of marijuana in his car. Subsequently served time in a Fort Worth, Tex., prison on drug-related charges. In 1987, he was subpoenaed by a Maricopa County (Ariz.) grand jury investigating drug use among Phoenix Suns players and testified against his teammates after receiving immunity. In March 1988, Bedford admitted he was addicted to cocaine and marijuana and was committed to the NBA's treatment facility in Van Nuys, Calif. Known as "Willie B" - as in "Will he be at practice?" - Bedford relapsed the following October and was readmitted to the clinic. When he returned, his behavior on and off the court grew more erratic. He received a dozen traffic tickets and 10 license suspensions in less than four years. In September 1997, Bedford, who was on three years probation at the time, tested positive for cocaine and was sent to a Texas state jail for one year. Also arrested in Texas for failing to pay more than $300,000 in child support.

Ron Behagen, Minnesota (Bill Musselman) - All-American as a senior in 1972-73 was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to stealing money from a 68-year-old Atlanta woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and dementia. Behagen, receiving the woman's ATM card from her caretaker, withdrew $7,140 from the woman's bank account in 40 transactions the spring of 2011 with all of the them recorded on surveillance cameras.

Charlie Bell, Michigan State (Tom Izzo) - Third arrest of 2011 came in December when he showed up drunk to the court hearing regarding his previous arrest, an October 2011 DUI. All-American point guard as senior in 2000-01 was also arrested for DUI in February of same year. His estranged wife, a former Miss Michigan USA, was arrested in spring of 2011 for allegedly stabbing Bell with a box cutter.

Benoit Benjamin, Creighton (Willis Reed) - Arrested in hometown of Monroe, La., in spring of 2008 and charged with simple battery and resisting arrest following a domestic disturbance at his house. Big Ben, the nation's second-leading rebounder in 1984-85, was also reportedly ordered by a local judge to pay more than $500,000 in back child support. In 1993, domestic violence charges against Benjamin were dropped because prosecutors were unable to contact the alleged victim. Arrested three times for marijuana possession from 2009 to 2015. Also arrested for speeding in May of 1986 after purchasing a maroon BMW sedan.

Len Bias, Maryland (Lefty Driesell) - It was one of those moments when time seemed to stand still. The fallout stemming from the All-American forward's cocaine-induced death just four days after the 1986 NBA draft included the ouster of long-time Terrapins coach Lefty Driesell. Bias had become the only individual named ACC player of the year although his team had a losing league record (6-8 mark to finish in sixth place). Four and half years later, Bias' younger brother, Jay, a former Allegany Community College (Md.) forward after failing to measure up to DI scholarship academic standards, was shot and killed in the parking lot following an argument at a jewelry store in a local mall.

Mike Bibby, Arizona (Lute Olson) - All-American as sophomore in 1997-98 was investigated by police in late February 2019 amid sexual-abuse harassment accusations made against him while coaching his high alma mater (winning five state titles in six years). Bibby exited his position following the allegations.

Chauncey Billups, Colorado (Joe Harrington and Ricardo Patton) - All-American as sophomore in 1996-97 was sued along with Boston Celtics teammate Ron Mercer for attempted rape at Antoine Walker's residence in November 1997 in a case settled out of court. Pleaded guilty with a college teammate to misdemeanor theft in March 1996 after taking video rental coupons from book covers in the campus bookstore.

Nate Blackwell, Temple (John Chaney) - Drug dependency cost him his profession, marriage, legacy and future. Unable to work after doctors found a tumor pressing against his adrenal gland, All-American in 1986-87 went back to live with his parents in the Philly row home where he grew up.

Daron "Mookie" Blaylock, Oklahoma (Billy Tubbs) - Busted in 1997 when drug sniffing dogs uncovered marijuana on him in a Vancouver, Canada airport. Second-team All-American was arrested around 4 a.m. in early March 1989 and charged with public drunkenness following a report of an argument at a convenience store. He was charged with vehicular homicide arising from a head-on crash killing a mother of five in suburban Atlanta in late May 2013. Blaylock, accused of driving on a suspended license and failure to maintain his lane in the crash, was also wanted on charges of failure to appear in court, DUI and drug possession. Bond was set at $250,000 stemming from a criminal record including six DUIs in a six-year span from late 2007 to late 2013 (one when blood alcohol content was 4 1/2 times legal limit) before he pleaded guilty (term reduced to seven years - suspended after three - and eight years' probation according to a plea deal). Prior to the crash, a doctor had ordered Blaylock (treated for seizures) not to drive, prosecutors said. A former Hawks ball-boy told SI that Blaylock was stoned a large part of the time he played for Atlanta after spending many game days at a strip club.

Dick Boushka, St. Louis (Eddie Hickey) - The 1956 Olympian rose to chief executive of the Vickers oil company and eventually got into real estate development. But in December 2002, the Billikens' All-American in 1954-55 pleaded guilty in federal court in Wichita, Kan., to defrauding a bank of more than $17 million. Boushka, sentenced to 70 months in prison for his white-collar crimes, admitted that he made false statements inducing the bank to make several large loans to him in 1998. He also admitted cheating another businessman out of $1.5 million.

Miles Bridges, Michigan State (Tom Izzo) - All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 2017-18 faced felony domestic violence charge in summer of 2022 after accused of assaulting his girlfriend in front of their two children. Bridges, who is also a rapper under the name RTB MB, previously was fined $50,000 for striking a fan with mouthpiece.

Luther "Ticky" Burden, Utah (Bill Foster and Jerry Pimm) - Sentenced in August 1984 to the two years he already served in an update New York prison stemming from his involvement in a bank robbery of $18,000 in Hempstead, N.Y., in 1980 just five blocks from his house. Originally sentenced to six to 18 years after three associates struck deals with the state and testified against him. But he was released when a court ruled that police didn't have a search warrant when they raided his home. Upon release, he bounced back by promoting concerts and overseeing his own financial consulting company. Longtime counselor at a YWCA near his Winston-Salem, N.C., home. Burden was an All-American as a junior in 1974-75 before leaving college early for the pros.

Howard Carter, Louisiana State (Dale Brown) - Charged in the spring of 1995 with buying and using drugs after French police arrested him and seized a dose of heroin. He was arrested with five suspected drug dealers in the stairwell of a building shortly before his team was slated to play. Carter, a two-time All-American who averaged 15.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg for LSU from 1979-80 through 1982-83 and appeared in the 1981 Final Four, took out French citizenship and played for the country's national team.

Rex Chapman, Kentucky (Eddie Sutton) - All-American as a sophomore in 1987-88 was arrested in September 2014 for allegedly shoplifting $14,000 worth of merchandise a total of nine times from an Apple store and then selling the items at a pawnshop for $5,460. Ten days following his arrest, Chapman checked himself into a substance-abuse treatment program in Louisville reportedly trying to break an addiction to a drug that helps wean people off opiates. It was his third stint in rehab for prescription narcotics since retiring as a player.

Derrick Chievous, Missouri (Norm Stewart) - All-American as a junior in 1986-87 was charged with felony stealing in May, 2001, for allegedly taking items from the United Parcel Service terminal in Columbia, Mo., where he had worked for nine months after playing in the NBA and Europe. Chievous, who had been under investigation for months regarding possible theft, allegedly fled from managers while carrying stolen items. In 1997, he was arrested for failure to pay child support. "I'm not the marrying type," said Chievous, who had daughters in his college town plus Philadelphia and Chicago. "I'm not always the greatest dad. But I'm the best dad they've got."

Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State (Tom Izzo) - Two-time Big Ten Conference MVP and 2000 Final Four MOP was arrested in mid-March 2010 on suspicion of drunken driving but ended up leading to careless driving. Acquitted of sexual assault charges in late summer 2019 after accused of false imprisonment by intoxicated woman who said she was driven in his Cadillac SUV to a Knights Inn and attacked four years earlier following a Flint-area charity golf outing and trip to local bar for drinks. A surveillance video showed Cleaves, clad only in socks, pulling the near-naked woman back to a motel room twice. Three-time All-American faced misdemeanor charges of stealing beer while in college but that case eventually was dropped.

Derrick Coleman, Syracuse (Jim Boeheim) - The Big East Conference's 1990 MVP was stopped in Farmington Hills, Mich., at 3:30 a.m. in late July 2002 for speeding (120 mph in a 70 mph zone) and taken into custody after refusing a breathalyzer test. Arrested in late October 1999 in Charlotte for driving while under the influence after the vehicle he was driving collided with a tractor-trailer. A couple of months earlier, he was accused of urinating in front of patrons at a downtown Detroit Chinese restaurant and charged with disorderly conduct. Coleman also faced a civil lawsuit in Michigan in which he was accused of trespassing and battery at a Detroit woman's home in 1997. In summer of 1995, he was arrested and charged with refusing to move his truck and swearing at a police officer in Detroit. Despite earning an estimated $87 million in his NBA career, he owed creditors $4.7 million after a series of poor real estate investments in Detroit. NBA Crime Library, which tracks police blotters, claims Coleman's seven arrests while an active player is a record for the league. In college, Coleman was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and ordered to make restitution for damage after pleading guilty to charges of harassment and disorderly conduct at a campus dance.

Sherron Collins, Kansas (Bill Self) - In June 2008, months after KU won the NCAA title, a judge ruled in favor of a woman he allegedly sexually assaulted in an elevator the previous year, granting damages in excess of $75,000 in a civil suit. A 35-year-old woman said she was unable to continue working at the Jayhawker Towers because of an incident where Collins was accused of exposing himself and rubbing against her despite being told repeatedly to stop. Collins, a two-time All-American in subsequent seasons, denied the assault but was a no-show at the hearing. The accuser later dropped the lawsuit for mental and physical problems when Collins agreed to drop his counterclaim of defamation.

DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky (John Calipari) - All-American as a freshman in 2009-10 faced an arrest on misdemeanor domestic violence charge in late August 2019 before harassment allegation was dropped three months later. A former girlfriend in Mobile, Ala., sought a restraining order against him after she said in court documents and a police report that he threatened her (regarding not letting their son attend his wedding in Atlanta) and had previously choked her. The woman alleged Cousins said he would put a "bullet in (her) f---ing head" during a telephone argument. Cousins also avoided charges in the aftermath of a brawl at a New York City nightclub in December 2016. At the Olympics in August 2016, he and a couple other Team USA members were caught going to notorious high-end brothel near the Copacabana beach in Rio before team explanation that "they thought it was a health spa."

Quintin Dailey, San Francisco (Dan Belluomini and Pete Barry) - All-American season in 1981-82 was marred by him pleading guilty to aggravated assault of a nursing student in a dormitory (sentenced to three years' probation and paid settlement of $100,000). A document in the case revealed that the two-time WCC Player of the Year accepted $1,000 per month from USF boosters for a summer job the Baltimore native did not have to do, sparking the termination of the school's basketball program for three seasons. Dailey gained 30 pounds in a single NBA season, twice violated the league's drug policy, attempted suicide and took leaves of absence for psychiatric care. "I had to learn life by trial and error as I went along. I erred a lot," Dailey told the Los Angeles Times before dying in Las Vegas at the age of 49 because of a heart ailment.

Dwight Davis, Houston (Guy Lewis) - At one point, the 1971-72 All-American found himself complacent living in a shed as long as he could continue to feed his addiction. When illegal activities eventually got the best of him, Davis was placed in jail on drug-related charges. After serving six months in jail, Davis cleaned up his act once and for all, joining AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) on his way to recovery.

Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Louisiana State (John Brady) - Leading scorer and rebounder for 2006 Final Four team as SEC Player of the Year was arrested at a Hampton Inn in Baltimore suburb in early February 2018 with a quarter of a pound of marijuana and $92,000 in cash.

Walt "Corky" Devlin, George Washington (Bill Reinhart) - Compulsive gambler, married to a regular singer on the Arthur Godfrey Show, consistently stole money from his family and was penniless when migrating to a Trappist monastery in Kentucky. His addiction is depicted in a book about him called "In Search of Corky." All-American in 1954-55 was jailed in California after acting as a strikebreaker for a union. Treated for mental depression, he made an appearance on the Phil Donahue Show about Gambler's Anonymous. Said Devlin: "When I gamble, it's like play money. It doesn't matter if I win or lose. The thrill is there either way."

Jay Edwards, Indiana (Bob Knight) - Less than a month after forgoing his remaining two seasons of eligibility, the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year in 1988-89 was charged with two preliminary counts of battery following an accusation by a woman that he slapped and punched her at a party in late April 1989. He missed time for academic reasons as a freshman and failed a drug test in fall of his sophomore campaign. Suspended for violating NBA drug policy in spring of 1990.

Kahlil "Kay" Felder, Oakland (Greg Kampe) - Horizon League Player of the Year in 2015-16 was booked in early December of 2018 amid allegations of domestic violence.

Raymond Felton, North Carolina (Roy Williams) - All-American in 2004-05 was sentenced to 500 hours of community service and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine after pleading guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. He admitted knowingly having a large-capacity ammunition magazine and a pistol without a license in his Manhattan apartment. The attorney for his estranged wife turned a semiautomatic firearm into police in late February 2014 after alleging Felton used gun to "intimidate" her during domestic disputes.

Marcus Fizer, Iowa State (Tim Floyd) - NCAA consensus first-team All-American in 1999-00 pleaded guilty in August 2004 to carrying a loaded handgun in his automobile and was sentenced to probation for a year and fined $2,500. Two years earlier, Fizer was also charged with a felony count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He was one of the most-heavily tattooed players in the NBA with more than 30.

Eric "Sleepy" Floyd, Georgetown (John Thompson Jr.) - Leading scorer for 1982 NCAA Tournament runner-up was arrested in early January 1996 in a Houston suburb on charge of misdemeanor assault after a fight with his wife.

Phil Ford, North Carolina (Dean Smith) - Four-time All-American from 1974-75 through 1977-78 was arrested in fall of 1999 and charged with drunken driving for the second time in 25 months. He pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and entered a treatment center for the second time.

Chet Forte, Columbia (Lou Rossini) - ABC Sports' top director was humbled by a gambling sickness that left him $1.5 million in debt and with legal problems that almost sent him to prison. In March 1992, he was given five years' probation, ordered to perform 400 hours of community service, make restitution of past debts and pay $39,000 in back federal taxes. Forte was named UPI's national player of the year in 1956-57.

Joe Forte, North Carolina (Bill Guthridge and Matt Doherty) - Maryland state police arrested him in early May, 2003, after finding marijuana and a handgun in his car on a trip back from New York, where he met his idol, rapper Jay-Z. Two-time All-ACC guard (1999-00 and 2000-01) also faced an assault charge when he allegedly punched a man in the face during a pickup game. Questions linger about his mother being hired by the sports agency he subsequently affiliated with upon leaving school early.

Steve Francis, Maryland (Gary Williams) - J.C. recruit and All-American in 1998-99 was taken into custody in early October 2010 at Los Angeles International Airport for resisting arrest. He appeared intoxicated and was creating a stir at a ticket counter. Five months earlier, a 20-year-old woman on his record label filed a groping complaint against him. In mid-November 2016, Francis was arrested in Houston and charged with felony retaliation for allegedly threatening a police officer, misdemeanor DWI plus possession of marijuana after he was stopped for speeding.

Jason Gardner, Arizona (Lute Olsen) - Leader in assists and runner-up in steals for 2001 national runner-up prior to becoming an All-American the next two seasons was dismissed after five campaigns as IUPUI head coach in late August 2019 after being apprehended intoxicated at 4:30 a.m. asleep behind the wheel of his Nissan.

Jack "Goose" Givens, Kentucky (Joe B. Hall) - Final Four MVP in 1978 found not guilty following arrest during summer of 2004 on charges of sexual battery and lewd molestation of 14-year-old girl after giving her a private basketball lesson at her home while parents were away. Givens acknowledged "bad judgment" via instant-message conversations with the girl, some involving sexual topics, and apologized for "whatever she assumed I did" during a taped phone call with her. A police affidavit said the girl's grandmother was at the home, called the girl's mother twice at her work to report what she thought was inappropriate behavior in the swimming pool and later called the girl out of her bedroom out of concern for her well-being. After first 14 years of the franchise, Givens' contract as a color analyst for the Orlando Magic was not renewed.

Ben Gordon, Connecticut (Jim Calhoun) - Arrested during 2002-03 season for allegedly slapping a female student. Fiancee Sascha Smith was involved in an early-morning brawl at a Charlotte nightclub in mid-December 2012 that landed Tyrus Thomas' wife in jail. Four run-ins with the law in six-month span in 2017 (arrested in early June after allegedly pulling multiple fire alarms at his L.A. apartment complex, hospitalized for a psych evaluation in his hometown of Mount Vernon, N.Y., in October after cops responded to a confrontation he had with a woman at his sports rehab center-owned business, arrested in mid-November in New York City for driving with forged license plate and arrested in late November for felony robbery of apartment manager over his security deposit).

Ed Gray, Tennessee (Wade Houston)/California (Todd Bozeman and Ben Braun) - Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year in 1996-97 was charged in Atlanta in late March, 1999, with drug possession and driving under the influence.

Spencer Haywood, Detroit (Bob Calihan) - All-American in 1968-69 when J.C. recruit led nation in rebounding (21.5 rpg) became addicted to cocaine. After all-night binge smoking crack, he needed to take the edge off before practice the next day. After taking a few Quaaludes and falling into a coma-like sleep during team stretching exercise at Lakers practice for a 1980 Finals match-up against Philly. Coked-out Haywood concocted plan with dubious Detroit deadheads to have his coach murdered but went no further than scoping out Paul Westhead's residence.

Luther Head, Illinois (Bill Self and Bruce Weber) - Leading scorer for 2005 national runner-up was suspended four games with a couple of teammates for being among individuals in a fall 2003 burglary entering an apartment and pilfering as much as $3,000 worth of goods. He also sat out Big Ten Conference opener in 2003-04 following arrest on charges of driving on a suspended license.

Joe Hobbs, Florida (John Mauer) - All-American guard as a senior in 1957-58 was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison in mid-June 1988. Indiana native was convicted of more than two dozen counts of grand theft stemming from insurance fraud, violating his probation and then escaping from a prison work-release center.

Byron Houston, Oklahoma State (Leonard Hamilton and Eddie Sutton) - The Cowboys' all-time leading scorer (2,374 points from 1988-89 through 1991-92) pleaded guilty to multiple counts of indecent exposure in 2003 and became a registered sex offender. In mid-September, 2007, he was sentenced to four years in prison for violating probation on an indecent exposure conviction in his hometown of Oklahoma City. Defense witnesses said Houston suffered from bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses. Charged with one count of cruelty to animals in the summer of 2011.

Allen Iverson, Georgetown (John Thompson Jr.) - In the summer of 2002, he was charged with assault and other offenses for forcing his way into a Philadelphia apartment with a gun and threatening two men while looking for his wife. He was also sued for his part in a nightclub brawl in Washington in 2005. Iverson's wife, Tawanna, filed for divorce in early March 2010, a week after AI, beset by alcohol and gambling issues, left the 76ers. A judge used the signing of a $3 million divorce decree settlement as a moment to let Iverson know he felt his role as a father to the couple's five children was deplorable and suggested he was an alcoholic. He had been banished from casinos in Detroit and Atlantic City. NBA Rookie of the Year was arrested in the summer of 1997 for possession of a handgun and marijuana near Richmond, Va. As a teenager, he was arrested in a Hampton, Va., bowling alley brawl in 1993 and spent four months in prison before then-Gov. Douglas Wilder granted clemency, allowing him to enroll at Georgetown, where he became a first-team All-American as a sophomore in 1995-96. His defacto father spent a good portion of his adult life in and out of prison for dealing crack cocaine. Iverson, a rapper wannabee, performed a song on his CD containing the following words: "Man enough to pull a gun, be man enough to squeeze it." After squandering more than $150 million in NBA salary, Iverson was ordered by a judge in Georgia in mid-February 2012 to pay $860,000 he apparently owed a jeweler. Since Iverson didn't have the cash to pay the jeweler, the judge ordered his bank accounts commandeered and his earnings garnished. Iverson's Atlanta mansion was sold in a foreclosure auction in early February 2013. A Sixers teammate said Iverson routinely spent $30-40G at strip clubs.

Josh Jackson, Kansas (Bill Self) - All-American as freshman in 2016-17 was charged with one count of criminal damage to property for causing more than $1,000 worth of damage kicking an auto at 2 a.m. in early December 2016 when a female student threw a drink in teammate LaGerald Vick's face. In an affidavit, the victim, a women's hooper for KU, told police Jackson followed her to the car outside a club and "was yelling for her to get out of the car and that he would beat her ass." In mid-May 2019, Jackson was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest and escape at a hip-hop music festival in Miami Gardens (charges reduced to misdemeanor by enrolling in six-month diversion program). In June 2019, Detroit native was accused of using marijuana around his infant daughter according to her mother 19 years older than father.

Mark Jackson, St. John's (Lou Carnesecca) - In the summer of 2012, a salacious story unfolded as a stripper and co-conspirator were busted for a purported $200,000 extortion plot against Jackson, who moonlighted as a minister at a LA suburb-based non-denominational church, for sending compromising nude photographs during a 2006 affair. The NCAA assists average leader in 1985-86 and All-American as senior in 1986-87 "shimmied off" being called "a Bible-pounding phony" by ESPN colleague Bob Ryan when the network suspended the venerable ex-Boston Globe columnist, not "Action" Jackson, for a couple of weeks.

Marques Johnson, UCLA (John Wooden and Gene Bartow) - Two-time All-American in mid-1970s was arrested in late July 1988 on suspicion of beating his wife during an argument. Nine months after Johnson was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in fall of 1984, they filed suit in federal court to nullify the transaction because the Milwaukee Bucks had not told them about him undergoing treatment at a drug rehabilitation center.

Bernard King, Tennessee (Ray Mears) - Three-time SEC MVP in the mid-1970s had numerous encounters with the law, including theft of TV from UT's athletic center, before arrest in 1980 on charges of assaulting a woman in his apartment. Recognized as youngest NBA player (23) arrested four times. He also faced an assault charge in 1994 after a woman accused him of choking her and was arrested for spousal abuse in late October 2004 (charge dropped per counseling agreement).

Christian Laettner, Duke (Mike Krzyzewski) - NCAA national player of the year in 1991-92 was suspended for five NBA games in 2003-04 after violating the league's drug policy. Sued multiple times for failure to repay loans, including $671,309 owed to former teammate Johnny Dawkins. In 2010, Laettner's attorney said his client had $10 million in assets and $40 million in debt. His $3.65 million mansion outside Jacksonville, Fla., was foreclosed on in 2015. In the fall of 2016, a federal judge dismissed an involuntary bankruptcy case against him (five creditors claimed they were among those owed $14.05 million) after he reached a repayment deal his lawyer said should bring a decade of financial woes to a close. He earned $61 million as an NBA player.

Ty Lawson, North Carolina (Roy Williams) - All-American in 2008-09 when reaching Final Four for second season in a row was arrested in an alleged domestic violence incident at his home in mid-August 2013. In mid-July 2015, he was arrested for DUI for the fourth time in an eight-year span and subsequently served two DUI-related suspensions during the first half of the 2015-16 NBA campaign.

Lewis Lloyd, Drake (Bob Ortegel) - Beset by cocaine problems triggering a ban from the NBA in 1987. The previous year, the Stouffer Hotel Corporation sued him for an unpaid bill of more than $49,000 that had been charged to his room during a stay at one of its Houston hotels. He also was arrested in the spring of 1990 for nonpayment of child support.

Kevin Loder, Alabama State (James Oliver) - All-American in 1980-81 was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1994 for dealing cocaine. "The addiction undermined anything I tried to do," he said.

Steve Logan, Cincinnati (Bob Huggins) - All-American guard in 2001-02 when tying for 12th in nation in scoring with 22 ppg pleaded guilty to a charge of domestic violence stemming from mid-May 2009 incident involving his long-time girlfriend. Rape charges were dismissed against Cleveland native stemming from incident in early August 2009 after prosecutors determined there were too many inconsistencies with the case.

Stephon Marbury, Georgia Tech (Bobby Cremins) - In 2000, he told the NYPD a 24-inch diamond necklace worth $150,000 was stolen from him at gunpoint in Manhattan. He was arrested on an extreme DUI charge in 2002 after an Arizona officer saw his car weaving on the road. As a witness in a sexual harassment trial involving the New York Knicks' front office, he admitted to having sex in a SUV with an intern. A New York judge sided with his personal chef/mistress to pony up more than remaining $330,000 plus interest of $900,000 in "hush money" he promised in writing to keep his chick-on-the-side quiet. All-American in his only college campaign in 1995-96 opened up for an episode of HBO's Real Sports about a depressing dark time in his life including 24-hour live-streaming himself crying and eating Vaseline in the summer of 2009. According to SI, Marbury's wife said he stayed in bed all day eating Fruity Pebbles, isolating himself after frequent travails with the Knicks, the death of his father in 2007 and discontinuance of his "Starbury" discount sneaker company (logo tattooed on side of his head). In another internet video posted by TMZ, Marbury got blunt yucking it up while smoking marijuana. "I'm not under contract," he said. "I smoke weed occasionally. I'm not driving. I'm following the rules."

Xavier McDaniel, Wichita State (Gene Smithson) - All-American in 1984-85 when leading nation in scoring and rebounding was charged in March 1986 with assaulting his then-wife (charge dropped after agreeing to family counseling for anger management). In late summer 1996, he was charged with domestic-violence assault against his girlfriend (accused of choking her and preventing 911 call).

Cliff Meely, Colorado (Sox Walseth) - All-American in 1970-71 was charged in Boulder, Colo., in 1985 with possession of cocaine and two counts of selling the drug to an undercover officer. "I tried to distract myself from problems by using drugs and becoming an addict," Meely said. "After getting caught, they gave me treatment, classes, specialists, etc. My doctors taught me about the harm of drugs, and they were able to get me off cocaine and get me going in the right direction."

Dean Meminger, Marquette (Al McGuire) - Unanimous first-team All-American as a senior in 1970-71, who said his cocaine use escalated after leaving the NBA, worked as a substance-abuse counselor for several years while still using cocaine. He was treated at the Hazelden facility in Minnesota and had several relapses in the 1990s, ending up in a brownstone for transients in Harlem. In late November 2009, Meminger was hospitalized after a fire reportedly started by a crack pipe in a Bronx rooming house before he was found dead in a Hamilton Heights hotel of an apparent drug overdose in late August 2013. In a 2003 interview, he said his longest drug-free stint as an adult was three years.

Ron Mercer, Kentucky (Rick Pitino) - All-American as a sophomore in 1996-97 faced misdemeanor assault charge stemming from scuffle in Nashville strip club in April 2007 after police said Mercer punched a bouncer in the face. He was sued along with Chauncey Billups for attempted rape at Antoine Walker's residence in November 1997 in a case settled out of court (Walker sued for failing to stop alleged incident after socializing at Boston comedy club before also settling). In August 2013, a jury sided with Mercer in a lawsuit brought by an ex-girlfriend over the ownership of a $45,000 Range Rover.

Calvin Murphy, Niagara (Frank Layden) - Acquitted in 2004 of charges he sexually abused five of his 14 daughters fathered with nine different women (only one of whom he married). "You don't have one affair after another like I did," Murphy reflected the day following his acquittal. "It basically comes under the heading of playing with people's lives."

Lee Nailon, Texas Christian (Billy Tubbs) - Following roughing up of girlfriend in his dormitory room, juco recruit was suspended for one game in 1997-98 after pleading no contest to misdemeanor assault and was ordered to pay $165 in court costs. Charges were dropped during the summer of 1999 after the All-American was arrested for suspicion of drug possession and evading arrest (through back window of Comfort Inn motel room in Fort Worth). Midway through the 2005-06 NBA season, Nailon was arrested outside Philadelphia in connection with a domestic dispute. He was fined $300, completed anger-management classes and ordered to do community service in case in which he was charged with elbowing his wife in the face and throwing a picture frame at her.

Calvin Natt, Northeast Louisiana (Lenny Fant) - All-American in 1978-79 was arrested and charged with solicitation for prostitution in late January 1988 after responding to an ad for an escort service placed by Denver undercover police officers.

Greg Oden, Ohio State (Thad Matta) - All-American center as freshman in 2006-07 was formally charged with battery for allegedly punching his ex-girlfriend in the face around 3:30 a.m. on August 7, 2014, at his mother's home in Lawrence, Ind. In a plea agreement, he was found guilty of felony battery with moderate bodily injury. During his brief NBA career, a leaked naked picture of him emerged while Oden was sidelined with a broken kneecap.

Mike Olliver, Lamar (Billy Tubbs and Pat Foster) - Southland Conference Player of the Year as senior All-American in 1980-81 was sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder. Three-time all-league first-team selection repeatedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend inside her Raleigh, N.C., townhouse in February 2007 after she obtained a restraining order against him for stalking. The victim was critically injured and wasn't expected to live but pulled through after several surgeries.

Gary Payton, Oregon State (Ralph Miller and Jim Anderson) - Arrested in Los Angeles in August 2004 for investigation of driving under the influence after being stopped by police backing down an entrance ramp on the freeway. NCAA unanimous first-team All-American in 1990 was charged with assault stemming from a fight outside a Toronto club in April 2003.

Anthony Peeler, Missouri (Norm Stewart) - In 1998, a federal court jury in St. Louis awarded a woman $300,000 in damages and $2.1 million in punitive damages after she sued him and testified that he pinned her down and held a gun to her head. Just before the 1992 NBA draft, the Big Eight Conference player of the year had an assault charge dropped against him in Kansas City. Peeler, placed on five years' probation in Columbia, Mo., the previous week in connection with another assault charge, had been accused of punching a woman in the face and wrestling her to the ground.

Chuck Person, Auburn (Sonny Smith) - The Tigers' all-time leading scorer was fired as associate head coach under Bruce Pearl in fall of 2017 after he was indicted on six federal charges for bribery, fraud and conspiracy following his arrest by the FBI. All-American as senior in 1985-86 pleaded guilty to accepting $91,500 in bribes from an FBI-cooperating witness to influence players from his alma mater to sign with certain financial advisers and business managers when they turned pro. Person, who reportedly was broke and financially desperate after purchasing as many as 14 cars and financing the building of 10 different houses for family members, was also accused of helping facilitate money to players' families. He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service during a two-year probationary period.

John Pinone, Villanova (Rollie Massimino) - All-American as a senior in 1982-83 was sentenced in late 2010 to six months of home confinement and an additional six months of probation, fined $10,000 plus ordered to cooperate with IRS to resolve outstanding tax liabilities after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor filing a false tax return. Three-time All-Big East Conference first-team selection and co-owner of a bar reportedly skimmed $130,050 cash from 2003 to 2005.

Chris Porter, Auburn (Cliff Ellis) - SEC Player of the Year in 1998-99 when he was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Tigers' all-time winningest team faced a warrant in late September 2010 stemming from a probation violation after he was charged with driving under the influence. Porter pleaded guilty concurrently to a misdemeanor marijuana charge but the jail time (one year) was suspended as part of a plea agreement. He had been charged in April, 2006, with driving under the influence and second-degree possession of marijuana. In August 2001, he was also arrested in Alabama and charged with second-degree possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Porter was suspended during his senior season for accepting $2,500 from a sports agent. "You make bad decisions," Porter said. "That's life. We all make decisions that we have to live with, and I've made some bad decisions." In January 2021, he was arrested for first degree sexual abuse (alleged fondling of a female teenager).

Howard Porter, Villanova (Jack Kraft) - Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 1971 served six months in jail for probation violation on a previous drug conviction. "I was a junkie like any other junkie," Porter told the Tampa Tribune. He was trying to trade money and crack cocaine for sex with a prostitute in St. Paul in May, 2007, when the probation officer was beaten to death, according to murder charges filed several months later.

Herman "J.R." Reid, North Carolina (Dean Smith) - Two-time All-American in late 1980s was accused of spitting in student's face and suspended with teammate Steve Bucknall for 1987-88 season opener against Syracuse stemming from a confrontation involving N.C. State students at Shooters II, a Raleigh nightclub. Arrested in late summer 1995 when attempting to board a flight in San Antonio with an unloaded .45-caliber handgun in his carry-on luggage. Suspended for two NBA games in 1995-96 and fined $10,000 for intentionally throwing an elbow and dislodging two of A.C. Green's teeth.

Jason Richardson, Michigan State (Tom Izzo) - Leading scorer for 2001 Final Four team was found guilty of domestic violence in early summer of 2003 stemming from a dispute with an ex-girlfriend at her home in Saginaw, Mich., resulting in a three-game suspension by the NBA and a one-year probation sentence. Fresh off a DUI arrest, he was pulled over in late 2008 for going 90 mph in a 35-mph zone with his three-year-old son in the back of vehicle (although not in car seat).

J.R. Rider, UNLV (Jerry Tarkanian and Rollie Massimino) - In the fall of 2011 he was arrested on a parole violation in Arizona stemming from an incident the previous year when he fled police after they attempted to stop him from driving erratically. His chronic legal problems included an arrest at 5 a.m. in July, 2006, for felony cocaine possession at a home in the Oakland area. Bail was set at $2 million in six months earlier in Marin County (Calif.) following his arrest for kidnapping and battery of a female acquaintance. Rider also faced an outstanding warrant for resisting arrest in Alameda County. In May 1997, he was convicted of marijuana possession and later pleaded no contest to possessing unregistered cellular phones. There had been questions whether Rider, an All-American in 1992-93, did all the work in an English summer correspondence course allowing him to maintain his eligibility for Massimino's first season with the Rebels.

Anthony Roberts, Oral Roberts (Jerry Hale) - After a drug problem shortened his NBA career, he died at the age of 41 in March 1997 when a 19-year-old apartment complex neighbor in Tulsa shot the 1976-77 All-American in the back during a heated argument.

Alvin Robertson, Arkansas (Eddie Sutton) - All-SWC first-team selection in 1983-84 was sentenced to a year in jail in August, 1997, after pleading no contest to four misdemeanor charges stemming from confrontations with his ex-girlfriend. He previously agreed to undergo therapy for spousal abuse. Robertson was sentenced to three years in prison in 2002 for a probation violation involving a rape accusation. In San Antonio in late February 2010, Robertson faced sexual assault of a child and sex trafficking charges alleging he was among seven people who kidnapped a 14-year-old girl who was forced into prostitution and made to dance at a strip club. In mid-June 2014, he was arrested on a charge of violating terms of a bond involving his GPS ankle monitor. Seven months later, he was apprehended after being on the run for a week upon reportedly cutting off his GPS monitor. In late March 2015, court documents revealed he had accumulated 10 bond violations, including testing positive for methamphetamine.

Glenn Robinson Jr., Purdue (Gene Keady) - On May 15, 2003, a Cook County (Ill.) jury found the 1993-94 Big Ten Conference MVP guilty of domestic battery and assault after police charged him with attacking his former girlfriend and threatening to shoot her. In the summer of 1999, Robinson was arrested for disorderly intoxication after being denied entrance to a nightclub.

Rumeal Robinson, Michigan (Bill Frieder and Steve Fisher) - Best remembered for converting the game-winning free throws in the 1989 NCAA title game against Seton Hall, he was sentenced in early 2011 to 6 1/2 years in jail for financial fraud. The charges against Robinson were bank bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution. The two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection borrowed more than $700,000 from a bank in Iowa in 2004, claiming it was for a business. He used the money for personal purposes instead (buying a condominium, cars, furniture and investing in an energy company). He's a bankrupted "strip club addict," according to his adoptive brother. Sparked outrage in his Cambridge, Mass., hometown when he reportedly caused his adoptive mother to be forcibly removed from her home after being tricked into signing a deed that sold a house to Robinson's business associate while receiving no money.

Thomas Robinson, Kansas (Bill Self) - Big 12 Conference Player of the Year in 2011-12 was cited with misdemeanor battery in spring of 2011 following an incident at a nightclub. The city prosecutor dismissed charge involving spitting on a bouncer, who did not want the prosecution to go forward. Robinson completed 20 hours of community service and agreed to write a letter of apology to the victim.

Lou Roe, Massachusetts (John Calipari) - A woman successfully filed a restraining order against two-time All-American (1994 and 1995) in 2014, alleging he abused her, according to court documents. In 2015, a judge ordered him to pay back child support for the son he and the woman had together in April 2014.

Marshall Rogers, Kansas (Ted Owens)/Pan American (Abe Lemons) - The nation's leading scorer in 1975-76 with Pan American was arrested in his hometown of St. Louis in late June 1987 and charged with assault and petty theft in connection with a shoplifting incident (bottle of Mennen Skin Bracer, stick deodorant, a pair of white sunglasses and three Baby Ruth candy bars worth a total of $13) at a downtown Walgreen's drug store. Police said Rogers fought with two store managers, a security guard and three police officers before he was subdued after being struck in the head three times with a nightstick. Rogers, who was living with his mother and told arresting officers he had been out of work the previous three years, was confronted by store personnel and allegedly told them: "Here, you can have the Skin Bracer but that's all." After his diabetes worsened, he had both of his legs amputated below the knees before being checked into a nursing home in 2006. Rogers, who frequently clutched scrapbooks he kept of his playing exploits, died in mid-June 2011 at the age of 57 after refusing to undergo the kidney dialysis treatment doctors said he needed.

Jalen Rose, Michigan (Steve Fisher) - The Wolverines' leader in assists for back-to-back Final Four teams in 1992 and 1993 was arrested around 2 a.m. in March 2011 on suspicion of drunken driving. Accused of operating a vehicle (Cadillac Escalade) while impaired (said he drank six martinis), he declined to take a Breathalyzer. Rose, who put the unbecoming "Uncle Tom" tag on Duke, was pulled from the air briefly by ESPN for failing to disclose his DUI arrest shortly after the release of a controversial documentary about his time with the Fab Five. Given a speeding ticket only hours after being ordered to serve 93 days in jail (all but 20 of them suspended; served 16 days).

Curtis Rowe, UCLA (John Wooden) - Two-time All-American while playing for three straight NCAA champions from 1969 through 1971 was charged in mid-October 1989 with possession of cocaine after Detroit police said they saw him and a companion throw packets of drugs on the ground. Arrested in late February 2008 in a drug raid in a building on Detroit's west side as officers found him with a baggie containing a substance believed to be heroin on his person.

Clifford Rozier, North Carolina (Dean Smith)/Louisville (Denny Crum) - After years of personal and legal trouble (five arrests and bankruptcy), the 1994 first-team All-American was incarcerated in his hometown of Bradenton, Fla., in May 2001, after being charged with grand theft auto. Rozier, jailed after an accusation of stealing a Manatee County sheriff deputy's personal car, was on the run for about a month before police apprehended him in Orlando. His ex-wife had him committed various times to a psychiatric care facility under Florida's Baker Act. Drug panhandler had three vehicles repossessed and his liabilities included child support to three women. After spending time in jail cells and psychiatric wards, Rozier lived in a halfway house following a 2006 arrest on an assault charge. Arrested in summer of 1998 on charges of assaulting his mother but the case was dropped.

Brandon Rush, Kansas (Bill Self) - Leading scorer for 2008 NCAA titlist was suspended five games for violating NBA drug policy in late August 2010. Arrested while in college for not appearing in court to settle multiple traffic incidents. Faced family court date in spring of 2008 related to a child-support case.

Ralph Sampson, Virginia (Terry Holland) - Three-time national player of the year from 1981 through 1983 was accused of lying to federal authorities about his finances in a child-support case. Sampson pleaded guilty in 2005 in Richmond to failing to pay about $300,000 in court-ordered child support for two children who live in northern Virginia and have different mothers. Sentencing was postponed after he was indicted on perjury and false claim charges before mail fraud and false-statement allegations were added. In a plea agreement, he was slated to serve two months in jail for mail fraud.

Ralph Simpson, Michigan State (Gus Ganakas) - All-American in his only season with the Spartans in 1969-70 was sentenced to 10 years probation in June 1989 after pleading guilty to defrauding a creditor in Aurora, Colo. Operating a credit-counseling business helping people with poor credit ratings finance new cars, he was accused of arranging for people to buy cars by using false credit information on loan applications.

Sean Singletary, Virginia (Pete Gillen and Dave Leitao) - All-American as junior in 2006-07 was arrested in early March 2015 around 4:00 a.m. on a DUI charge (license subsequently revoked by court for 90 days).

Scott Skiles, Michigan State (Jud Heathcote) - Nation's second-leading scorer in 1985-86 incurred two DUI arrests, a drug possession arrest, two jail sentences and 18 days behind bars during a 16-month span in mid-1980s. As a result of all those indiscretions, he received a one-game suspension.

Charles E. Smith, Georgetown (John Thompson Jr.) - Big East Conference MVP in 1988-89 served 29 months of a 4 1/2-year prison sentence for vehicular homicide. Smith, involved in a late-night hit-and-run accident, was driving a rented van that struck and killed two Boston University female students on a busy city street. An assistant district attorney argued in court Smith had been drinking, and an eyewitness testified he ran a red light. In October 2010, he was found shot in the upper body in Bowie, Md., in a house where a significant amount of cocaine and evidence of a gambling operation were found. Smith had been a part-time bartender at a sports bar. The shooting reportedly stemmed from a gambling debt.

Damon Stoudamire, Arizona (Lute Olson) - Co-Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year in 1994-95 was arrested three times on marijuana-related charges in 2002 and 2003. "You live and you learn," Stoudamire said.

Rod Strickland, DePaul (Joey Meyer) - D.C. police charged him with driving while under the influence and reckless driving in April, 1999, after the 1987-88 All-American drove his gold Mercedes Benz through three red lights. Four years earlier, he was arrested in New York and charged with hitting his former girlfriend. In late October 2000, he was charged with refusing to leave a restaurant that was being closed by fire marshals in Washington. Strickland was a Kentucky assistant coach in the spring of 2010 when he was arrested around 3 a.m. for DUI, running a red light, having expired tags and insurance violations after failing a sobriety test. A couple of years later, he was arrested near UK's campus and charged with driving on a DUI suspended license.

Caleb Swanigan, Purdue (Matt Painter) - Unanimous All-American in 2016-17 was arrested around 2:00 a.m. just before Christmas 2020 on drug charges (police found 3.4 pounds of weed as well as $3,415 in cash and some drug paraphernalia). First-time offender pleaded guilty to minor drug charge (possession of marijuana). He was sentenced to 180 days suspended, ordered to complete a substance abuse evaluation and comply with any prescribed treatment.

Stromile Swift, Louisiana State (John Brady) - All-American in 1999-00 was arrested in Shreveport in mid-May 2011 for stalking the same ex-girlfriend he allegedly threatened three months earlier by sending menacing text messages and then showing up at her home with a gun.

Roy Tarpley, Michigan (Bill Frieder) - All-American in 1984-85 and 1985-86 was charged in Denton County (Tex.) in May 1998 with assault and failure to appear in court. The charges stemmed from an alleged attack on a woman. Days after being released from jail in April, 2003, in the wake of serving more than a month for a probation violation, he filed for personal bankruptcy. Tarpley played for the Dallas Mavericks from 1986 until he was thrown out of the NBA in October 1991 for using cocaine, a violation of the league's substance-abuse policy. Leslie Rockymore, a former UM teammate, claimed Tarpley failed drug tests in college but was given a free pass.

Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas (Bill Self) - In the spring of 2015, the assists leader for 2012 NCAA Tournament runner-up allegedly cashed a fake money order for $1,000 cash at a food store in his hometown of Hoboken, N.J. Sustained a dislocated thumb in fall of 2009 in an altercation involving several football and basketball players outside of the student union building. Late in 2010-11 campaign, KU suspended Taylor and a women's hooper for reportedly getting frisky playing unauthorized one-on-one inside Allen Fieldhouse.

Isiah Thomas, Indiana (Bob Knight) - A Detroit TV reporter filed an assault and battery complaint against Thomas during his playing days with the Pistons, claiming Thomas choked him and threw him against a car. A jury decided in the fall of 2007 that Thomas sexually harassed a former Knicks team executive, subjecting the former Northwestern basketball player to unwanted advances and a barrage of vulgarity (Madison Square Garden eventually settled for $11.5 million). The CBA almost disbanded after Thomas purchased the minor league before selling his interest in 2000. Multiple CBA executives said Thomas was "rude. . . . very poor business person. . . . doesn't listen to people. . . . makes poor decisions."

David Thompson, North Carolina State (Norm Sloan) - National player of the year in 1973-74 and 1974-75 had well-publicized involvement with cocaine. He was accused of assaulting his wife while free-basing cocaine (served 180-day sentence in minimum security prison in 1987), filed for bankruptcy and suffered a severe knee injury in a dispute at Studio 54 in New York.

Jamaal Tinsley, Iowa State (Larry Eustachy) - All-American playmaker in 2000-01 was charged with harassing a public official after a minor traffic accident plus lying to police about who was driving a car hitting a light pole and then leaving the scene on New Year's Eve 2000. In early December 2007, he was shot at about 3:40 when leaving a hotel club with entourage utilizing three cars owned by him (Mercedes, Rolls Royce and Dodge Charger). It was Tinsley's third late-night episode in a 14-month span with the NBA's Indiana Pacers. In high school, he got arrested for committing a robbery and spent a week in a juvenile detention center before attending a community college in California.

Bernard Toone, Marquette (Al McGuire and Hank Raymonds) - All-American in 1978-79 was charged with attempted grand larceny, criminal possession of burglar's tools and criminal mischief in April 1988 in White Plains, N.Y., after allegedly attempting to steal a car stereo system from a new Porsche. Toone had been arrested twice in less than a year in 1985 - charged with third-degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing a car radio and pleading guilty to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle after arrest at a fast-food restaurant in rental car that had been reported stolen.

Robert "Tractor" Traylor, Michigan (Steve Fisher) - All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1997-98 was sentenced to three years of probation after pleading guilty in federal court in Detroit in January 2007 to a federal income tax charge, the result of receiving and concealing stolen property while hiding assets for a convicted drug dealer (Traylor's cousin Quasand Lewis). He was also accused of laundering $4 million of drug money for the same cousin who sold an estimated $178 million in illegal drugs in Metro Detroit and had associates with suspected links to nearly a dozen murders plus four fire-bombed homes, according to federal authorities. Prior to connection with his coarse cousin, Traylor was part of a scandal causing the NCAA to nail his alma mater. Traylor admitted that, as a high school and college player, he and his family accepted some $160,000 in cash and gifts from a local hoops junkie who ran an illegal lottery at area Ford plants. In May 2011, Traylor was found dead in his apartment at the age of 34 in Puerto Rico, where he was playing professionally.

Jimmy Walker, Providence (Joe Mullaney) - First-team All-American in 1965-66 and 1966-67 was sentenced in April 1983 to 90 days in prison, three years of probation and 250 hours of community service on charges of failing to file federal income tax returns in 1976 and 1977. In college, he pleaded guilty to two paternity suits and was sentenced to six years probation.

Kenny Walker, Kentucky (Joe B. Hall and Eddie Sutton) - Two-time NCAA consensus All-American after helping UK reach 1984 Final Four received seven-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to menacing his wife. He had been arrested in early January 1996 and charged with assault for allegedly choking his spouse.

John Wall, Kentucky (John Calipari) - Unanimous first-team All-American as freshman in 2009-10 was charged in spring of 2009 with misdemeanor breaking and entering after police found him walking out the rear of a vacant house for sale in his Raleigh, N.C., hometown. He previously was known as Crazy J for his incorrigible lifestyle. Wall's father was incarcerated for armed robbery of a convenience store after serving time for second-degree murder of his housewife. An older half-brother also was imprisoned in 1999 following conviction for second-degree murder. "Without basketball, that's where I was going," Wall told ESPN. "No sense lyin' about it or comin' up with somethin' that sounds good. I was going down the same road as my dad."

John Wallace, Syracuse (Jim Boeheim) - A little over a year after becoming an All-American in 1995-96, his girlfriend withdrew a harassment charge alleging he punched her in the face and choked her during a quarrel over their son. Arrested in Brooklyn for driving with a suspended license in late February 2016. Also charged in summer of 1996 for failing to follow officers' instructions after issuance of a ticket.

Rasheed Wallace, North Carolina (Dean Smith) - Second-leading scorer and rebounder for 1995 Final Four team apologized in court and agreed to perform 50 hours of community service plus seek counseling following accusation of choking the mother of his child while visiting her and the infant over Easter weekend in 1996. Arrested with Portland "Jail Blazers" teammate in late November 2002 in a speeding car in which officers smelled pot.

Kermit Washington, American University (Tom Young) - One of six players averaging more than 20 ppg and 20 rpg in his major-college career (20.1 ppg/20.2 rpg from 1970-71 through 1972-73) pleaded guilty to three felonies and faced up to eight years in prison and fine up to $750,000. Originally, the AU All-American as a senior faced up to 40 years in prison and $1 million in fines if convicted of charges brought against him in spring of 2016 by a federal grand jury that he orchestrated scheme evading taxes and defrauding donors to his charities under the pretense of helping the needy in Africa. Washington's NBA career was irreparably damaged after nearly killing Rudy Tomjanovich with a punch during a game in 1977.

Chris Webber, Michigan (Steve Fisher) - Charged with marijuana possession and assaulting a police officer in 1998. He was pulled over and resisted the officer. The vehicle was impounded and traces of marijuana were found inside. Also that year, he was arrested by customs officials for possession of marijuana as he returned from a promotional trip to Puerto Rico. Indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit in September, 2002, on four felony counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice and lying to federal investigators (regarding money laundering tied to a shady UM booster, a bookmaker who was convicted of tax evasion and robbery before dying of a heart attack before he testified against Webber, who subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of criminal intent for lying about his role in the scandal). Suspended in mid-February, 2004, for five games by the NBA for violating the league's anti-drug program. Sued over the closing of his Sacramento restaurant after signing a 20-year lease in 2005.

Bonzi Wells, Ball State (Ray McCallum) - He and Portland Trail Blazers teammate Erick Barkley cited for criminal trespass in 2001 after refusing to follow the order of an officer to leave the scene of a fight near a downtown nightclub. Suspended for one game without pay in November 2002 for spitting on an opposing player (the Spurs' Danny Ferry). Wells told SI: "We're (the Jail Blazers) not really going to worry about what the hell (the fans) think about us." Suspended two games for publicly cursing at his coach, suspended one game without pay for fined $10,000 for intentionally striking an official during a game and was noted for making obscene gestures to the crowd when things didn't go well. A judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Muncie, Ind., man and his mother in spring of 2013 including charges of damaging the front door of their home, threatening them and later battering the man.

Delonte West, St. Joseph's (Phil Martelli) - All-American guard in 2003-04 was suspended for the first 10 games of the 2010-11 NBA season after pleading guilty to weapons charges in Maryland. Authorities said he was carrying two loaded handguns, a loaded shotgun and an 8 1/2-inch Bowie knife while speeding on a three-wheel motorcycle (complete with sidecar) on the Capital Beltway the previous September. Battling bipolar disorder, he received home detention, probation and community service. His wife filed a domestic violence against him in the fall of 2009 and he was spotted loitering around a fast-food parking lot in a hospital robe without his shoes in Houston in mid-February 2016. Nearly three years later, multiple disturbing videos surfaced on social media of West rambling incoherently and apparently homeless in Washington, D.C.

Charles "Hawkeye" Whitney, North Carolina State (Norm Sloan) - Drug abuser was sentenced in June 1996 to 69 months in prison for the armed kidnapping of former White House lawyer Mark Fabiani. "I'm a recovering (cocaine) addict, and I will be for the rest of my life," said Whitney, an All-American in 1979-80. "I'm just grateful I have this chance to get it right. A lot of people die on the streets."

Frank Williams, Illinois (Lon Kruger and Bill Self) - Big Ten Conference Player of the Year in 2000-01 was arrested with his younger brother (Aaron) in June 2009, after agents for a multi-county enforcement group executed a search warrant at a Peoria, Ill., home. Agents seized 78 grams of marijuana, a digital scale and a .40-caliber handgun. In a plea bargain, Frank was sentenced to two years of probation and a $1,000 fine. In July 2013, Williams was booked for domestic battery.

Freeman Williams, Portland State (Ken Edwards) - NCAA runner-up to Pete Maravich in all-time scoring (3,249 points from 1974-75 through 1977-78) developed a drug addiction and Los Angeles native was charged with possession near the turn of the 21st Century. "I'm not going to lie about the drugs," Williams told the Oregonian before asking author for $20. "It was cocaine. I went two or three years in a bad stretch."

James "Fly" Williams, Austin Peay (Lake Kelly) - Brownsville, N.Y., product served two years on a drug possession rap in the mid-1990s after spending 14 months in Attica and two other prisons stemming from charges of attempted robbery, unlawful imprisonment, weapons possession and menacing. After a pickup game in Starrett City in 1987, the drug-ravaged 1972-73 All-American got in an argument with a friend over money and was shot by an off-duty court officer with a shotgun. In the spring of 2017, he was busted in "Operation Flying High" as the kingpin of a massive drug ring peddling two million vials of heroin worth estimated $12 million to $20 million in his former Brooklyn neighborhood.

Sylvester "Sly" Williams, Rhode Island (Jack Kraft) - All-American in 1977-78 and 1978-79 faced felony charges of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and first-degree kidnapping in connection with an incident in September 2001 in Endicott, N.Y. Prosecutors accused him of having sex with a 42-year-old woman against her will at her home. Williams, working for a pipe and plastics company at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to a single kidnapping charge on the eve of jury selection and was sentenced to five years in prison. Previously, he received a suspended prison sentence in 1991 in New Haven, Conn., on abuse charges filed by his girlfriend.

Terrence Williams, Louisville (Rick Pitino) - Third-team All-American in 2008-09 was arrested in his hometown of Seattle on May 19, 2013, in a domestic violence case although the county prosecutor's office chose not to file charges. As they were exchanging their 10-year-old son fathered when he was 15, Williams allegedly brandished a gun and made threats at the mother during an argument. Williams' 20-year old father was murdered when Williams was only six; a few days after he was released from prison. His young mother was also in jail at the time and appeared at the funeral in chains. Williams was placed on the inactive list by the New Jersey Nets during the 2010-11 season for repeated violations of team rules. He denied salacious allegations in an escort's book about UL, calling himself the "Elvis Presley" of The Ville and asked why he would need to pay anybody for dirty dancing or sex.

Lorenzen Wright, Memphis (Larry Finch) - His badly-decomposing body, indicating at least five shots from multiple shooters, was found in a secluded field near a golf course in southeast Memphis in late July 2010. A 911 operator took an emergency call from Wright's cell phone and believes he heard gunshots in the background. Wright was in arrears on his $26,000-a-month alimony and child-support payments for his six children. Court documents show Wright, an All-American in 1995-96 as a sophomore, acknowledged to the FBI in 2008 that he sold a Mercedes sedan and Cadillac SUV to an individual known by authorities to be part of a drug kingpin gang. Despite earning an estimated $55 million over his 13-year NBA career, Wright's $1.3 million home in Atlanta was repossessed along with a $2.7 million home near Memphis he owned. His ex-wife claimed in a book she wrote that she was trapped in an abusive marriage. But Sherra Wright-Robinson was arrested in California in mid-December 2017 in his death and charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder and criminal attempt first-degree murder along with deacon from her previous church. The case blossomed when an FBI dive team searched a lake in Walnut, Miss., and found a gun authorities said was used in the murder. In 2014, she agreed to a confidential settlement in a dispute over how she spent $1 million in insurance earmarked to benefit their children. She received a 30-year sentence in summer of 2019 after pleading guilty to facilitation of first-degree murder.

Bob "Zeke" Zawoluk, St. John's (Frank McGuire) - All-American in 1950-51 and 1951-52 after scoring school-record 65 points against St. Peter's in 1949-50 had turbulent life including vast emotional instability, an arson rap, crack addiction, grand larceny conviction and prison. After getting fired by one of a series of auto dealers for which he worked, he got even in an alcohol-fueled rage in Queens and Nassau County in 1986, dousing two luxury cars with gasoline, torching them, then ramming into 17 other cars, before being apprehended after a high-speed chase. Following another transgression, he was paroled on Christmas Eve, 1993, after serving nearly two years at Clinton Correctional Facility on robbery and grand larceny charges. A subsequent positive drug test violated his parole and sent him to Rikers Island in the mid-1990s.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as ill-informed GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick and his supporters, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 22 in football at the professional level (especially in 1968 playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Colts):

DECEMBER 22

• Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw four touchdown passes - including 82-yarder to Frank Jackson - in a 48-0 AFL win against the New York Jets in 1963 season finale.

• Carolina Panthers DE Greg Hardy (Ole Miss backup forward as freshman in 2006-07) had three sacks in a 17-13 victory against the New Orleans Saints in 2013.

• Minnesota Vikings QB Joe Kapp (backup forward averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg for California's PCC champions in 1957 and 1958) threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 24-14 setback against the Baltimore Colts in 1968 NFL playoff divisional round. Vikings DT Gary Larsen (ex-Marine played multiple hoops seasons for Concordia MN in early 1960s) had a sack. Colts TE John Mackey (Syracuse hooper in 1960-61) caught three passes for 92 yards - including a 49-yard TD from Earl Morrall - and Colts WR Tom Mitchell (averaged 6.1 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 10 basketball games for Bucknell in 1963-64) opened game's scoring with a TD catch.

• Jacksonville Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball games in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) caught a touchdown pass in his fourth consecutive contest in 2013.

• Pittsburgh Steelers E Cy McClairen (two-time all-league selection scored 36 points for Bethune-Cookman in 1953 SIAC Tournament championship game) opened game's scoring with a 48-yard touchdown pass reception from Morrall in 27-2 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1957 season finale.

• San Francisco 49ers rookie E R.C. Owens (led small colleges with 27.1 rpg in 1953-54 while also averaging 23.5 ppg for College of Idaho) opened game's scoring by catching a 34-yard touchdown pass from Y.A. Tittle in 31-27 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1957 Western Conference playoff tiebreaker. 49ers E Billy Wilson (averaged 3.3 ppg as senior letterman for San Jose State in 1950-51) caught a 12-yard TD pass from Tittle.

• New York Yankees TB Ace Parker (Duke hoops letterman in 1936) completed 8-of-18 passes in a 14-9 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1946 NFL championship game.

• Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught 10 passes for 247 yards - including four touchdowns from Tom Flores - in a 52-49 AFL win against the Houston Oilers in 1963 season finale.

• Kansas City Chiefs FL Otis Taylor (backup small forward for Prairie View A&M after school's glory years with Zelmo Beaty) had four pass receptions for 117 yards in a 41-6 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1968 AFL Western Division playoffs.

• Atlanta Falcons LB Kenny Tippins (made one basket and grabbed six rebounds in three hoops games with Middle Tennessee State in 1989-90) returned an interception 35 yards in 31-27 setback against the Dallas Cowboys in 1991 season finale.

Christmas week is the most wonderful time of the year despite lunacy in some quarters claiming Soleimani resting in pieces represents Armageddon and making inane comparisons of illegal aliens to Jesus. Yes, holiday festivities can go Grinch-inspired awry between Christmas and New Year's Eve akin to Pocahontas Warren (a/k/a Cherokee asset) slipping down the political totem poles. In ghosts of Christmas' past, just ask top-ranked Virginia, which lost at tiny Chaminade in 1982, and NCAA champion-to-be Michigan, which bowed to Alaska-Anchorage on a neutral court in 1988.

Amid some bone-chilling cold celebrations as liberals such as roof-top dancing bartender AOC want us to cower in corner because of coal-bearing global warming while freezing our butts off, a Christmas holiday week absolutely can not go by without the time-honored tradition of making a list and checking it twice. For instance, many observers are thankful national health-care costs for eye and ear care are dramatically decreased from looking at and listening to Melania and Ivanka rather than #ShrillaryRotten and Chelsea despite occasional myopic musings from prayerful #NannyPathetic after regaining the House gavel. The college basketball wish list, a stocking stuffer distinguishing between the naughty and nice, doesn't change much from the previous month at Thanksgiving or next week among New Year Resolutions. Opting out from responding to apology demands, some of them may fall in the Christmas Miracle petition category but following is a healthy serving of food-for-thought wishes presented to college hoop observers:

• Wish peace and comfort to family and friends of striking number of former All-American players and prominent coaches who passed away this year.

• Wish deserving mid-major players earn All-American acclaim this season and majority of Final Four participants are mid-majors because power conferences have never encountered such widespread mediocrity.

• Wish ex-college hoopers continued success as prominent NFL tight ends.

• Wish fans understand how good the Big East Conference first division is after league upheaval several years ago. Despite what Bill Walton might spout about the conference of champions, the Big East cellar dwellers are superior to almost all teams in the Pac 12.

• Wish special seasons for standout seniors such as Iowa's Luka Garza because they didn't abandon college hoops early and give the sport at least some modicum of veteran leadership.

• Wish the best for the Ivy League and Patriot League, which seem like the last bastions replete with textbook student-athletes. Despite no competition this season stemming from COVID pandemic, four Ivy League institutions - Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth and Harvard - can still hold their heads high despite each of them posting all-time losing records.

• Wish proper acclaim for pristine playmakers who show again and again that "pass" is not a dirty four-letter word amid the obsession with individualistic one-on-one moves by self-absorbed one-and-done scholars.

• Wish many highlights for entertaining little big men (players 5-10 or shorter) who inspire us with their self-confidence and mental toughness in the Land of the Giants.

• Wish junior college players and foreigners could overcome perceptions in some misguided quarters that they are the rogues of recruiting.

• Wish patience for the numerous promising first-year coaches assuming control of programs this season. They need to remember the fortitude exhibited by many of the biggest names in coaching who rebounded from embarrassing defeats in their first season as a head coach. An active luminary who lost multiple games to non-Division I colleges in his initial campaign before ascending to stardom as the all-time winningest coach is Duke's Mike Krzyzewski (lost to SUNY-Buffalo, Scranton and King's College in 1975-76 while coaching Army).

• Wish Division I schools will soon find their bearings amid the chaotic restructuring of conferences forsaking tradition although the quest for mega-leagues could be delusional because they're vying for nonexistent television revenue.

• Wish more accuracy for recruiting services incapable of discerning multiple recent national player of the year honorees should have been ranked higher. Ditto to announcers who infect the sport by spreading this virus without ever seeing any of the players enough to properly evaluate them.

• Wish marquee coaches wouldn't serve up assistants as sacrificial lambs resembling Grinch when the heat of an investigation of their program intensifies. This practice really got out of hand when the FBI was involved, leading to myopic mentors promoting postseason tournament bans to try to influence NCAA enforcement as sentencing got closer and closer.

• Wish prominent programs would reduce, if not eliminate, academic exceptions. Of course, the quality of play will diminish by emphasizing textbook student-athletes but it's not as if half of the non-league games on TV aren't mismatches, anyway.

• Wish wisdom for anyone who incessantly castigates the majority of undergraduates declaring early for the NBA draft. Before accepting the party line that many of the players are making monumental mistakes by forgoing their remaining college eligibility, remember that more than half of the NBA's All-Pro selections in the last quarter century or so left college early or never attended a university.

• Wish a heart for any school not promptly granting a recruit seeking to enroll elsewhere a release from its letter-of-intent when he wants to attend another institution for legitimate reasons.

• Wish jaws wired shut for "Me Generation" showmen and "trippers" who've failed to comprehend their respective teams don't benefit on the court from a trash-talking Harlem Globetrotter routine.

• Wish self-absorbed players will finally see the light and spend less time getting tattoos and practicing macho dunks and more on team beneficial free throws. It all hinges on dedication. There is a reason they're supposed to be "free" throws instead of Shaq-like "foul" shots.

• Wish high-profile coaches would show more allegiance rather than taking off for greener pastures despite having multiple years remaining on their contract. Also wish said pacts didn't include bonus for graduation ratio or GPA insofar as many coaches become Sgt. "I Know Nothing" Schultz whenever academic anemia issues surface.

• Wish network analysts would refrain from serving as apologists for the coaching community. When their familiar spiels echo throughout hoopdom, they become nothing more than the big mouths that bore.

• Wish marquee schools will vow to stop forsaking entertaining non-conference games with natural rivals while scheduling a half-dozen or more meaningless "rout-a-matics" at home. Aren't two or three gimmes enough?

• Wish a generous dose of ethics to defrauding coaches who manipulate junior colleges and high schools into giving phony grades. Ditto coaches who steer prize high school prospects to third parties toying with standardized test results.

• Wish authenticity for those "fatherly-advice" coaches who don't mandate that any player with pro potential take multiple financial literacy courses. Did they notice in recent years that products from Alabama, Georgia Tech, Georgetown, Kentucky and Syracuse filed for bankruptcy after combining for more than half a billion dollars in salaries over their NBA careers? What kind of classes are taken in college anyway if a staggering 60% of NBA players file for bankruptcy five years after retirement? There's personal responsibility, but shouldn't the universities they attended feel some sort of culpability? And don't you wish most agents would become extinct if such a high percentage of pros end up with holes in their pockets?

• Wish overzealous fans will stop flogging freshmen for not living up to their high school press clippings right away. The impatient onlookers need to get a grip on themselves.

• Wish many of the excessive number of small schools with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, thinking they can compete at the Division I level, would return to DII, DIII or NAIA. There are far too many examples of dreamy-eyed small schools such as Chicago State believing that competing with the big boys will get them national recognition, make big bucks from the NCAA Tournament and put the institutions on the map. They don't know how unrealistic that goal is until most of the hyphenated and directional schools barnstorm the country during their non-conference schedules in college basketball versions of Bataan Death Marches.

• Wish lapdog-lazy media outhustled by Louisville Escort Queen, creepy porn lawyer #Avenaughty and Duke student newspaper would display more energy exhibiting enterprising analysis. Why do almost all of the principal college basketball websites "progressively" look and read virtually the same? It's a byproduct of predictably pathetic press needing a jolt of adversarial reporting in toy department (sports) as well as dimwits such as CNN's Fredo Cuomo, the most distrusted snake among #MessMedia at most distrusted name in news (including anal legal analyst and his pet snake colleagues can Zoom in on).

• Wish coaches would "shut up and sing" rather than weigh in with opinions on restroom access, let alone POTUS pap criticism offered principally to appease their player pipeline of 90%-plus leftists exhibiting actual discrimination by voting one way.

• Wish ESPN, failing to acknowledge significant reduction in subscribers stems from #KneelWithJemele liberalism being a mental disorder, would cease becoming BSPN by giving politically-correct forums to insufferable leftist lunatics such as Howard Bryant and "experts" who either lie to NCAA investigators as a coach, drop their pants for locker-room motivation, get fired for intoxication, participate as agent in funneling funds to regal recruit, can't quite figure out Dell Curry's sons could also be All-Americans (while instead recruiting multiple thugs) and practice reprehensible race-baiting with the intellectually-bankrupt "Uncle Tom" bomb. If not, Extra Sensitive Pious Network will need yet another new Skipper for sinking ship.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as ill-informed GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick and his supporters, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 19 in football at the professional level (especially in 2010):

DECEMBER 19

• Kansas City Chiefs LB Bobby Bell (first African-American hooper for Minnesota in 1960-61) returned an interception 26 yards for touchdown in a 22-9 win against the Buffalo Bills in 1971.

• E Billy Dewell (three-time All-SWC first-team pick for SMU in late 1930s) and E Mal Kutner (two-year Texas hoops letterman in early 1940s) each had one of the Chicago Cardinals' three pass receptions in a 7-0 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1948 NFL championship game. Eagles HB Bosh Pritchard (four-sport letterman for VMI) rushed for 67 yards on 16 carries.

• New Orleans Saints rookie TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09) caught two first-half touchdown passes from Drew Brees in a 30-24 setback against the Baltimore Ravens in 2010.

• Kansas City Chiefs rookie WR Tony Hargain (averaged 2.3 ppg for Oregon from 1986-87 through 1988-89 under coach Don Monson) posted career highs of six pass receptions and 76 receiving yards in a 35-21 setback against the New York Giants in 1992.

• Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught nine passes - including two touchdowns - in a 48-3 win against the Green Bay Packers in 2005. Ravens LB Adalius Thomas (averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Southern Mississippi in 1996-97 and 1997-98) scored a TD on 35-yard fumble recovery return.

• Oakland Raiders TE Teyo Johnson (part-time starting forward for Stanford averaged 4.9 ppg and 3 rpg in 2000-01 and 2001-02) opened the game's scoring with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Kerry Collins in 40-35 win against the Tennessee Titans in 2004.

• Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight basketball games for Texas-El Paso in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) rushed for 145 yards on 20 carries in a 24-16 win against the Carolina Panthers in 2020.

• Jacksonville Jaguars TE Damon Jones (averaged 3.9 ppg and 3.1 rpg for Southern Illinois in 1995-96 under coach Rich Herrin) opened game's scoring with a touchdown reception from Mark Brunell in 24-14 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1999.

• Houston Texans WR Jacoby Jones (part-time starter averaged 3.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg for Lane TN in 2004-05 and 2005-06) had a career-high seven pass receptions in 31-17 setback against the Tennessee Titans in 2010.

• Miami Dolphins rookie RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) had nine pass receptions for 148 yards in a 47-34 setback against the Buffalo Bills in 1993.

• Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 14-10 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1954.

• Green Bay Packers TE Rich McGeorge (all-league hooper for Elon averaged 13.7 ppg and 9.1 rpg while making 59% of his field-goal attempts) had a career-high five pass receptions in 27-6 setback against the Miami Dolphins in 1971.

• Cleveland Browns rookie HB Ara Parseghian (Miami of Ohio hooper in 1946-47 and 1947-48) rushed for 14 yards on four carries in a 49-7 win against the Buffalo Bills in 1948 AAFC championship game.

• Dallas Cowboys RB Preston Pearson (swingman averaged 8.7 ppg and 6 rpg as Illinois senior in 1966-67) rushed 13 times for 43 yards and caught six passes for 41 yards in a 14-12 playoff setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1976.

• Cleveland Browns TE Robert Royal (collected 10 points and six rebounds in five LSU basketball games in 2000-01) opened game's scoring with a 20-yard touchdown reception from Colt McCoy in 19-17 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010.

• Washington Redskins CB Lonnie Sanders (averaged 10.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg as Michigan State forward in 1961-62) closed out 1965 campaign with an interception in his second straight game.

• Philadelphia Eagles rookie WR Troy Smith (played four basketball games for East Carolina in 1996-97) tore ligament in his leg making only pro reception - 14 yards from QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) - in a 24-9 win against the New England Patriots in 1999.

• New York Jets DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) recorded a safety in 22-17 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010.

• Kansas City Chiefs FL Otis Taylor (backup small forward for Prairie View A&M) caught a touchdown pass in each of last three AFL games of his rookie season in 1965.

• E Will Walls (starting forward with TCU for three years from 1935 through 1937) had one of the New York Giants' four pass receptions in a 28-0 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1943 NFL championship game.

• Minnesota Vikings CB Charlie West (collected two points and one rebound in two UTEP games in 1967-68 under Don Haskins) had a league-high 89-yard interception return in 27-10 win against the Chicago Bears in 1971 regular-season finale.

• San Diego Chargers DB Bud Whitehead (averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.5 rpg in 15 games for Florida State in 1959-60) had two interceptions in a 24-14 AFL win against the Oakland Raiders in 1965.

Schools are changing rosters and schedules as much as woke leftists unearth questionable votes. In a bizarre year, bowl season starts before the regular season concludes. There have been a striking number of hoopers over the years contributing to bowl football teams prior to switching from the gridiron to the hardwood. Former South Carolina football wide receiver/basketball guard Bruce Ellington, after throwing a touchdown pass to the Gamecocks' quarterback on a reverse and catching a go-ahead TD pass in the second half of the Capital One Bowl against Wisconsin seven years ago, is among the all-time Top 10 "Men For All Seasons."

In an era of specialization, research reveals Ellington is the first major-college basketball regular to compete the same academic school year in three consecutive football bowl games. He joined Terry Baker (Oregon State), Mike Bush (Washington State), Rick Casares (Florida), Ronald Curry (North Carolina), Charles Davis (Purdue), Pete Elliott (Michigan), Fred Gibson (Georgia), Teyo Johnson (Stanford), Matt Jones (Arkansas), Terry Kirby (Virginia), Dave Logan (Colorado), Tony "Zippy" Morocco (Georgia) and Jerry Priestley (Georgia Tech) as athletes scoring a touchdown in a bowl game shortly before or after switching uniforms and making significant contributions to the school's basketball squad. Ellington, after pacing USC in pass receptions, cut short both his college football and basketball career by declaring early for the NFL draft (started two of three early-season hoop contests).

In the ultimate one-and-only achievement, Baker is the lone football Heisman Trophy winner to play in the basketball Final Four (1963). Kirby, a running back, and Matt Blundin, a quarterback, were teammates who competed in back-to-back years for Virginia football squads in bowl games (Florida Citrus following 1989 season and Sugar following 1990) before becoming members of Cavaliers hoop teams participating in the NCAA playoffs.

Michigan State's Andre Rison is among a striking number of athletes who "crafted" playing both sports at the highest collegiate level in the same school year. NFL all-time great tight end Tony Gonzalez (California) is among the following alphabetical list of versatile athletes since end of World War II who played in at least one football bowl game the same school year they competed as a hooper (bowl year denotes when regular season was played):

Football-Basketball Player	College	FB Pos.	Bowl Game(s)	Two-Way Athlete Summary in Same Academic School Year
Doug Atkins	Tennessee	DE	1950 Cotton	Eventual NFL first-round pick helped defeat Texas 20-14 before averaging 9.9 ppg for Volunteers' basketball squad.
Terry Baker	Oregon State	QB	1962 Liberty	MVP's 99-yard run from scrimmage accounted for only points in 6-0 victory against Villanova before becoming runner-up in scoring (13.4 ppg) with Beavers' NCAA Tournament fourth-place finisher.
Octavus Barnes	North Carolina	WR	1994 Sun	Set school bowl game records for receptions (nine) and receiving yards (165) in 35-31 setback against Texas before playing in five basketball contests under coach Dean Smith.
Connor Barwin	Cincinnati	TE	2006 International	One solo tackle in 27-24 triumph against Western Michigan before averaging 1.2 ppg and 1.4 rpg for Bearcats' basketball team.
Matt Blundin	Virginia	QB	1989 Florida Citrus/1990 Sugar	Backup in two defeats (31-21 vs. Illinois and 23-22 vs. Tennessee) while averaging 3.3 ppg and 4.6 rpg with two NCAA playoff teams for Cavaliers.
Larry Brown	Georgia	TE	1997 Outback	Defeated Wisconsin 33-6 before averaging 6.3 ppg and 4.2 rpg for Bulldogs' NIT third-place team.
Mike Bush	Washington State	WR	2001 Sun	A 46-yard TD reception helped defeat Purdue 33-27 before becoming Cougars' third-leading scorer with 10.9 ppg as hoop senior.
Rick Casares	Florida	FB-PK	1952 Gator	Rushed 21 times for 86 yards, scoring first TD in Gators' bowl history, and kicked both extra points in 14-13 nod over Tulsa before All-SEC second-team selection paced hoop squad in scoring (15.5 ppg) and rebounding (11.5 rpg).
Rip Collins	Louisiana State	FB	1947 Cotton	All-SEC pick helped LSU secure 15-1 edge in first downs and 255-54 advantage in net yards rushing in 0-0 tie with Arkansas in standoff known as Ice Bowl because of sleet and snow before earning letter for school's hoop squad.
Sam Craft	Memphis	RB	2015 Birmingham	Scored seven touchdowns (5 rushing/2 receiving) for bowl team losing against Auburn, 31-10, before averaging 2.2 ppg under coach Josh Pastner.
Ed Crawford	Mississippi	DB	1955 Sugar	Thwarted any comeback attempt by TCU with interception in Rebels' 14-13 win in 1956 Cotton Bowl after 21-0 Sugar Bowl setback against Navy previous year before earning hoops letter as 6-3 forward.
Sam Crenshaw	Penn State	WR-DB	1997 Citrus	Caught two passes for 53 yards as freshman for Joe Paterno-coached team losing bowl game against Florida, 21-6, before collecting two points and one rebound in five basketball contests.
Ronald Curry	North Carolina	QB	1998 Las Vegas	Curry's 48-yard TD scamper put Tar Heels in front to stay in 20-13 win over San Diego State before averaging 2.8 ppg and 1.7 apg for hoop squad upset in first round of NCAA playoffs by Weber State.
Charles Davis	Purdue	TE	2004 Sun	His 6-yard TD reception from Kyle Orton put Boilermakers ahead with just over one minute remaining but Arizona State marched 80 yards in four plays to win 27-23 before Davis averaged 2.9 ppg and 3.1 rpg in coach Gene Keady's swan song.
Matt Davison	Nebraska	SE	1999 Fiesta	Leading Husker receiver in three bowl games, including 31-21 nod over Tennessee, before starting two Big 12 Conference basketball contests.
Rickey Dudley	Ohio State	TE	1994 Florida Citrus	Caught two passes for 26 yards in 24-17 setback against Alabama before averaging team-high 7.5 rpg.
Bruce Ellington	South Carolina	WR	2011 Capital One/2012 Outback/2013 Capital One	Season-long 45-yard kickoff return in 30-13 win over Nebraska and caught game-winning TD pass with only seconds remaining in 33-28 victory against Michigan before averaging 10.5 ppg while finishing Gamecocks' leader in either assists or steals.
Pete Elliott	Michigan	B	1947 Rose Bowl	Rushed seven times for 53 yards and caught 1-yard TD pass in 49-0 romp over Southern California before averaging 6 ppg for Wolverine hoopers.
Percy Ellsworth	Virginia	S	1994 Independence	Integral part of defense leading nation in interceptions helped Cavaliers end four-game bowl losing streak with 20-10 verdict over TCU before appearing in all four contests with Midwest Regional runner-up in NCAA tourney.
James Francis	Baylor	LB	1986 Bluebonnet	Eventual NFL first-round pick helped Bears beat Colorado 21-9 before averaging 2.2 ppg and 2.2 rpg while shooting 52.2% from floor.
Fred Gibson	Georgia	WR	2001 Music City	Opened scoring with 15-yard TD reception but Boston College rallied to prevail 20-16 before Gibson averaged 4.9 ppg with Bulldogs' NCAA playoff team.
Tony Gonzalez	California	TE	1996 Aloha	Established Cal bowl record with nine receptions in 42-38 reversal against Navy before averaging 6.8 ppg and 4.5 rpg with Bears' squad losing against North Carolina in East Regional semifinals.
Gregg Guenther	Southern California	TE	2003 Rose	Part-time starter for national champion managed one reception for 19 yards from QB Matt Leinart in 28-14 win against Michigan before averaging 5.6 ppg and 4.7 rpg with Trojans' hoop squad.
Ross Hales	Indiana	TE	1993 Independence	Caught 34-yard pass in second quarter of 45-20 loss against Virginia Tech before making token appearance for Coach Bob Knight in Hoosiers' 67-58 win over Temple in NCAA playoffs.
Cecil Hankins	Oklahoma A&M	B	1945 Cotton	Two-way back and top pass receive for Aggies team that trounced TCU before playing forward and leading basketball squad in scoring in NCAA playoffs for 1945 national titlist.
Ernest Hawkins	Texas Tech	QB	1947 Sun	Red Raiders football squad lost, 13-12, to Ara Parseghian-led Miami of Ohio before Hawkins briefly played hoops.
Jesse Holley	North Carolina	WR	2004 Continental Tire	Caught five passes for 66 yards in 37-24 defeat against Boston College before appearing in a couple of NCAA tourney contests for 2005 national champion under coach Roy Williams.
Joe Howard	Notre Dame	WR	1983 Liberty	Caught one pass for 43 yards in 19-18 decision over Doug Flutie-led Boston College before averaging 5.5 ppg and 3.3 apg as part-time starter with Irish NIT runner-up.
William "Allen" Hughes	Navy	WR	1960 Orange	Wide receiver caught eight passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns during regular season as teammate of Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino before Midshipmen lost to Missouri, 21-14. Hughes averaged 4.6 ppg and 1.8 rpg for basketball squad coached by Ben Carnevale.
John Isenbarger	Indiana	TB	1967 Rose	Leading rusher for IU's lone participant in Rose Bowl (lost 14-3 against top-ranked USC) before making one of six field-goal attempts in three basketball games.
Ortege Jenkins	Arizona	QB	1997 Insight.com	Primary signal caller for UA as freshman threw 19 TD passes (one while throwing for 348 yards vs. Washington), but only played briefly in fourth quarter of 20-14 bowl game win against New Mexico. Scored 15 points in 13 games under coach Lute Olson, appearing in waning moments of three NCAA playoff contests.
Steve Joachim	Penn State	QB	1971 Cotton	Seven of 16 completions for John Hufnagel's backup went for touchdowns during regular season before playing briefly in 30-6 rout of Texas in bowl game. Joachim collected two points and two rebounds in only basketball game with the Nittany Lions under coach John Bach before transferring to Temple and winning Maxwell Award.
Teyo Johnson	Stanford	WR	2001 Seattle	A 4-yard fourth-quarter TD reception closed gap prior to bowing against Georgia Tech 24-14 before averaging 5.8 ppg and 4 rpg with Cardinal NCAA playoff squad.
Don Jonas	Penn State	HB	1960 Liberty	Scored a touchdown in 41-12 victory against Oregon before converting both of his free-throw attempts in one basketball game.
Matt Jones	Arkansas	QB	2003 Independence	Scored go-ahead TD, rushed 7 times for 74 yards and completed 6 of 14 passes in 27-14 verdict over Missouri before averaging 5 ppg and 4.5 rpg as Hogs hooper.
Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones	Kentucky	SE	1947 Great Lakes	Leader in pass receptions from QB George Blanda under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant for squad beating Villanova 24-14. All-SEC first-team selection in basketball averaged 9.3 ppg for Adolph Rupp's 1948 NCAA titlist.
Shaun Joplin	Bowling Green State	WR	2013 Little Caesars	Leading receiver for Falcons had team-high six pass receptions in 30-27 reversal against Pitt before son of former Toledo coach Stan Joplin played in one basketball game.
Bill Kaliden	Pittsburgh	QB	1956 Gator	Backup for team losing against Georgia Tech, 21-14, before converting one free throw over three basketball games with the Panthers.
Bronson Kaufusi	Brigham Young	DE	2012 Poinsettia	Recorded sack in 23-6 victory against San Diego State before collecting 21 points and 34 rebounds in 20 hoop games for NIT semifinalist.
Corbin Kaufusi	Brigham Young	DL	2016 Poinsettia	Posted four tackles in 24-21 triumph against Wyoming before 6-10 center collected 10 points and 15 rebounds in 16 hoop games for BYU.
Don King	Syracuse	RB	1961 Liberty	Teammate of Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis was member of football squad coming from behind to nip Miami (Fla.), 15-14, before averaging 5 ppg and 3.9 rpg.
Jeff King	Virginia Tech	TE	2004 Sugar	Caught three passes for 12 yards in 16-13 setback against Auburn before collecting 18 points and 23 rebounds in 16 games as hoop freshman with Hokies.
Erron Kinney	Florida	TE	1996 Sugar	Caught three passes for 40 yards as redshirt freshman with Steve Spurrier-coached team capturing national title upon defeating Florida State, 52-20. Averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.3 rpg in six basketball games under coach Billy Donovan.
Terry Kirby	Virginia	RB	1989 Florida Citrus/1990 Sugar	Rushed for 139 yards in 29 carries with one TD in losses against Illinois (31-21) and Tennessee (23-22) before averaging 2.8 ppg in two seasons with Cavaliers' hoops squad.
E. Roy Lester	West Virginia	E	1948 Sun	Caught 16 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns for football squad defeating UTEP, 21-12, in bowl game before scoring 16 points in 11 basketball games.
Marcedes Lewis	UCLA	TE	2002 Las Vegas	Future NFL first-round pick caught six passes for 51 yards and one touchdown as freshman backup for team beating New Mexico in bowl game before he collected nine points and four rebounds in seven basketball contests under Bruins coach Steve Lavin.
Dave Logan	Colorado	WR	1975 Bluebonnet	His 4-yard TD reception gave Buffaloes 14-0 lead prior to them succumbing against Texas 38-21 before becoming basketball team's runner-up in scoring (12.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg).
Ron Logback	New Mexico State	QB	1960 Sun	Backup to QB Charley Johnson for undefeated team finishing 11-0 after beating Utah State, 20-13. Collected 9 points and 19 rebounds in 10 basketball games for Aggies after appearing in NCAA Tournament the previous year.
Gene Lorendo	Georgia	WR	1948 Orange	Caught 22 passes for 440 yards and one touchdown for football team losing bowl game against Texas, 41-28, before scoring four points playing briefly with the Bulldogs' basketball squad.
Kendell Mack	Auburn	OT	1997 Peach	The Tigers defeated Clemson in bowl game, 21-17, before Mack collected 11 points and 4 rebounds in eight basketball games under coach Cliff Ellis.
David Macklin	Penn State	DB	1996 Fiesta	Member of football squad defeating Texas, 38-15, before freshman collected 13 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in 15 basketball games.
John Meyers	Washington	WR-DT	1959 Rose	Caught six passes for 99 yards during season with first of back-to-back Rose Bowl winners before switching to defensive line and becoming six-year NFL starter. Joined UW's basketball squad for game against UCLA day after first Rose Bowl victory.
Leonard Mitchell	Houston	DE	1978 Cotton	UH squandered 34-12 lead when Joe Montana-led Notre Dame scored 23 unanswered points in fourth quarter to win by one before Mitchell averaged 5.4 ppg and 5.6 rpg for Cougars' hoop squad coached by Guy Lewis.
John Moala	Brigham Young	TE	1996 Cotton	Caught one pass for 18-yard touchdown during season with team topping Kansas State, 19-15, in postseason before collecting 8 points and 25 rebounds in nine basketball games.
Tony "Zippy" Morocco	Georgia	HB	1950 Presidential Cup	Scored two second-half touchdowns (30-yard run from scrimmage and 65-yard punt return) as Co-MVP in 40-20 setback against Texas A&M before averaging 9.7 ppg with Bulldogs' basketball team.
Jordan Norwood	Penn State	WR	2006 Outback	Posted team-high four pass receptions in 20-10 win against Tennessee before grabbing one rebound and dishing out one assist in four basketball games.
Prince Parker	Virginia Tech	TE	2010 Orange	Caught one pass for four yards with Frank Beamer-coached squad finishing season with 40-12 loss against Stanford before making his only field-goal attempt and grabbing one rebound in four basketball games under coach Seth Greenberg.
Brent Petrus	Cincinnati	TE	1997 Humanitarian	Three-year backup QB caught 10 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown as TE his senior season for the Bearcats' first bowl team in 46 years (beat Utah State, 35-19). Averaged 2.5 ppg and 2.2 rpg while shooting 64.4% from the floor under UC coach Bob Huggins, participating in two 1998 NCAA tourney games.
Nate Poole	Marshall	WR	1997 Motor City	Teammate of Randy Moss caught 26 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns during freshman season for bowl team losing to Ole Miss, 34-31, before sinking all four free-throw attempts in two basketball games.
Jerry Priestley	Georgia Tech	QB	1965 Gator	One-yard touchdown run early in fourth quarter helped propel Yellow Jackets to 31-21 win over Texas Tech before he competed in eight basketball games later in school year.
Bryan Randall	Virginia Tech	QB	2003 Insight	Threw for more passing yards (398) than future NFL star Aaron Rodgers (394) in 52-49 setback against Cal before averaging 3.1 ppg and 1.3 rpg for the Hokies under coach Seth Greenberg.
Pat Richter	Wisconsin	E	1962 Rose	Registered then Rose Bowl-record 11 pass receptions in 42-37 setback against USC as senior co-captain before averaging 3.3 ppg and 4.3 rpg in eight basketball games.
Andre Rison	Michigan State	WR	1987 Rose	Had two long pass receptions (55 and 36 yards) in a 20-17 win against USC before registering 24 points and 42 assists in 18 games for the Spartans' basketball squad coached by Jud Heathcote.
Clifton Robinson	Auburn	WR-PR	1997 Peach	The Tigers topped Clemson, 21-17, before freshman collected 22 points, six rebounds and six assists in 12 basketball games under coach Cliff Ellis.
Dave Robinson	Penn State	LB-WR	1960 Liberty	Two-way performer for PSU squad overwhelming Oregon, 41-12, before he made two free throws and grabbed five rebounds in two basketball games for the Nittany Lions.
Nate Robinson	Washington	CB	2002 Sun	His QB sack helped Huskies get off to strong start before bowing against Purdue 34-24 prior to freshman pacing hoopers in scoring (13 ppg).
Reggie Rogers	Washington	DL	1984 Orange	Eventual NFL first-round draft choice helped upend Oklahoma 28-17 before averaging 5.7 ppg and 3.9 rpg with Huskies' hoop squad.
Robert Royal	Louisiana State	TE	2000 Peach	Defeated Georgia Tech, 28-14, after setting school record for tight ends with five touchdown receptions in Nick Saban's first season as coach of the Tigers. Collected 10 points and six rebounds in five basketball games after turning in his cleats.
Bill Saul	Penn State	LB	1959 Liberty	Defeated Alabama 7-0 before averaging 6.1 ppg and 4 rpg with Nittany Lions' hoopers.
Otto Schnellbacher	Kansas	E	1947 Orange	Football co-captain finished career with records for receptions (58) and receiving yards (1,069) standing for 22 years. Leading scorer for KU's hoop squad in 1947-48.
Dick Schnittker	Ohio State	E	1950 Rose	Rushed once for five yards in 17-14 victory against California before All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection was game-high scorer in two 1950 NCAA playoff contests for Buckeyes.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins	Washington	TE	2011 Alamo	Caught five passes for 59 yards in highest-scoring regulation bowl game in history (67-56 loss to RGIII-led Baylor) before collecting seven points and nine rebounds in four NIT contests for Huskies' semifinalist.
Jim Skala	Michigan	E	1950 Rose	Caught two passes for 33 yards with football team going on to defeat favored Cal, 14-6, prior to averaging 7.5 ppg on UM's hoop squad.
Dick Soergel	Oklahoma State	QB	1958 Bluegrass	Completed 6 of 12 passes for 77 yards and 2-point conversion in 15-6 win against Florida State before averaging 8.5 ppg and 4.9 rpg for Pokes' basketball squad plus posting 8-1 pitching record and winning national championship baseball game.
Peter "Pat" Stark	Syracuse	QB	1952 Orange	Blasted by Bart Starr-led Alabama, 61-6, before averaging 9.7 ppg for SU's hoop squad.
Roy "Rebel" Steiner	Alabama	E-DB	1947 Sugar	All-SEC choice was leading pass receiver for Crimson Tide squad losing to Texas, 27-7, before forward earned a letter for Bama's basketball team.
Tai Streets	Michigan	WR	1996 Outback	Wolverines' leading receiver had only two catches for 12 yards in 17-14 setback against Alabama before collecting four points and seven rebounds in 13 basketball games for NIT titlist coached by Steve Fisher.
Syniker Taylor	Mississippi	FS	1999 Independence	Tied for team lead with three interceptions for football squad that edged Oklahoma, 27-25, before starting six basketball games en route to averaging 2.2 ppg and 2.3 rpg.
Adalius Thomas	Southern Mississippi	DE	1997 Liberty	All-CUSA defensive lineman for team pounding Pitt, 41-7, on gridiron before competing in three basketball games for USM after being a hoop regular as power forward the previous season.
Lamar Thomas	Miami (Fla.)	WR	2000 Cotton	Caught one pass for 14 yards in 46-3 trouncing of Texas before collecting 16 points and 4 rebounds in four basketball games.
Wilson Thomas	Nebraska	WR	2001 Rose	Huskers leading receiver caught three passes for 36 yards in 37-14 loss against Miami (Fla.) before averaging 4.6 ppg and 3.8 rpg.
Willie Townsend	Notre Dame	WR	1972 Orange	Irish's top pass catcher and teammates lost to Johnny Rodgers-led Nebraska 40-6 before averaging 2.1 ppg for Digger Phelps-coached hoop squad.
Charlie Ward	Florida State	QB	1992 Orange/1993 Orange	Completed 39-of-73 passes for 473 yards in back-to-back victories over Nebraska (27-14 and 18-16) while pacing FSU in assists and steals average his final two hoop campaigns.
Derek Watson	South Carolina	RB	2002 Outback	Lou Holtz protege rushed for 27 yards on 11 carries and caught four passes for 37 yards in 31-28 win against Ohio State before scoring one point in two minutes of one hoops game.
Charlie West	Texas-El Paso	DB	1967 Sun	Bobby Dodd's pupil eventually named to 75th Anniversary of All-Sun Bowl Team collected two points and one rebounds in two games under Miners coach Don Haskins.
Ron Widby	Tennessee	P	1965 Bluebonnet/1966 Gator	Nation's top punter for coach Doug Dickey's second of first two Vols football teams that both went to bowl games (wins over Tulsa 27-6 and Syracuse 18-12) while also being an All-SEC basketball selection (including 50-point outburst in final home game).
De'Runnya Wilson	Mississippi State	WR	2013 Liberty	Caught three passes from Bulldogs QB Dak Prescott for 37 yards in 44-7 win against Rice before collecting 6 points and 11 rebounds in seven hoop games.
Pat Wilson	Michigan State	QB-DB	1956 Rose	Substituted in as DB for Earl Morrall (his roommate) in 17-14 win against UCLA. Single-platoon football permitted one substitution among the starting 11. Went on to average 6.1 ppg and 3.4 rpg in 14 hoop contests.
Irvin "Whiz" Wisniewski	Michigan	E	1947 Rose	Caught four passes for 73 yards in 1947 as member of 10-0 national championship team as sophomore before scoring two points in Wolverines' first NCAA playoff win (66-49 against Columbia in 1948 Eastern Regional third-place game).

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as ill-informed GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick and his supporters, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 16 in football at the professional level (especially in 1973):

DECEMBER 16

• Cincinnati Bengals QB Ken Anderson (swingman finished Augustana IL career in early 1970s as fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,044 points) threw three touchdown passes for third time in last four games of 1973 campaign.

• San Francisco 49ers RB Joe Arenas (averaged 6.2 ppg in 1949-50 and 1950-51 for Nebraska-Omaha) scored go-ahead touchdown in fourth quarter with a 67-yard punt return in 30-17 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1956 season finale.

• Washington Redskins B Steve Bagarus (Notre Dame hooper in early 1940s) had a 38-yard pass reception for the game's first touchdown in a 15-14 setback against the Cleveland Rams in 1945 NFL championship contest. E Jim Benton (forward was Arkansas' third-leading scorer in SWC play as senior in 1937-38) scored the Rams' first TD with a 37-yard pass reception from Bob Waterfield en route to game highs of nine catches and 125 receiving yards. Rams E Steve Pritko (Villanova two-year hoops letterman) caught two passes for 17 yards.

• Pittsburgh Steelers DB Tony Dungy (roommate of Flip Saunders averaged 2.6 ppg for Minnesota in 1973-74 under coach Bill Musselman) intercepted a pass in second consecutive contest in 1978.

• Carolina Panthers DE Greg Hardy (Ole Miss backup forward as freshman in 2006-07) had two sacks and five tackles in a 31-7 victory against the San Diego Chargers in 2012.

• Los Angeles Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting hoops center for Michigan hoops in 1944) had three of his league-high 17 touchdown receptions in a 42-14 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1951 season finale.

• San Diego Chargers WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's scoring leader with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) caught three touchdown passes from Philip Rivers in a 34-7 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 2010.

• St. Louis Cardinals QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) passed for 386 yards - including 77-yard touchdown reception to Sonny Randle (scoreless in seven basketball games in Virginia's third season in ACC in 1955-56) - in a 45-35 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1962 season finale.

• Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper under legendary coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw four touchdown passes - three to Larry Brown - in a 38-20 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973 season finale.

• Green Bay Packers E Ron Kramer (three-time All-Big Ten Conference selection was Michigan's MVP each season and All-American as senior in 1956-57) opened the game's scoring with a 45-yard touchdown catch in 20-17 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1962 season finale.

• Baltimore Colts TE Tom Mitchell (averaged 6.1 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 10 basketball games for Bucknell in 1963-64) provided a fourth-quarter, go-ahead touchdown reception in 18-13 win against the New England Patriots in 1973 regular-season finale.

• San Francisco 49ers E R.C. Owens (led small colleges with 27.1 rpg in 1953-54 while also averaging 23.5 ppg for College of Idaho) caught two touchdown passes from John Brodie in a 27-24 setback against the Baltimore Colts in 1961 season finale.

• Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) caught two first-half touchdown passes from Tony Romo in a 38-28 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 2006.

• Dallas Cowboys RB Preston Pearson (swingman averaged 8.7 ppg and 6 rpg as Illinois senior in 1966-67) had five pass receptions for 108 yards in a 35-34 win against the Washington Redskins in 1979 season finale. Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) passed for 336 yards and three TDs. Six years earlier, Staubach completed 14-of-19 passes - including three touchdowns - in a 30-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973 season finale.

• New York Giants DB Emlen Tunnell (forward was top reserve for Toledo team compiling 22-4 record and finishing second in 1943 NIT) returned a punt 74 yards for touchdown in 27-17 win against the New York Yanks in 1951 season finale.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as ill-informed GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick and his supporters, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 15 in football at the professional level (especially in 1935 championship contest and 1963):

DECEMBER 15

• Miami Dolphins LB Larry Ball (played eight hoop games for Louisville as sophomore in 1968-69 before persuaded by coach Lee Corso to concentrate on football) had an interception in 34-7 win against the Detroit Lions in 1973. Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw four touchdown passes to Paul Warfield.

• Miami Dolphins WR Chris Chambers (played briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught seven passes for 138 yards in a 23-17 win against the Oakland Raiders in 2002. Dolphins DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) had three sacks.

• Detroit Lions TB Dutch Clark (four-time All-Rocky Mountain Conference hoops choice for Colorado College) rushed seven times for a game-high 80 yards - including 40-yard touchdown - in 26-7 win against the New York Giants in 1935 NFL championship contest. TB Ed Danowski (Fordham hoops letterman in 1932-33) threw a 42-yard pass for the Giants' lone touchdown. Giants rookie E Tod Goodwin (West Virginia hoops letterman in 1933) had two pass receptions for 26 yards. Giants B Kink Richards (Simpson IA hoops letterman) rushed for 31 yards on 10 carries and returned one kickoff for 30 yards.

• Chicago Bears QB Jack Concannon (grabbed one rebound in one Boston College basketball contest in 1961-62) threw two touchdown passes in a 28-27 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1968 season finale.

• Cincinnati Bengals LB James Francis (averaged 3 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Baylor in 1986-87 and 1987-88) had two interceptions - returning one 42 yards for a touchdown - in 21-13 win against the Houston Texans in 1996.

• A fourth-quarter touchdown reception by rookie E Dale Gentry (averaged 5.3 ppg for Washington State's 1941 NCAA Tournament runner-up) propelled the Los Angeles Dons to 17-17 AAFC tie against the Chicago Rockets in 1946.

• New Orleans Saints WR Eugene Goodlow (scored 38 points in 19 games for Kansas State in 1977-78 and 1978-79) caught five passes for 135 yards - including 76-yard touchdown from Bobby Hebert - in a 31-19 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1985.

• Dallas Cowboys DB Manny Hendrix (All-WAC second-team selection for Utah as senior in 1985-86 averaged 12.1 ppg and team-high 5.1 apg as sophomore) recorded a safety in 25-13 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1991.

• Los Angeles Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting center for Michigan hoops in 1944) caught two touchdown passes from Norm Van Brocklin in a 37-21 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1957.

• Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) had 10 pass receptions for 170 yards and two touchdowns from DeShaun Watson in a 29-22 win against the New York Jets in 2018.

• St. Louis Cardinals QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) passed for 299 yards - including two second-quarter touchdowns - in a 28-24 setback against the Dallas Cowboys in 1963.

• Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight basketball games for Texas-El Paso in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) rushed for two third-quarter touchdowns in a 21-13 win against the Chicago Bears in 2019.

• New Orleans Saints QB Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper under legendary coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 24-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1968 season finale.

• Frankfort Yellow Jackets B Ken Mercer (three-year letterman as Simpson IA forward) rushed for three touchdowns in a 19-0 win against the Chicago Bears in 1928.

• Baltimore Colts RB Preston Pearson (swingman averaged 8.7 ppg and 6 rpg as Illinois senior in 1966-67) had two pass reception touchdowns - including 61-yarder from Earl Morrall - in a 28-24 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1968 regular-season finale.

• New York Giants E Buster Poole (three-year Arkansas letterman was senior captain in 1936-37) caught four passes for 40 yards in a 24-14 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1946 NFL championship game.

• Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught two of his AFL-high 16 touchdown passes in a 35-31 AFL win against the Denver Broncos in 1963. Broncos TE Gene Prebola (Boston University hooper in 1957-58) had four pass receptions for 106 yards. Broncos SE Lionel Taylor (led New Mexico Highlands in scoring average with 13.6 ppg in 1955-56 and 20.3 in 1956-57) had 10 of his AFL-leading 78 pass receptions.

• New England Patriots TE-LB John Tanner (JC recruit averaged 3.5 ppg and 3.4 rpg for Tennessee Tech in 1968-69) played on offense, defense and special teams in a 34-27 setback against the Miami Dolphins in 1974 finale.

• Washington Redskins rookie QB Harry Theofiledes (averaged 9.3 ppg and 5 rpg for Waynesburg PA in 1964-65 and 1965-66) threw a 39-yard touchdown pass in 14-3 win against the Detroit Lions in 1968 season finale.

• Tennessee Titans WR Kendall Wright (Baylor hooper as freshman in 2008-09) caught 12 passes for 150 yards in a 37-34 setback against the Arizona Cardinals in 2013.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as ill-informed GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick and his supporters, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 14 in football at the professional level (especially in 1975):

DECEMBER 14

• Washington Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (Texas Christian three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw three touchdown passes in a 40-13 win against the Boston Yanks in 1947. Redskins B Dick Poillon (Canisius hooper in early 1940s) scored two TDs.

• Kansas City Chiefs DE Buck Buchanan (earned hoops letter as Grambling freshman in 1958-59) intercepted a pass in 30-7 AFL win against the Denver Broncos in 1968.

• Green Bay Packers LB Fred Carr (played for defending NCAA champion Texas Western in 1967 playoffs) had two interceptions in a 22-5 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1975.

• Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) had a 43-yard rushing touchdown in 35-3 AFL win against the Boston Patriots in 1963.

• In 1930, the Green Bay Packers' lone score in 6-6 tie against the Portsmouth Spartans was a 15-yard pass from Red Dunn (four-year Marquette letterman first half of 1920s) to rookie Weert Engelmann (All-NCC selection for South Dakota State).

• Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught two touchdown passes in a 45-17 win against the Detroit Lions in 2003.

• Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 37-34 setback against the New York Giants in 1952.

• Philadelphia Eagles TE Jimmie Johnson (averaged 2.7 ppg and 1.5 rpg for Howard University in 1988-89) had a 31-yard pass reception in 21-20 win against the New York Jets in 1996.

• San Francisco 49ers RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) rushed for two touchdowns in a 35-13 win against the Detroit Lions in 1998.

• Houston Texans rookie LB Antwan Peek (made one field goal and grabbed five rebounds in six basketball games for Cincinnati in 2000-01 under coach Bob Huggins) supplied a career-high seven solo tackles in 16-3 setback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003.

• Cleveland Browns RB Greg Pruitt (Oklahoma frosh hooper in 1969-70) rushed for 214 yards on 26 carries - including three touchdowns - in a 40-14 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1975. Browns WR Reggie Rucker (averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg for Boston University in 1966-67) had six pass receptions for 130 yards.

• Indianapolis Colts TE Ross Travis (Penn State's leading rebounder three straight seasons from 2012-13 through 2014-15) caught two passes for a career-high 33 yards in 25-13 setback against the Denver Broncos in 2017.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as ill-informed GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick and his supporters, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 13 in football at the professional level (especially in 1959 and 1964):

DECEMBER 13

• New York Giants TE Kevin Boss (averaged 3 ppg and 2.7 rpg while shooting 51.9% from floor for Western Oregon in 2004-05 and 2005-06) had a career-high seven pass receptions in 45-38 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009.

• Detroit Lions E Cloyce Box (combined with twin brother Boyce to help West Texas win Border Conference hoop championship in 1943) closed out 1952 campaign with his third consecutive contest contributing three pass receptions for touchdowns (including 77-yarder).

• In his lone NFL appearance, Detroit Lions E Gene Cook (averaged 5.1 ppg and 4.2 rpg for Toledo from 1955-56 through 1957-58) caught one pass for 43 yards in a 25-14 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1959.

• Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw four touchdown passes in a 49-6 AFL win against the San Diego Chargers in 1964.

• Chicago Bears rookie WR George Farmer (teammate of UCLA legend Lew Alcindor in 1968-69) caught a career-high nine passes for 142 yards in 35-17 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1970. Bears QB Jack Concannon (grabbed one rebound in one Boston College basketball contest in 1961-62) threw four touchdown passes en route to a career-high 338 yards.

• Ray Flaherty (four-sport Gonzaga athlete including hoops) coached the Washington Redskins in 1942 when they registered a 14-6 win against the Chicago Bears in the NFL championship game. Bears B Ray Nolting (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1936) rushed for 25 yards on eight carries, caught one pass for 11 yards, had one interception and returned a kickoff for 23 yards.

• Chicago Cardinals QB King Hill (Rice letterman in 1955-56 and 1956-57) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 35-20 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1959.

• Green Bay Packers RB Paul Hornung (averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) rushed for three touchdowns in a 36-14 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1959.

• St. Louis Cardinals QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) passed for 371 of a league-high 3,045 yards - including two third-quarter touchdowns - in 36-34 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1964.

• New Orleans Saints QB Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper under legendary coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw three touchdown passes in a 38-27 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1970. The next year with the Washington Redskins, Kilmer threw three TD passes in a 38-24 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1971.

• Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 41-6 win against the Dallas Texans in 1952. The next year, Layne threw two first-half TD passes in a 27-16 win against the New York Giants in 1953. In 1959 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Layne threw four TD passes in a 35-20 win against the Chicago Cardinals.

• New York Giants DE George Martin (Oregon hoops teammate of freshman sensation Ron Lee in 1972-73) returned a fumble recovery 20 yards for touchdown in 20-10 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1981.

• Los Angeles Rams rookie WR Bucky Pope (two-time All-Carolinas Conference pick for Catawba NC averaged 19.4 ppg from 1961-62 through 1963-64) opened game's scoring by catching a 95-yard touchdown pass from Bill Munson in 24-24 tie against the Green Bay Packers in 1964.

• New York Giants CB Jason Sehorn (averaged 12.5 ppg and 6 rpg for Shasta Community College CA in 1990-91) had two interceptions - returning one 35 yards for touchdown - in 30-10 win against the Washington Redskins in 1997.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) passed for 301 yards - including three second-quarter touchdowns - in a 36-34 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964.

• Atlanta Falcons LB Kenny Tippins (made one basket and grabbed six rebounds in three hoops games with Middle Tennessee State in 1989-90) had two sacks in a 35-7 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992.

• Dallas Cowboys P Ron Widby (three-time All-SEC selection for Tennessee averaged 18.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg from 1964-65 through 1966-67) punted seven times for 324 yards (46.3 average) in a 27-10 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1969.

• San Francisco 49ers E Billy Wilson (averaged 3.3 ppg as senior letterman for San Jose State in 1950-51) caught a touchdown pass in last four games to finish with league-high 10 TD catches in 1953.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as ill-informed GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick and his supporters, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 12 in football at the professional level (especially in 1937 championship game):

DECEMBER 12

• Washington Redskins RB Cliff Battles (four seasons of varsity hoops for West Virginia Wesleyan) opened game's scoring with a seven-yard rushing touchdown and LB Eddie Kawal (Illinois hoops letterman in 1930) returned an interception 19 yards in 28-21 win against the Chicago Bears in 1937 NFL Championship. Ray Flaherty (four-sport Gonzaga athlete including hoops) coached the Redskins. Bears E Eggs Manske (point guard led Northwestern to share of 1933 Big Ten Conference crown) had a four-yard pass reception touchdown plus 51-yard catch, Bears B Ray Nolting (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1936) rushed for 31 yards on 10 carries, Bears B Gene Ronzani (among Marquette's top four scorers in 1931-32 and 1932-33) returned an interception 16 yards and Bears B Keith Molesworth (three-year hoops letterman for Monmouth IL in late 1920s) completed a pass for 35 yards to rookie E Dick Plasman (Vanderbilt two-year starting center named to 1936 All-SEC Tournament second five). Plasman also had two sacks.

• Washington Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (Texas Christian three-year letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw three touchdown passes in a 28-21 win against the New York Giants in 1948. Redskins E Hugh Taylor (OCU leading scorer with 11.4 ppg as senior in 1947) caught two second-half TD passes from Baugh. Six years later, Taylor had three first-half TD receptions in a 37-20 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1954.

• Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) completed 23-of-37 passes for 355 yards in a 34-25 AFL setback against the Buffalo Bills in 1965.

• Kansas City Chiefs TE Al Dixon (Iowa State hooper in 1975-76 and 1976-77) had a career-high 102 receiving yards (on six catches) in 21-16 setback against the Los Angeles Raiders in 1982.

• B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern basketball letterman in 1916) supplied all of the Chicago Bears' scoring with a field goal and 30-yard rushing touchdown in 9-7 win against the Pottsville Maroons in 1926.

• Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught two first-half touchdown passes in a 31-28 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 1999.

• Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught two touchdown passes in a 37-14 win against the New York Giants in 2004.

• Los Angeles Rams E Red Hickey (three-time All-SWC selection and member of Arkansas' 1941 Final Four team) opened a game's scoring with touchdown reception of more than 20 yards for third time in less than a month in 1948.

• Green Bay Packers RB Paul Hornung (averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) scored five touchdowns - including two via pass receptions (50 and 65 yards from Bart Starr) - in a 42-27 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1965. Packers LB Dave Robinson (made two free throws and grabbed five rebounds in two basketball games for Penn State in 1960-61) had an 87-yard interception return.

• Washington Redskins QB Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 28-3 win against the Arizona Cardinals in 1999.

• Phoenix Cardinals RB Johnny Johnson (averaged 11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 3.2 apg in 1988-89 after majority of hoop team members walked off San Jose State squad) rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns in a 19-0 win against the New York Giants in 1992.

• Chicago Bears rookie QB Johnny Lujack (averaged 3.4 ppg as starting guard for Notre Dame in 1943-44) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 24-21 setback against the Chicago Cardinals in 1948.

• Dallas Cowboys RB Preston Pearson (swingman averaged 8.7 ppg and 6 rpg as Illinois senior in 1966-67) scored two touchdowns in a 42-35 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1977. Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) completed 14-of-19 passes for three TDs. Six years earlier, Staubach threw three first-half TD passes in a 42-14 win against the New York Giants in 1971.

• Buffalo Bills QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) threw three touchdown passes in a 28-17 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1948 AAFC playoffs.

• Cincinnati Bengals rookie WR Patrick Robinson (starting guard for Tennessee State in 1990-91 when averaging 6.7 ppg and 2.9 apg) had a career-high three pass receptions in a 7-2 setback against the New England Patriots in 1993.

• Philadelphia Eagles LB George Tarasovic (led NLU forerunner Northeast Junior College LA with 21 ppg in 1950-51) returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown in a 47-13 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1965.

• New York Giants E Will Walls (starting forward with TCU for three years from 1935 through 1937) caught a 33-yard touchdown pass in regular-season ending 31-7 win against the Washington Redskins in 1943.

• Philadelphia Eagles DE Norm Willey (Marshall hoops center in late 1940s) opened game's scoring by recovering a fumble for touchdown in 29-14 win against the New York Giants in 1954.