He didn't waste his time, let alone millions of dollars, in another wish-list endeavor akin to pompous political pass-through billionaires Mike Bloomberg and Tom Steyer. Quite the opposite, transfer Patrick Spencer, Northwestern's runner-up in scoring while leading the Wildcats in assists and steals, was perhaps this season's most fascinating athlete worthy of a billion kudos. His pedigree including being the No. 1 pick in 2019 Premier Lacrosse League. In 2019, the four-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year with Loyola (Md.) had 49 goals and 65 assists to finish as the conference's all-time scoring leader.

Collegehoopedia.com frequently focuses on former college hoopers who wound up playing professional baseball and football. Spencer's wherewithal supports the theory in some quarters that basketball players are the most versatile team-sport athletes in the world. What other sport demands such an abundance of speed, strength, stamina, coordination, quickness, jumping ability, teamwork, timing, guile and creativity? Following is an alphabetical list of additional "secondary sport" standouts - excluding baseball, football, golf, tennis and track - who also exhibited their athletic prowess in college basketball:

DIRK ANDROFF, Eastern Illinois
Major Softball League player posted 10 consecutive .700-plus batting averages between 1988 and 1997. After swatting 14 homers in 29 plate appearances in 1996 National Softball Association World Series in Johnson City, Tenn., he met an untimely death in the fall of 1997 while working out on an exercise bike. . . . The 6-7 Androff, a three-year starting power forward from 1982-83 through 1984-85, averaged 8 ppg and 5.9 rpg while shooting 61% from the floor. He also was a tight end for EIU when eventual New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton was the Panthers' quarterback.

TRAVIS "HAPA" BROWNE, Palomar Community College (Calif.)
After a dozen UFC victories, the 6-7, 250-pound Hawaiian incurred his first UFC defeat, after popping a hamstring, in early October 2012 against Bigfoot Silva. . . . The mixed martial artist said basketball honed his footwork, movement and feints, giving him an advantage against similar-sized opponents.

MARK CALOWAY, Texas Wesleyan
Known as "The Undertaker," he is a multiple-time champion in the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). The Houston native won his first 12 Wrestle Mania events. . . . The 6-10, 300-pounder played basketball for the Rams in the mid-1980s.

JONATHAN COACHMAN, McPherson (Kan.)
Known as "Coach," he is the cocky young announcer for WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). . . . Two-time KCAC Most Valuable Player was his alma mater's all-time leading scorer (1,782 points) and rebounder (722) when his career ended in 1995.

MIKE DODD, San Diego State
He aligned with Mike Whitmarsh in 1993 and they subsequently became one of the premier pairs on the pro volleyball tour before earning a silver medal in the 1996 Olympics when two-man beach volleyball made its debut. . . . The 6-5, 175-pound guard averaged 10.2 points and three assists per game from 1975-76 through 1978-79, helping the Aztecs capture PCAA titles in 1977 and 1978. Dodd led the PCAA in free-throw percentage as a sophomore (.839). The NBA ninth-round draft choice of the San Diego Clippers in 1979 was a hoop teammate of future baseball sensation Tony Gwynn. Excerpt from school guide: "Shown more year-to-year improvement than anyone on the squad. Has been the 'guts' of the Aztec fast break with his pull-up jumpers and effective drives."

JAMES "BUSTER" DOUGLAS, Coffeyville CC (Kan.)/Sinclair CC (Ohio)
Won world heavyweight boxing title with a 10th-round knockout of Mike Tyson in Tokyo on February 10, 1990. Lost title to Evander Holyfield on a third-round KO in Las Vegas on October 23, 1990. . . . A 6-4, 210-pound forward, the Columbus, Ohio, product averaged nine points and eight rebounds per game for the 1978-79 Coffeyville team that compiled a 25-8 record. He scored 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in an 89-65 rout of Tunxis County CC (Conn.) in the NJCAA national tournament. The next year, he averaged 21.2 ppg and 9 rpg as the starting center for Sinclair. Following his days with the Sinclair Tartans, he accepted a basketball scholarship to Mercyhurst College (Pa.). Mercyhurst's 1980-81 media guide said the law enforcement major "is a great offensive player. His strength and size will provide a much needed dimension to the Laker rebounding efforts."

DICK FINLEY, Syracuse
Midfielder was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1999. He is credited with being the first player to use the over-the-head and wrap checks, which are still prominent maneuvers in contemporary game. . . . Hofstra transfer averaged 5.4 ppg and 4.2 rpg in 29 basketball games in 1961-62 and 1962-63.

JORDAN FITHIAN, Binghamton/Emporia State (Kan.)
Professional handball player in Germany until choosing to move back to U.S. to start a family. Won USATH Open National Championships/Elite Division in 2013 and 2016. . . . The 6-6 Fithian averaged 3.5 ppg and 3.4 rpg as a part-time starting forward with Binghamton in 2004-05 and 2005-06 before transferring to Emporia State, where he averaged 7.8 ppg and 5.1 rpg in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

BRENDAN GAUGHAN, Georgetown
NASCAR racer earned the Winston West championship in 2000 and again in 2001 before moving to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2002. His first NCTS win came at Texas Motor Speedway en route to winning rookie of the year honors. The 2003 campaign was Gaughan's coming-out party, winning six times in 25 starts and finishing fourth in the series title race. . . . The 5-9, 180-pounder collected four points and three rebounds in 14 games as a junior teammate of Allen Iverson in 1996-97. The son of Las Vegas hotel and casino magnate Michael Gaughan was scoreless in three outings as a sophomore and garnered one point and four rebounds in eight contests as a senior.

DICK HAMMER, Southern California
Volleyball player in 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Moonlighting in film work, he portrayed the Marlboro Man in cigarette advertisements in the 1970s. . . . Fifth-leading scorer for the Trojans' 1954 national fourth-place team.

WALT HARRIS, Jacksonville State
Mixed martial artist competes in heavyweight division of UFC, ranking ninth at the end of 2019. . . . The 6-5 Harris averaged 2.3 ppg and 1.5 rpg for OVC member in 2003-04.

JAY HEAPS, Duke
First-team All-American was the No. 2 pick in the 1999 Major League Soccer (MLS) college draft before becoming the league's rookie of the year. Earned the Missouri Athletic Club Sports Foundation Collegiate Men's Soccer Player of the Year Award. Heaps, a four-time All-ACC selection, tallied 45 goals during his college career. . . . The 5-9, 155-pound walk-on point guard from Longmeadow, Mass., played in four seasons for the Blue Devils' basketball team from 1995-96 through half of the 1998-99 campaign. Scored a basket in the 1998 NCAA playoffs against Radford.

PHIL HEATH, Denver
Seven-time Mr. Olympia bodybuilder nicknamed "The Gift." . . . Guard averaged 1.3 ppg from 1998-99 through 2001-02.

GREG "STRIDER" HUMMEL, UC Santa Barbara
In summer of 1977, hiking legend walked the entire 2,650-mile length of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) starting at Mexican border in early April before stepping into Canada in early September. . . . The 6-9 backup center went on to collect 10 points and 18 rebounds in 18 basketball games in 1977-78.

JON KEDROWSKI, Valparaiso
Ski-mountaineer known for summitting and camping overnight on the summit of all 55 of Colorado's Fourteeners (mountains more than 14,000 feet) over course of 95 days in 2011. The next year, Kedrowski successfully climbed Mount Everest. In 2014, he skied 20 Cascade Volcanoes in 30 days. . . . Collected 18 points and 7 rebounds in 18 basketball games in 2000-01 and 2001-02.

JIMMY KEENAN, Notre Dame
Three-time honorable mention All-American as lacrosse midfielder. . . . Played in five basketball games for the Fighting Irish in 1995-96 under coach John MacLeod.

ROLLO KUEBLER, Loyola of Chicago
Inducted into Chicago 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame in 2009. . . . Averaged 1.6 ppg for the Ramblers in 1948-49 (NIT runner-up) and 1950-51.

GREG LEE, UCLA
Combined with Jim Menges to dominate the pro beach volleyball circuit with 13 straight tournament victories in the mid-1970s. He was inducted into the CBVA Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1997. . . . Averaged 5.8 ppg with the Bruins from 1971-72 through 1973-74 as two-time NCAA champion teammate of national player of year Bill Walton.

JEFF LIPSCOMB, San Diego State/UC Santa Barbara
Top beach volleyball player placed 100th in 1996 Boston Marathon and competed in local triathlons in California. . . . The 6-7 Lipscomb averaged 2.3 ppg and 1.4 rpg for SDSU in 1972-73 before averaging 4.2 ppg and 2.8 rpg for UCSB in 1974-75 and 1975-76.

CHARLIE LOCKWOOD, Syracuse
MILL Rookie of the Year in 1995. Played lacrosse for U.S. in the World Games in 1994 and 1998. . . . Scored six points in six games in 1993-94, sinking a three-pointer on his first field-goal attempt.

CARL MANISCALCO, Bradley
Member of Chicago 16 Inch Softball Hall of Fame. . . . Juco recruit averaged 9.2 ppg and 5.1 apg in 1978-79 and 1979-80 under coach Dick Versace, leading the Braves in assists his first season.

CHRIS MARLOWE, San Diego State
Network volleyball commentator was captain of the U.S. gold medal-winning volleyball team at the 1984 Olympics. One of his teammates was eventual broadcast partner Paul Sunderland, who succeeded Lakers legendary announcer Chick Hearn. . . . The 6-3, 190-pound guard was in the Aztecs' regular rotation in three varsity basketball seasons from 1970-71 through 1972-73, averaging 5 ppg and 3.3 rpg. Marlowe grabbed 12 rebounds in a game against San Diego as a sophomore when he was a teammate of eventual NFL defvensive back Joe Lavender.

MIKE MASTERS, Williams (Mass.)
First pro American soccer player to score a goal in London's Wembley Stadium. Member of U.S. National Soccer squad. . . . The 6-4 forward, a part-time starter, averaged 10.6 ppg and 5.1 rpg as a junior in 1987-88 and 5.1 ppg and 3 rpg as a senior in 1988-89.

SEAMUS "SHAE" McNAMARA, Marist
First American to play in the Australian Football League. Signed a two-year international rookie contract and was selected by the Collingwood Football Club in 2009 draft at pick 47. . . . The 6-8 McNamara averaged 3.5 ppg and 2.2 rpg from 2004-05 through 2007-08.

DENNIS MEPHAM, Bowling Green State
Soccer defender played professionally in the NASL, American Soccer League, United Soccer League and MISL (Buffalo Stallions and Cleveland Force/Crunch from 1980 to 1990). He was named to the 1981 ASL All-Star Team with the Rochester Flash. . . . Played in a total of five basketball games with the Falcons in 1976-77 and 1977-78.

DICK MITCHELL, San Diego State
National caliber badminton player ranked as high as second in the nation in the mid-1950s. Selected to the Badminton Hall of Fame in 1974. . . . Center for NAIB champion in 1941 was an All-Tournament selection despite missing the national final because of a back injury. He earned all-conference first-team honors the next year en route to finishing his career as the third-highest scorer in Aztecs history.

PATRICK MITCHELL, North Dakota
Hooked on with the Sydney Swans of the Australian Football League as a Ruckman, where the job is to jump and catch the ball when it's in the air. . . . The 6-8, 220-pound Mitchell averaged 10.1 ppg and 4.6 rpg while shooting 37.3% from three-point range from 2009-10 through 2011-12.

GLEN MUELLER, Cornell
Lacrosse team captain as a senior collected 55 goals and 42 assists in 62 career games, posting at least 30 points in each campaign. The 1971 squad won the sport's inaugural NCAA DI championship. . . . The 6-3 Mueller averaged 4.5 ppg and 2.8 rpg from 1969-70 through 1971-72.

ELIJAH "EZ" MUHAMMAD, Tennessee Tech
CrossFit Games athlete ranked 95th in the U.S. and 192nd worldwide in 2020. He fell short of qualifying for Regionals in 2018 for the first time in eight years in the sport. . . . Native of Columbus, Ohio, averaged 5.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.8 apg and 1.3 spg in 2008-09.

TIM MULQUEEN, St. Joseph's
Head coach of Memphis 901 FC in the USL Championship after serving as goalkeeper coach for the U.S. National Soccer Team at the 2004 Summer Olympics qualifying tournament. U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard credited Mulqueen with helping to establish his career. . . . Played in two basketball games in 1986-87.

VIC NAPOLITANO, Temple
Goalie for the school's undefeated squad in 1951, winning the Owls' first of two national championships. The regal run climaxed in front of the largest crowd ever to attend a soccer game in U.S. history with a 2-0 triumph over San Francisco, ending the Dons' 40-game winning streak. . . . Averaged 2.3 ppg in 11 basketball games in 1949-50. He also hit .255 in the St. Louis Cardinals' farm system in three years from 1954 to 1956.

KEVIN NASH, Tennessee
Known as "Diesel" when he won the World Wrestling Federation championship in a record-setting eight-second bout in 1994. The former bouncer went from a hanger-on to a 6-10, 350-pound hero in about seven months. His pin of Bob Backlund completed an unprecedented trifecta, giving him the WWF World tag team title, International title, and World title in the same calendar year. One of the most popular figures in recent wrestling history quietly began his career in 1990 as a WCW under-card wrestler, including billing as Oz (dressed in green cape and claimed to be "great and powerful") and Vinnie Vegas (wise guy in a pink suit and sunglasses). He was known as "Big Sexy" when he played a Russian in a movie "The Punisher." . . . He weighed about 225 pounds in college as a center who averaged 5.1 ppg and 4.2 rpg in a three-year varsity career (1977-78 through 1979-80) marred by weight problems and injuries. Earned a starting spot as a freshman and had a 13-point, 12-rebound game against Northwestern. Nash contributed a 16-point, 10-rebound outing against Niagara as a sophomore. He collected a total of 19 points and 14 rebounds in just 36 minutes in four NCAA Tournament games in 1979 and 1980. Described in school guide as a "crowd favorite" and a player with "unfailing hustle."

JEFF NATTANS, Loyola (Md.)
Soccer defender who played professionally in the American Professional Soccer League and USISL Pro League. . . . The 6-3 Nattans averaged 2.8 ppg from 1985-86 through 1988-89.

KADEEM PANTOPHLET, Duquesne
Striker was an All-Atlantic 10 Conference second-team selection in 2014 with team-high eight goals. He tied school single-game record with three assists the same year. . . . The 6-7 native of the Netherlands averaged 4.2 ppg and 3 rpg as a part-time starter for basketball squad in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

MATT POPLAWSKI, Penn
Four-year soccer letterman from 2013 through 2016 was an All-Ivy League first-team selection as senior. . . . Averaged 1.2 ppg in 21 basketball games in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

RON REIS JR., Santa Clara
Best known for his appearances with WCW in the late 1990s under ring names The Yeti and Reese. . . . The 7-1 center averaged 10.7 ppg and 7.4 rpg from 1988-89 through 1991-92. He is the son of a member of back-to-back NCAA basketball titlists with Cincinnati in 1961 and 1962.

GARY RICH, Ohio State/Richmond
Seven-footer spent 14 years as a professional wrestler (most as The Dragon Master) before retiring in 2005. . . . Averaged 0.7 ppg and 1 rpg in a total of 17 DI basketball games in the late 1980s.

TOM SCHNEEBERGER, Air Force
Handball player competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics, where he scored 21 goals. Won Gold Medal at the Pan American Games in 1987. . . . Averaged 11.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg for USAF from 1974-75 through 1977-78. He led the Falcons in scoring each of his last two seasons. Selected by the Denver Nuggets in ninth round of 1978 NBA draft.

ROBERT SHAW, Cornell
Lacrosse midfielder was a three-time All-Ivy League first-team selection, compiling a 34-4 varsity record. The Big Red captured the 1971 NCAA title by defeating Maryland, 12-6, in title tilt. . . . Played in 11 basketball games in 1969-70.

KEVIN SHEPPARD, Jacksonville
Striker played soccer for the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2002 Gold Cup qualification match against the Dominican Republic. . . . Averaged 11.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 3.7 apg from 1998-99 through 2002-03 under coach Hugh Durham. Sheppard led the Dolphins in assists and minutes played each of his last two seasons as an All-Atlantic Sun Conference second-team selection. He had a starring role in "The Iran Job," a documentary following him as he played for a basketball team in the Middle Eastern nation.

ANDY SLOCUM, Texas A&M
Better known for his time in WWE under the ring name Jackson Andrews, where he acted as Tyson Kidd's enforcer while on the Raw brand. The WWE reportedly eventually refused to work with him after revelations he was abusing his fiancee. . . . The seven-footer averaged 6.4 ppg and 6 rpg from 1999-00 through 2003-04. He led the Aggies in rebounding average as a sophomore and senior.

STEVE STIELPER, James Madison
In 2016, he was inducted into the Maryland Slow-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame. . . . The 6-8 Stielper averaged 20.4 ppg and 8.8 rpg from 1976-77 through 1979-80 under coach Lou Campanelli. JMU's all-time scoring leader tallied 51 points in a single game against Robert Morris.

PAUL SUNDERLAND, Oregon/Loyola Marymount
Member of U.S. gold medal-winning volleyball team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. One of his teammates was eventual broadcast partner Chris Marlowe. Sunderland, a three-time Player of the Year (1978-79-82) during his 10-year stint on the U.S. National Volleyball squad, went on to succeed Los Angeles Lakers legendary announcer Chick Hearn and toiled as a broadcaster for both Fox Sports Net and NBC Sports. . . . Basketball letterman with Oregon in 1971-72 (3.2 ppg and 2.2 rpg under coach Dick Harter) before transferring and averaging 9.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg with LMU in 1973-74.

MIKE TETI, St. Joseph's
Internationally-renowned rower earned a bronze medal as member of the men's eight at the 1988 Olympics and also won gold at 1987 World Championships. Fixture in U.S. rowing coached American squad to seven gold medals at World Championships (including three in row from 1997 through 1999) and a bronze medal at 1996 Olympics in lightweight four. At the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, he led the men's eight to a world record in its heat, and an eventual gold medal, marking the first time the U.S. captured the men's eight since 1964. Guided the U.S. men's eight to a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Also served as assistant coach for the varsity eight at 2012 Olympics in London. . . . Played in one basketball game for the Hawks in 1977-78.

STEVE TIMMONS, Orange Coast Community College (Calif.)
The powerful and flamboyant redhead joined the U.S. national volleyball team in 1981 after helping USC capture the NCAA title the previous year. He led the U.S. Olympic team to volleyball gold medals in 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1988 (Seoul). . . . Starting center for Orange Coast's 27-5 state championship team in 1978-79.

ERIC WALLACE, Ohio State/DePaul/Seattle
Spent three years as a ruckman with the North Melbourne Kangaroos (Australian Rules Football) before a tryout in 2016 with the NFL's Carolina Panthers. . . . The 6-6 1/2, 230-pounder averaged 6.5 ppg and 5.3 rpg with three different colleges in 2007-08, 2009-10 and 2011-12 (career highs of 9.4 ppg and 7.9 rpg for Seattle).

MIKE WHITMARSH, San Diego
Joined Miller Lite/AVP Professional Beach Volleyball Tour in 1989, when he was rookie of the year. He aligned with Mike Dodd in 1993 and they subsequently became one of the premier pairs on the volleyball tour before earning a silver medal in the 1996 Olympics when two-man beach volleyball made its debut. Committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning at age 46 in 2009 after inhaling car-exhaust fumes in the garage of a friend's home. . . . Played two years of basketball for Grossmont (Calif.) Community College before transferring to USD. Whitmarsh is tied for the USD Division I single-game records for points (37 vs. Loyola Marymount) and assists (12 vs. Gonzaga). He led the Toreros in scoring (15.3 ppg) and was second in rebounding (5.3 rpg) as a junior in 1982-83. The next year, he led the team in scoring (18.8 ppg), rebounding (7.3 rpg) and assists (6 apg). Whitmarsh scored a team-high 17 points in a 65-56 loss to Princeton in the preliminary round of the 1984 NCAA Tournament. Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the fifth round of the 1984 NBA draft, but never played in the league. He participated in three games with Rapid City in the CBA in 1988-89.

PAUL WIGHT, Wichita State/Southern Illinois-Edwardsville
Known as the "The Big Show" in World Wrestling Entertainment circles because of his size (7-0, 500-plus pounds). The native of Aiken, S.C., has won the WWE title on multiple occasions. . . . Northern Oklahoma Junior College transfer averaged 2 ppg and 2.3 rpg for Wichita State as a sophomore in 1991-92 before transferring to SIUE, where he averaged 3.5 ppg and 1.5 rpg in 11 games in 1992-93.

HARRY WINKLER, Florida
Member of U.S. Men's Handball Team at the 1972 Olympics and 1976 Olympics before coaching the U.S. Women's Handball Team at the 1984 Olympics (Los Angeles). Served as an officer (first lieutenant) in the U.S. Army at Ft. Campbell, Ky., where he learned team handball. . . . The 6-3 Winkler averaged 4.4 ppg and 1.6 rpg for the Gators from 1965-66 through 1967-68.

VERN WOODWARD, Wisconsin-River Falls
Head boxing coach of the Pan-American Team in 1963 and 1975. . . . Basketball letterman in the early 1930s.

ALAN YOUNG, Brown
Held the school's single-game soccer scoring record with five goals against Connecticut en route to compiling a three-year varsity total of 32. Served as captain in both soccer and baseball, earning All-Ivy League first-team acclaim in both sports. . . . Averaged 8.5 ppg and 3.4 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64.

John Calipari is the only coach ever to guide two different schools to a final Associated Press Top 5 ranking in back-to-back seasons. Meanwhile, Bill Self is the only mentor ever to twice take two different schools to a final AP Top 20 ranking in back-to-back campaigns. Consider the following chronological list:

Coach	Schools (Year/Final AP Ranking)
William "Tippy" Dye	Ohio State (1950/2nd) and Washington (1951/15th)
Paul Evans	Navy (1986/17th) and Pittsburgh (1987/12th)
Benny Dees	New Orleans (1987/16th) and Wyoming (1988/13th)
Orlando "Tubby" Smith	Georgia (1997/17th) and Kentucky (1998/5th)
Bill Self	Tulsa (2000/18th) and Illinois (2001/4th)
Bill Self	Illinois (2003/11th) and Kansas (2004/16th)
Roy Williams	Kansas (2003/6th) and North Carolina (2004/18th)
John Calipari	Memphis (2009/3rd) and Kentucky (2010/2nd)

Recently-deceased Kobe Bryant, who didn't study film making in college because he went straight to the NBA from high school, won an Oscar two years ago for "best animated short" (Dear Basketball). Three years ago, former Saint Mary's guard Mahershala Ali became the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar won an Academy Award for his best supporting actor role as a Miami drug dealer named Juan in Moonlight. Among his credits was role as Remy Danton in House of Cards. Last year, Ali secured his second Academy Award for Supporting Actor stemming from his portrayal of Dr. Don Shirley in Green Book.

Ali, previously known as Hershal Gilmore, averaged 3.6 points and 1.1 rebounds per game from 1992-93 through 1995-96 under coach Ernie Kent including 7 ppg as a senior. Said Ali: "When I graduated, I no longer thought of myself as an athlete. Honestly, I kind of resented basketball by the end of my time there. I'd see guys on the team get chewed up, spat out, and I was personally threatened with being shipped off to the University of Denver. All in the name of wins and productivity."

While Joe Biden tries to remain relevant as presidential actor by sniffing hair, no one seems to boast the credentials to host the overtly-political Oscars these days. But legendary Oscar Robertson would definitely be accurate in a rambling, self-absorbed speech to describe their game as inferior to his era. In deference to Oscar Awards, following is an alphabetical list of movie actors/directors nominees who "had game" as well-rehearsed college basketball players before becoming famous entertainers:

DAVID ADKINS, Denver
Comedian known as Sinbad had a show by that name on the Fox Network and was a lead actor in the movie Houseguest. He vaulted to TV prominence as a co-star on the hit series A Different World and later briefly hosted Vibe, a late-night talk show.

Adkins averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg for Denver in his varsity career from 1974-75 through 1977-78 when the Pioneers were classified as a major-college independent. He shot at least 50% from the floor all four seasons.

LLOYD VERNET "BEAU" BRIDGES, UCLA
Actor with the hit movie Fabulous Baker Boys among his credits. He is the son of Lloyd Bridges and brother of Jeff Bridges.

The 5-9 guard averaged 0.6 ppg and 1.4 rpg for UCLA's 1960-61 freshman team compiling a 20-2 record. He was a frosh teammate of Fred Slaughter, the starting center for the Bruins' first NCAA championship team in 1964.

JIM CAVIEZEL, Bellevue (Wash.) Community College
Former Gap model played Jesus in Mel Gibson-directed The Passion of the Christ (2004) and was in Bobby Jones Stroke of Genius the same year. Also played the part of Slovnik in GI Jane (1997) with Demi Moore, Private Wit in Thin Red Line (1998), Catch in Angel Eyes (2001) with Jennifer Lopez, and Ashley Judd's husband in High Crimes (2002) with Morgan Freeman. In the TV drama Person of Interest on CBS, he played the role of Reese, a former member of the elite Special Forces who is now drinking heavily and at the end of his rope in New York City.

Bellevue coach Ernie Woods called Caviezel the hardest worker he had in 30 years. Caviezel's younger brother, Tim, played for the University of Washington, averaging 3.6 ppg in 1990-91 as a freshman and 4.2 ppg in 1991-92 as a sophomore before transferring to Long Beach State. Tim, a 6-7 swingman, subsequently transferred again to Western Washington, where Jim's wife, Kerri, ranks among the career leaders in five statistical categories for the women's basketball squad.

"Basketball taught me to train for every possible situation but always stay in the moment," Caviezel said.

CHEVY CHASE, Haverford (Pa.)
After a one-year stint on Saturday Night Live, Chevy quit to move to Los Angeles. Following mixed success in a variety of films, he became one of the biggest box-office draws in the U.S. in the 1980s with hits such as Caddyshack and National Lampoon's Vacation. One of his popular movie roles was as "Fletch" when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers in a dream sequence.

Chase was a JV basketball and soccer player as a freshman in 1962-63 before transferring to Bard (N.Y.).

MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN, Kankakee (Ill.) Community College/Alcorn State
Former bodyguard appeared in four films with Bruce Willis: Armageddon (1998; cast as Bear), Breakfast of Champions (1999), The Whole Nine Yards (2000) and Sin City (2005; cast as Manute, a powerful mobster). Breakout role occurred when he earned an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nomination in The Green Mile. Voiced a dog Sam in Cats & Dogs (2001) and played Colonel Attar, a gorilla, in Planet of the Apes (2001). Starred alongside his friend, The Rock, in The Scorpion King (2002) and was the criminal mastermind behemoth Kingpin in Daredevil (2003).

The 6-5 Duncan was a teammate of eventual Chicago State coach Kevin Jones with Kankakee's 31-4 squad in 1980-81 before enrolling at Alcorn State under coach Davey Whitney. An excerpt in the Braves' 1983-84 media guide said: "He adds size, speed and excellent jumping ability to the roster. A very hard worker, he'll add tremendous depth to the bench." After dropping out of college because of family problems, he spent several years digging ditches for a gas company in his hometown of Chicago. "He was a tough, physical player," Whitney told CBSSports.com. "He was undersized and didn't weigh much back then, but he was very strong and powerful. He was just tough. He'd knock guys around."

LOUIS GOSSETT JR., New York University
The son of a porter and maid, he turned to acting in high school after a leg injury temporarily impeded his hopes for a basketball career. Following his Broadway debut at 17, he attended NYU on an athletic scholarship while continuing to perform on TV and the stage. He won an Emmy in 1977 for his role in the TV miniseries Roots-Part I before winning an Oscar in 1982 as supporting actor in the box-office hit An Officer and a Gentleman.

Gossett played for NYU's freshman squad in the late 1950s.

DENNY MILLER, UCLA
Miller became the first blond Tarzan in Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959), which lifted most of its footage from earlier Johnny Weissmuller movies. "Playing Tarzan is like being in a circus," says the 6-4 Miller on his web site. "Go ride that elephant, play with that chimp, swing on that vine. It's a terrific job for a guy who grew up to be a kid." Miller was a regular on Wagon Train in the early 1960s as Duke Shannon (his name was then Scott Miller) and played Juliet Prowse's husband in the TV series Meet Mona McClusky in 1965. For years, he was the "Gorton Fisherman," appearing in numerous commercials in his yellow rain gear.

Denny (7.4 ppg and 5.3 rpg in only eight games) and his brother Kent (7.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg) Miller were on the same Bruins squad in 1958-59 (16-9 record under coach John Wooden) as teammates of decathlete Rafer Johnson and eventual Hall of Fame coach Denny Crum. Denny Miller spent three years in the U.S. Army between averaging 4 ppg in 1954-55 and 3.1 ppg and 2.3 rpg in 1957-58.

PAUL ROBESON, Rutgers
World renowned orator and baritone was a 6-3, 215-pound two-way end who finally was named to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995. Valedictorian when he graduated in 1919, learned to speak 15 languages and forge a glorious international career as a singer and actor. Earned law degree from Columbia, financing way through school by playing pro football with the Akron Pros and Milwaukee Badgers (scored two touchdowns). Robeson, son of a runaway slave, was an outspoken antifascist and champion of racial equality and socialist causes who remained enough of a supporter of the Soviet Union to get him blacklisted on Broadway. Founder of the Progressive Party played roles in 11 films and established works such as The Emperor Jones and Show Boat and became the first black to play Othello with a white cast.

Robeson was a center for Rutgers' basketball team.

LEON ROBINSON, Loyola Marymount
Goes by the stage name "Leon." He was a lover-boy idol in Waiting to Exhale, and played a similar character in Tim Reid's acclaimed Once Upon a Time ... When We Were Colored. Robinson was the ruthless killer, Kinette, in Cliffhanger and was Derice, the sweet and charming captain of the Jamaican bobsled team, in the surprise comedy hit, Cool Runnings. Leon appeared as a football teammate of Tom Cruise in All the Right Moves, and was the leading man as New York high school hoop sensation Earl (The Goat) Manigault in Above the Rim. Leon starred opposite Robin Givens in the TV mini-series, The Women of Brewster Place and was cast as Jesus in Madonna's controversial 1989 music video Like a Prayer. Received critical acclaim for his portrayal of two legendary singers in made-for-TV movies: David Ruffin in the 1998 NBC miniseries The Temptations and Little Richard in the self-titled 2000 NBC production based on the life of the rock-and-roll pioneer.

Robinson lettered for the Lions in 1978-79 when he averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.4 rpg. The Bronx native also attended Orange Coast Community College (Calif.).

RaMELL ROSS, Georgetown
Oscar-nominated cinematographer and director for his first movie, a 2018 documentary called Hale County This Morning, This Evening.

The 6-5 Ross averaged 1.7 ppg for the Hoyas from 2000-01 through 2004-05. Participated in 2001 NCAA playoffs (vs. Hampton as teammate of eventual players Mike Sweetney and Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje) and 2005 NIT.

TOM SELLECK, Southern California
Television and movie star won an Emmy in 1984 for his work in Magnum, P.I. He had a two-year stint (1974-75) on The Young and the Restless. His big-screen career got a major boost with the box-office hit Three Men and a Baby in 1987.

Selleck was a 6-4, 200-pound forward for Southern California. After serving as captain of the basketball team at Los Angeles Valley Community College, he scored four points in seven games for the Trojans in 1965-66 and was scoreless in three games in 1966-67. Excerpt from USC's school guide: "Agile and quick performer who adds depth on front line. Business administration major is good jumper with fine mobility. Rapidly improving shooter has impressed coaches with his hustle in practice. Needs to work on defense."

RON SHELTON, Westmont (Calif.)
Writer-director is synonymous with sports movies such as The Best of Times (high school football/1986), Bull Durham (minor league baseball/1988), White Men Can't Jump (street basketball/1992), Cobb (major league baseball/1994), Blue Chips (college basketball/1994), Tin Cup (golf/1996) and Play It to the Bone (boxing/1999). One of his non-sports films, Blaze, became a personal milestone for him as he went on to marry one of the stars, Toronto-born Lolita Davidovich. In Blue Chips, actor Nick Nolte was coach Pete Bell, who broke the rules in order to get the players he needed to remain competitive. "I played pickup into my 40s, right up until the time I made White Men Can't Jump," Shelton said. "I knew the game. I just loved that world."

Shelton scored 1,420 points in the mid-1960s, finishing the 20th Century among his alma mater's top 10 career scorers. He went on to play five seasons of Organized Baseball as a second baseman in the Baltimore Orioles' minor league system.

RON TAYLOR, Southern California
Best known for his roles as Lothar in The Rocketeer (1991) and Roc in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994). He also played Al, the tall police detective whose face is never seen, in The Naked Gun (1988) and on the TV series Police Squad. Nicknamed "Tiny Ron," the seven-footer also appeared on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in the role of the Hupyrian alien Maihar'du.

Three-year USC letterman in the late 1960s was a second-round choice by Seattle in the 1969 NBA draft (18th pick overall). He played three seasons in the ABA before competing professionally in Austria in the 1970s before starting his film career.

MIKE WARREN, UCLA
Television star portrayed Officer Bobby Hill on hit series Hill Street Blues. Also appeared in the following movies: The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990), Heaven is a Playground (1991), Buffalo Soldiers (1997) and After All (1999).

The 5-11, 160-pound guard averaged 16.6 ppg in 1965-66 as a sophomore, 12.7 in 1966-67 as junior and 12.1 in 1967-68 as senior under coach John Wooden. He was an All-NCAA Tournament selection in 1967 and 1968 when the Bruins won national titles by combining for a 59-1 record. Warren was named to Converse and Helms All-American squads as a junior. In his senior season, he was named to the 10-man United States Basketball Writers Association All-American team and was a third five selection on the Associated Press and United Press International All-American squads. Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 14th round of 1968 NBA draft. Excerpt from school guide: "Named on the Academic All-American first team. One of UCLA's all-time great ballhandlers as well as being an outstanding driver and jump shooter."

DENZEL WASHINGTON, Fordham
Oscar award-winning actor Denzel Washington earned rave reviews for his performance as a high school football coach in Remembering the Titans. Most Hollywood buffs remember Washington's performances as a regular on the TV drama series St. Elsewhere while becoming a critically-acclaimed screen actor and major box-office draw in the 1990s with his performances in hit films Malcolm X, The Pelican Brief, and The Preacher's Wife. The hits continued with Man on Fire (2004).

But what the most ardent moviegoer doesn't know, let alone remember, is that Washington was a walk-on freshman basketball player for Fordham under coach P.J. Carlesimo. Washington probably was acting when he said "he had game" in describing his basketball ability in an interview about his movie role as the father of the nation's No. 1 player in director Spike Lee's 1998 release He Got Game.

SEAN WHITESELL, Northern Iowa
The "Oz" producer and co-executive producer of "The Killing" is a brother of talent agent/WME co-CEO Patrick Whitesell and former Loyola of Chicago coach and current Buffalo mentor Jim Whitesell. Sean began his career acting with notable roles including a recurring character on HBO's Oz (portrayed cannibalistic inmate Donald Groves until character's execution) and appearances on Homicide: Life On the Street.

Walk-on with nickname "S" collected two points and three rebounds with UNI in six games in 1982-83.

IAN WHYTE, Iona/Clarion (Pa.)
Carved out a career as film baddie (including playing part of iconic Predator in Sci Fi action film Alien vs. Predator). In 2010, Whyte played Sheikh Sulieman in Clash of the Titans. Portrayed various characters in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones.

The 7-1 Whyte collected 9 points and 10 rebounds in 17 games for Iona in 1990-91 and 1991-92 before transferring to Clarion, where he averaged 6 ppg and 5.3 rpg in 1992-93 and 1993-94.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, 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-honor shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the 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 in early-February football at the professional level:

FEBRUARY

2: Denver Broncos TE Julius Thomas (averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10) had four pass receptions in 24-13 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLVIII following 2013 season.

3: 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) caught a 45-yard pass from Eli Manning to fuel fourth-quarter touchdown drive in 17-14 win against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII following 2007 season. The Patriots incurred their first defeat of campaign despite LB Adalius Thomas (averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Southern Mississippi in 1996-97 and 1997-98) supplying two sacks and five solo tackles. . . . Baltimore Ravens WR Jacoby Jones (part-time starter averaged 3.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg for Lane TN in 2004-05 and 2005-06) caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco and opened the second half with 108-yard kickoff return for TD in 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII following 2012 season. . . . St. Louis Rams rookie LB Tommy Polley (played in one basketball game for Florida State in 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy) had seven solo tackles in a 20-17 setback against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI following 2001 campaign.

4: Tony Dungy (roommate of Flip Saunders averaged 2.6 ppg for Minnesota in 1973-74 under bench boss Bill Musselman) coached the Indianapolis Colts to a 29-17 win against the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI following 2006 season.

5: New England Patriots TE Martellus Bennett (averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.5 rpg as Texas A&M freshman in 2005-06 before playing next season under coach Billy Gillispie) caught five passes for 62 yards from Tom Brady in 34-28 overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51 following 2016 season.

6: Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw three touchdown passes in a 24-21 setback against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX following 2004 season. Eagles WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) had nine pass receptions for 122 yards. . . . Atlanta Falcons WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) named NFL Pro Bowl MVP following the 1993 season.

7: Denver Broncos WR Jordan Norwood (collected one rebound and one assist in four basketball games for Penn State in 2006-07) returned a punt 61 yards in 24-10 win against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

Impact of former college hoopers on professional football in January
Impact of former college hoopers on professional football in December
Impact of former college hoopers on professional football in November
Impact of former college hoopers on professional football in October
Impact of former college hoopers on professional football in September

College basketball fans shouldn't be assessed an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty if the NFL isn't their favorite sport, but they should rush to hold on because following is more super stuff to digest while blitzed by enough notes, quotes and anecdotes to have one seeking a sedative when assessing Super Bowl LIV in Miami between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.

For what it's worth hoop-wise, did you know former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue was a 6-5 forward who averaged 11.4 points and nine rebounds per game for Georgetown in three varsity seasons from 1959-60 through 1961-62? He led the Hoyas in rebounding as a sophomore (8.9 rpg) and junior (8.2 rpg) and was their second-leading rebounder as a senior captain. Well-rounded trivia buffs should also know that Tagliabue's predecessor, Pete Rozelle, was the basketball publicist for 1949 NIT champion San Francisco before orchestrating events leading to the Super Bowl becoming a national phenomenon.

The Super Bowl's link to college basketball is much more extensive than these commissioners and had more impact than unveiling of new commercials plus halftime entertainers. Actually, there are a striking number of ex-college hoopers who participated in the Super Bowl as players. In fact, the inaugural Super Bowl in 1967 featured seven former four-year college varsity basketball players for schools currently classified at the NCAA Division I level: Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan, Reg Carolan, Len Dawson, Dave Robinson, Otis Taylor and Fuzzy Thurston. Bell (Minnesota), Buchanan (Grambling), Dawson (Purdue), Taylor (Prairie View A&M) and Mickey McCarty (Texas Christian) were on the Chiefs' roster 50 years ago when they won Super Bowl IV.

Kneeling in deference to the 54th anniversary of the Super Bowl, following are 54 questions tackling versatile players such as Bell, Carolan, Dawson, Peppers, Taylor and Thurston in this distinctive two-way athlete category that should surprise you with some of the marquee names. If you get them all correct before peeking at answers at the end of this gridiron quiz, then you boast inflated brainpower sufficiently omnipotent to know in advance what will transpire at halftime and which new expensive commercials offer the most entertainment.

1. Name the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback with the Cincinnati Bengals who appeared in Super Bowl XVI following the 1981 season after finishing his career as the fifth-leading scorer in his college's history. The high school teammate of Kentucky All-American and All-Pro Dan Issel led Augustana (Ill.) in field-goal accuracy and free-throw shooting as a freshman and sophomore.

2. Name the linebacker who was one of only two first-year players on the Miami Dolphins' undefeated team in 1972 and was still with the franchise the next season when the Dolphins repeated as Super Bowl champions for a 32-2 two-year mark, the best ever in the NFL. He played briefly for Louisville's varsity basketball squad before Cardinals football coach Lee Corso persuaded him to concentrate on the gridiron.

3. Name the nine-time All-Pro linebacker who was with the Kansas City Chiefs for their Super Bowl IV winner after becoming the first African American to play basketball for Minnesota when he appeared in three games in the 1960-61 season.

4. Name the tight end who caught five passes for 62 yards from Tom Brady in the New England Patriots' come-from-behind 34-28 win against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI after former Pro Bowl selection competed in 2006 NCAA basketball playoffs with Texas A&M.

5. Name the two-time Pro Bowl defensive end who appeared in Super Bowl III with the Baltimore Colts vs. the New York Jets after becoming a first-team selection as a basketball center for South Dakota in the All-North Central Conference when he averaged 7.8 points per game in 1952-53 and 11 points in 1953-54.

6. Name the first black starting quarterback in the NFL who was later converted to wide receiver and caught two passes to help the undefeated Miami Dolphins beat Minnesota in Super Bowl VIII after averaging 9.5 ppg and 3.6 rpg in 14 basketball games for Nebraska-Omaha in 1964-65.

7. Name the four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who caught five passes for 83 yards in Super Bowl XV for the Philadelphia Eagles after he was the top rebounder for two seasons with Southern (La.). He established an NFL record for most consecutive games with a pass reception (127).

8. Name the 1963 Pro Bowl selection who participated in Super Bowl I as a defensive end with the Kansas City Chiefs after the 6-6, 235-pounder played three varsity seasons with Idaho's basketball team, averaging four points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

9. Name the 1994 first-round draft choice who was a defensive end on the Dallas Cowboys' last Super Bowl team after playing nine games during the 1992-93 season for Arizona State's hoop squad that was decimated with injuries.

10. Name the Pro Bowl selection who appeared in Super Bowl XXXI with the New England Patriots after the 6-5, 245-pounder played basketball one season for Livingstone (N.C.). He held the NFL single-season record for most receptions by a tight end with 96 in 1994.

11. Name the four-year starter who set school career records for total offense, passing yards and rushing yards by a quarterback plus rushing touchdowns by a QB. Most Outstanding Player in the 2002 Peach Bowl as a quarterback was activated for Super Bowl XXXVII as a rookie with the Oakland Raiders before succeeding all-time great Tim Brown as a starting wide receiver. He was North Carolina's leader in assists during 2000-01 when he directed the Tar Heels to a basketball No. 1 ranking and an 18-game winning streak.

12. Name the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs who was MVP in Super Bowl IV after playing in two basketball games as a 6-0, 180-pound guard for Purdue in the 1956-57 campaign.

13. Name the defensive left end on Miami's undefeated team in 1972 who played in four Super Bowls with the Dolphins after the 6-6, 220-pound basketball center finished his four-season career at Central College as the Pella, Iowa-based school's all-time leading scorer (15.5 ppg) and rebounder (12.4 rpg). He grabbed a school-record 29 rebounds in a game his senior season (1970-71).

14. Name the Hall of Fame tight end who played in two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, catching a TD pass to cap the scoring in Super Bowl VI, before coaching the Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears following the 1985 season after the 6-2, 205-pound forward averaged 2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in two seasons with the Pittsburgh Panthers.

15. Name the defensive back for the Baltimore Colts' Super Bowl V champion who led the NFL in kickoff return average (35.4) in 1970 after playing basketball for Maryland-Eastern Shore.

16. Name the prominent ex-NFL coach who was a defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl XIII champion after averaging 2.6 ppg in 16 basketball contests with the Minnesota Gophers in 1973-74 under coach Bill Musselman.

17. Name the starting middle linebacker for a team in two of three Super Bowls in one stretch who started two games at point guard for St. Francis (Pa.) as a freshman in 1993-94 when he averaged three points per game. After transferring back home to Cleveland, the 5-10 dynamo collected 109 points and 52 rebounds in 27 games for John Carroll before quitting basketball midway through the 1995-96 campaign to concentrate on football.

18. Name the Super Bowl X tight end for the Dallas Cowboys after leading Amherst (Mass.) in scoring and rebounding in 1970-71.

19. Name the five-time Pro Bowl defensive back with the Dallas Cowboys who played in two Super Bowls after finishing his three-year varsity career as Utah State's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. The 6-4 forward scored 46 points in a game against New Mexico en route to leading the Aggies in scoring with 21.2 points per game in 1959-60 (34th in the nation), 20.3 in 1960-61 (57th) and 25.6 in 1961-62 (13th).

20. Name the Hall of Fame quarterback who played in three Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins after he was a 6-1, 185-pound sophomore guard in 1964-65 when scoring 22 points in 16 games in his only varsity basketball season for Purdue.

21. Name the 12-year veteran safety who played in Super Bowl IV with the Minnesota Vikings after averaging four points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 10 contests for Wisconsin's basketball team in 1958-59.

22. Name the wide receiver who caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach for the Dallas Cowboys' final touchdown in a 21-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl X after he averaged 12.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in three varsity seasons (1972-73 through 1974-75) for Austin Peay. It was the only pass reception in his NFL career. The 6-4, 215-pound forward averaged seven points and seven rebounds per game in four NCAA Tournament contests in 1973 and 1974 as a teammate of folk hero James "Fly" Williams.

23. Name the third-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins in 1998 who backed up MVP Ray Lewis as a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV after being a member of Cincinnati's basketball team for the first month of 1997-98 campaign.

24. Name the three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman who appeared in three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys after the 6-8, 230-pound backup post player averaged 1.7 points and 2.6 rebounds for Tennessee State in his freshman and sophomore seasons (1969-70 and 1970-71).

25. Name the Baltimore Ravens wide receiver who caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco and opened the second half with a 108-yard kickoff return for a TD in a 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII after the Southeastern Louisiana track transfer was a part-time hoop starter for Lane (Tenn.), averaging 3.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

26. Name the 16-year quarterback who started Super Bowl VII for the Washington Redskins after scoring eight points in six games for coach John Wooden's 1959-60 UCLA basketball team.

27. Name the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback who participated in Super Bowl XVII with the Washington Redskins after the 6-4, 190-pound forward averaged 13.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game for San Diego State in 1969-70 and 1970-71. He was the Aztecs' second-leading scorer (15.2 ppg) and rebounder (7.6 rpg) as a junior.

28. Name the 10-time Pro Bowl defensive back who competed in four Super Bowls after collecting nine assists, four points and three rebounds in six games for Southern California's basketball squad as a junior in 1979-80.

29. Name the 11-year defensive lineman who played in Super Bowl XIII for the Minnesota Vikings after averaging 12.3 ppg with Michigan Tech in 1962-63.

30. Name the Minnesota Vikings defensive back who let former Prairie View basketball player Otis Taylor (Kansas City Chiefs) elude him for a long touchdown in Super Bowl IV after being a basketball teammate of Utah State legend Wayne Estes in 1964-65.

31. Name the NFL Hall of Fame tight end who caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas in Super Bowl V after collecting 28 points and 28 rebounds in six basketball games with Syracuse in 1960-61.

32. Name the defensive end who scored six touchdowns in his 14-year NFL career and tackled John Elway of the Denver Broncos for a safety in the New York Giants' Super Bowl XXI victory following the 1986 season after the 6-5, 225-pound forward-center averaged just over 10 points and 10 rebounds per game for Oregon's freshman squad in 1971-72. He played briefly for the Ducks' varsity basketball team the next season.

33. Name the tight end who played in four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills after he was the starting center for Jacksonville State's 1985 NCAA Division II championship team. He led the Gulf South Conference in rebounding each of his first three seasons and finished runner-up in that category as a senior.

34. Name the defensive lineman in Super Bowl XI for the Oakland Raiders who played basketball in the 1975 NAIA Tournament for Morningside (Iowa).

35. Name the quarterback who set an NFL record with 24 consecutive completions over a two-game span in 2004 before guiding the Philadelphia Eagles to Super Bowl XXXIX the next year. He collected a career-high 10 points and six rebounds and made two clinching free throws with 2.7 seconds remaining in a 77-74 victory over Georgetown in 1997 before Syracuse appeared in the NIT. He scored two points in two 1996 NCAA Tournament games for the Orangemen's national runner-up.

36. Name the tight end who played in four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills, catching a TD pass in Super Bowl XXVI, after the 6-8, 235-pound center for the basketball squad at Wabash (Ind.) averaged 19.2 ppg and 11.4 rpg in four varsity seasons. He set NCAA Division III field-goal shooting records for a single season (75.3% in 1981-82 as a senior) and career (72.4). He collected 45 points and 13 rebounds in the 1982 championship game, scoring a Division III Tournament record 129 points in five games and earning tourney outstanding player honors.

37. Name the Pro Bowl offensive tackle who appeared in three consecutive Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins after leading Lamar in rebounding as a senior with 12.6 per game in 1968-69.

38. Name the valuable addition to Super Bowl XXXIX-bound Philadelphia Eagles in 2004 who had nine pass receptions for 122 yards against the New England Patriots after setting an NFL single-game record with 20 receptions for the San Francisco 49ers against the Chicago Bears in 2000. He collected 57 points and 49 rebounds in 38 games (four starts) for UT-Chattanooga's basketball squad in three seasons from 1993-94 through 1995-96.

39. Name the 14-year running back who played in five Super Bowls, catching more passes (five) than anyone in Super Bowls X and XII, after the guard-forward averaged 8.7 points and 6 rebounds per game as a senior in 1966-67 to finish his three-year Illinois varsity career with 5.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg.

40. Name the 2002 NFL defensive rookie of the year for the Carolina Panthers who appeared in Super Bowl XXXVIII the next season after being a member of North Carolina's 2000 Final Four squad. He started both NCAA Tournament games for the Tar Heels in 2001, including his first double-double (10 rebounds and career-high 21 points against Penn State).

41. Name the wide receiver who made a two-point conversion on a run for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIV and threw a flea flicker touchdown pass in Super Bowl XX after collecting 16 points and 11 assists in 11 games for Indiana's 1999 NCAA Tournament team, including two points in each of the Hoosiers' playoff contests (against George Washington and St. John's).

42. Name the four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who scored the first touchdown at Super Bowl XXXI for the Green Bay Packers after he was a 6-1, 185-pound backup guard in basketball for Michigan State in two seasons (1985-86 and 1987-88).

43. Name the Hall of Fame offensive tackle who participated in two Super Bowls (XI and XV) with the Oakland Raiders after he was a two-year basketball letterman as a 6-5, 265-pound center for Maryland State College (now called Maryland-Eastern Shore).

44. Name the Denver Broncos wide receiver who had a game-high 152 receiving yards (including 80-yard touchdown pass from John Elway) in Super Bowl XXXIII after earning Missouri Southern State hoops letter as sophomore in 1990-91.

45. Name an offensive tackle for the Super Bowl XVII champion Washington Redskins after the strike-shortened 1982 campaign who averaged 2.9 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 50.5% from the floor with Columbia in 1968-69 and 1969-70.

46. Name the Hall of Fame quarterback who guided the Dallas Cowboys to four Super Bowls after averaging 9.3 points per game for the 1961-62 Navy plebe (freshman) basketball team. The 6-2, 190-pound forward scored five points in four games for the Midshipmen varsity squad the next season. He was MVP in Super Bowl VI.

47. Name the defensive back for the Baltimore Colts who appeared in two Super Bowls (III and V) after playing basketball for Maryland-Eastern Shore.

48. Name the wide receiver who played in two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs, catching 10 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown, after he was a backup small forward in the Prairie View A&M era following the school's glory years with pro basketball standout Zelmo Beaty.

49. Name the linebacker who registered two sacks and five solo tackles in Super Bowl XLII when the New England Patriots lost against New York Giants for first defeat of season after he averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg as reserve forward for Southern Mississippi in 1996-97 and 1997-98.

50. Name the Denver Broncos tight end who caught four passes from Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLVIII after being Portland State's second-leading rebounder in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

51. Name the offensive guard with the Green Bay Packers who participated in the first two Super Bowls after originally enrolling at Valparaiso on a basketball scholarship. He averaged 1.5 points per game in eight contests as a freshman with Valpo in 1951-52 before concentrating on football.

52. Name the Pro Bowl punter who appeared in two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys after averaging 14.5 points and 8.3 rebounds as a sophomore, 17.3 points and eight rebounds as a junior and 22.1 points and 8.7 rebounds as a senior for Tennessee. The 6-4, 210-pound forward scored 50 points against LSU as a senior on his way to becoming SEC player of the year in 1967.

53. Name the defensive end for the Denver Broncos' back-to-back Super Bowl champions (XXXII and XXXIII) who registered one steal while playing in one minute of one Big Eight Conference basketball game for Colorado in 1989-90.

54. Name the offensive tackle who was an NFL All-Pro six straight seasons in the 1970s and played in the Super Bowl five times that decade with the Dallas Cowboys after earning All-SIAC basketball recognition for Fort Valley State (Ga.).

ANSWERS TO 54 COLLEGE BASKETBALL-IMPACTING SUPER BOWL TRIVIA QUESTIONS
1. Ken Anderson; 2. Larry Ball; 3. Bobby Bell; 4. Martellus Bennett; 5. Ordell Braase; 6. Marlin Briscoe; 7. Harold Carmichael; 8. Reg Carolan; 9. Shante Carver; 10. Ben Coates; 11. Ronald Curry; 12. Len Dawson; 13. Vern Den Herder; 14. Mike Ditka; 15. Jim Duncan; 16. Tony Dungy; 17. London Fletcher; 18. Jean Fugett; 19. Cornell Green; 20. Bob Griese; 21. Dale Hackbart; 22. Percy Howard; 23. Brad Jackson; 24. Ed "Too Tall" Jones; 25. Jacoby Jones; 26. Billy Kilmer; 27. Joe Lavender; 28. Ronnie Lott; 29. Bob Lurtsema; 30. Earsell Mackbee; 31. John Mackey; 32. George Martin; 33. Keith McKeller; 34. Herb McMath; 35. Donovan McNabb; 36. Pete Metzelaars; 37. Wayne Moore; 38. Terrell Owens; 39. Preston Pearson; 40. Julius Peppers; 41. Antwaan Randle El; 42. Andre Rison; 43. Art Shell; 44. Rod Smith; 45. George Starke; 46. Roger Staubach; 47. Charlie Stukes; 48. Otis Taylor; 49. Adalius Thomas; 50. Julius Thomas; 51. Fuzzy Thurston; 52. Ron Widby; 53. Alfred Williams; 54. Rayfield Wright.

In 2015-16, Yale's Brandon Sherrod, setting himself apart from anyone who ever played major-college basketball, established an NCAA Division I record by making 30 consecutive field-goal attempts covering five mid-season games. Singing his praises in helping the Bulldogs participate in the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 1962, Sherrod returned to them after taking a year off from school to tour the world as one of only 14 singers with Yale's a-capella group - the Whiffenpoofs.

Sherrod shared college basketball's lead-singer spotlight this decade with Wisconsin starting forward Vitto Brown, who participated with quartet singing the Star-Spangled Banner at the 2015 Final Four when the Badgers finished national runner-up to Duke.

Brown and Sherrod aren't the only talented singers who also made music as a college basketball player. Acclaimed jazz vocalist Al Jarreau, who passed away shortly before the Grammy Awards several years ago, is among the following crooners who didn't whiff in the music industry:

ISHMAEL BUTLER, Massachusetts
Known as Butterfly with the hip-hop group Digable Planets, which was nominated for a 1994 Grammy Award as the "Best New Artist."

He averaged 3.8 ppg and 2 rpg in John Calipari's first season as UMass coach in 1988-89.

PAT CLELAND, Western Michigan
Going by the stage name Rick Chyme, he entered the Guinness Book of World Records in mid-September 2013 by free-styling rap for 17 hours straight at ArtPrize, a nearly three-week long art festival/competition in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Cleland scored 32 points in his 41-game WMU career from 1999-00 through 2002-03.

JOHN FRED GOURRIER, Southeastern Louisiana
Lead vocalist and harmonica player for the rock-and-roll group John Fred and the Playboy Band boasting a hit single "Judy in Disguise" in 1967 and 1968.

The 6-5, 185-pound forward averaged eight points per game for Southeastern Louisiana as a junior in 1962-63 before scoring 248 points as a senior. The Baton Rouge native also played two seasons for SLU's baseball team and still shares the school single-game record for most RBI with eight.

VAUGHN HARPER, Syracuse
New York City disc jockey, the host with the mellow voice on "The Quiet Storm," for more than a quarter century in the New York City area.

One of the Orange's all-time leaders in rebounds per game (11.1). Harper also averaged 13.5 ppg from 1965-66 through 1967-68, leading Syracuse in scoring as a senior (15.8 ppg). Teammate of All-American Dave Bing and all-time winningest coach Jim Boeheim grabbed team-high 10 rebounds in 91-81 loss to Duke in 1966 East Regional final. Ninth-round selection in the 1968 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons.

AL JARREAU, Ripon (Wis.)
Innovative musical expressions made him one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time, winning five Grammys, including best jazz vocalist in 1978 and 1979. He began singing at the age of four, and was soon harmonizing with his brothers and performing solo at a variety of local events in his hometown of Milwaukee. Following an extended stint in Los Angeles, he was spotted by Warner Brothers Records talent scouts and signed to a recording contract in 1975. Two years later, Jarreau embarked on his first world tour. While on a break from touring in 1996, he accepted a three-month stint on Broadway playing the role of the Teen Angel in the hit musical Grease!

Member of Ripon's basketball team from 1958-59 through 1961-62 posted career highs of 5.9 ppg and 4.3 rpg as a sophomore. While attending college, he performed locally with a group called The Indigos on weekends and holidays before graduating with a B.S. in Psychology.

REV. JOHN KILZER, Memphis State
Rock singer and songwriter known for the 1988 Mainstream Rock hit "Red Blue Jeans." His songs would be recorded by notable artists Trace Adkins, Roseanne Cash and Maria Muldaur. Struggling with alcohol addiction, he committed suicide by hanging in a rehab facility in spring of 2019 at the age of 62.

Kilzer averaged 3.2 ppg and 2 rpg from 1975-76 through 1978-79 under coach Wayne Yates.

HARVEY MASON JR., Arizona
Six-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter/music producer (with Beyonce, Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson and Justin Timberlake) was elected as chairman of The Recording Academy in June of 2019. Mason served as executive producer on the film More Than a Game - a documentary featuring NBA star LeBron James. Son of noted jazz drummer is one-half of the hit-making production team "The Underdogs," whose past work includes films such as Dreamgirls, The Help, Pitch Perfect 2 and blockbuster hit Straight Outta Compton.

The 6-3 Mason averaged 3.9 ppg and connected on 42.4% of his three-point field-goal attempts from 1986-87 through 1989-90 under coach Lute Olson. His Final Four teammates in 1988 included Sean Elliott, Steve Kerr and eventual MLB outfielder Kenny Lofton.

MARK MILLER, Central Florida
Front man and principal songwriter for Sawyer Brown, one of the nation's most popular and enduring country music bands. Sawyer Brown, the top grossing country group in 1994, has sold more than 11 million records since getting a jump start in 1984 on Ed McMahon's Star Search and was named the Top Vocal Group in 1997 by the Academy of Country Music. Sawyer Brown's "Six Days on the Road" video, which came out in early 2000, emphasized the bald-headed Miller's shooting ability.

The 5-8 guard was scoreless in a total of 13 minutes in seven games for Central Florida in 1978-79. He had one assist and committed three turnovers. "I play whenever I can," Miller said. "I go at it really hard. I think my greatest strength in basketball is just seeing the floor and having a feel for where everything should go. And maybe that's my strength in music, too."

Miller, who majored in physical education, joined UCF the year after it went to the Final Four in Division II, and coach Torchy Clark was a local legend. "He (Torchy) wanted you to play hard, but he also wanted you to be a good person," Miller said. "If it came between winning and being a good person, he would rather you be a good person. He helped me as a player, and the lessons I learned from him have helped me in my career. Late at night while on tour, I still call him."

PERCY ROMEO MILLER JR., Southern California
Rapper/actor, son of entertainment mogul and entrepreneur Master P, has released multiple studio albums and compilation albums. His debut album titled after his original alias Lil' Romeo contained the hit single "My Baby" that charted #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-hop Singles.

Signed with the Trojans at same time as friend Demar DeRozan, who left for the NBA after only one season. Romeo, a 5-9 point guard, played 19 minutes in nine games in 2008-09 and 2009-10, scoring a total of five points.

EDON MOLLA, St. Francis (N.Y.)
Albanian American singer, songwriter, record producer, guitarist and pianist. His first single "Tears" debuted in early 2019 along with his first music video.

Scored five points in eight games with the Terriers in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

DAVID PALACIO, Texas Western
Executive vice president of EMI Latin, which is affiliated with Capitol Records in Hollywood, Calif.

Backup guard for Texas Western's 1966 NCAA championship team scored a season-high four points against Loyola (La.). Contributed a second-half field goal when the Miners erased a 16-point halftime deficit to win in overtime at New Mexico, 67-64. In their next outing, he chipped in with another basket in a 69-67 triumph over Arizona State. Palacio averaged 7.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game the next season as a junior.

KENNY PARKER, St. Peter's
Brother of one of the most influential rap and hip-hop artists of the 1980s and early 1990s - KRS-ONE (born Kris Parker). Kenny, who performed as a DJ alongside his brother and in music videos as part of the hard-core hip-hop outfit Boogie Down Productions, was a producer for BDP recordings. He has produced TV commercials for Nike.

Parker was a four-year St. Peter's regular who had his best scoring season as a freshman (8.4 ppg in 1985-86 when he supplied a 26-point, nine-rebound effort against MAAC power La Salle).

DARRYL SHEPHERD, Pittsburgh
Produced two No. 1 hits on the R&B charts. An accomplished keyboard player, he also has worked on movie soundtracks and for numerous artists (including Smokey Robinson).

Participated in the NIT and NCAA playoffs in the mid-1980s with the Panthers. His wife, attorney Renee Henderson, was a former Pitt sprinter who won the 60- and 200-meter dashes in France at the 2008 World Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships (setting two American Records en route to winning gold).

JAREKUS SINGLETON, Southern Mississippi/William Carey (Miss.)
Blues guitarist, singer and songwriter made multiple trips to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. "I look at writing songs like watching film or running a play, putting the pieces of the puzzle together, the X's and O's," he said. "I look at the band members as my teammates. It's the same, but different."

NAIA Player of the Year in 2007 with nearby William Carey after averaging 7.9 ppg and 2.9 rpg for USM from 2003-04 through 2005-06.

"Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally." - Abraham Lincoln

Unless you're a devotee of #MSLSD host Joy-less Reid or ex-#Dimorat presidential candidate Mr. Groper (a/k/a T-Bone's friend), certainly it's not a Jussie Smollett hate-crime to also claim "White Players Matter." But when Martin Luther King's birthday is celebrated and Black History Month is around the corner, accompanying these benchmarks are an assortment of facts and opinions acknowledging positive contributions African-Americans have made to the American landscape. Granted, Robin Roberts' lame circling-the-drain ABC interview of Smollett, Michael Vick's fondness for dogs plus traction-less presidential campaigns of Cory Booker and Kamela Harris aren't among them. Still, taking more than 100 years after emancipator Abraham Lincoln to make a nationwide transition, nowhere is that emphasis more evident than in an athletic world bereft of quotas and unconnected to alleged Oscar-snubbing. Rest assured civil rights stories such as high school coach Ken Zacher are plentiful. There clearly is more evidence of joyful honor in basketball arenas than in the Smollett-hoax political arena, where a tax cheat such as Al "Not So" Sharpton has been given a freeloader forum by Mess-LSD and brotherly backdoor free-pass entrance to previous POTUS' Oval Office (perhaps skinny-jeans version of H&R Block seminar from #AudacityofHype to set him lien free at last).

Letting authentic freedom ring a mite more than "The View" host-ettes, frisky billionaire Michael "Throw Them Up Against the Wall" Bloomberg and CNN's identity politics, every sports fan acknowledges the cultural significance of Jackie Robinson (180 degrees removed from smug Smollett's nutrition plan). A movie (42) debuted several springs ago regarding Robinson beginning his major league baseball career and Fox News host Ed Henry authored an incisive book on him (42 Faith), but it is easy to forget there was a time when the now 75% black National Basketball Association was 100% white. Like remembering Dems largely opposed the 13th Amendment, it's also easy to forget how Robinson was instrumental in college basketball's "civil rights" movement.

Before Robinson arrived on the scene in the National League, however, there was Columbia's George Gregory, who became the first African-American to gain college All-American honors in 1930-31. In an era of low scoring, he was the team's second-leading scorer with a 9.2-point average. But he was proudest of his defense, and a statistic that is no longer kept: "goals against." In 10 games, Gregory held rival centers to only eight baskets. "That's less than one goal a game," he told the New York Times. "I think they should have kept that statistical category. Nowadays, one guy scores 40 points but his man scores 45. So what good is it?

"It's funny, but even though I was the only black playing for Columbia, and there was only one other black playing in the Ivy League - Baskerville of Harvard - I really didn't encounter too much trouble from opponents. Oh, I got into a couple of fights. And one time a guy called me 'Nigger,' and a white teammate said, 'Next time, you hit him high and I'll hit him low.' And we did, and my teammate, a Polish guy named Remy Tys, said to that other player, 'That's how we take care of nigger callers.'"

As pitiful as a New York Slimes dual endorsement and "courteous" #NannyPathetic's prayerful paper shredding, Gregory said the worst racial incident he encountered was at his own school. "After our last game in my junior year, the team voted me captain for the next season. Well, there was a hell of a battle when this came out. Columbia didn't want a black captain, or a Jewish captain, either, I learned. The dean was against it, and the athletic director was against it, and even the coach was against it.

"The coach told me, 'Get yourself together, Gregory, or I'll take your scholarship away.' They were worried that if we played a school in the South and met the other captain before the game, the guy would refuse to come out and it would embarrass the school. But the campus was split 50-50 on whether to have a black captain for its basketball team.

"The fight went on for three or four weeks. The school insisted that the team vote again. We did, and I won again. One of my teammates said, 'You forced the school to enter the 20th Century.'"

Harrison "Honey" Fitch, Connecticut's first black player, was center stage during a racial incident delaying a game at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for several hours in late January 1934. Coast Guard officials entered a protest against Fitch, arguing that because half of the Academy's student body was from southern states, they had a tradition "that no Negro players be permitted to engage in contests at the Academy." Eventually, UConn's coach kept Fitch on the bench the entire contest and never explained why.

The first black to appear in the NBA didn't occur until a couple of decades after Gregory graduated and Fitch transferred to American International. UCLA's first basketball All-American Don Barksdale, one of the first seven African-Americans to play in the NBA, was the first black U.S. Olympic basketball player (1948) as well as the first black to play in an NBA All-Star Game (as a rookie in 1952).

Inspired by the black labor movement in the 1930s, Barksdale said, "I made up my mind that if I wanted to do something, I was going to try to do it all the way, no matter the obstacles."

As a 28-year-old rookie with the Baltimore Bullets, he was paid $20,850 (one of the NBA's top salaries) to play and host a postgame radio show, but that notoriety also put extra pressure on him. Forced to play excessive minutes during the preseason, he sustained ankle injuries that plagued him the remainder of his four-year NBA career (11 ppg and 8 rpg).

Why play so many minutes? "It's Baltimore, which is considered the South," said Barksdale, who wound up back in the Bay Area as a well-known jazz disc jockey. "So the South finally signed a black man, and he's going to play whether he could walk or crawl." Barksdale boasted a decidedly different perspective than Kentucky freshman playmaker Ashton "Out For Personal Reasons" Hagans with his wad-of-cash video. What's the over/under as to whether Hagans' hubris was flashing $20,850?

Chuck Cooper, who attended Duquesne on the GI Bill, was the first black player drafted by an NBA franchise. "I don't give a damn if he's striped or plaid or polka-dot," were the history-making words of Boston Celtics Owner Walter Brown when he selected Cooper, who averaged 6.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in six pro seasons. In Cooper's freshman campaign, Duquesne was awarded a forfeit after refusing to yield to Tennessee's refusal to compete against the Dukes if Cooper participated in a game just before Christmas.

In the 1955-56 season, the Hazleton (Pa.) Hawks of the Eastern League became the first professional league franchise to boast an all-black starting lineup - Jesse Arnelle, Tom Hemans, Fletcher Johnson, Floyd Lane and Sherman White. Arnelle (Penn State) and White (Long Island) were former major-college All-Americans.

As for the multi-talented Robinson, UCLA's initial all-conference basketball player in the 1940s was a forward who compiled the highest scoring average in the Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with the Bruins (12.3 points per league game in 1939-40 and 11.1 ppg in 1940-41) after transferring from Pasadena (Calif.) City College. Continuing his scoring exploits, the six-time National League All-Star who spurred #42 uniforms throughout MLB was the leading scorer for the Los Angeles Red Devils' barnstorming team in 1946-47.

Seven-time All-Star outfielder Larry Doby, the first black in the American League, was also a college basketball player who helped pave the way for minorities. He competed on the hardwood for Virginia Union during World War II after originally committing to LIU. The four-month lead Robinson had in integrating the majors casts a huge shadow over Doby, who was the first black to lead his league in homers (32 in 1952), first to hit a World Series homer and first to win a World Series title.

With less than 10% of current MLB rosters comprised of African-Americans, Robinson clearly had much more of a longstanding impact on basketball than baseball. All of the trailblazers didn't capitalize on a Methodist faith like Robinson, but they did boast temperaments unlike "fohty-five" Congressional Black Caucus members or so such as #MadMaxine sitting on their hands or boycotting SOTU speech. How much did kneeling Ole Miss players resembling knucklehead #ColonKrapernick know about ground-breaking alumnus Coolidge Ball? In deference to "firsts" and the number 42, following is a ranking of the 42 best players (including Ball) deserving applause for breaking the color barrier at the varsity level of a major university (*indicates junior college recruit):

MOST OVERLOOKED PIONEERS FOR MAJOR UNIVERSITIES