Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before spurring politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, 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 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 hoops 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 Keith McKeller and Tommy Polley starting for teams on January 27 in NFL postseason:

JANUARY 27

• Buffalo Bills TE Keith McKeller (four-time All-Gulf South Conference selection for Jacksonville State averaged 12.5 ppg and 10.1 rpg from 1982-83 through 1985-86) caught two passes for 11 yards from QB Jim Kelly in 20-19 setback against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV following 1990 season.

• St. Louis Rams rookie LB Tommy Polley (played in one basketball game for Florida State in 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy) provided seven solo tackles in 29-24 win in NFC Championship against the Philadelphia Eagles following 2001 campaign.

What goes around comes around. Detroit, which posted an abysmal 1-31 record last season, extended Green Bay's losing streak to 19 in a row in early February. Elsewhere, it was difficult for fans of Arkansas (lost first five SEC assignments) and Indiana (dropped back-to-back Big Ten outings by 25 points apiece) to deny things could get any more demonstrably dismal. But win deprivation can happen to the best among us and has been even worse for such premier programs.

For instance, Patrick Ewing was unable to come anywhere close to duplicating as coach his All-American success with Georgetown in the mid-1980s. In fact, the Hoyas set an all-time school record of 21 defeats after bowing in 2022 Big East Conference Tournament (only four of setbacks by fewer than seven points). At least they didn't match or surpass the all-time longest losing streak by a current power-conference member - 27 by Syracuse in the early 1960s. Hoya Paranoia reached 29 consecutive Big East competition reversals until GU prevailed against DePaul. Ewing's longest losing streak while manning the middle four seasons for GU was three setbacks in a row midway through his freshman season in 1981-82 (at Syracuse/home game vs. Connecticut/at Providence). Despite Ewing's departure, the Hoyas are bound for their ninth straight non-winning record in league competition. As for DePaul, the Blue Demons set a new losing streak record by the end of the regular season this campaign.

Jim O'Brien was the only individual to coach two current power-league members (Boston College and Ohio State) when they incurred their longest existing losing streak until BC dropped 20 in a row extending to the opener several seasons ago. Former Big East Conference rival Rutgers incurred 15 consecutive reversals to end the 2014-15 season before St. John's bowed in 16 straight decisions in 2015-16. In the middle of previous decade, Missouri wasn't the only Tigers' program in SEC sidelined by tranquilizing-inducing losing streak (13). LSU dropped 15 consecutive contests when former Tigers coach Johnny Jones frequently looked as strategically befuddled as a chief recruiter losing a satchel full of cash on a recruiting trip. Mizzou broke its all-time losing mark in 2023-24 by dropping all 18 of the Tigers' SEC regular-season outings.

Miserable season five years ago for North Carolina (14-19) included seven straight ACC setbacks en route to registering 12 reversals in a 14-game span. But at least the Tar Heels didn't set a school standard for most defeats in a row. Utah also set a new mark for futility three years ago, leaving the following list of elite basketball schools such as Creighton, Duke, Iowa, Kentucky, Carolina, Purdue, UNLV and West Virginia never reaching double figures in consecutive setbacks:

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before spurring politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, 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 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 hoops 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 January 24 in NFL (especially receivers in both conference championship contests following 2015 season):

JANUARY 24

• QB Ken Anderson (swingman finished Augustana IL career in early 1970s as fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,044 points) accounted for all three of the Cincinnati Bengals' touchdowns (two passing/one rushing in second half) in a 26-21 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI following 1981 season. Bengals WR David Verser (Kansas hooper in five games in 1977-78 under coach Ted Owens) returned five kickoffs for 52 yards. Niners LCB Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper in 1979-80) contributed three solo tackles.

• Green Bay Packers LB Fred Carr (played for defending NCAA champion Texas Western in 1967 playoffs under coach Don Haskins) shared the NFL Pro Bowl MVP award following 1970 season.

• Arizona Cardinals TE Darren Fells (averaged 10.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg from 2004-05 through 2007-08, leading UC Irvine in rebounding each of last three seasons) caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer in 49-15 setback against the Charlotte Panthers in NFC championship game following 2015 season.

• Green Bay Packers TE Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball contests in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) caught three passes for 28 yards from Aaron Rodgers in a 31-26 setback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFC Championship following 2020 season.

• Denver Broncos WR Jordan Norwood (Penn State hooper in four games in 2006-07) caught two passes from Peyton Manning and returned three punts for 21 yards in a 20-18 win against the New England Patriots in AFC Championship following 2015 season.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, 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 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 hoops 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 January 22 in football at the professional level (especially Green Bay Packers defense in NFC championship contest following 2016 season):

JANUARY 22

• Baltimore Ravens PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) converted two field goals but missed a 32-yard attempt with 15 seconds remaining that could have knotted the score in 23-20 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC championship game following 2011 season.

• San Francisco 49ers FS Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper in 1979-80) contributed four solo tackles in a 20-16 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII following 1988 season.

• Oakland Raiders RB Greg Pruitt (freshman squad hooper for Oklahoma in 1969-70) rushed five times for 17 yards, returned one kickoff for 17 yards and returned one punt return for eight yards in a 38-9 victory against the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII following the 1983 season. George Starke (averaged 2.9 ppg and 3.7 rpg for Columbia in 1968-69 and 1969-70) was starting RT for the Redskins.

• Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El (member of Indiana's 1999 NCAA Tournament team coached by Bob Knight) caught four passes for 52 yards in a 34-17 win against the Denver Broncos in AFC Championship following 2005 season.

• Green Bay Packers CB Quinten Rollins (led Miami OH in steals all four seasons from 2010-11 through 2013-14 including Mid-American Conference as senior) had four tackles in a 44-21 setback against the Atlanta Falcons in NFC championship game following 2016 season. Packers LB 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) chipped in with two tackles.

• Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught four passes for 61 yards in a 34-17 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Championship following 2005 season.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, 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 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 hoops 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 January 21 in football at the professional level (including touchdown catches by tight ends Billy Joe Dupree and Marcedes Lewis):

JANUARY 21

• TE Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball contests in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) opened the Jacksonville Jaguars' scoring with a touchdown reception in 24-20 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC Championship following 2017 season.

• Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw three touchdown passes in a 35-31 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIII following 1978 season. One of the TD passes was in fourth quarter to TE Billy Joe Dupree (scored four points in total of four basketball games for Michigan State in 1971-72). Cowboys RB Preston Pearson (averaged 5.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Illinois from 1964-65 through 1966-67) rushed once for six years and caught two of Staubach's passes for 15 yards, LDE Ed "Too Tall" Jones (averaged 1.7 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Tennessee State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) registered five solo tackles plus recovering a fumble and Rayfield Wright (All-SIAC hooper with Fort Valley State GA) started at RT for them. Steelers DB Tony Dungy (averaged 2.6 ppg with Minnesota in 1973-74) recorded a solo tackle.

Wanna commence countdown to winning your first bar bet in 2025? Did you know a former Notre Dame defensive tackle (Jay Ziznewski) outrebounded basketball All-American teammate Austin Carr, 26-24, in three 1970 NCAA playoff games when Carr erupted for a total of 158 points (all-time single tourney scoring average record of 52.7 ppg)? Ziznewski was a DT in 1968 under coach Ara Parseghian, a former hooper with Miami (Ohio).

Another legendary UND gridiron coach was Knute Rockne. The subject of his "Win One For the Gipper" speech was George Gipp, who led the Fighting Irish in rushing and passing yardage from 1918 through 1920 while also earning a basketball letter in 1919. One of the famous "Four Horsemen" of UND's backfield in 1924 was Don "Midnight" Miller, who led the Irish in rushing and receiving yardage in back-to-back years while also earning letters in hoops.

But in an era of specialization, two-way athletes are becoming a dying breed. In the "good old days," a striking number of versatile athletes participated in both college basketball and football. Amid this multi-sport mosaic, sports history buffs might want to know football players who also played hoops for the two participants in this year's College Football Playoff National Championship since the start of national postseason competition in basketball in late 1930s:

NOTRE DAME

OHIO STATE

"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 Congressional Odd Squad, philandering Big Fani Willis in GA, NY's dancing AG Large Letitia James, Philly Mayor trying to spell "Eagles", #MSLSD host Joy-less "Hacking Claimer" Reid or ex-#Dimorat presidential candidate Mr. Groper (a/k/a T-Bone's friend Spartacus), 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 are more self-evident truths 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 and #Dimorat Divas' Odd Squad America Last policy, 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, but it is easy to forget there was a time when the now 75% black National Basketball Association was 100% white. Similar to remembering Dems largely opposed the 13th Amendment and Plagiarist Bile-dumb claiming he "got started" at Delaware State, 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 by Donald Trump. 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

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Cancel-culture considerations resulted in condemning an estimated 100 statues and monuments to white-guilt reparations rubble. Facing reality, such arcane activist analysis could be the only way for self-absorbed progressive outposts to stop superior Southern universities from dominating college football after former Confederacy institutions captured 16 of the last 19 gridiron national crowns (primarily with in-state recruits). After all, shouldn't the SEC and ACC be sanction shamed by self-loathing social scholars, if not disbandment purge, insofar as the first season Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina featured an African-American on their varsity basketball rosters wasn't until 1970-71 (two years after MLK was assassinated in Memphis)?

Could Auburn, ranked #1 nationally twice in the last three seasons, been atop poll a whopping half century beforehand? Truth be told while entering weekend before MLK Day, racially hung-up SEC and ACC incurred self-imposed performance penalties by failing to recruit regal in-state black prospects until Dixie denizens were finally tired of monumental hardwood horror. Pearl-of-wisdom memo to Auburn: The following droughts describe authentic self-regulation. It seems inconceivable but segregation-shackled Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech (posted win in 1960), LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State (W in 1963), Tennessee, Texas A&M (W in 1969) and Virginia combined for a paltry three NCAA playoff victories during 22-year tourney famine from 1954 through 1975. Moreover, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida (1967), Georgia, Georgia Tech (1960), LSU, Ole Miss, Texas Tech (1961) and Virginia Tech collaborated for an anemic total of three final AP Top 20 finishes in 20-season span from 1954-55 through 1973-74. Even colossus UK didn't win an NCAA Tournament title in 19-year span from 1959 through 1977.

For the record, ACC members in North Carolina all included black players on their varsity teams by end of the 1960s. There is a relatively simple explanation for why Auburn, Clemson, Florida and Georgia failed to participate in the NCAA playoffs until the 1980s. Despite excluding much of the ACC, a trip into the what-if world of hoopdom can be fascinating. What might have been for principally football-dominated Southern schools if they weren't so narrow-minded waiting until the early 1970s to treat in-state African-American hoopers as equals?

The biggest culprit was LSU, which wouldn't have been behind the eight ball with eight losing records from 1963-64 through 1975-76 if not missing out on eight in-state recruits who wound up competing at least eight seasons in the NBA and ABA (Don Chaney, Elvin Hayes, Luke Jackson, Bob Love, Robert Parish, Cincy Powell, Willis Reed and James Silas). As a means of comparison, UCLA's dynasty included 13 such long-term NBA players while winning 10 NCAA championships in same 13-year span. HBCU Grambling College LA supplied one of the top 21 NBA draft choices four consecutive years from 1962 through 1965 while LSU provided one top 30 pick (North Carolina product Pete Maravich/3rd overall in 1970) in a 28-year stretch from 1955 through 1982. Grambling accounted for nine NBA and ABA players in the 1960s while LSU's lone representative that decade was Bob Pettit, who retired following 1964-65 campaign. If not judged by color of skin, consider the following possible "started living (in basketball)" promised-land scenarios (Artis Gilmore attended high school in two Southern states):

Have Dalton Knecht (Tennessee last season) and Curtis Jones (Iowa State this campaign) triggered a renewal of junior college influence on Division I basketball? It wasn't long ago when only a splinter group of maverick coaches were sufficiently bold to liberally dot their rosters with junior-college recruits stereotyped as discipline problems, academic risks or simply unsuitable to go directly from high school to major-college programs. "Jucoland" was labeled by misguided observers as little more than basketball rehabilitation where free-lance players enjoyed free rein to make Great Plains arenas their own personal H-O-R-S-E stables.

However, major colleges aren't nearly so reluctant any longer to bring "quick-fix" junior college players aboard. But due to an almost complete absence of academic standards, the recruits don't attend jucos to prove themselves these days and simply go straight to a four-year institution.

Back in the dinosaur age prior to academic exemptions, the talent pool in the NJCAA Tournament might have never been greater than in 1968, when eight of the 10 members of the All-Tournament Team either eventually played or were at least drafted by the NBA and/or ABA, and a ninth All-Tournament Team member played several years with the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1982, an all-time high of five ex-jucos were named NCAA All-Americans - Oregon State guard Lester Conner (Los Medanos CA & Chabot CA), UC Irvine forward Kevin Magee (Saddleback CA), Idaho guard Ken Owens (Treasure Valley CA), Rice forward Ricky Pierce (Walla Walla WA) and Tulsa swingman Paul Pressey (Western Texas).

The misconceptions regarding junior college basketball aren't helped when network TV pulls a snafu such as in the early 1990s when it was mistakenly inferred that Kentucky guard Dale Brown was the first instance of the Wildcats recruiting a junior college player. Actually, legendary coach Adolph Rupp, a Kansas native, regularly attended the NJCAA Tournament at Hutchinson, Kan., in the 1950s and recruited four tournament MVPs or leading scorers. Two of the four didn't play much for Kentucky or transferred, but the other two - Bob Burrow (Lon Morris TX) and Sid Cohen (Kilgore TX) - proved to be pivotal players for the Wildcats and were selected in the NBA draft. Burrow, an NCAA consensus second-team All-American in 1956, still holds the school record for rebound average in a career (16.1 rpg). Guard Adrian "Odie" Smith, a key member of Kentucky's 1958 NCAA champion, was also a junior college recruit (Northeast Mississippi). Ditto Doug Pendygraft, who joined UK after setting an NJCAA record with 63 points in a national tournament game for Lindsey Wilson KY.

Two decades earlier, Alabama, after finishing 12th in the 13-team SEC in 1937-38 with a 4-12 record, topped the league's regular-season standings the next year with a 13-4 mark. Bama's squad included three junior college graduates, led by center George Prather, who was named to the SEC All-Tournament first five.

In the early to mid-1930s, John Tarleton Agricultural College (Tex.) reeled off 86 consecutive victories and won 112 of 113 contests over a six-year span. Tarleton coach W.J. Wisdom attended a Texas A&M/Texas game and five of the starters were JTAC grads he previously coached.

Coach John Wooden's first center with UCLA was Carl Kraushaar, a transfer from Compton (Calif.) Community College who led the Bruins in scoring in 1948-49 and was an All-PCC selection the next season. Often overlooked amid UCLA's amazing run of nine NCAA Tournament titles in a 10-year span from 1964 through 1973 was the impact of junior college products. The Bruins had six J.C. recruits, including 1970 Final Four Most Outstanding Player Sidney Wicks, who were part of multiple NCAA championships.

The Big Ten Conference never has had an abundance of junior college players, but J.C. transfer Dick Garmaker (Hibbing) scored 37 points for Minnesota in his first league game in 1954 before becoming an NCAA consensus All-American the next year.

Burrow (1954) and Garmaker (1952) are two of five players - including Furman's Darrell Floyd (1951), Tulsa's Pressey (1980) and St. John's Walter Berry (1984) - who were named NJCAA Tournament MVP before becoming NCAA All-Americans.

Five of the top six scorers for Oklahoma's 2002 Final Four team were former junior college players. Former Sooners coach Kelvin Sampson (now at Houston) is fond of the realistic view junior college recruits offer a roster.

"A lot of their egos are broken down already," Sampson said. "They've been through a lot on and off the court. High school kids sometimes have egos that you have to work through. Their bubble hasn't burst yet. A high school kid sometimes gets faced with, `I thought I was better than this.' Also, juco kids only have two years left. They're hungry."

There are usually about 40 to 45 active Division I head coaches who previously served in a similar capacity at a junior college. Among the major-college mentors who guided teams to the NCAA Tournament after coaching at the J.C. level are Denny Crum (Pierce CA), Mike Deane (Delhi NY), Benny Dees (Abraham Baldwin GA), Bobby Dye (Santa Monica CA), Cliff Ellis (Cumberland TN), Jack Hartman (Coffeyville KS), Maury John (Moberly MO), Gene Keady (Hutchinson KS), Jim Killingsworth (Cerritos CA), Dick Motta (Weber UT), Lute Olson (Long Beach City CA), Ted Owens (Cameron OK), Nolan Richardson Jr. (Western Texas), Roy Skinner (Paducah KY), Charlie Spoonhour (Moberly MO and Southeastern IA), Eddie Sutton (Southern Idaho), Jerry Tarkanian (Riverside CA and Pasadena CA), Stan Watts (Dixie UT) and Jim Williams (Snow UT).

Hartman took two of his J.C. stars (Paul Henry and Lou Williams) with him to Southern Illinois, where he toiled eight years before becoming Kansas State's all-time winningest coach. Keady signed three J.C. recruits, a high number by a Big Ten institution, for his final season (2004-05) with Purdue.

Southern Idaho has produced more NCAA Division I head coaches than any other junior college. Joining recently-deceased Sutton at that level were Boyd Grant (Fresno State and Colorado State), Jerry Hale (Oral Roberts) and Fred Trenkle (San Diego State). Hale brought point guard Arnold Dugger with him and Dugger became ORU's all-time assists leader. Trenkle won a national-record 137 consecutive home games during his J.C. tenure.

At least one junior college product was among the top seven NBA draft choices six straight years from 1970 through 1975. Transfers Knecht (Northern Colorado) and Jones (Buffalo) became key cogs for Top Five DI teams the last two years after attending mid-major programs following their J.C. stints. Where will Knecht (Northeastern CO in 2020-21) and Jones (Indian Hills IA in 2020-21) eventually rank among the top 100 such recruits?

Following is an All-Time Juco Team emphasizing two-time major-college All-Americans, top seven NBA draft choices, leading scorer for an Olympic team, more than 2,000 points at major-college level or MVP of a power conference:

FIRST TEAM

SECOND TEAM

THIRD TEAM

FOURTH TEAM

FIFTH TEAM

SIXTH TEAM

SEVENTH TEAM

EIGHTH TEAM

NINTH TEAM

TENTH TEAM

ELEVENTH TEAM

TWELFTH TEAM

THIRTEENTH TEAM

FOURTEENTH TEAM

FIFTEENTH TEAM

SIXTEENTH TEAM

SEVENTEENTH TEAM

EIGHTEENTH TEAM

NINETEENTH TEAM

TWENTIETH TEAM

TOP 50 HONORABLE MENTION

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, 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 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 hoops 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 January 15 in football at the professional level (especially six Kansas City Chiefs players in inaugural Super Bowl):

JANUARY 15

• Kansas City Chiefs TE Reg Carolan (Idaho three-year hoops letterman in early 1960s averaged 4 ppg and 4.7 rpg) had a seven-yard pass reception from Len Dawson (played in two basketball games for Purdue in 1956-57) in first quarter of 35-10 setback against the Green Bay Packers in inaugural Super Bowl following 1966 campaign. Dawson completed 16-of-27 passes for 211 yards. In second quarter, he had a team-long 31-yarder to Otis Taylor (backup forward with Prairie View A&M) to help set up KC's lone touchdown. Chiefs WR Chris Burford (averaged 2.9 ppg and 2.3 rpg for Stanford in 1958-59 under coach Howie Dallmar) supplied four pass receptions for 67 yards. Chiefs RDT Buck Buchanan (earned hoops letter as Grambling freshman in 1958-59) recorded five solo tackles including a sack and teammate LLB Bobby Bell (first African-American hooper for Minnesota in 1960-61) contributed three solo tackles. Starting LG for the Packers was Fred "Fuzzy" Thurston (averaged 1.5 ppg for Valparaiso in 1951-52).

• Chicago Bears WR Justin Gage (averaged 2.1 ppg and 2.9 rpg for Missouri from 1999-00 through 2001-02) had a 24-yard pass reception in 29-21 setback against the Carolina Panthers in NFC divisional-round playoff game following 2005 season.

• Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco in 31-24 AFC divisional-round playoff setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers following 2010 season. Ravens PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) knotted the score at 24-24 with a field goal with 3:54 remaining. The next year, Cundiff kicked two field goals (44 and 48 yards) in a 20-13 win against the Houston Texans in another divisional-round contest.

• St. Louis Rams WR Dane Looker (averaged 4.8 ppg as Western Washington freshman in 1995-96 and 10.2 ppg as sophomore in 1996-97 before transferring to Washington and concentrating on football) caught three passes for 38 yards and rushed once for 11 yards in a 47-17 NFC divisional-round setback against the Atlanta Falcons following 2004 season. Rams LB Tommy Polley (played in one basketball game for Florida State in 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy) had nine solo tackles.

• Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El (member of Indiana's 1999 NCAA Tournament team) opened game's scoring with a six-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger and returned five punts for 50 yards in 21-18 AFC divisional-round playoff win against the Indianapolis Colts following 2005 season.

• 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 in late 1970s) caught a 32-yard pass from Tommy Kramer in 21-7 NFC divisional-round playoff setback against the Washington Redskins following 1982 campaign.

• Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) completed 17-of-25 passes in a 27-10 victory against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII following 1977 season. Combining for nine of the receptions were TE Billy Joe Dupree (scored four points in total of four basketball games for Michigan State in 1971-72) and RB Preston Pearson (averaged 5.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Illinois from 1964-65 through 1966-67). Cowboys LDE Ed "Too Tall" Jones (averaged 1.7 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Tennessee State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) registered three solo tackles.

• Miami Dolphins RDE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) contributed three solo tackles in a 62-7 setback against the Jacksonville Jaguars in AFC divisional-round playoff game following 1999 season.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, 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 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 hoops 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 January 14 in football at the professional level (especially Pro Bowl MVPs Otto Graham and Jim Brown from the Cleveland Browns):

JANUARY 14

• Following the 1961 season, Cleveland Browns FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) earned his first of three NFL Pro Bowl MVP awards in a five-year span.

• San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught six passes for 61 yards in 24-21 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC divisional-round playoff game following 2006 season. 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) chipped in with two receptions for 43 yards.

• New Orleans Saints 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 touchdown passes from Drew Brees - including 66-yarder - in a 36-32 NFC divisional-round playoff setback against the San Francisco 49ers following 2011 season. Five years later with the Seattle Seahawks, Graham opened game's scoring with TD reception in a 36-20 setback against the Atlanta Falcons in NFC divisional-round contest following 2016 campaign.

• Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) named NFL Pro Bowl MVP following 1950 season.

• Quarterbacks Bob Griese (Purdue hooper in 1964-65) of the Miami Dolphins and Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper in 1959-60 under coach John Wooden) of the Washington Redskins squared off against each other in Super Bowl VII following the 1972 season. A 28-yard touchdown pass by Griese in the opening quarter proved to the margin of victory in a 14-7 verdict. Dolphins starters included LT Wayne Moore (averaged 5.7 ppg and 10.3 rpg for Lamar in four seasons in late 1960s) and LDE Vern Den Herder (all-time leading scorer and rebounder for Central College IA when career concluded in 1970-71).

• Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson hooper for seven games in 2010-11 under coach Brad Brownell) caught six passes for 65 yards in a 34-16 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC divisional-round game following 2016 season.

• 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 118 yards and three touchdowns in 48-32 playoff victory against the Dallas Cowboys following 2023 season.

• Oakland Raiders RB Terry Kirby (averaged 2.8 ppg for Virginia's NCAA tourney teams in 1989-90 and 1990-91 under coaches Terry Holland and Jeff Jones) had team-long 31-yard pass reception in a 16-3 setback against the Baltimore Ravens in AFC Championship following 2000 season.

• Green Bay Packers LB Dave Robinson (made two free throws and grabbed five rebounds in two basketball games for Penn State in 1960-61) returned a fumble 16 yards in 33-14 win against the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II following 1967 season. Teammate Dick Capp (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.8 rpg with Boston College in 1963-64 under coach Bob Cousy), a tight end activated for this game, recovered punt return fumble leading to field goal just before time expired in first half.

• Washington Redskins TE Robert Royal (Louisiana State hooper in 2000-01) caught three passes from Mark Brunell in 20-10 setback against the Seattle Seahawks in NFC divisional-round game following 2005 season.

• New York Giants RCB Jason Sehorn (averaged 12.5 ppg and 6 rpg for Shasta Community College CA in 1990-91) contributed two solo tackles and one interception in 41-0 win against the Minnesota Vikings in NFC Championship following 2000 season.

• Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) had team highs of six pass receptions and 96 receiving yards in a 27-13 win against the New England Patriots in AFC divisional-round playoff game following 2005 season.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, 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 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 hoops 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 January 13 in football at the professional level (especially wide receivers for San Diego Chargers in playoff victory following 2007 campaign):

JANUARY 13

• Houston Texans LOLB Connor Barwin (Cincinnati hooper in 2006 NCAA Tournament) collected three solo tackles and two quarterback hits in a 41-28 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC divisional-round game following 2012 season.

• San Diego Chargers WR Chris Chambers (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Philip Rivers in 28-24 AFC divisional-round playoff win against the Indianapolis Colts following 2007 season. 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) had team highs of seven pass receptions and 93 receiving yards (including 14-yard TD).

• Miami Dolphins DE Vern Den Herder (finished Central College IA career in 1970-71 as school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder) delivered a sack in 24-7 win against the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII following 1973 season. Dolphins QB Bob Griese (Purdue hooper in 1964-65) completed six-of-seven passes with two of the receptions by WR Marlin Briscoe (averaged 9.5 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Nebraska-Omaha in 1964-65). Starting LT protecting Griese was Wayne Moore (averaged 5.7 ppg and 10.3 rpg in four seasons for Lamar in late 1960s). Bud Grant (third-leading scorer for Minnesota in 1948-49 after named team MVP previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre) coached the Vikings. Grant's roster included LDT Gary Larsen (Concordia MN hooper in early 1960s), who had four solo tackles, and DB Charlie West (Texas-El Paso hooper in 1967-68 under coach Don Haskins), who returned two kickoffs for 28 yards.

• Los Angeles Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught five passes including one for a touchdown in 41-28 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC divisional-round game following 2018 season.

• Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) had six pass receptions - including game's first touchdown - in a 30-28 win against the Seattle Seahawks in NFC divisional-round playoff outing following 2012 season.

• WR Terrell Owens (UT Chattanooga hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) opened the Dallas Cowboys' scoring with a five-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo in 21-17 NFC divisional-round playoff setback against the New York Giants following 2007 season.

• San Francisco 49ers WR Tai Streets (collected four points and seven rebounds in 13 games for Michigan's NIT titlist in 1997 under coach Steve Fisher) caught a game-tying touchdown pass from Jeff Garcia in fourth quarter of 25-15 NFC wild-card playoff game setback against the Green Bay Packers following 2001 season.

• Miami Dolphins RDE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) contributed six solo tackles in a 20-3 setback against the Baltimore Ravens in AFC wild-card playoff game following 2001 season.

• Baltimore Ravens ROLB Adalius Thomas (averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Southern Mississippi in 1996-97 and 1997-98) accumulated seven solo tackles in 15-6 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in divisional-round game following 2006 season. Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught three passes for 28 yards.