Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as ill-informed GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick and his supporters spurring politicized multiple anthems and league 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 same NFL draft.

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

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 10 in football at the professional level (especially in 1933 plus ex-college hoopers with the Bears and Giants):

DECEMBER 10

• New York Giants B Len Barnum (West Virginia Wesleyan hooper) had an interception in 27-0 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1939 NFL championship game.

• Miami Dolphins rookie WR Chris Chambers (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught two touchdown passes in a 41-6 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 2001.

• New York Giants QB Randy Dean (played in two hoop games in 1973-74 under Northwestern coach Tex Winter) threw his lone NFL touchdown pass in a 17-0 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1978.

• Chicago Cardinals B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1916) accounted for all of game's scoring with three field goals in a 9-0 win against the Chicago Bears in 1922.

• Seattle Seahawks OT George Fant (Western Kentucky's leading rebounder from 2012-13 through 2014-15 when earning all-conference acclaim each season) opened second half by catching a pass for nine yards in 2018 game against the Minnesota Vikings.

• Pittsburgh Steelers QB Joe Gasparella (Notre Dame hooper in 1944) threw two touchdown passes (33 and 48 yards) in a 28-7 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1950 season finale.

• San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught two first-half touchdown passes from Philip Rivers in a 48-20 win against the Denver Broncos in 2006.

• Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw four touchdown passes in a 45-21 win against the Washington Redskins in 1950.

• Cleveland Rams WR Ray Hamilton (Arkansas letterman for two SWC hoop champions from 1936 through 1938) caught a 70-yard touchdown pass in 26-13 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1944.

• San Diego Chargers SS Rodney Harrison (averaged 7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3 apg and 1.6 spg for Western Illinois in 1992-93) intercepted two passes in a 24-3 setback against the Baltimore Ravens in 2000.

• Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) had 11 pass receptions - including two for touchdowns - in a 26-16 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 2017.

• Jacksonville Jaguars rookie WR Willie Jackson (started five hoops games for Florida in 1989-90) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from Mark Brunell in a 41-31 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in 1995.

• Denver Broncos QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 30-23 win against the Oakland Raiders in 1972.

• Pittsburgh Steelers QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw four touchdown passes in a 30-14 win against the Washington Redskins in 1961.

• Chicago Cardinals rookie B Ike Mahoney (Creighton hooper in early 1920s) caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Red Dunn (four-time Marquette hoops letterman first half of 1920s) in 59-0 win against the Milwaukee Badgers in 1925.

• Rookie WR Bob McChesney (Hardin-Simmons TX hoops letterman in 1945-46) scored the New York Giants' only touchdown by catching a pass from Charlie Conerly in 9-7 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1950.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) completed 23-of-36 passes for 390 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-24 win against the Cleveland Browns in 2000.

• New York Jets TE Keith Neubert (scored in all five NIT games for Nebraska's third-place finisher in 1987 when averaging 4.9 ppg and 3 rpg while shooting 50.4% from floor) caught a career-high six passes in 13-0 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1989.

• New York Giants rookie B Kink Richards (Simpson IA hoops letterman) scored two second-half touchdowns in a 20-14 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1933.

• Indianapolis Colts rookie WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) had five pass receptions for 135 yards in a 23-17 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1989.

• Rookie B Gene Ronzani (among Marquette's top four scorers in 1931-32 and 1932-33) scored the Chicago Bears' lone touchdown with a 42-yard pass reception from Keith Molesworth (three-year hoops letterman for Monmouth IL in late 1920s) in 7-6 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1933.

• New England Patriots WR Reggie Rucker (averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg for Boston University in 1966-67) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from Jim Plunkett in a 17-10 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1972.

• New York Giants WR Del Shofner (Baylor hoops letterman in 1956) had three touchdown receptions in a 28-24 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1961.

• Denver Broncos SE Lionel Taylor (led New Mexico Highlands in scoring average with 13.6 ppg in 1955-56 and 20.3 in 1956-57) had nine pass receptions for 171 yards in a 41-33 AFL setback against the Los Angeles Chargers in 1960.

• Chicago Bears WR Kendall Wright (Baylor hooper as freshman in 2008-09) had 10 pass receptions in a 33-7 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017. Bears rookie TE Adam Shaheen (averaged 5.5 ppg and 3.1 rpg for Pitt-Johnstown 2013-14) caught four passes for 44 yards and one touchdown.

When Holy Cross All-American Tommy Heinsohn passed away four years ago, most observers dwelled upon his many significant achievements with the Boston Celtics. But there should have been much more than a cursory mention of him achieving status as the only player in NCAA history to collect more than 50 points and 40 rebounds in a single game against a major-college opponent (51/42 vs. Boston College in his next-to-last collegiate contest in 1955-56). Heinsohn is the headliner regarding the following handful of Herculean players - only one in the last 55 years (Oklahoma's Wayman Tisdale) - providing a total of more than 80 points and rebounds in a single contest against an NCAA Division I foe (minimum of more than 35 points and 20 rebounds):

DI Player	School	Total (Points/Rebounds)	DI Opponent	Date	Result
Tom Heinsohn	Holy Cross	93 (51 points/42 rebounds)	Boston College	3-1-56	W 111-75
Bill Chambers	William & Mary	88 (37 points/51 rebounds)	Virginia	2-14-53	W 105-84
Lew Alcindor	UCLA	85 (61 points/24 rebounds)	Washington State	2-25-67	W 100-78
Ronnie Shavlik	North Carolina State	84 (49 points /35 rebounds)	Villanova	1-29-55	L 91-78
Wilt Chamberlain	Kansas	83 (52 points/31 rebounds)	Northwestern	12-5-56	W 91-70
Wayman Tisdale	Oklahoma	83 (61 points/22 rebounds)	Texas-San Antonio	12-28-83	W 112-72

"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" - Will Rogers

Shouldn't Hercy Miller have been spending any extra time working on his field-goal shooting (anemic 32% in four-year career with Tennessee State, Louisville and Southern Utah)? Rap mogul Master P's son was arrested with a couple of SUU teammates for allegedly stealing two school refrigerators worth $1,500 from loading dock of campus bookstore in mid-November. Hercy must not be receiving an allowance from Master P whose wealth was estimated to be $200 million about a decade ago. Why didn't scholars actually get reading material from the bookstore? Prosecutors filed documents to dismiss the felony charge three weeks later after one of Hercy's teammates claimed: "I believed they were being throw away and that it was OK to take them." Fridge foolishness came on the heels of a plane carrying Auburn's team to a game at Houston turning around in mid-flight and returning to airport after taking off due to physical horseplay between players, prompting the pilot to divert the trip.

Observers have to take this off-the-court nonsense from coast to coast. If Ryan Rollins returning to scene of crime and big Fani Willis as GA DA trying to rehab her image with church sermonettes are the new norm to make lives matter, then our nation is in deep doo-doo. Rollins, on target as Toledo's top scorer as a sophomore in 2021-22, was accused of shoplifting multiple times from a Target store in Alexandria, Va., while a member of the NBA's Washington Wizards. All-Mid-American Conference first-team selection was charged with seven counts of petit larceny (twice in September-four times in October-once in November) pilfering body wash, candles, sporting goods, groceries and more valued at less than $1,000. He seemingly was desperate for these household items despite his contract including a fully guaranteed $1.7 million salary for the 2023-24 campaign and $600,000 of his 2024-25 salary fully guaranteed. Did he think he was still a poor college student desperate for goods as a senior or was Plagiarist Biledumb confiscating too much of his hefty NBA check in taxes?

The bizarre behavior in Biden's what-is-yours-is-mine economy includes players from recent seasons and more than 60 years ago. There was no telling where the twists and turns could go for Syracuse walk-on Brendan Paul when the alleged "mule" for another rap mogul, Sean "P Diddy" Combs, was arrested. In a version of "disrespecting by elderly," former NFL end with New York Giants Clyde "Pete" Hall was in his 80s last spring when arrested in federal drug sting with seven kilograms of cocaine. Hall, who also played hoops for Marquette in the late 1950s, was found guilty of investment fraud in 2010, receiving a 20-year sentence for swindling investors of more than $4 million. Last QB for Marquette football in 1959 served portion of penalty calling signals in home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic. A couple of years ago, intellectual-lightweight thugs may have thought they were on precipice of free Big Macs and Happy Meals as reparations when vandalizing a Ronald McDonald House in Chicago. Actually, all the criminals did was terrorize sick kids inside undergoing cancer and other hospital treatment. How reprehensible is that "protest"? In an attempt not to "bait" inept Chi-raq Mayors Lori Lightweight and her whiny successor plus Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, it should be pointed out that NCAA coaches, administrators and officials are equally incompetent in dealing with riotous bad actors.

Speaking of riots, small-college vagabond Bryce Williams (Crown MN, Saint Leo FL, Lancaster Bible PA and Wisconsin-Stevens Point from 2013-14 through 2016-17) pleaded guilty to federal arson in connection with a violent mob burning the south Minneapolis Police Department's Third Precinct in May 2020. He was sentenced to three years and three months in federal prison plus ordered to help pay $12 million in restitution for the damage. Williams, holding a molotov cocktail while another individual lit the wick, was identified at the scene from surveillance footage. He brazenly published videos of himself and other rioters to his TikTok account and gave an interview on Instagram describing his punk participation. The "Influencer" apparently was in middle of making a documentary showcasing George Floyd protests across the country. Fentanyl-user Floyd was a former juco hooper in Florida.

Basketball seems to have more skeletons in its closet than mass murderer John Wayne Gacy. Say what? Well, when incredulity bubbles up, that's how you secure an affiliation with Reggie! Reggie! Reggie! Reggie Harding, a seven-foot "gangster," was the first player drafted into NBA without having played in college (1962). He was shot dead in an argument at a Detroit intersection at the age of 30 in 1972. Local lore has it that, upon a masked Harding robbing the same gas station for the third time in his own neighborhood, the attendant told him he knew who it was. "No, man, it ain't me," Harding was said to have replied. "Shut up and give me the money!" Seems as if public should be responding to athletic social scholars in similar fashion: "Shut up and play!"

With Harding as the state's "stupid" headliner worthy of Will Rogers quotation, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised about repulsive revelations at Michigan State, where Spartans needed Trojans playing miniature hoops strip poke her learning how to conduct themselves with opposite sex in dormitory room at freshman orientation in late August 2010. Let's hope MSU coach Tom Izzo, in his tireless quest "worrying about the survivors" along with chronic criminal Keith Appling, finally knows the identities of chain-reaction scholars he brought to campus in this among other sordid incidents. Scum has risen to the top of pond of moral values that college athletics pretends to represent when featuring its version of a Benny Hill show.

Never underestimate logic of the moronic. Much of the crazy spit in hoopdom is skool-daze weirder than Davidson grad Stephen Curry's expressed view of moon landings. BSLSD tax cheat Al "Not So" Sharpton probably believes the colossal collection of crazed characters deserve some "R-E-S-P-I-C-T." But whether for money or not, Harding and Shell are mocking worthy of a basketball segment guest hosted by fossilized frauds Reverend Al and "anti-termite" Screwie Louie Farrakhan on "America's Dumbest Criminals" TV show after Queen of Soul Arthea's funeral in Harding's hometown of Detroit. Dumb demonstrations are in their uncivilized DNA. The following alphabetical list of intolerable foolish felons and faulty fellows joined Harding as Beavis & Butthead jerks as disgusting as James Comey's FISA-lies FBI seventh-floor front office in concert with smear-merchant lame-stream #MessMedia and wild-eyed Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of the Odd Squad:

A DOLT ENTERTAINMENT: Glendon Alexander (Arkansas/Oklahoma State) was imprisoned at Seagoville (Tex.) Federal Correctional Institution after pleading guilty to bank and wire fraud. Among a variety of con jobs and scams, Alexander's most brazen was transferring nearly $1.5 million from the account of a California adult-entertainment industry executive into his account. Alexander, who averaged 10.1 ppg from 1996-97 through 1999-00 before saying later he seldom attended class at either school, took the money after meeting the nanny of the adult entertainment figure's children in an internet chat room and visiting her in Encinitas, Calif. Alexander, who earned a spot on the 1996-97 SEC All-Freshman team with Arkansas before competing in the NCAA playoffs with Oklahoma State, also admitted to writing checks totaling $46,500 off the commercial account of a Dallas area dentist and $150,000 worth of cash. He averaged 9.4 ppg in 1998-99 when OSU teammate Doug Gottlieb led the nation in assists after assisting himself to credit cards of other students and exiting Notre Dame. Described by Razorbacks coach Nolan Richardson as "a troublesome person; an habitual liar," Alexander was arrested in May 2009 and sentenced to six months in federal prison for failure to make restitution payments. He reportedly attempted to cash with forged signature a scholarship check belonging to an OSU teammate. Con man used alias "Cerruti Brown" when trying to create the AmeriLeague, a fledgling pro basketball alliance based in Las Vegas for recognizable castoffs scheduled to conduct its draft in fall of 2015 before unraveling.

TARGETING DOMINO EFFECT: Darrell Allums (UCLA), center for the Bruins' 1980 NCAA Tournament runner-up, was sentenced to nine years in state prison for armed robbery. According to a probation report, Allums became dependent on cocaine and turned to robbing Target stores and Domino's Pizza deliverymen in the South Bay area in 1987 to get cash. If Allums crossed the state line, a unique "game under 30 minutes" of one-on-one could have unfolded if he encountered Jason Petrimoulx (UNLV), who faced a count of forgery as a Domino's delivery driver in mid-September 2007 (accused of making imprint of customer's debit card). Another Final Deplore pizza thief was Lorenzo Charles (North Carolina State), who began the 1982-83 season in the doghouse after pilfering two pizzas from a delivery boy while in summer session before "movin' on up" to penthouse providing decisive dunk in NCAA Tournament championship game against heavily-favored Houston. Craving also must have consumed Tyrone Nelson (Prairie View/New Mexico State), who was charged with robbing a pizza man in late summer 2006.

FIVE-FINGER DISCOUNT FOR FIRST FIVE-STAR NCAA BID: Malik Alvin (Texas-El Paso/Binghamton/Shaw NC) was suspended three games by BU in school's first NCAA playoff season (2008-09 when averaging 11.5 ppg, 3 rpg and 3.7 apg) after charged with stealing pack of 36 condoms from a Wal-Mart and knocking an elderly woman to the floor on way out. Larceny charge was dropped and Alvin pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct (customer suffered concussion). In fall of 2009 after a student reported her debit card was stolen and used to make unauthorized purchases, Alvin was among multiple transfers kicked off BU's roster (including ex-Jacksonville player David Fine/son of Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine immersed in scandal a couple of years later). Giving a middle finger to one of its professors, BU fired a lecturer in Human Development amid her accusations the athletic department gave preferential treatment to hoopers and pressured her to change grades. If not discerning it's unwise to submit "free" papers, copying them off the Internet as research classwork, we presume Alvin learned most schools give away free condoms for his "work" off the court. Alvin, a Philly product, previously was dismissed by UTEP (averaged 8 ppg, 2.9 rpg and team-high 4.4 apg in 2006-07) and later transferred to Raleigh, N.C.-based Shaw, where he became CIAA Player of the Year in 2011-12. At least scholarly Andy Robinson (Buffalo) was willing to pay for his bogus schoolwork. Robinson was suspended three games after posting grammatically-challenged ad on Facebook in spring of 2008 offering $30-$40 for fellow student to author a course paper for him.

FATHER'S DAY PARENTING CLASS: Willie Anderson (Georgia), in the fall of 2003, reportedly lost almost all of the $1.75 million he was to receive from a deferred 10-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs to the IRS and three women who said he did not pay child support. The IRS, in a lawsuit, had sought almost $400,000 from what it said were unpaid taxes from a nightclub Anderson co-owned, Strictly Jazz, plus unpaid income taxes. During court hearings in 2000, it was revealed Anderson fathered at least nine children by seven women. Civil warrants were issued twice for his arrest in child-support matters in Georgia state court. The two-time All-SEC selection in late 1980s was jailed in November 1999 for contempt when he didn't show up for another hearing. But Anderson doesn't seem as if he'll medal in the Sperminator Games. Pending audit confirmation of paternity results, Anderson apparently still trails potent philanderers Jason Caffey (Alabama), Shawn Kemp (Kentucky signee), Calvin Murphy (Niagara) and Sedale Threatt Sr. (West Virginia Tech) for most baby mamas in hoops history. Tough guy Juwan Howard (Michigan) is honorable mention nominee.

GIVE ME CREDIT: Gilbert Arenas (Arizona) was suspended for most of the 2009-10 NBA season stemming from a felony gun possession in a locker room and subsequent actions appearing to make light of the episode. Pleaded no contest to misdemeanor weapon charges resulting from an incident in San Mateo County (Calif.) in 2003 after being an All-Pacific-10 Conference selection as a sophomore in 2000-01. Arrested in California in late June 2013 for possession of illegal fireworks in the back of his pickup truck, Arenas appeared to attempt igniting fireworks during 2023-24 season by calling for black players to "take out" and discredit white players ("Euros") for trying to take "their league." In the spring of 2014, Arenas took a cinder block and smashed a Mercedes his longtime flame had been driving, claiming the incident was revenge for her allegedly breaking numerous windows in his house and ruining his Netflix account by throwing his computer into the pool. In late January 2016, Arenas bragged on social media how he committed credit-card fraud at strip clubs. He probably should have served as a consultant to Warren Jones (Bradley/Green Bay) and Al Miller (UCF). Jones was the Braves' leading scorer midway through the 2014-15 campaign when arrested at a strip club on misdemeanor charges of obstruction of identification and criminal trespass in the wee hours of morning following a home defeat. Miller was charged with pointing a gun in theft of local night club disc jockey in middle of 2002-03 season before ditching in-home monitoring device and failing to arrive in circuit court for trial on armed-robbery charge. Instead of plastic, Arenas could have been like Anthony Jenkins (Clemson), who pleaded guilty to passing five counterfeit $100 bills at a Spartanburg, S.C., nightclub in the fall of 1991. The college cager counterfeiters also included transfers Dustin Thomas (Colorado/Arkansas) and Jacorey Williams (Arkansas/East Tennessee State), who both pleaded guilty to possessing "Monopoly" money in summer of 2015 they knew or should have known was not authentic.

I'M NOT ROLE MODEL: Charles Barkley (Auburn), a three-time All-SEC selection from 1981-82 through 1983-84, was arrested for breaking a man's nose during a fight at 2:30 A.M. just before Christmas in 1991 after a game at Milwaukee and also for throwing a bar patron through a plate-glass window in late October 1997 after being struck with a glass of ice while in Orlando for an exhibition game. In August 1997, a jury rejected a $550,000 lawsuit from a man who claimed Barkley beat him up at a Cleveland nightclub. Charges were dropped against Barkley and fellow NBA player Jayson Williams stemming from an accusation they were in a bar fight in Chicago in 1992. Compulsive gambler said in an ESPN interview in May 2006 that he lost approximately $10 million through gambling, including $2.5 million "in a six-hour period" while playing blackjack. The Wynn Las Vegas resort filed a civil complaint in May 2008 that Barkley failed to repay four $100,000 casino markers, or loans, received the previous October. He took a leave of absence from TNT Sports' broadcast booth in early 2009 after test results showed he was legally drunk (nearly twice the legal limit) on New Year's Eve when Phoenix police arrested him on suspicion of drunken driving. Barkley, who triggered a national debate with his "I am not a role model" proclamation, told police he was in a hurry to go have sex from a female passenger he had just picked up from a popular nightclub. We'll see if CNN's King Charles gabfest will have a segment centered around this topic. Barkley apparently was seeking much more activity than Emery Coleman II (New Mexico State) although the outcome for Coleman was significantly more dire as he was charged with homicide by vehicle in connection with an auto accident killing an 85-year-old man midway through the 2011-12 season. Coleman allegedly was using his cellphone to send a text message ("would you kiss me on the neck") at the time of accident. Another "entertainer" unworthy of being a role model was seven-footer Andy Slocum (Texas A&M), who was better known for his time in WWE under the ring name Jackson Andrews before TMZ revelations in late summer 2012 of having two fiancees at the same time. Another "player" was Corey Bailey (UNLV), who received a citation for misdemeanor battery in spring of 2008 after arranging "group therapy" meeting with three females to clear up matter as to whether he was "lying and cheating" on them.

MOVIN' FROM TIRE IRON TO STOLEN X-RATED VIDEOS: Marvin Barnes (Providence), a unanimous first-team All-American in 1973-74, was arrested for a variety of things - trespassing, being under the influence of narcotics, burglary of a locked vehicle. Homeless in San Diego, he stole X-rated videos to sell for drug money. The odd personality once refused to board a plane from Louisville to St. Louis because the flight was scheduled to arrive (Central Time) before its departure time (Eastern Time), with him renting a car instead saying, "I ain't getting in no damn time machine." Barnes, who also showed up late in his Rolls-Royce at a Spirits of St. Louis ABA home outing in a full-length mink coat with uniform on underneath bypassing locker room going straight to the court, claims his cocaine addiction escalated to the point where he snorted drugs on the Boston Celtics' bench during a game. Barnes said he hit rock bottom during one of his drug-related prison stints when he almost killed a fellow inmate. After a flight delay caused then Spirits' radio announcer Bob Costas to miss the start of a contest at Memphis, Barnes told him "don't worry about it bro" because he could be his chauffeur if fired ("I've been looking for a little white dude to drive me around."). Barnes attended the John Lucas Treatment Center in Houston and worked as a director at a halfway house before encountering liver problems. In mid-May 2007, he was arrested by state police on a felony charge of cocaine possession. In mid-January 2012, Barnes was 59 when arraigned in Rhode Island on a charge of soliciting a 17-year-old minor for sex after they met through his Rebound Foundation for at-risk youths. In 1972, he was charged with assault after hitting PC teammate Larry Ketvirtis with a tire iron following a scrimmage (fined $10,000 in federal court for damages). Barnes once asked Providence Journal columnist Bill Reynolds if cocaine kills brain cells before saying: "I must have been a genius when I started out." While incarcerated, Movin' Marvin was moved to tell Reynolds: "Here I am trying to get myself straightened out and they come out with a brand-new drug (crystal meth)." The intellect meter for PC players didn't appear to "move" much decades later when Donta Wade, Jamaal Camah and David Murray were barred from returning to school for their senior season in 2000-01 after allegedly attacking two other students (including bouncer who removed Murray from a local bar).

GOVERNMENT JOBS FOR BIG BLUE BEDFELLOWS: Horny Winston Bennett (Kentucky), an All-SEC second-team selection as a junior in 1985-86, said he "slept with 90 women a month." Only 10 weeks on the job in a state government position, he was fired in fall of 2017 after sending inappropriate emails (including to subordinates). Who conducted a background check on him and did they overlook his termination as a Boston Celtics aide under Rick Pitino by having a sexual relationship with a female student at Brandeis where the NBA team practiced? Previously, Richie Farmer (Kentucky), a shooting guard in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was sentenced to 27 months in prison after entering a guilty plea to government corruption in mid-September 2013 following the state attorney general's office and ethics commission charging him with 42 ethics violations. A scathing state audit about Farmer's eight years as state agriculture commissioner alleged he misused state workers and resources for personal gain. He was accused of placing his friends in jobs with no specified duties and asking them to carry out his personal errands plus build a basketball court on his property. Was Farmer wanting to make a hoops comeback and play in Seniors Tournament with his UK coach (Pitino)? Red-blooded Pitino protege Joshua Tinch's employment as high school special education instructor didn't last long, either. Known more for exploits as UK rival Louisville WR, he was terminated after a female student complained he had inappropriate contact with her when she was 16 shortly following his hiring in August 2011. There was no telling what kind of job Derek Willis (Kentucky) warranted upon being found at nearly 5 a.m. passed out drunk with his body and head extending well into middle of the street next to open driver's side door of car in mid-June 2016. As byproduct of defunding police on progressive wish list, left-wing riots in Portland causing more than $2 million in damage to federal buildings might have been averted if Terrence Jones (Kentucky) was hired as community consultant clearing the streets after he reportedly stomped on a homeless man's leg in late July 2013.

WHAT BAND-AID CAN TAKE FROM YOU: Derrick Chievous (Missouri), sporting trademark band-aid, was an All-American as a junior in 1986-87. He was charged with felony stealing in May, 2001, for allegedly taking items from the United Parcel Service terminal in Columbia, Mo., where he had worked for nine months after playing in the NBA and Europe. Chievous, who was under investigation for months regarding possible theft, allegedly fled from managers while carrying stolen items. In 1997, he was arrested for failure to pay child support. "I'm not the marrying type," said Chievous, who had daughters in his college town plus Philadelphia and Chicago. "I'm not always the greatest dad. But I'm the best dad they've got." Offspring should start tradition of sending him box of band-aids via UPS on Father's Day.

ROOTS OF REMOTE CONTROL: Ricky Clemons (Missouri), after reportedly attending six different high schools, was kicked off the Tigers' squad during the summer of 2003 following a judge determining the North Carolina native violated conditions for serving a sentence in a halfway house and ordered him to jail. The sentence stemmed from two misdemeanors in an assault case involving his former white girlfriend after she didn't want to watch Roots. In subsequent taped jail telephone conversations, Clemons alleged Mizzou assistant coaches gave money to him and other players. The J.C. recruit, who scored 26 points against Iowa and 27 against Syracuse, also crashed an ATV on the school president's lawn at a July 4 party. Believe it or not, the wife of the school's first black president suggested Clemons avoid dating white women. A mid-2001 charge he choked and struck another woman in Idaho was not prosecuted because the woman didn't respond to a request to testify. You've got to exhibit more control of your viewing habits. Wade Jenkins (Tulsa) pleaded no contest to charge of mutilating municipal property for allegedly breaking a door at convention center in spring of 1991 after attending a Toughman boxing contest.

DUMBER THAN DOORKNOB (AT HIS APARTMENT): Sheldon Cooley (East Tennessee State) and teammate Marcus Dubose were dropped from ETSU's roster following DTF charges (subsequently dismissed) in a mid-November 2012 drug investigation. Later, the school's postal services manager was terminated for violating federal law by opening the latest in a series of suspicious express mail packages. Another package earmarked for Dubose containing $10,700 cash was intercepted by drug agents in the days following their arrests. It was Cooley's second arrest that year. He had entered a guilty plea to solicitation to file a false police report, stemming from a robbery probe at his campus apartment, during which he lied to cops about what was taken. Cooley claimed $1,300 in cash was stolen from his room during a theft where a pair of teammates were bound and gagged at gunpoint. Tampa native told police the reason burglars were able to get into the apartment was he left his key/swipe-card in the mailbox. A comparably confusing breaking-and-entering explanation came from Gus Santos (Wichita State) in March 1987 when he was arrested while attempting to kick in a door to an empty hotel room. The Shockers' leading scorer in 1985-86 told local police he was only looking for a quiet place to sleep. As a freshman in late 1980, Steve Stipanovich (Missouri) was shot in the arm. At first, Stipanovich said a masked intruder (donning red-checked flannel shirt and cowboy boots) broke into his apartment, shouted obscenities against hoopers and shot him. Later, the eventual two-time All-American changed the story, admitting he accidentally shot himself with a .22-caliber weapon (facing WHO SHOT STIPO? WHO SHOT STUPO? signs in Big Eight Conference road games). Stipo's fellow All-American and teammate Ricky Frazier, a transfer from St. Louis prior to becoming Big Eight Player of the Year in 1982, was charged with two other men in warrants in spring of 1986 with stealing more than $150 in a shoplifting incident at a Walmart in Sikeston, Mo. Another player filing false police report was Anton Jenifer (VCU/Morgan State), who claimed he was shot during an attempted robbery while entering his apartment in spring of 2001. After noticing inconsistencies in his story, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the dwelling and seized a 9mm semiautomatic handgun. Elsewhere, A.J. West (Nevada) was described as the neighbor from hell by renting out two Brooklyn apartments he leased and using them to throw raucous all-night parties and shoot music videos in studio setting. West reportedly wasn't paying his rent, leveraging pandemic exceptions to turn his apartments into money-makers. At least Cooley, Frazier, Jenifer, Santos, Stipanovich and West weren't as cruel as Donald Little (Cincinnati), who was charged with kidnapping, beating and burning his roommate in spring of 2002.

"DE" GOLD MEDAL FOR HEALTHY EXCUSE: Olympians DeMarcus Cousins (Kentucky), DeMar DeRozan (Southern California) and DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M) were caught going to notorious high-end brothel near the Copacabana beach in Rio in August 2016 before Team USA source offered feeble explanation that "they thought it was a health spa." In "de" spring of 2016, DeShaun Thrower and Stony Brook teammate RayShaun McGrew were charged with third-degree grand larceny and criminal mischief after allegedly breaking the rental car window of a student who had $5,000 in cash in Toyota after cashing tax refund check.

RELIGIOUS CHICKEN LITTLE SKY IS FALLING: Chris Craig (Creighton signee/Texas-El Paso), a guard who averaged 8.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 2.7 apg for UTEP in 2002-03 and 2003-04, was arrested in Utah in early August 2013 on an outstanding warrant for drug possession one month after he was detained at a Walmart in Arizona following alleged threatening statements to people on a junior college campus. Former assistant coach at Northern Colorado, referring to himself as an "Islamic jihadist," was spotted wandering about and warning Catholics and Mormons they "would be destroyed" in the near future. Dealing with mental illness after coaching Eastern Utah to a third-place finish in 2010 NJCAA Tournament, he drove a car covered in spray-painted religious messages. In mid-September 2016, Craig was arrested after allegedly threatening to blow up an elementary school in Utah.

PILFERING PATIENTS' PAIN PILLS: Kevin Criswell (Montana), the Grizzlies' second-leading scorer four straight seasons from 2002-03 through 2005-06, faced two-count indictment in spring of 2014 charging physical therapist with conspiracy and acquiring hydrocodone and oxycodone by forgery, fraud or subterfuge. "Dr. Pill" was sentenced to four years of probation, six months in a residential drug treatment center and paying restitution of $6,400 to one patient suffering severe emotional trauma after pleading guilty to breaking into homes and stealing pain pills from multiple patients. In other Northwest court documents, Craig Ehlo (Washington State) admitted to past problems with substance abuse (prescription painkillers) in receiving a suspended one-year jail sentence following pleading guilty to setting fire to a pile of clothes outside his rural Spokane home. Ehlo was arrested in early August 2013 after firefighters responded around 1 a.m. and encountered family members holding him down near his burning clothes to prevent 14-year NBA player from jumping into the flames.

CUPID RUINS VALENTINE'S DAY: The cute little Valentine Day's cupid we know today can be traced back to a vengeful Roman god who was also a mama's boy. Cupid wasn't exactly the symbol of love and affection on the eve of the mid-February holiday in 2007 when Malik Cupid (Colgate) was charged with stealing $1,400 electronically from his former sweetheart while she was stationed in Iraq with the U.S. Army. Another hooper missing the mark with his arrow was Bryn Forbes (Cleveland State/Michigan State), who was arrested around 5:15 a.m. on Valentine's Day in 2023 after allegedly assaulting his ex-porn star fiancee. They reportedly were set up by Kylie Jenner's ex-best friend Jordyn Woods, who dated former Forbes NBA teammate Karl-Anthony Towns. The case against celebrity ambassador Forbes was dismissed after successfully applying for a pre-trial diversion program. It might not have occurred on Valentine's Day, but Jordan Preaster (Bethune-Cookman/North Florida) was arrested in summer of 2024 for allegedly stalking a female student, blocking the victim's car from leaving parking spot and leaving a teddy bear, rose, candy and two accessory trays by her auto. Previously, he was a Mr. Clean wannabe when accused of using physical violence by pouring dish detergent on hair of a victim.

PHOTO CONSENT RELEASE: Robbie Dean Dosty (Arizona) was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty in summer of 2007 to theft by extortion stemming from his threat to send photographs of a man having sex with him to the man's employer. Drug charges were dropped in exchange for the guilty plea from Dosty, who averaged 10 ppg and 5 rpg from 1977-78 through 1980-81. Shopping additional photo news, a former Coppin State player filed a lawsuit against his assistant coach for allegedly posing as a female to manipulate him (online "catfishing") to sending nude photos and blackmailing him into filming a sexual encounter. The "black male" player claimed he caved into the demands because he was afraid of losing his scholarship. Unless embroiled in The Real Housewives of Potomac gossip, what did Coppin's former head coach know and when did ex-Maryland All-American guard Juan Dixon know it? In the summer of 2012, a salacious photo-extortion story unfolded when an ex-mistress stripper and co-conspirator were busted for a purported $200,000 plot against Mark Jackson (St. John's), who moonlighted as a minister at a LA suburb-based non-denominational church, for sending compromising nude pics during a 2006 affair. The NCAA assists average leader in 1985-86 and All-American in 1986-87 after participating in 1985 Final Four quoted the Bible, saying "what goes on in the dark, comes out in the light. He "shimmied off" while called a "Bible-pounding phony" by ESPN colleague Bob Ryan before the politically-correct network responded by suspending the venerable ex-Boston Globe columnist for a couple of weeks.

MAY HOLIDAY SEASON BE FILLED WITH POP-A-SHOT: Three Eastern Washington players - Robert Otis, Nate Perkins and John Randa - were arrested for petty larceny the week before Christmas 1985 on charges they stole 153 cans of soda pop from the Holiday Inn they stayed in prior to road game against Idaho State. The soda jerks were headed to court after accused of pilfering pop from a machine inadvertently left unlocked. "Life Tasted Good" for EWU on-court, however, as Otis scored 19 points and Randa scooped up a loose ball before he "popped" a decisive basket with three seconds remaining in 61-59 triumph. Another holiday season failed to unfold any better for walk-on Chris Armstrong (Niagara), who was charged with creating a ruckus in fall of 2009 (disorderly conduct and resisting arrest). Police officers said they saw a highly-intoxicated man in trench coat who appeared to be naked (actually wearing "vulgar" Halloween costume) struggling with bouncer trying to get him out of a bar.

NET DREAM: James Felton (St. John's/Florida State/Saint Peter's/Fairleigh Dickinson), when on a recruiting visit at Kentucky's Midnight Madness the weekend of 1996, fell asleep during a meeting with an academic counselor and coach Rick Pitino sent him home. Kicked off St. John's squad early in freshman season in 1997-98 for repeated violations (missing team flight to Puerto Rico for season-opening tournament, inviting friends to team practice at MSG only to see his "posse" pilfer everything not nailed down in the Knicks' locker room and sitting on the court because "I didn't feel much like practicing today"). Left FSU after money and things were missing from the Seminoles' locker room. Cleared up an arrest warrant against him for trying to sell stolen property at a pawn shop, but wore out his welcome at Saint Peter's before playing a game for the Peacocks. He failed to show up for a summer school final exam in 1999 after actually taking pokes while under the influence at SPC's coaching staff during an unsupervised workout. Suspended for portion of a season attending FDU before scoring 41 points in a game against LIU. Felton, known to binge drink and in alcohol rehab, was found dead in his Jersey City apartment in early November 2006 at the age of 27. Speaking of sobriety and stupidity, former All-American guard Charlie Bell (Michigan State) arrived inebriated at drunk-driving court in 2011.

SQUATTERS RIGHTS: Chris Gatling (Pittsburgh/Old Dominion), a three-time All-Sun Belt Conference first-team selection, was sentenced to four years of probation after pleading guilty to theft and forgery charges after accusation of squatting in a Phoenix area home and then trying to list the place for rent on Craigslist. He was charged with breaking into a key box and living in the home for nearly a year. Gatling contacted the owner in the summer of 2010 looking to rent the residence but never finalized a lease agreement because of poor credit. A police report claimed the homeowners lived in California but had left the power on. Gatling reportedly owed $40,000 in child support as of the spring of 2006. He was eventually sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison following arrest in late May 2015 for allegedly running an online fraud scheme using credit cards of people from all across the country. Another player who apparently thought he should be able to hang around was Eli Holman (Indiana), who transferred after freshman season to Detroit following meeting requiring a call to campus police when he became agitated with new Hoosiers coaching staff. At least Holman didn't respond in same way as Roland Griffin (Illinois State/Iona), who was kicked off the Gaels' squad in fall of 2018 after punching an assistant coach multiple times in locker room following an argument about schoolwork.

SLUM OR DUMB LANDLORD?: Will Graves (North Carolina), a starting forward in 2009-10 was arrested on drug charges (involving marijuana) in early December 2013 at a house rented by Carolina's part-time video coordinator from Tar Heels coach Roy Williams. Graves was kicked off UNC's club in the fall of 2010 for violating team rules. At least Graves was linked to his coach instead of convicted felon Haydn "Fats" Thomas like several other prominent Tar Heel players. In similar "high" living arrangements, Kansas teammates Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers were kicked out of NBA rookie transition program in early September 2008 after getting caught with prostitutes in their hotel room where marijuana was smoked (both fined $20,000 and required to attend symposium again the following year). Exhibiting as much intellect as a Farrakhan-loving Jacob Blake Sr. tweet, the Self-less KU tandem refused to allow hotel management in after a smoke alarm went off at about 2 a.m.

TOY STORIES: In the fall of 1987, Artie Green (Marquette) was placed on probation for four years after pleading guilty to armed robbery and burglary charges (service station and apartment building where he lived). His lawyer said the weapon used was a toy gun and that Green turned to crime for money to spend on cocaine. Similarly, Harry Moore (St. Bonaventure) was arrested in 2001 for sticking up ATM patrons with a fake black revolver and three LSU players received summons in mid-June 2017 for allegedly shooting paintballs at pedestrians on campus. Another odd weapon was utilized by seven-footer Dwayne Schintzius (Florida), who wielded a tennis racquet at someone after hearing a rude remark while riding in a car outside a nightclub. Schintzius subsequently quit the Gators in mid-season in 1989-90 because he didn't want to "sail under the authority of Captain Ahab (interim coach Don DeVoe)." While Schintzius "skated" after displaying his power serve outside a club, Archie Goodwin (Kentucky) was arrested in a dispute outside a roller rink in Little Rock in spring of 2014. It was uncertain whether juvenile incident had anything to do with school nickname, but three Oregon freshmen - Josh Crittle, Michael Dunigan and Teondre Williams - performed community service at the Humane Society in fall of 2009 as part of their "fowl" punishment for shooting BBs at ducks and geese in a local park. The golden goose award for stupidity, however, went to Holt Dunlap (UC Santa Barbara) in the fall of 2012 when charged with trespassing and vandalism regarding an 80-pound concrete planter in the shape of a goose at a local residence. Elsewhere, night-owl Winthrop teammates Reggie Middleton and Gideon Gamble were arrested on misdemeanor disorderly conduct/fighting charges in late October 2011, requiring police officers to break up fight at a McDonald's with Tasers, stemming from a 2:45 a.m. "Not So Happy Meal" incident before a scheduled 6 a.m. practice.

CRIMINAL CLIMAX: Eddie Griffin (Seton Hall), an All-Big East Conference second-team selection as a freshman in 2000-01, was charged in November 2003 with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after a woman claiming to be his girlfriend accused him of punching her in the face and shooting a pistol at her car as she drove away. Earlier in the year, he had been arrested for possession of marijuana. He had been expelled before the end of his senior year in high school for fighting with a teammate over a card game and punched college teammate Ty Shine in the locker room after a mid-season defeat his lone campaign with the Pirates. Checked into Betty Ford Center in 2004 to get six weeks of treatment for alcohol abuse. Pleaded guilty to inattentive driving early in the 2005-06 season (drunk and watching pornography in DVD player mounted on dashboard when crashing his Cadillac Escalade while masturbating in parking lot of grocery store) before being suspended by the NBA for violating the anti-drug program in mid-January 2007. Died in Houston in mid-August, 2007, when his Nissan SUV collided with a Union Pacific freight train in a fiery crash. It took four days for authorities to identify his body from dental records. Heaven only knows what he was doing or viewing.

JERSEY WORE: Bob Hall (Louisiana State), averaging 4.7 ppg and 4.7 rpg, was dismissed from team in late February 1997 following second suspension and "apparel" snafu of season. He could not enter a game when Dale Brown, in final of 25 seasons as Tigers coach, tried to send him in but couldn't because the center was not wearing his jersey under warm-up jacket. Earlier in the campaign, Hall left a contest after he was found to have his jersey on backwards. Whether or not it was due to them failing to comprehend one leg or arm at a time, more than half of LSU's roster was suspended at some point during 1996-97. Hopefully, former coach Will Wade wouldn't have found it necessary to make "strong-ass" offer to Hall for his intellect to elevate roster GPA. Wade was preoccupied with three players receiving summons in mid-June 2017 for shooting paintballs at pedestrians on campus.

ALL-STAR PIMPS: Jason Henry (Arkansas) was sentenced to six years in prison after his conviction on prostitution charges. According to a police report, pimp known as "Allstar" was booked in late March 2015 on multiple sex crimes, including the possible rape of a 14-year-old girl. West Memphis product started twice as a freshman but was suspended three times by the Hogs during the 2008-09 campaign and dismissed from the program prior to sophomore season. Elsewhere on the streets, backup point guard Venoy Overton (Washington) didn't have a pimpin' nickname resembling Henry but his real first name made him sound like a cool cat en route to pleading guilty to second-degree promoting prostitution following an arrest in mid-June 2011. Was Overton trying to establish credentials to become Seattle's Street Czar? Periphery "players" also sought to get in on the action as North Texas' team manager received probation after pleading to two charges of promoting prostitution, asking an assault accuser in spring of 2017 to join an escort service they ran for "professional individuals."

VIDEO VOYEURISM: Jonathan Holton (Rhode Island/West Virginia), an Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie team member as URI's leading rebounder, was arrested in late March 2012 following complaints of voyeurism by two female students that he took video of two separate consensual sexual encounters with them and posted them on Facebook (eventually pleaded no contest to sex crime and was given probation). Just days after video vice, he was charged with possession of stolen goods (laptop computer) resulting from a search of his dorm room. Holton was already on probation stemming from a 2009 strong-arm robbery in his hometown of Miami. Elsewhere among semen-ly authentic student-athletes, three Minnesota players were suspended near the end of 2015-16 campaign following an explicit group sex-tape video surfaced on one of their Twitter accounts. At least the porn-star tryout wasn't conducted after closing time in an upscale Italian bistro like their then coach's father. Voyeuristic venues also impacted budding cinematographer Jalen McDaniels (San Diego State), who was sued for allegedly filming two different women performing sexual acts and distributing them with his phone in 2016 while in high school. Predators included Brandon Lampley (Ball State), who was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to felony sexual battery as teaching assistant. He engaged in sexual activity with a female student skipping class in a secured, usually locked, portion of high school's athletic training area in February 2014. Cell phones of the teen and Lampley determined they exchanged 769 text messages in a month. Investigators also found video on Lampley's cell phone of encounters with 10 consenting adults. Other Jeffrey Toobin wannabee hoopers apparently having difficulty keeping pet snake in their pants were Ryan Ayers (Notre Dame), who was charged with three counts of voyeurism after leaving the Fighting Irish program as assistant coach at start of 2020-21 school year; Aaron Hammond (Southern), a middle-school teacher in spring of 2008 when students told police he looked at pornography during class, and Terrence Phillips (Missouri), who was voted chair of the SEC Men's Basketball Leadership Council in fall of 2016 before Mizzou paid $400K in late 2022 to settle claims of botched sexual misconduct probe.

SKINNY-DIPPING DUFUS: Dommanic Ingerson (Michigan/San Francisco) was taken by Oakland police to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation in mid-February 2010 after allegedly stealing a woman's purse and attempting to elude cops by swimming across a 50-degree lake and emerging naked. Ingerson averaged 8.1 ppg for UM as a freshman in 2001-02 before averaging 6.2 ppg in three seasons with USF. Additional nudist colony/psychiatric ward possibilities were Mel Montgomery (Canisius), who disrobed twice while under custody in late January 1981, and Gavin Ludgood (Southern Illinois signee/Florida Atlantic/Northern Kentucky), who was arrested on several charges including public indecency in spring of 2006 after banging on a car and an apartment door while naked just before 8 a.m.

RETURN TO SCENE OF PURSE CRIME: John C. Johnson (Creighton), an All-Missouri Valley Conference second-team selection as a senior in 1978-79, was arrested in early December 2003 on suspicion of theft by unlawful taking and criminal possession of a financial transaction device at a Lincoln, Neb., racquet club. Johnson was arrested in spring of 1992 for breaking into cars supporting a drug habit in Omaha, Harrison County (Iowa) and downtown Lincoln, including the aforementioned racquet club. He was sentenced to one to three years in prison on the theft and forgery charges in Lincoln. In spring of 1993, Johnson was sentenced to one year of probation for breaking into cars at a national wildlife refuge in Iowa. He was a Boys and Girls Club staffer and juvenile probation officer for nine years until his arrests. Johnson was arrested again for purse snatching in mid-November 2011. In 1995, police apprehended him when reportedly in possession of 77 stolen wallets and purses. Omaha also was the hometown for repeat offender Benny "B.J." Valentine (Texas Tech/Eastern Washington), who violated probation sanctioning him the previous week by traveling to Texas and participating in a mid-November 2012 break-in resulting in death of an accomplice.

DANCING WITH THE STARS: Shaq Johnson (Auburn/Longwood), a part-time starter known for dunking prowess, was dismissed from the Tigers' squad in summer of 2013 after freshman season upon jailing in wee hours of morning following a charge of possession of marijuana. In fall of 2014, he was charged with a felony for malicious wounding after knocking teeth out of dance-off competitor. In fall of 2015, Johnson was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana before 10-game suspension by Longwood and agreeing to drug counseling in order to have charge reduced to entering property with intent to damage. It's unknown whether Johnson feels he should have patented his dance routine. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit in spring of 2020 in which former Maryland players Jaylen Brantley and Jared Nickens accused makers of the "Fortnite" video game of misappropriating a celebratory dance move ("Running Man Challenge") the Terps' twosome popularized. Elsewhere, Josh Anderson (Western Kentucky) was suspended for an exhibition game following his arrest in fall of 2018 on a charge of disorderly conduct after police officers asked a crowd in a parking lot to disperse but citation indicated "Anderson stayed dancing and singing causing people to stand there and laugh at him."

FAMILY GUYS: Sidiki Johnson (Arizona/Providence), estranged half-brother of Texas' celebrated center Mohamed Bamba, received a four-year sentence for second-degree attempted robbery and third-degree robbery. Sidiki appeared in only three games for UA in 2011-12 before suspension for violating team rules and played in only 11 games with PC prior to leaving program for personal reasons. Another brother from dysfunctional Harlem family, Ibrahim Johnson (Montevallo AL), accused Bamba in a rambling, profanity-laced FaceBook poolside video in spring of 2017 of accepting cash and gifts from a financial advisor in Michigan. Snitch Ibrahim was himself in the throes of a series of charges in single month (hit-and-run, forgery, falsification, petty theft and possession of drugs). In mid-October 2020, juco recruit Ibrahim died from shotgun wounds to his chest at a Fort Worth apartment complex. Speaking of family connections, brothers Jeffrey and Marcus Jordan (UCF) got into trouble in Las Vegas at their famous father Michael Jordan's 2010 fantasy camp. After an apparent wild night of drinking, Marcus boasted on his Twitter account about a spending spree of more than $80,000. The siblings never were charged, but the hotel and casino faced a probe for allowing underage drinking. Did MJ's sons say the squandered money was just "crumbs" to them?

SAMURAI SWORD SCHOLAR: Avondre Jones (Southern California/Fresno State) was convicted in December 1998 of threatening a man with a Samurai sword in his apartment just hours after a FSU game in the NIT. Gangsta rapper wannabee also was convicted on a felony charge of having a gun while on probation (for gun possession) and a misdemeanor marijuana charge. Jones, sentenced to six months in jail, was acquitted on six charges, including theft, extortion and assault with a deadly weapon. While a sword wasn't utilized, Lafester Rhodes (Iowa State) reportedly slashed an ex-girlfriend's bed during a domestic dispute in her apartment. Johnny Orr told Rhodes' CBA coach that his All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection in 1987-88 "couldn't read past a sixth-grade level." Rhodes must have been unable to comprehend instructions on how to modify water level.

JIGGLE JOINT JACKPOT: Jason Keep (Oklahoma State/San Diego), after seven-footer and All-WCC selection was fired from his job at a Phoenix strip club, hatched a plot to rob the jiggle joint on New Year's Eve 2013 before plan to pilfer up to $500,000 he believed was stored in the business' safe unraveled because there were too many potential witnesses. But two accomplices went ahead and followed the club's manager to a local IHOP and, in brazen midday robbery, stole duffel bag filled with about $18,000 in cash, leading to the shooting of a police officer following vehicle pursuit. Keep was charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery in connection with the case. USD's leading scorer and WCC's top rebounder in 2002-03 in his lone season with the Toreros after transferring from OSU, where he was a teammate of Doug Gottlieb ("credited" with checkered past at Notre Dame) following one season in junior college. Keep entered a plea of not guilty on drunken driving charge midway through the 2000-01 campaign.

WHAT'S YOURS IS MINE: Shawn Kemp (Kentucky signee) had a troubling pattern of drug use leading to multiple NBA suspensions coupled with a proclivity for fathering children out of wedlock. Ended his first season with the Portland "Jail Blazers" in spring of 2001 by checking into a drug rehab center for cocaine abuse. He was arrested in 2005 for possession of cocaine and marijuana and was again charged with possession of pot in 2006. Left UK as an academic non-qualifier in November 1988 after getting caught but not charged for selling stolen gold jewelry belonging to the coach's son. Elsewhere, Jesus Rodriguez (Virginia Tech) was arrested in spring of 1998 and pleaded guilty to nine counts of stealing property from students (including $2,000 necklace in teammate Shawn Browne's locker). At least Kemp and Rodriguez acquired the bling without an overnight package mailed to them popping open. By contrast, Richard Hurd (Baylor), foiled in an attempt to enrich himself, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after found guilty stemming from his arrest in mid-June 2012 in connection with an alleged $1 million extortion from Heisman Trophy-winning QB Robert Griffin III. Hurd, the ex-boyfriend of Griffin's fiancee, threatened to release damaging information on RG3. Another "jewel" was Karel Rosario (Florida International), a 6-10 Miami-Dade police detective in late 2015 when pleading guilty to dealing in stolen property. Rosario was sentenced to 366 days in prison for trying to sell luxury jewelry valued well over $100,000 stolen from a suspect's home. Leading scorer Adrian Banks (Arkansas State) was suspended for about a month in the 2007-08 campaign when arrested for firing a handgun within Jonesboro city limits in wee hours of the morning. Juco recruit told police he found the gun at a nightclub where a fight broke out. "I found the gun on the ground and didn't want anyone to get shot, so I shot the gun until it was empty," Banks said (with a straight face?) according to the police report.

KING OF APPEARING IN COURT: Four was a magic number for Bernard King (Tennessee), an All-American in 1976-77 despite brief suspension at start of season following four arrests in the fall for possession of marijuana and driving infractions. He subsequently was recognized as youngest NBA player (23) arrested four times. At least King didn't generate a scene similar to Clinton Smith (Ohio State/Cleveland State), who was on probation for passing bad checks in the spring of 2010 when fleeing a courthouse, pushing a sheriff's deputy down a flight of stairs (breaking officer's leg), after learning he was going to be arrested. King also didn't quite measure up to antics of Big East Conference MVP Derrick Coleman (Syracuse). NBA Crime Library, which tracks police blotters, claims Coleman's seven arrests while an active pro player is a record for the league. He must believe unlawful actions give him street cred while engaged with his alma mater in a legal tussle over trademarks in the summer of 2023.

FISHY AUCTION: Brad Lohaus (Iowa), an All-Big Ten Conference selection in 1986-87, received two years of probation in mid-January 2006 for not delivering fishing rods that he auctioned on eBay. He was charged with theft in 2004 after receiving more than $1,700 from auction bidders seeking rods and other unspecified merchandise. In regard to "multiplying" fishy acquisition, leading scorer Deon Tresvant (Cal State Northridge) was arrested with his coach's son and teammate who is offspring of pastor across street of theft in early 2009 for being involved with stealing more than $6,600 in merchandise on New Year's Day from a Best Buy where the coach's son worked. The pilfering was discovered when store officials discovered a discrepancy at cash register after the coach's son allegedly logged onto register using the password of an employee who was off that day. A similar scheme occurred during 1996-97 season when five Idaho State players were involved with clerk charging only for gum while they checked out holding hundreds of dollars of electronic equipment.

A HORSE IS A HORSE OF COURSE: Art Long (Cincinnati) was found not guilty of an infamous "Blazing Saddles" incident assaulting (punching four times) a police horse. Brought to UC after selling drugs to a decoy cop, the Bearcats' leader in rebounding and blocked shots in 1994-95 was involved in multiple domestic violence incidents. In mid-December 2015, the J.C. vagabond was sentenced to 81 months in prison for drugs and guns crimes. He probably should have been spending Long-er time playing "H-O-R-S-E" based on his "blazing" free-throw accuracy (55.6%) and three-point marksmanship (11.1%). Speaking of guns and "horses," massive Oliver Miller (Arkansas) was accused of assaulting his girlfriend's brother during cookout in spring of 2011. No word if relative triggered pistol-whipping altercation by taking grub off plate of textbook Beast of the Baseline.

MACK TRUCKS ALONG WITH FOOTBALL ACCOMPLICES: Sam Mack (Iowa State/Arizona State/Houston) was charged with unlawful use of a weapon in 1988. While at Iowa State (where he averaged 11.8 ppg and 6.1 rpg in 1988-89), he was acquitted of all charges after being arrested for kidnapping, armed robbery and terrorism following a theft at a Burger King. Mack and his football player accomplice, whom he claimed forced him at gunpoint to tag along, would not have been able to enjoy their combo meals for long. During the course of the robbery, Mack stood right beside an ISU poster with his picture on it albeit without clueless clown donning promotional crown. At least pic didn't have him eating a "Mack" Donald's. After transferring to Arizona State, he was accused of raping a student on campus and also stealing an American Express card, with yet another football player, to purchase $1,400 in gold jewelry. Moving on to Houston (where he averaged team-high 17.5 ppg in 1991-92), Mack was arrested and charged with criminal mischief. Also arrested in the summer of 2000 after police officers found crack cocaine and 20 bags of marijuana in his Range Rover following a high-speed chase in a Chicago suburb.

STALKING BIG BAD JOHN: Kevin Millen (Georgetown), a backup for the Hoyas in mid-1990s, was sentenced to two years' probation and ordered to return to his Memphis hometown and stay away from Washington after arrested twice in fall of 1998 stemming from accusations of stalking and making threatening phone calls to coach John Thompson Jr. Millen was charged with unlawful entry after being detained by campus security for allegedly trying to reach the office of the university president. In the wake of several dozen alleged menacing phone calls to the school's athletic office earlier in the year, he was apprehended the previous week and ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Court records indicated Millen was upset over job opportunities arranged by Thompson that didn't pan out. Millen had an unsuccessful primary run for Congress in 2010. What a shame! He could have provided Congressional entertainment much like Anthony Weiner (a/k/a Carlos Danger), married a Clinton confidant and had #SickWillie conduct the marriage ceremony between ex-President's flights on "Lolita Express." Speaking of stalking, Florida A&M coach Mike Gillespie Sr. (DePaul) was fired after arrest in spring of 2007 on a misdemeanor charge of stalking woman at her workplace. A police report said Gillespie, subject to GPS monitoring after guiding the Rattlers to their first 20-win campaign in 18 seasons, was investigated several times on stalking complaints in a two-year span.

BAD CELL SERVICE: Sam Miller (Dayton/College of Charleston) pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after arrest for underage drinking in early August 2017. Becoming insubordinate in back of cruiser, he made matters worse by getting into a fight in jail. A bartender at Caddy's Taphouse said Miller responded to being cut off from additional beverages by knocking down all the glasses on bar table to the floor and shoving her. A security officer subdued the profane Miller before police arrived and apprehended him. That's when things got worse for him. After urinating on the floor in the corner of a jail cell and taking off his pants, Miller was caught on camera getting into a tussle with a fellow inmate who, understandably so, said he did not want to be in same holding cell where Miller relieved himself. Miller was kayoed by multiple punches before bloodied prisoner was escorted out of the cell. Speaking of odd circumstances for fisticuffs, Maine's miserable 2016-17 season took a darker turn late in the campaign when the Black Bears' leading scorer reportedly broke a teammate's jaw in a dispute over music played in the locker room. Team members tried to cover up the fight by saying the injury incurred from falling in the shower. Additional internal strife occurred in mid-January 2006 when Daevon Haskins (Louisiana Tech) was arrested for disorderly conduct at airport at 6 a.m. after altercation with at least one teammate and in spring of 2014 when Missouri's Zach Price (also attended Louisville and Winthrop) was arrested twice in one day for assaulting same roommate/teammate and a woman. Price wasn't right with his daily double.

ANOTHER REASON NOT TO DRINK AND DRIVE: Greg Monroe (Georgetown), an All-Big East Conference first-team selection in 2009-10, pleaded guilty to impaired driving in spring of 2014, urinating on himself during the booking process. Since he was a member of the Detroit Pistons at the time, he should be grateful the franchise nickname wasn't Pooptons. Not long before whizzing away by Monroe, freshman guard Stevie Clark (Oklahoma State) was dismissed from Pokes squad following arrest for "publicly urinating out of a vehicle window" at 12:45 a.m. Another OSU product incapable of controlling himself was JamesOn Curry, a North Carolina commitment charged with urinating in an alley outside of his hotel at 2:30 a.m. in mid-January 2008. Late in the 2009-10 campaign, starting swingman Corey Stokes (Villanova) was cited for public urination following a game (between two cars while surrounded by teammates). In late summer 2010, Joe Mazzulla and West Virginia teammate Dalton Pepper were cited for allegedly urinating in public. In late 2006, Trevon Charles (Quinnipiac) was suspended after urinating on a female student's leg in dormitory bathroom. Chicago product Darrell Williams (Oklahoma State) was arrested in February 2014 for public urination outside a friend's home. D.J. Cooper (Ohio University) joined the list of hoop piss-ants by receiving a two-year suspension from FIBA in 2018 following revelation he used his pregnant girlfriend's urine instead of his own to try and pass a drug test. All of these "Free Willy" mental midgets probably should hold tight, move to San Franfreakshow and become founding members of the Pea Party. Harsher treatment would be dispatching them to Greene County (MO), where corrections officers were charged with misdemeanor third-degree assault for standing on a jail roof in summer of 2001 and spraying pee on inmates as they played basketball.

OJ PAYBACK BEFORE NO-PAY BACK: Tyrone Nesby (UNLV), was arrested in late January, 2008, on a charge of contempt of court. In mid-June 2011, the Cairo, Ill., native was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to pay nearly $1 million in restitution for unpaid child-support obligations. In April, 2001, he spent the night in jail after arrest in his locker room on a battery charge that was later dropped. While in junior college at Vincennes (Ind.) in 1995, the last of 14 children was accused of hitting a fellow student in the face in an argument over the O.J. Simpson verdict.

STIFF PENALTIES: Lamar Odom (UNLV/Rhode Island), an All-Atlantic 10 Conference first-team selection in 1998-99, was found unconscious at a Nevada brothel in mid-October 2015 before he was transported in critical condition to a hospital. Owner of the Love Ranch South said "it looks like he might have taken too much herbal Viagra." In 2013, he apparently was holed up at a L.A. hotel room where friends were involved in an intervention trying to get him help for an undisclosed drug abuse problem. In his memoir, Odom said he used a fake penis to cheat on a drug test for the 2004 Olympics. Odom, who faced drug accusations in 2001 when violating the NBA policy twice in an eight-month span, probably needed help in controlling bowel movement after admitting he took a dump in his "Celebrity Big Brother" bed. Also running afoul of the law multiple times for being unable to control himself was Kerry "Stephen" Thomas (Boise State), the first person in Idaho convicted of knowingly spreading the HIV-AIDS virus. In other words, Thomas was a poor man's Magic Johnson (Michigan State).

STRIP KARAOKE AT SATAN'S DISCO: Frank Peters (Oregon State), the third-leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer for fourth-place team in 1963 NCAA playoffs, served 2 1/2 years in prison of a 10-year sentence following a 1989 conviction for statutory rape and drug offenses (busted for possession of 800 marijuana plants worth a reported $1 million). Affiliated for more than 20 years with a bar/dance hall in Southeast Portland, where he served everything from reindeer to rodent while presiding over events such as strip karaoke and lesbian dance party. He played a supporting role in a Netflix film The Battered Bastards of Baseball, which is purportedly about a minor-league baseball franchise that thrived in the 1970s during a time when it was the nation's only professional club not owned by MLB team. While managing the Mavericks, Peters was also the maestro of several of Portland's most notorious nightspots, including Satan's Disco. Booby bars have a tendency to spawn some weird situations. Jeff Moe (Iowa), the owner of an Indianapolis strip club, reportedly retaliated over opposition to the bar's liquor license by roughing up a councilman. Moe, a part-time starting guard for the Hawkeyes the last half of 1980s, said the councilman with same first name should not be able to criticize his character while facing child molestation charges himself. "I gave him my version of Ride the Wild Jeff Beast," Moe said, referring to the designation stemming from piggyback rides the councilor gave girls in his home, according to court documents. Players riding on the wild side included Travis Garrison (Maryland), who was required to register as a sex offender in summer of 2015 after found guilty of assaulting multiple women present at his wife's overnight birthday party.

POLICE ACADEMY WANNABE: Olden Polynice (Virginia), an All-ACC second-team selection in 1985-86, was charged during the summer of 2001 with hitting and spitting on a golfer after being accidentally struck by a golf ball in Salt Lake City. The previous fall, he was involved in two road-rage episodes that led to Bubba Smith wannabee pleading guilty (accused of impersonating police officer by flashing fake badge). In mid-October 1996, Polynice was arrested at his home in Sacramento on domestic assault charges after his live-in girlfriend complained he threw her against a wall. After facing honor-code violation of plagiarism in 1984, Duke's creative Crazies printed copies of a sheet with the title page "Hamlet: An Original Play by Olden Polynice" and handed them out before a contest at Cameron that the Haitian center chose not to attend. Another fake law enforcement representative was Robert Swain (Connecticut/College of Charleston), a Georgia native among four civilians dressed as Fulton County Sheriff's office employees arrested in alleged drug scandal orchestrated by a deputy and detention officers seeking cocaine deliveries outside of the jail in early June 2011. The raid came just over a week after an inmate was shot by another inmate. The Cosby Show at George Washington didn't feature a pretend doctor as Pitt transfer Attila Cosby, claiming "weak-mindedness," said he was a police officer and would kill a 46-year-old prostitute if she said anything about him assaulting her with a broomstick and stealing a $10 roll of quarters after picking woman up in his girlfriend's auto. Polynice, Swain and Cosby weren't nearly as "playful" as Ryan Knight (James Madison), who was booked into jail in early February 2010 for pelting responding police unmarked vehicle with snowballs after first targeting a city plow. At least Knight didn't throw money at cop like Todd Johnson (Northern Kentucky), who was suspended for a DUI charge in mid-December 2015 during which he reportedly offered a police officer cash to let him go.

AT LEAST TAKE SHOWER BEFORE POLICE LINEUP: Kenny Pratt (Iowa State), a two-time All-Big Eight Conference forward, was involved in a late December 1996 incident stemming from two-car accident at an intersection, triggering holding cell "don't you know who I am" videotape showing him yelling, swearing and spitting at police officer. The arrest, where his driver's license was suspended while manning a rental car he was unauthorized to drive, occurred just weeks after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct. Obviously, Floyd took the altercation very seriously by suspending Pratt for one game. In mid-February 1998, J.C. recruit from Chicago was still wearing his uniform following an IBA playoff game when arrested for contempt of court after a police chase. Officers commiserated with Pratt and his minor-league coach before the contest and they agreed to allow him to compete if he surrendered after the fray. Instead, Pratt chose to flee. Perhaps Pratt could have eluded police if he had left during game similar to what Willie Cutts (Arkansas) did as sophomore in 1981-82. Cutts was dismissed from Razorbacks program by coach Eddie Sutton for leaving the floor, throwing his jersey into garbage can on way to locker room, dressing and exiting arena in first half of a game against East Tennessee State after being quickly pulled from lineup for what Sutton deemed a poor shot. Cutts, a former McDonald's Game MVP, subsequently spent time in prison and halfway houses. The state also supplied in-game defector Steven Moore (UALR). He was dismissed from the Trojans' squad in mid-February 2009 for his actions during a contest against Western Kentucky, including walking off the court midway through first half. Another McDonald's All-American trying out for clown-college consideration was Jelan Kendrick (Mississippi), who ditched the Rebels' team during warm-ups against Alabama late in 2011-12 season before materializing mid-game in the student section to whisk his girlfriend away. That was not a good campaign for game decorum as Justin Coleman (Marshall/originally Louisville signee) went from starter to using a cell phone on the bench during second half of a game as if he was some new teenager at the movie theater enthralled with his first wireless device.

REGULAR CUSTOMERS: Lloyd Price (Xavier/Fairleigh Dickinson), the most highly-rated recruit in Xavier history at the time before transferring, was charged with FDU teammate Douglas Whittler in the armed robbery of a New Jersey convenience store in mid-November 2001. Price, who allegedly wore a hood around his face when he went into the store where he was a regular customer, was drunk as he showed the clerk a "starter's" pistol but dropped it and exposed his face when he went to pick gun up. Later, Price dropped out of Kentucky Wesleyan. Elsewhere involving all-conference first-team selections, Walmart employees suspected Rico Gathers (Baylor) of pilfering items during previous visits before the Bears' all-time leading rebounder was arrested in mid-June 2015 for allegedly stealing household goods from the store and Monty Mack (Massachusetts) was charged in fall of 2000 with shoplifting seven DVD movies from Kmart (stuffed in his sweat pants). In the spring of 2023, three Arkansas State players were arrested on shoplifting hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise from a Walmart. The following spring, one of the A-State trio (Julian Lual) was arrested for third-degree battery after punching a store clerk in the back of the head while stealing cigars.

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

MARSHALL PLAN SLAP IN FACE: Marshall Rogers (Kansas/Pan American), the nation's leading scorer in 1975-76 with Pan Am, was arrested in his hometown of St. Louis in late June 1987 and charged with assault and petty theft in connection with a shoplifting incident (bottle of Mennen Skin Bracer, stick deodorant, a pair of white sunglasses and three Baby Ruth candy bars worth a total of $13) at a downtown Walgreens drug store. Police said Rogers fought with two store managers, a security guard and three police officers before he was subdued after being struck in the head three times with a nightstick. Rogers, who was living with his mother and told arresting officers he had been out of work the previous three years, was confronted by store personnel and allegedly told them: "Here, you can have the Skin Bracer but that's all." After his diabetes worsened, he had both of his legs amputated below the knees before being checked into a nursing home in 2006. Rogers, who frequently clutched scrapbooks he kept of his playing exploits, died in mid-June 2011 at the age of 57 after refusing to undergo the kidney dialysis treatment doctors said he needed. What a drag for Walgreens that one of its stores in Miami was also robbed in mid-January 2017 by seven-footer Zach Brown (Connecticut commitment/St. John's signee), who reportedly was subsequently imprisoned for violating parole.

SIDNEY BEAMS IN STANDS: Renardo Sidney (Mississippi State), a Mississippi product, was ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA in 2009-10 amid requesting tax documents and income statements to verify his family's income while they lived in relatively posh arrangements in Southern California. Upon securing his eligibility, the summer circuit prima donna was suspended twice for off-the-court issues (including highly-publicized altercation with teammate in stands during tourney in Hawaii). "I was getting money," Sidney told NBC Sports. "I don't know how much. They were giving it to my mom." After ballooning to more than 300 pounds, he did not accompany the Bulldogs on a summer exhibition tour of Europe. "I was getting all kinds of gear and clothes and shoes and I was No. 1 (prep prospect) in the country," Sidney told Rob Dauster of NBC Sports after going undrafted by NBA. "The internet and TV kind of got to me and, as a young kid at that age, you just feel like you've made it already. I stopped working." Unafraid to tell you what was on his mind, the internet certainly got to Chris Early, who was dismissed from Chattanooga's club midway through the 2011-12 campaign after making six disparaging remarks about his coach over a five-day span on personal Twitter page. Perhaps the Mocs should have conducted an internet background check on him as he previously was dismissed for misconduct at Oklahoma.

LEFT TEAMMATE FOR DEAD: Jamar Smith (Illinois/Southern Indiana), a Big Ten Conference All-Freshman team selection in 2005-06, was charged in middle of sophomore season with drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident (apparently believing unconscious Illini teammate Brian Carlwell died after Lexus struck tree in heavy snow rather than suffering severe concussion). Entered a plea of guilty to DUI with grievous bodily harm, resulting in leaving the scene charge dropped as part of a plea agreement. In fall of 2008, Smith was sentenced to 18 months of probation for violating a court order (continuing to get alcohol-abuse treatment and wearing ankle bracelet alerting authorities if he drank) after spotted outside a campus bar about 2:30 a.m. In the fall of 1999, accident protocol was exactly adhered to when Eldridge Recasner (Washington) was hospitalized with a fractured right shoulder and partially collapsed lung after SUV driven by NBA teammate Derrick Coleman (Syracuse) collided with a tractor trailer. Coleman, eventually acquitted of drunk driving charges but found guilty of "unsafe movement," didn't move in timely fashion to hospital for visit. Recasner was annoyed with him for failing to check in on whether he was OK for more than a week after the accident. Another Midwest player with last name of Smith who had difficulty uncovering the truth was Sammy Smith (Dayton). After a polygraph test did not support his story, Smith admitted fabricating tale about being abducted by a gunman in fall of 2002. Another tall tale came from Aaric Murray (La Salle/West Virginia/Texas Southern) in spring of 2020 when law enforcement searched him during investigation on another charge and found $6,415 in U.S. currency. Murray said he won money from gambling at a local establishment, but had no vouchers to prove claim and police report noted "none of the hotspots in town are open due to the (COVID) pandemic."

INDIAN FIGHTING COLUMBUS: Leon Smith (Fresno State commitment) was a Chicago product and ward of the state due to neglect from his parents. Committed to a psychiatric ward in Dallas for a month in late 1999 following a suicidal incident when the Mavericks' first-round draft choice out of high school threw a large rock through a house guest's SUV window and swallowed approximately 250 aspirin tablets before telling police officers, "I am an Indian fighting Columbus." After returning to Windy City, he was arrested twice within two days for threatening his ex-girlfriend and damaging her mother's automobile. Speaking of windows in 1999, charges were dropped after All-American Lee Nailon (TCU) was arrested for suspicion of drug possession and evading arrest (through back window of Comfort Inn motel room). Another potential window washer/salesman was Yuri Demetris (Pittsburgh), who was booted from the Panthers' team in mid-January 2005 following an altercation at his ex-girlfriend's apartment where he twice climbed through her window.

BEAT AROUND THE BUSH: Korey Spates (Purdue/Kent State), after beginning his college career with a six-day suspension, averaged 10.1 ppg in 15 games before off-the-court issues triggered his dismissal from Boilermakers in mid-January 2006. Cleveland native was supposed to transfer to Kent State, but his scholarship was rescinded reportedly after a conflict with the Golden Flashes' coach. In spring of 2017, the Palm Beach County state attorney's office chose not to press charges against him for lewd and lascivious behavior inside the children's department at a Macy's store at the Boynton Beach Mall. When store security approached him, he ran away and was found hiding behind bushes. Failing to capitalize on foliage was Doug Overton (La Salle), a three-time All-MAAC first-team selection from 1988-89 through 1990-91 who pleaded guilty to three counts of disorderly conduct. Overton was sentenced to one year of probation following arrest in late April 2017 after Lincoln PA coach exposed himself to both men and women on a public trail. Additional exhibitionists included Peter Coker Sr. (Dartmouth/North Carolina State), charged with "allegedly exposing himself to three girls (as he drove his BMW around a school in late summer of 1992)"; Teddy Grubbs (DePaul), who was charged with public indecency multiple times in the 1980s; J.P. Macura (Xavier), who dropped his pants in bar in spring of 2016 after allegedly providing police a fake ID, and Joshua Primo (Alabama), who was released in fall of 2022 by the San Antonio Spurs stemming from multiple alleged instances of exposing himself to women. The most brazen "ball-handler" might have been Stanley Pringle (Penn State), who was charged with public lewdness and disorderly conduct in spring of 2008 in connection to a reported library masturbation incident. According to the criminal complaint, Pringle asked a victim while sitting down on top of desk behind her if she wanted to purchase hand lotion the J.C. recruit was selling for the Nittany Lions' team (apparently prior to P Diddy accuring most of nation's supply of lubricant). "This is how I chill ma'am," Pringle explained to a female officer, placing his lotion-smooth hand down front of his sweatpants. Another lively evening in non-fiction occurred in 2001 when Pepperdine's Glen McGowan was suspended for the fall semester after igniting late-night fracas with a teammate in school library.

STANDING HARD TO LIVE UP TO CHRISTIAN LAST NAME: On the same day La Salle announced transfer of Christian Standhardinger (Nebraska/Hawaii) in mid-January 2011, the Explorers later issued a statement saying he would not be "coming" after cited on suspicion of public indecency (criminal charges subsequently dismissed). Didn't seem like "Christian" thing to do, but the 6-8, 220-pounder bearing a resemblance to Wacko-Jacko Michael Jackson was found shirtless with his pants down while cramped in the passenger seat of a parked car at 3:40 a.m. (after hours inside a park). Filipino-German was accompanied by a female also reportedly shirtless. Get a room but stand hard, Christian! Perhaps Standhardinger, suspended at Nebraska for academic reasons after previously suspended 15 games stemming from NCAA amateurism rules violation, was eventually found studying anatomy at a nude beach in Hawaii. The two-time All-Big West Conference selection averaged 16.9 ppg and 8.1 rpg for the Rainbows in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Speaking of getting caught in compromising position on the Plains, Kansas assists leader Tyshawn Taylor and a KU woman's hooper were suspended for one game late in the 2010-11 season after reportedly getting frisky playing unauthorized one-on-one "Rocks-Off Jayhawk" causing hot-and-heavy "Phog" on windows inside Allen Fieldhouse. What exactly is going on in cornfield mazes of the Midlands? Roburt Sallie (Nebraska signee before attending Memphis) sued the Spanish Basketball Federation for slander, libel, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. Sallie said he wasn't cut from his Spanish professional team for taking the penis enlargement pill ExtenZe, but was using a male sexual enhancement pill called Black Ant. As far as the portion of a report he wasn't showering with his team, Sallie said it was because he was uncomfortable with Spanish bathing culture socializing while naked. Ole! At least Sallie didn't test positive for pregnancy overseas like D.J. Cooper (Ohio University), who failed a FIBA drug test in 2018 and was hit with a two-year suspension for fraud after using his pregnant girlfriend's urine instead of his own. There was no indication Cooper took one of those nasty transgender photos showing that men can menstruate, too.

TRUE CLAIMS OF PRISON-MADE GRANOLA BARS: Seth Sundberg (Hawaii) was a mortgage executive, also going by name of Franco Metcalf, convicted in 2009 of tax fraud, mail fraud and false claims against the U.S. over a $5 million tax refund received after filing fraudulent return. Seven-footer served a five-year prison sentence before founding Prison Bars, a company featuring "criminally delicious" snack bars inspired while toiling in kitchen during his incarceration and creating nutritious handmade granola bars sold to other prisoners. He should have shipped some samples to Isaiah Fox (Arizona), who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charge of shoplifting after stealing snack food from Student Union Center in fall of 2003. Ditto Joe Fermino (Monmouth/Iowa), a former juco recruit charged in fall of 2019 with defrauding his employer by fabricating a catering company, then charging $10,000 in expenses for that firm to his employer's credit card.

NOT SO SWIFT NEEDING POOPER SCOOPER: Robert Swift (Southern California commitment), a part of the final wave of high school seniors jumping straight to the NBA in 2004, before the league introduced age-limit rules, was charged with unlawful possession of a short-barreled shotgun in mid-November 2014 after police raided the house where he was living. Swift, who had a grenade launcher among 26 firearms discovered on the property, told law enforcement that he was a heroin user but not a dealer. Swift's $1.35 million house outside Seattle was foreclosed on the previous year after leaving residence littered in feces, maggots in sink, more than 100 pizza boxes, more than 1,000 liquor bottles and bullet holes in walls, according to the family purchasing the filthy property. In early January 2015, he was arrested on armed robbery charges and eventually accepted a plea deal ($600 fine).

LUNCH LADY LEECHES: Donnell Thomas (Northern Illinois) was arrested in spring of 1990 for allegedly battering a school cafeteria worker. Perhaps the normal lunch lady wasn't there to give him extra yum-yums for being the Huskies' scoring and rebounding leader that season. Ditto Isaiah Rusher (New Mexico academic redshirt), who played only two games for Elizabeth City State NC in 2012-13 before leaving following an incident where the Houston native was accused of attacking a campus cafeteria worker (charge subsequently dropped). Dining dummies included Florida's Cody Larson and Erick Murphy as they plotted in back seat of police cruiser how to get out of a burglary arrest in spring of 2011 following a failed attempt to shake down an employee who was closing out a restaurant & bar. There must be something in the water in The Sunshine State as there were reports in fall of 2009 of a possible theft between former and current South Florida players plus Rokas Ulvydas (UCF), irked after a roommate failed to acknowledge him at a tailgating party in the fall of 2018, allegedly threatened roommate at their apartment and became violent. Another roommate rumble involved Gerald Riley (Georgetown), who was charged in spring of 2004 with hitting teammate Amadou Kilkinny-Diaw at their home in Northwestern Washington in a dispute over money. Elsewhere, Gerald Eaker, Ohio State's projected starting center in 1994-95, had his scholarship rescinded after shooting out the tire of a car owned by a teammate; Texas-Arlington's Titus Howard Sr. was arrested just before the 1991 Southland Conference Tournament after stabbing teammate Glover Cody in the juco recruit's shoulder and waist area outside the school's athletic dormitory, and Oregon State's Kendal Manuel was arrested on an assault charge in spring of 2017 stemming from a fight with his roommate.

FROM BOGUS BILLS TO RAP CRAP: Dustin Thomas (Colorado/Arkansas), a part-time starting forward, was cited on drug possession charge shortly before 2 a.m. weeks before dismissal from Razorbacks squad just prior to start of 2018 NCAA playoffs. It wasn't long before he supplied a rap about exit from the Hogs' roster. Thomas was suspended from competition in the preseason and for first three games of season for an unspecified rules violation. After transferring from CU, he was arrested with a couple of new teammates on first-degree forgery charges in mid-July 2015 in the aftermath of a string of alleged transactions passing counterfeit cash at multiple businesses.

100-HOUR WORK WEEKS ALL YEAR: Vandale Thomas (Mississippi State/Southern LA), SWAC Newcomer of the Year and all-league second-team selection in 1995-96, was charged in a 12-count indictment alleging corruption during his tenure with New Orleans' Traffic Court, claiming he embezzled and over-billed the municipality more than $680,000 between 2009 and 2011. Money-laundering counts alleged Thomas bought thousands of dollars' worth of casino chips and made a down payment on an $80,000 Bentley GT Coupe. The politically-connected accountant, receiving three-year prison sentence for bilking court, submitted inordinate city invoices that were reviewed by the city's Inspector General for mismanagement ($1.3 million in less than three years). Even deducting the hours Thomas said he subcontracted, in 2010 alone he reportedly billed public entities at an outrageous pace of about 100-hour work weeks the entire year. This workload straining credulity would have required him to labor super-human 16-hour days, six days a week during the entire year. Many of the payments were authorized by a judge who was the traffic court's chief administrator. Thomas, who was political campaign treasurer for the judge and played on his softball team, said he never over-billed and that he gave no kickbacks. Meanwhile, court employees said they had never seen the accounting contractor, who is not a certified public accountant, with any staff or assistants.

POLITICAL PARASITE: Curry Todd (Memphis State), who played for the Tigers in the late 1960s, was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2010 when he compared pregnant illegal immigrants to reproducing rats. In fall of 2011, Republican resigned from his chairmanship of the State and Local Government Committee following arrest for DUI. In 2016, he was arrested for stealing campaign signs supporting his opponent, who responded by posting his bond.

CUSTOM JEWELRY: Whithworth "Junior" Treasure (Houston commitment/Texas Southern), a J.C. recruit dismissed from the Tigers' team before senior season despite averaging 14.6 ppg and team-high 2.9 apg in 2009-10, reportedly ransacked his SWAC coach's Houston residence along with TSU women's hooper in mid-February 2012. They were charged with stealing more than $530,000 of expensive jewelry and other items. Coach Tony Harvey said he alerted some local jewelers who make custom pieces such as the bling stolen from him. One of them called him back to say a couple seen on security video tried to sell him four pieces valued at $94,000 for $3,600. The difference between a HBCU and blue-blood program dealing in jewelry is reflected by starting forward Lance Thomas (Duke), who made a $30,000 down payment for five pieces he purchased for $97,800 similar to normal college student midway through the Blue Devils' NCAA championship campaign in 2009-10. Elsewhere, Tim Beckwith and Carlton Wade disrespected Marist's staff when arrested in spring of 1986 after purchasing several hundred dollars in merchandise at a mall with credit card they stole from an assistant coach.

NEVER GET IN CAR, GOLF CART, TAXI, BUS OR AMBULANCE WITH STRANGER LET ALONE DUMB DAD: Jeremy Vague (Pepperdine/Utah State), a starting seven-foot center for 2002 Big West Conference regular-season champion, was sentenced to a year in jail and three years probation in late 2016 after admitting he exposed himself to one female passenger and groping another while on the job as an Uber ride-share driver. Vague pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of vehicle burglary in Utah stemming from a July 2002 incident involving the theft of golf clubs. Another misguided Uber driver was Addison Spruill (UNC Wilmington), who was cited for speeding and simple possession of marijuana upon being pulled over. You also might not want to get in vehicle with Felton Spencer (Louisville) if you want to get anywhere. Spencer was arrested around 2:30 a.m. in early January 2019 while asleep in Ford Expedition at a gas station and charged with DUI. Ditto Bernard Randolph (DePaul), who was arrested multiple times first third of 1988 (including stealing taxicab in Rockford, Ill., while driver got out at fast-food restaurant and left vehicle idling). Elsewhere, Dwayne Morgan (UNLV) was arrested at about 6:40 a.m. and faced disorderly conduct charge in spring of 2017 after trying to get into a police car, "thinking he could use it to drive home." It's difficult to comprehend what Tony Byers (Wake Forest) was thinking, if at all, as a 63-year-old bus driver in 2015 when the two-time All-ACC second-team selection was accused of having sex with a mentally handicapped woman although Byers' attorney said his client wasn't aware of the accuser's disability (IQ in 40s). Tanner Shell, who averaged 7 ppg and 2.8 rpg as an Arizona State freshman in 1999-00, was arrested in late July 2018 on suspicion of stealing an ambulance from a hospital and leading Mesa, Ariz., police on a brief pursuit. Shell, released from the facility for a heat-related issue, told officers he used the vehicle, running in a bay while crew dropped off another patient, because temperatures were too scorching to walk home (116 degrees). Shell told police he wanted to purchase a sandwich but needed to go home and get some money first. In regard to dunce drivers, Jason Richardson (Michigan State), fresh off a DUI arrest, was pulled over for going 90 mph in a 35-mph zone with his three-year-old son in the vehicle (although not in car seat).

TACO 'BOUT STUPID: Erving Walker (Florida), the Gators' all-time leader in assists when finishing his career in 2011-12, was arrested in spring of 2012 at 1 a.m. in connection to a $3 taco heist from a street vendor. Walker was ordered to pay $301 as punishment after pleading no contest to misdemeanor petit theft charges (resisting arrest charge was dropped). No word on whether the expensive taco was beef, chicken or fish. For the record, Walker led UF in steals as a sophomore and junior. There are additional hoopers who deserve you're-a-real-bozo slaps in the face. In another "Run for the Border," Mackenzie Mgbako (Duke commitment/Indiana) was booked on criminal trespass and resisting law enforcement charges after 2:15 a.m. incident in fall of 2023 at a Taco Bell refusing service to bell(igerent) freshman in drive-thru due to New Jersey product's cursing and rudeness. In another equally stupid infraction, walk-on guard Andrew Zehnder (Colorado) was arrested in early February 2009 on suspicion of breaking into plastic bins filled with CU merchandise (replica jerseys, T-shirts and stuffed animals) at the Coors Events Center. The petty crimes don't begin to stop there. Two-time All-American Tom Burleson (North Carolina State) was greeted with chorus of "Pinball Wizard" from Duke's pep band the first half of 1970s after admitting to taking $117 in change from three pinball machines in dormitory lobby; Domonic Tilford (Cincinnati/South Alabama) led Alabama police on a high-speed chase in early November 2014 after a pair of early-morning burglaries at cell-phone stores; James "Tyler" Ptacek (Evansville) was arrested by police who followed a trail of blood to his dorm room in spring of 2014 after injuring himself during break-in trying to take snack food at concessions stand; Holt Dunlap (UC Santa Barbara) was charged with trespassing and vandalism in late September 2012 (plants strewn around property amid 80-pound concrete planter in shape of goose removed from its spot in yard); Talen Horton-Tucker (Iowa State) pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor theft of about $16 worth of goods at Walmart in middle of 2018-19 campaign; Neil Roberts (Brigham Young) resigned as Southern Utah's coach during 1991-92 season after being accused of shoplifting a $30 necktie; Pape Sow (Cal State Fullerton) was suspended 11 games in 2002-03 after he was caught stealing a $17 knit cap from the student bookstore, and Kendal "Tiny" Pinder plus a North Carolina State teammate were caught switching price tags on underwear in late 1970s (naturally, Duke's Crazies mockingly showered them with undies). By the way, Burleson was benched for the controversial 1972 Olympic gold-medal game after violating U.S. coach Hank Iba's rules by getting caught with his fiancee on the balcony of his dorm room.

WEED EATERS: Samaki Walker (Louisville), the Cardinals' leading rebounder in 1994-95 and 1995-96, was booked in Kingman, Ariz., in late July 2011 on drug charges. Officials said about 10 grams of marijuana Walker tried to eat (tampering with physical evidence) was seized from his Mercedes-Benz along with some prescription drugs and eight bottles of liquid steroids. Police said Walker indicated that he used the steroids to enhance his athletic ability as he still played professionally overseas. Charges were dropped, but other weed eaters were Cinmeon Bowers (Florida State signee/Auburn), the nation's #1 juco prospect when suspended from team at Chipola (Fla.) in middle of 2013-14 campaign after he and teammate Torian Graham (Buffalo/Arizona State) were arrested for allegedly tampering with evidence by consuming marijuana during a traffic stop in an attempt to conceal the drugs from police. Obviously, Terrance Joyner (Arkansas commitment/New Mexico State) didn't practice prompt weed consumption in middle of 2008-09 season when he was arrested after authorities discovered marijuana inside his luggage as NMSU departed on a road trip. At least Bowers, Graham, Joyner and Walker weren't branded like Marques Dawson (Middle Tennessee State), who was charged with trafficking in cocaine and marijuana in late 2012 after hospitalized with burns to his leg and groin thought to be caused by a hot iron following a home invasion.

CHANGE OF CLOTHES: Chris Washburn (North Carolina State), an All-ACC second-team selection as a sophomore in 1985-86 under coach Jim Valvano, spent two years behind bars in the early 1990s, the second coming after a parole violation. "I was staying in the same clothes for weeks, maybe months at a time to a point where the (drug dealers) I was buying my stuff from would even pay me to go and change clothes," said Washburn, who was shepherded into more than a dozen rehab centers, none of which seemed to help. Hygienic Washburn said his "dad's last visions of him were of a dope fiend sliding along the floor stealing money from his wallet." He averaged only 3.1 ppg in two NBA seasons and was named one of the biggest 25 flops by ESPN in the first 25 years of the cable network. Washburn, who somehow secured entrance to college with an anemic 470 SAT score, was convicted of stealing an $800 stereo on-campus. He apparently should have swiped a TV stuck on the Grooming Channel to at least learn the merits of first syllable of his last name.

GUILE HIGH CLUB: Erwin Washington (Air Force), a four-year starting guard who averaged 8.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 2.3 apg from 1979-80 through 1982-83, pleaded guilty to being (three times) above the alcohol limit for flying a plane after United Airlines pilot was arrested and failed a breathalyzer test in November 2009 shortly before flight was due to take off from London for Chicago. He allegedly barricaded himself in the cockpit for more than an hour before Scotland Yard talked him out. Bet you Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson could have extracted Washington from his hideout in less than a half hour. In regard to odd places for an arrest, Adrian Hayes (Northern Arizona) was apprehended while attending his criminal justice class in connection to an assault of former NAU football player in front of a downtown bar in the summer of 2003.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH: Gordon Watt (Boston College/Purdue/Houston Baptist) was dismissed from Purdue's program in fall of 2007 before his junior season after second alcohol-related arrest in less than a year. A court upheld the seizure of $63,800 in cash from Watt subsequently ruled a forfeiture after deputies in western Iowa stopped his speeding rental car in 2013. The money was packaged in bundles and discovered with items investigators said was pointed to drug dealing (including a baggie of marijuana, digital scale and stolen/loaded Beretta handgun). Watt was believed to be driving to Colorado to purchase marijuana to resell in home state of Illinois despite claiming he was headed West to practice in the high altitude and didn't trust banks. Also flying high was Dion Waters (Syracuse), who was suspended without pay for 10 games early in 2019-20 NBA season for conduct detrimental to the team (Miami Heat) after an incident on a charter flight. Waiters reportedly experienced a "panic attack" following consumption of THC-infused edible ("gummies"). In 2013, a summer pool party with Waiters listed as host raged so wildly, with accusations of unapproved drinking, drug use and over-crowding at a public facility, that police were called and the Philly suburban community reviewed its rental policies.

THREE-WHEELING ARSENAL: Delonte West (Temple), an All-American guard in 2003-04, was suspended for the first 10 games of the 2010-11 NBA season after pleading guilty to weapons charges in Maryland. Authorities said he was carrying two loaded handguns, a loaded shotgun and an 8 1/2-inch Bowie knife while speeding on a three-wheel motorcycle (complete with sidecar) on the Capital Beltway the previous September. Battling bipolar disorder, he received home detention, probation and community service. His wife filed a domestic violence against him in the fall of 2009 and he was spotted loitering around a Houston fast-food restaurant parking lot in hospital robe and without his shoes in mid-February 2016. About three years later, multiple videos of West rambling incoherently and apparently homeless in Washington, D.C., surfaced on social media. He also faced resisting arrest and obstruction of justice charges in summer of 2024.

SHOVE WHERE SUN DOESN'T SHINE: Robert Whaley (Missouri signee/Cincinnati/Walsh OH), a prize prep prospect from Benton Harbor, Mich., was charged with third- and fourth-degree sexual misconduct in the alleged rape of a 13-year-old friend of his sister on Thanksgiving morning 2000, but his trial in June 2001 ended with a hung jury. He had numerous brushes with the law, dating back to 1994, when he was charged with unlawful use of an automobile. He pleaded guilty and received probation. The following year, he was charged with breaking into a house. He pleaded guilty to home invasion and was kept on probation. The week after the alleged rape, Whaley checked himself into a detox program and hospital records showed he suffered from chemical dependency and depression. In junior college (Barton County KS), he was charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery stemming from a post-dance fight. In 2008, Whaley was placed on probation for a drug charge in his home state of Michigan. Member of the Bearcats' 2004 NCAA playoff team was arrested in March 2010 in the Salt Lake City area about 4:30 a.m. and police found marijuana "between his buttocks," according to a jail document. Since Michigan listed Whaley as a parole violator (for maintaining drug house), Utah extradited him and he began serving a two-year sentence. In the spring of 2015, Whaley was arrested for burglarizing a Marriott Hotel and ordered to serve 60 days in jail. It was also all about "inside" post position for Jon Kreft (Florida State), who spent time in jail following arrest in 2006 on drug charges (hid bag with cocaine in crevice of his lower cheeks). The anal activity didn't dissuade FSU from realigning with seven-footer in 2010 following a juco stint. A disposal dump also wasn't worth a spit for Demetrius Drew of Bruce Pearl-coached Southern Indiana. The former Central Missouri State player was arrested in early September 1999 on felony charges of marijuana possession (85 grams) at an on-campus apartment. Drew locked himself inside a bedroom and then bathroom, but police eventually found a clogged, overflowing toilet filled with weed.

ORANGE YOU MAD AT MASCOT?: DeShaun Williams (Syracuse/Iona), a third-team All-Big East Conference selection as junior in 2001-02, was kicked off Cuse's club because of scholastic problems (also convicted of DWI and cleared of allegedly striking a female student/team mascot Otto the Orange in bar in 2002). "Being a student at Syracuse, I loved every bit of it, and I would not take anything back if I could change it," Williams told OrangeFizz.com. "I just had fun. I did things that dudes do: women. I didn't have a favorite. I just took advantage of everything that came to me." Dismissed from Iona for academic deficiencies late in senior campaign in 2003-04. There was also a similar report involving Henry "Hank" McDaniel (Maine), a Chicago product who allegedly assaulted the school's athletic mascot (Bananas the Bear) in 1995 (charge subsequently dismissed by district court judge). Equally disconcerting was Chris Moss (West Virginia), who left the Mountaineers' squad midway through the 2000-01 season after spitting on a Notre Dame female cheerleader.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER: Kaylon Williams (Milwaukee), the Horizon League's assists leader in 2011-12, was arrested in mid-August 2011 in his hometown of Cedar Rapids on suspicion of drunken driving (nearly three times legal limit in Iowa) after Evansville transfer fled a traffic stop and later taken down by a K-9 unit. The stupidity of it all spills over to hanger's-on as a student worker for Texas A&M faced theft and fraud charges in mid-2012 after accusations of stealing personal information from members of the 12th Man Student Foundation and credit cards of two members of coaching staff to buy food and pay for boarding for his dog. In late summer/early fall 2005, Dedrick Finn (Xavier) was accused of kidnapping his ex-girlfriend's pug dog.

ILLEGAL ALIEN DEADBEAT DAD: Kenny Williams (North Carolina commitment/Barton County Community College KS/Elizabeth City State NC), one of the nation's top five high school recruits in 1988, was sentenced in mid-August 2013 to nine months in prison and ordered to pay more than $661,000 in restitution for failing to pay child support after being a fugitive for more than a decade. He was deported from Israel as an illegal alien. The U.S. Attorney's office said Williams earned a salary playing for the NBA's Indiana Pacers, playing professionally overseas and drove luxury cars while his former wife and three children in U.S. were on welfare. In August 2000, deadbeat dad pleaded guilty to willful failure to pay child support.

CAN'T WE JUST GET ALONG (WITH ANYONE)?: Loren Woods (Wake Forest/Arizona), the nation's third-leading shot blocker in 1999-00, was arrested in spring of 2012 for DUI in Tampa before allegedly attempting to bribe an officer with $2,200 cash. Woods reportedly refused to perform a field sobriety test, saying such exams were biased against black people and that he would only do it if administered by a black officer. Received a six-game suspension as UA senior in 2000-01 for accepting illegal benefits (loan of unspecified amount from his former H.S. coach in St. Louis). Ejected from a Pacific-10 Conference game while restrained from attacking a referee and benched for another contest after ordered to leave practice the previous day. In 1997-98 at Wake, he took a leave of absence from the Demon Deacons for seven outings. He was suspended by the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves midway through 2002-03 campaign for conduct detrimental to the team. But at least Woods didn't trip a referee like Jarmal Reid (Oregon State), who was ejected from a game at Utah in mid-January 2016 with less than three minutes remaining while annoyed about a no-call by the official; face a federal civil rights lawsuit in 2010 like Marlon Dorsey (Mississippi State/Oklahoma State) over high school coach whipping players with a weightlifting belt although corporal punishment had been banned in the district for nearly 20 years, or have a spring break trip go south like De'Sean Allen-Eikens (Cal State Northridge), who was inebriated in 2023 when punching a Fort Lauderdale police officer.

AUTO KNOW BETTER THAN THAT: Bob "Zeke" Zawoluk (St. John's), an All-American in 1950-51 and 1951-52, had a turbulent life including vast emotional instability, an arson rap, crack addiction, grand larceny conviction and prison. After getting fired by one of a series of auto dealers he worked for, he got even in an alcohol-fueled rage in Queens and Nassau County in 1986, dousing two luxury cars with gasoline, torching them, then ramming into 17 other cars, before being apprehended after a high-speed chase. Following another transgression, he was paroled on Christmas Eve, 1993, after serving nearly two years at Clinton Correctional Facility on robbery and grand larceny charges. A subsequent positive drug test violated his parole and sent him to Rikers Island in the mid-1990s. Speaking of using auto as battering ram, Frank Tolbert (Auburn) was arrested in fall of 2007 after one of the Tigers' top three scorers from 2005-06 through 2007-08 allegedly drove through impound lot fence at 3:15 a.m. to retrieve his SUV. An auto lot also wasn't safe from Jahlil Nails (Central Connecticut State), who was arrested in summer of 2018 for allegedly attempting to steal a vehicle from Ford dealership. Another dummy in dire need of driver's education was Zay Jackson (Austin Peay), who pleaded guilty to charges of wanton endangerment following surveillance footage of disturbing incident in a Walmart parking lot (plowing car straight into a couple's vehicle before driving several hundred feet and speeding up with male individual clinging to his hood prior to braking to send person sprawling to asphalt).

It might not generate national headlines, but there is always something of significance going on at the small-college basketball level. This season, the focus was on Taylor University's Silent Night, one of the most entertaining traditions in college sports. On the Friday before finals, the Indiana-based school's fans remain silent until 10th-point storm-the-court chaos. The celebration started in 1997 with students attending game in pajamas dating back to the late 1980s. They sing Silent Night in unison to end the game before attending a school-sponsored Christmas party.

There were also other noteworthy events in recent years. Defensive-minded coaches are not green with envy or greenlighting their troops playing "D" like Greenville (Ill.) College, which allowed an average of 165.5 points per game in its first four contests four seasons ago (defeats against NCAA DI opponents Samford, UMKC, Murray State and Illinois State by an average of 65.75 points). The spotlight was also on small-college hoopdom four seasons ago when J.J. Culver, the older brother of 2018-19 Texas Tech All-American Jarrett Culver, erupted for 100 points (34-of-62 field-goal shooting including 12-of-33 from three-point range plus 20-of-27 free-throw accuracy) in a 124-60 thumping by Wayland Baptist (Tex.) of Southwest Adventist (Tex.). This year, Grinnell (Iowa) was back in the headlines by taking 111 field-goal attempts vs. Emmaus Bible College (Iowa) and every single one was a three-point shot.

In a caste-like era separating the haves from the have-nots, imperial universities are seeking mega-conferences and, perhaps in the near future, an even more restrictive upper division. But the elitist institutions aren't able to exclude humble small schools from making a big impact on college basketball such as Culver's outburst. Jack Taylor of Grinnell (Iowa) lit up scoreboards several seasons ago, pouring in 71 points in his season opener against Finlandia (Mich.) before exploding for 109 points against Crossroads (Minn.). Even when Taylor was out of the lineup in mid-season, Grinnell generated national headlines after Pat Maher set an NCAA single-game mark with 37 assists in a 164-144 win over College of Faith. In the afterglow of focusing on small colleges via scoring outbursts from Culver and G-men at Greenville and Grinnell, following is a chronological notebook with items detailing what will always be appealing about the little guy:

Basketball was a new demonstration sport at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, which also was part of the World's Fair the same year. Hiram College (Ohio), Wheaton College (Ill.) and the University of Latter Day Saints (known today as Brigham Young) were the three college teams invited to compete in what was officially called the "Olympic Collegiate Basketball Championship." Hiram finished the round-robin tournament 2-0 and was declared the champion and awarded the first Olympic gold medal in basketball.

College of Charleston (S.C.) went winless 10 seasons from 1913-14 through 1923-24 (0-56 record; did not compete in 1918-19). . . . Paul Davis, after leaving Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Oklahoma State), guided North Dakota State (18-0 in 1916) and North Dakota (16-0 in 1920) to undefeated seasons in a five-year span. He was also the football coach for these schools. . . . Indiana State's coach for five seasons from 1918-19 through 1922-23 after playing for the institution (known as Indiana State Normal School at the time) was Birch E. Bayh Sr. His son with the same name is a former U.S. Senator from Indiana from 1963 to 1981 and candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in the 1976 election. His grandson, Birch E. "Evan" Bayh III, is a former Indiana Governor and U.S. Senator (from 1999 to 2011). . . . Peru (Neb.) State Teachers won 55 consecutive games over a five-year span from 1921-26. . . . Earl Kinzie, a member of McPherson's 1928 Kansas Conference championship team that placed third in the national AAU Tournament in Kansas City, became a doctor and practiced family medicine in Texas for 50 years. He delivered more than 2,000 babies, including standout running back Earl Campbell.

Longtime radio and TV personality Art Linkletter was San Diego State's leading scorer in 1932-33 and 1933-34. . . . Stanford All-American Hank Luisetti is usually credited with introducing the jump shot but fans of Glenn Roberts from Emory & Henry (Va.) beg to differ. Roberts led the nation in scoring in 1933 and 1935 en route to tallying 2,013 career points. . . . Westminster (Pa.), playing in the first-ever collegiate basketball doubleheader at Madison Square Garden on December 29, 1934, upset St. John's, 37-33. . . . Tarleton (Tex.), coached by W.J. Wisdom, posted 86 straight victories from 1934 to 1937 en route to winning 112 of 113 games in a seven-year span. . . . Amos Alonzo Stagg Jr., the son of a legend who had the longest coaching career in the history of football (71 years), guided the basketball squad at Susquehanna (Pa.) for 16 seasons from 1935-36 through 1950-51. . . . Carleton (Minn.) forward Wayne Sparks, a "Little All-American" in 1936-37, died in a bomber crash in World War II. . . . Drury's Eugene "Peaches" Westover (class of '38), a four-time All-MCAU forward, was killed January 1, 1945, during WWII at the Battle of the Bulge. . . . Western Kentucky was the only school to defeat Murray State in a 79-game span from January 3, 1936 through March 10, 1938. . . . The leading scorer for champion Central Missouri State in the first NAIA tourney in 1937 (when it was known as the National Intercollegiate Tournament) was eventual major leaguer Chuck Workman, an outfielder-third baseman who finished second in the National League in home runs in 1945 with 25 for the Boston Braves. . . . Louisville lost a school-record 19 consecutive contests in the midst of a six-year stretch from 1936-37 through 1941-42 when the Cardinals were 57 games below the .500 mark. Louisville was a long way from becoming a major-college power in 1944 when Peck Hickman was hired as coach for $200 per month. The Cardinals won a total of 29 games over the previous seven seasons. In that span, they lost at least three times to Alfred Holbrook (three defeats), Berea (four), Centre (seven), Georgetown College (nine), Hanover (nine), Oakland City (three) and Transylvania (six). . . . Ulyss "Useless" Brock, a 6-0, 135-pound forward, scored 83 points (22 field goals and 39 free throws) for Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) in a 101-21 verdict over Bethel in February, 1940. . . . UC Santa Barbara reached the 1941 NAIA Tournament semifinals although All-CCAA first-team center Lowell Steward, the league's first black player, couldn't compete because Missouri was a Jim Crow state at the time. Steward would later fly 143 combat missions in Europe as a P-51 pilot for the famed Tuskegee Airmen. . . . George Barr, regarded as probably the finest player in Northland (Wis.) history when he competed in the early 1940s, entered the Army Air Corps as a senior during World War II, earning his diploma in absentia. Barr volunteered for the Jimmy Doolittle raids over Tokyo in 1942. His plane was forced down on mainland China after the raid and the crew imprisoned. Barr was a prisoner of the Japanese for 3 1/2 years with most of the time spent in solitary confinement. Teammate Duane Borst served as a First Lieutenant with the Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauder Group in France, flying 43 missions over Germany. . . . Lefthander Dr. Tom Amberry played for North Dakota in the early 1940s before podiatrist set the Guinness world record for most consecutive successful free throws (2,750 in span of 12 hours in mid-November 1993 at the age of 71; mark broken 2 1/2 years later).

Ben Booker, Carson-Newman TN captain in 1942, was a research chemist at Oak Ridge on atomic bomb "Manhattan Project." . . . Football legend Eddie Robinson won more than 70% of his games as Grambling's basketball coach from 1942-56. . . . Bob Barker, longtime host of highly-rated daytime game show The Price is Right, played for Drury (Mo.) in the early 1940s before serving in the military during WWII. . . . York (Neb.) College, boasting an enrollment of 50, upset Akron, 52-49, in the first round of the 1943 NAIA Tournament before losing to North Texas, 51-49, in the second round. Brothers Jim and Wayne Kaeding scored 78 of York's 101 points in the two contests. . . . North Carolina College's Rocky Roberson scored 58 points in a game against Shaw (N.C.) during the 1942-43 season for what was believed to be a college record at the time. . . . Fulfilling a pre-tournament agreement in 1943, players from Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) marched to the local blood bank to donate blood to the armed forces following a 50-30 defeat against Cape Girardeau State (Mo.) in the NAIA Tournament's opening game. The two opponents had agreed the loser would donate blood. . . . More than 100 current NCAA Division I schools previously competed in the NAIA Tournament. Thirteen of the 17 different colleges to win NAIA titles from 1941 through 1963 are currently classified as NCAA Division I institutions. One of the 13 universities is Southeast Missouri State, which captured the 1943 crown after losing its first four games of the season. . . . Mississippi College defeated Mississippi State three times by double-digit margins in 1944-45. . . . Howie Schultz, a star for Hamline (Minn.) in the early 1940s, replaced Jackie Robinson at first base in Robinson's first regular-season game for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. . . . CIAA champion West Virginia State was the nation's only undefeated college team in 1947-48, finishing with a 23-0 record. The squad, coached by Mark Cardwell, included future NBA players Bob Wilson and Earl Lloyd. . . . UCLA legend John Wooden was in his final season as coach of Indiana State when the Sycamores lost to Louisville in the 1948 NAIA final. Curtis Walker, Indiana State's 12th man, was the first African-American player in the NAIA Tournament. The all-tourney first five included Beloit's Johnny Orr, who went on to become a longtime major-college coach. Two years later, Indiana State won the NAIA title. . . . Tennessee A&I, coached by Henry A. Kean, was the nation's only undefeated team in 1948-49 with a 24-0 record. The Tigers' leading scorers, Clarence Wilson and Joshua Grider, were both eventually longtime standouts with the Harlem Globetrotters. . . . Hamline (Minn.), the 1949 NAIA champion, had two players - center Vern Mikkelsen and forward Hal Haskins - on Converse's first three five-man All-American teams. In 1950, scribes named Haskins winner of the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association's Gold Star Award as the outstanding visitng player in New York. In what might be the most impressive honor ever received by a small-college player, he virtually doubled the vote total of runner-up Chuck Cooper of Duquesne. North Carolina State's Sam Ranzino finished third, UCLA's George Stanich placed fourth and Holy Cross' Bob Cousy was fifth. The first five winners of the award were Penn's Howie Dallmar, DePaul's George Mikan, Kentucky's Ralph Beard, St. Louis' Ed Macauley and Denver's Vince Boryla. Haskins was among seven Hamline players who started their professional careers in an eight-year span from 1946 through 1953 under coach Joe Hutton Sr.

Morris Harvey's George King became the first college player to average 30 or more points per game in a seson when he led the nation's small-college players with a 31.2-point average in 1949-50. King went on to become a prominent major-college coach. . . . Sewanee (Tenn.) played 58 games in 10 weeks during the summer of 1951 while touring Africa and Europe with Goose Tatum, Marques Haynes and the Harlem Globetrotters. This reportedly was the first international trip for any college basketball team. . . . John Chaney scored 57 points for Bethune-Cookman FL in a 1952 game against Knoxville before becoming a Hall of Fame coach with Temple. . . . Florida A&M won the 1952 SIAC Tournament final against host Alabama State, 71-67, despite having just four players on the court the final 13-plus minutes (including two overtimes) because of players fouling out. . . . The first predominantly black college to take the floor in an integrated national collegiate tournament was Tennessee State (then Tennessee A&I) in 1953. Hall of Famer John McLendon coached Tennessee State to three consecutive national titles (1957-59). Oddly, the '53 Tennessee State team defeated McLendon-coached North Carolina College for the opportunity to go to Kansas City. . . . Seven years earlier, McLendon led North Carolina College to a 64-56 triple-overtime victory over Virginia Union in the final of the first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament. The CIAA Tournament blossomed into one of the premier postseason events in the country, including major-college tourneys. . . . Alderson-Broaddus College's Joe Miller (3,666) and Carl Hartman (3,373) became the only pair of 3,000-point scorers in college history to be teammates (1954 and 1955). . . . Southwest Missouri, winning the 1953 NAIA crown to become the first school to capture back-to-back titles with a 32-team format, played the last 3 1/2 minutes of its semifinal game with only four players on the court after encountering foul problems. The principal reason Southwest Missouri was shorthanded stemmed from two squad members being in spring training on their way to playing 12 seasons of major league baseball - infielder Jerry Lumpe and first baseman/outfielder Norm Siebern.

Ted Cassidy, Stetson's leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55, played the role of Lurch in The Addams Family comedy TV series. . . . Tom Hart of Middlebury (Vt.) became the greatest rebounder in collegiate history. He still holds the record for most rebounds per game in a single season (29.5 rpg as a junior in 1954-55) and in a career (27.6 rpg). His coach was former baseball major leaguer Tony Lupien. The 6-4 Hart had two 46-rebound games in 1955 and grabbed 45 in a contest the next year as a senior. In track meets, Hart routinely entered six events and often scored over half his team's points, specializing in the high jump and pole vault. . . . West Virginia Tech averaged more than 100 points per game four consecutive seasons from 1954-55 through 1957-58. . . . Bill Reigel, playing for his third college in six seasons, led the nation's small-college players with a 33.9-point average when he paced McNeese State to the 1956 NAIA Tournament title. Reigel had averaged 18 points per game for the Duquesne freshman team in 1950-51 and 16.3 points per game for the Duke varsity in 1952-53 before entering military service. He later coached McNeese for three seasons from 1971-72 through 1973-74. . . . One of McNeese's three defeats in its championship season was at Lamar, 61-60, after the Cowboys had clobbered the Cardinals (12-12) by a total of 84 points in two early-season contests. The governor of Louisiana threatened McNeese to pull out of tourney if HBCU were allowed to participate. The Cowboys ultimately went against the governor's wishes and defeated HBCU powerhouse Texas Southern in national final. . . . Long-time Buffalo Bills coach Marv Levy directed the basketball squad from Coe (Iowa) in the 1956 NAIA Tournament. . . . Lee Pfund, the coach for 1957 NCAA Division II champion Wheaton (Ill.), compiled a 3-2 pitching record for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. The all-time winningest coach for Wheaton had three sons (John, Kerry and Randy) each score more than 1,150 points for the school. Randy went on to become coach of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers before becoming vice-president of the Miami Heat. NBA coach Donn Nelson, who gained a reputation as an authority on foreign basketball talent, collected 1,460 points and 538 rebounds for Wheaton in the mid-1980s. . . . Western Illinois missed an opportunity to become the nation's only undefeated college team in 1957-58 when it lost to Tennessee State, 85-73, in the NAIA Tournament championship game. Western had defeated Tennessee State, 79-76, earlier in the season. It was one of three consecutive NAIA titles won by Tennessee State, which boasted future pros Dick Barnett, John Barnhill and Ben Warley. . . . Davis & Elkins' Paul Wilcox, 6-6, is the only player to lead the NAIA in scoring (22.6 ppg) and rebounding (22.3 rpg) in the same season (1958-59). . . . In 1959, North Carolina A&T became the first predominantly black institution to participate in NCAA Division II national playoff competition. The Aggies finished third in the tourney. . . . Jack Madden, the dean of NBA referees for an extended period, graduated from Rider (N.J.) in 1959 as the school's career leader in scoring and rebounding.

Jazz vocalist Al Jarreau, a five-time Grammy winner, played for Ripon (Wis.) in the early 1960s. . . . The NAIA All-Stars upset NCAA champion Ohio State, 76-69, in a first-round game in the 1960 Olympic Trials. The NAIA zone defense limited Buckeye All-American Jerry Lucas to 14 points. . . . The first final NCAA College Division poll in 1960-61 included three coaches - Stan Albeck (Northern Michigan), Harry Gallatin (Southern Illinois) and Butch van Breda Kolff (Hofstra) - who went on to coach in the NBA for at least four seasons. In the next 10 campaigns, three other coaches - Bill Fitch (North Dakota), Bill Musselman (Ashland) and Scotty Robertson (Louisiana Tech) - guided College Division schools to a final Top 10 spot before moving up to the NBA for at least five years. Fitch and his successor, Jimmy Rodgers, coached multiple NBA teams. . . . The 1961-62 All-SWAC first-team selections included three frontcourters who later played at least 10 seasons in the pros - Prairie View's Zelmo Beaty, Southern's Bob Love and Grambling's Willis Reed. . . . Grambling finished in the top 10 of the first 76 weeks of College Division/Division II polls from January 5, 1961 through the end of the 1966-67 campaign. The Tigers, coached by Fred Hobdy, placed in the top five 40 consecutive weeks from March 2, 1961, through January 28, 1965. Grambling supplied seven top 20 NBA draft choices in a 20-year span from 1957 through 1976 before moving up to the NCAA Division I level - Bob McCoy (10th in 1957), Hershell West (16th in 1963), Reed (10th in 1964), Wilbert Frazier (12th in 1965), Jimmy Jones (13th in 1967), Fred Hilton (19th in 1971) and Larry Wright (14th in 1976).

Ronnie Maravich, a letterman for Georgia Southern in 1961-62, is a half-brother of Hall of Famer Pete Maravich (NCAA DI all-time leading scorer from LSU). . . . North Carolina A&T's Hugh Evans, a 12th-round draft choice by the St. Louis Hawks in 1963, went on to become a long-time NBA referee. Evans, a high school teammate in New York with Connie Hawkins and a college teammate of Al Attles, spent three years in the San Francisco Giants' minor league system. . . . Longtime Harlem Globetrotter Fred "Curly" Neal was an All-CIAA selection for Johnson C. Smith (N.C.) in 1962-63. . . . South Dakota State's decisive basket in a 44-42 decision over Wittenberg (Ohio) in the 1963 College Division Tournament final was a 40-foot baseball pass by Sid Bostic that went in after the buzzer sounded while the ball was in flight. . . . Winthrop "Wink" Davenport, who holds career average (19.6 ppg) and single-game (44 points as a junior vs. Bowdoin on February 2, 1963) scoring records for Wesleyan (Conn.), is the father of former women's tennis sensation Lindsay Davenport. He played for the U.S. volleyball team in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. . . . John Fred Gourrier, the lead vocalist for rock-and-roll group John Fred and the Playboy Band featuring hit single Judy in Disguise, was a 6-5 forward for Southeastern Louisiana in the mid-1960s. . . . Sam Alford, father of former Indiana All-American guard Steve Alford, led the NAIA in free-throw shooting in 1963-64. The elder Alford hit 91.2% of his foul shots for Franklin (Ind.) that season. . . . Midwestern (Tex.) defeated Austin College, 14-11, in overtime in 1964. Midwestern held a 4-1 halftime lead and the teams were tied at 8-8 at the end of regulation. Midwestern had won an earlier game that season with Austin by 40 points, 92-52. . . . Bob Jones, the all-time leading rebounder for Georgetown College (Ky.), is the father of former Virginia All-American guard and coach Jeff Jones. . . . Evansville was ranked No. 1 for 19 consecutive weeks from January 30, 1964, through the end of the 1964-65 season. . . . Jerry Sloan outscored Walt Frazier, 25-16, in Evansville's 85-82 victory over Southern Illinois in the 1965 NCAA College Division Tournament final. They went on to become NBA All-Defensive Team first-team selections the same year four times in seven seasons from 1968-69 through 1974-75. . . . Emmy Award-winning writer Bob Einstein, who created the Super Dave Osborne hapless stuntman character, averaged 5 ppg and 2.9 rpg for Chapman (Calif.) in 1963-64 and 1964-65. . . . Writer-director Ron Shelton, synonymous with numerous sports movies, scored 1,420 points for Westmont (Calif.) in the mid-1960s. . . . Ken Howard, street-savvy high school teacher in CBS classic drama The White Shadow, was third-leading all-time scorer for Amherst (Mass.) when his career ended in 1966. . . . Shippensburg's team in the mid-1960s had four different players eventually coach high school state championship teams in the mid-1980s during their careers following graduation. Art Taneyhill and Reggie Weiss coached basketball champions in Pennsylvania while Harry Chapman and Jim Deibler coached football titlists. . . . Wilberforce (Ohio) forward Lonnie Lynn Sr., a 1966 NBA draft choice of the St. Louis Hawks who played in the ABA in 1969-70, is the father of entertainer "Common" (previously Common Sense), a hip hop artist, actor and rap poet who was invited to the White House by the Obama Administration. . . . In 1966-67, Cleveland State's John McLendon became the first African-American to coach at an integrated college in the United States. He had previously been the first black coach at the professional level with the ABL's Cleveland Pipers. . . . In 1966-67, Kentucky Wesleyan had its first of 13 full seasons ranked in the top 10 of College Division/Division II polls (1967-68-69-82-84-87-90-98-99-00-01-02-03). . . . Rockhurst's Ed McKee, a 10th-round choice of the ABA's Indiana Pacers in its initial draft in 1967, went on to become P.R. director of the franchise after it merged with the NBA. McKee was also SID for Indiana State when Larry Bird gained national notoriety. . . . Ashland (Ohio) was coached by Bill Musselman in 1967-68 when the school allowed only 33.9 points per game, an NCAA record. . . . Scranton (Pa.), boasting a 20-5 record in 1968-69 under coach Nat Volpe, defeated five different major colleges that season - Lehigh, Rider, Lafayette, Colgate and Seton Hall. . . . Youngstown State's John McElroy became the shortest player (6-0) ever to score 70 or more points in a game involving NCAA colleges when he scored 72 against Wayne State (Mich.) on February 26, 1969. . . . Mickey Gibson, a transfer from Kentucky who was dismissed from the Wildcats' squad by coach Adolph Rupp because he got married, set the UNC-Asheville single-game scoring record with 44 points against Washington & Lee on February 8, 1969.

The first family of small-college basketball, if not all of hoopdom, could be the six brothers Jones from McGehee, Ark., all 6-8 or taller, who became the top six rebounders in Albany (Ga.) State history during the 1960s and 1970s. Oliver and Melvin were borderline pro prospects before Wil (nine), Caldwell (17), Major (six) and Charles (15) each played a minimum of six ABA/NBA seasons. Major Jones, 6-9, led NCAA Division II rebounders in 1974-75 with an average of 22.5 per game. He is the last Division I or Division II player to average at least 20 per game.

Doug Williams, a 32-year-old Air Force veteran, earned NAIA first-team All-American honors for St. Mary's (Tex.) in 1969-70 when he averaged 18.9 points per game. He scored 24 in a 76-66 upset of Houston. . . . Elmore Smith, a 7-0 center for 1970 NAIA champion Kentucky State, was called for goal tending 12 times in a 116-98 defeat against Eastern Michigan. . . . New Orleans won 38 consecutive home games in a small arena nicknamed the "Chamber of Horrors" after losing its opener against Louisiana College in the Privateers' varsity debut in 1969-70. LC, coached by Billy Allgood, also defeated Mississippi State that season. LC beat the following six eventual DI in-state schools at least five times apiece from 1964-65 through 1974-75: Louisiana Tech, McNeese State, Nicholls State, Northeast Louisiana, Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana. The Wildcats also upended Tulane three times from 1962-63 through 1967-68 before becoming the first predominantly white school to play a home-and-home season series against a HBCU (Grambling in 1971-72). . . . Stephen F. Austin, the top-ranked team at the NCAA College Division level in 1969-70, had four players selected in the NBA draft after the season - Narvis Anderson, George E. Johnson, Surry Oliver and Erwin Polnick. . . . Curlee Conners, Southeastern Louisiana's leading scorer and rebounder in 1969-70 and 1970-71, is an uncle of Marcus Dupree from Philadelphia, Miss., and a central figure in the recruiting of the nation's premier prep running back by Oklahoma in the early 1980s. . . . In 1970, with an enrollment under 650 students, three Maryland State College players from a 29-2 team were selected in the NBA draft - Jake Ford (2nd round), Levi Fontaine (5th) and James "Bones" Morgan (7th). Four years later, the school (now known as Maryland-Eastern Shore) had three more players chosen from a 27-2 squad - Rubin Collins (2nd), Talvin Skinner (3rd) and William "Billy" Gordon (4th). . . . Tennessee State edged Oglethorpe (Ga.), 7-4, on February 16, 1971, in what is believed to be the lowest-scoring college game since the center jump was eliminated prior to the 1937-38 season. Tennessee State had overwhelmed Oglethorpe, 82-43, earlier in the season. . . . Louisiana Tech had two players selected fourth overall in an NBA draft - Jackie Moreland (Detroit Pistons in 1960) and Mike Green (Seattle SuperSonics in 1973). . . . Birmingham-Southern's Russell Thompson scored 25 points without making a field-goal attempt in a 55-46 victory over Florence State in the 1970-71 season. He converted 25 of 28 free throws. . . . Less than seven hours after returning to campus following a quarterfinal defeat against eventual 1971 NAIA champion Kentucky State, Grambling's Charlie Anderson died as a result of injuries suffered in a hit-and-run auto accident. Anderson, who averaged 18.3 ppg and 17.8 rpg, provided the game-winning basket in the Tigers' overtime win against Glassboro State (N.J.) in second round. . . . Kentucky State's Travis "Machine Gun" Grant set the single-game NAIA Tournament scoring record with 60 points against Minot State in 1972. Grant finished his four-year college career with 4,045 points and a 33.4-point average. . . . Roanoke guard Hal Johnston, whose athletic career was almost ended when he fractured his skull in a fall from a truck as a senior in high school, was a runaway choice for most outstanding player honors at the 1972 NCAA College Division Tournament. . . . Robert "Firechief" Smith came to USC-Spartanburg in 1972 as a 34-year-old center, powering USCS to its first two winning seasons. He averaged 9.9 rpg in 1973-74, when he was named MVP of the Palmetto Conference Tournament - the first title of any kind in the history of the program. . . . Guilford won the 1973 NAIA Tournament with a lineup that included included three future NBA players - Lloyd Free, M.L. Carr and Greg Jackson. Guilford's top reserve was Steve Hankins, a 6-6, 220-pound, 28-year-old Marine Corps veteran who had served 44 months in Vietnam and was one of the military pallbearers at President Kennedy's funeral. . . . Guilford (N.C.) and Tennessee State are the only two small colleges to have two alums score more than 20 points per game in an NBA season - Free and Bob Kaufmann attended Guilford, while Dick Barnett and Truck Robinson attended Tennessee State.

Guard Greg Procell averaged 11.5 ppg in two seasons for Northwestern State in 1972-73 and 1973-74. Procell, a native of Noble, La. (Ebarb H.S.), held the national high school scoring record (6,702 points) until 2002 when it was broken by Jeremy Monceaux at Parkway Christian Academy of Birmingham, Ala., after Monceaux played varsity as a seventh- and eighth-grader at Spencer, La. Procell's NSU-career high was 27 points as a junior in a 76-70 overtime loss at Northeast Louisiana. He originally signed with Southwestern Louisiana, but when the Rajun Cajuns' program was shut down for NCAA infractions Procell attended Panola (Tex.) Community College, where he averaged 33.7 ppg as a freshman and 28.5 ppg as a sophomore. Procell, who had a J.C. single-game high of 57 points, became a fishing guide on Toledo Bend and an assistant principal at Huntington High in Shreveport. . . . Leon Gobczynski, a 6-10 center, averaged 36.1 points per game for Millikin (Ill.) in the 1973-74 season despite being blanked by Augustana (Ill.) in an 88-61 defeat. Gobczynski, who had scored 43 points in an earlier game that year between the two teams, missed all nine of his field-goal attempts in 36 minutes of playing time. . . . Salem (W. Va.) College's Archie Talley set an NAIA record for most points in a season (1,347) in 1975-76 when he averaged 40.8 per game. . . . Philadelphia Textile defeated a different Big Five school in three consecutive seasons from 1975-76 through 1977-78 - Villanova twice, Temple and St. Joseph's. . . . Amherst's Jim Rehnquist, son of Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist, finished fifth in NCAA Division III scoring in 1976-77 with an average of 27.8 points per game. . . . Dave Robbins, who is white, became coach at Virginia Union in 1978-79 in the predominantly black CIAA. Robbins went on to win more CIAA Tournaments than any coach in league history. VUU finished in the Top 10 of final national rankings nine consecutive seasons from 1987-88 through 1995-96 and 12 of 13 beginning in 1983-84. . . . Former Briar Cliff (Iowa) players comprised Panama's entire starting lineup in the 1987 Pan American Games. Four members of Briar Cliff's "Panamanian Pipeline" were selected in NBA drafts from 1978 through 1981 (Mario Butler, Rolando Frazer, Tito Malcolm and Ed Warren). In the late 1980s, the first five spots on the school's career scoring list were Panamanians.

Mark Curry, a comedian starring in ABC's hit black sitcom Hangin' With Mr. Cooper, played center with California State-Hayward for three seasons in the early 1980s. . . . When Tampa resurrected its men's program in 1983-84 after a 13-year hiatus, coach Richard Schmidt took his first-year squad, starting one junior transfer and four freshmen, and won the Sunshine State Conference postseason tournament and automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs en route to a 20-11 record. It was the first time in NCAA history that a first-year team in any division qualified for the national tourney. Schmidt is a professional aviculturist who breeds exotic birds and raises other prize-winning animals on his ranch. Entertainer Wayne Newton has purchased birds from him. . . . Ron Morse, averaging a modest 3.6 ppg, lifted Fort Hays State (Kan.) to an 82-80 overtime triumph against Wayland Baptist (Tex.) in 1985 NAIA tourney final with a 15-fgoot game-winning, buzzer-beater. The unlikely hero is the son of Fort Hays coach Bill Morse. . . . Southeastern Oklahoma's Dennis Rodman registered 46 points and 32 rebounds in a single NAIA Tournament game in 1986. His rebounding total is tied for the most in a single game in tourney history. . . . Former Phoenix Suns/Seattle SuperSonics coach Paul Westphal guided Grand Canyon (Ariz.) to the 1988 NAIA title. . . . Four of the eight NAIA finals from 1981 through 1988 required extra sessions. Nine of 11 championship games in one stretch were decided in overtime or by fewer than six points in regulation. . . . Chuck Randall, Western Washington's longtime coach, invented the Slam-Dunk basketball rim. . . . Gary Lydic, a guard for the junior varsity as a freshman at McPherson (Kan.) and student assistant coach as a senior, served as director of ministry services for Focus on the Family when the organization was headquartered in Pasadena, Calif. On the morning Hall of Famer Pete Maravich died of a heart attack stemming from a heart defect, Lydic was among the men playing with him in a pickup game before the 40-year-old legend was slated to be interviewed on a Christian radio program. . . . Michael Jordan wasn't the best former college basketball standout performing as an outfielder with Birmingham (AA Southern League) in the Chicago White Sox's farm system in 1994. The superior baseball player was teammate Scott Tedder, a 6-4 lefthander who graduated as Ohio Wesleyan's all-time leading scorer in 1988. Tedder, playing about 1/4 of the '94 season in the league with Orlando, hit .281 while Jordan managed a lowly .202 and amassed more than 2 1/2 times as many strikeouts (114). Tedder posted a .261 average over five years with the Barons. Another ex-college hoop standout on the Barons' roster that year was Ken Coleman, a utilityman who hit .191. Coleman is New Haven's all-time leader in assists after leading the Chargers in scoring feeds all four seasons from 1984-85 through 1987-88. Coleman, a two-time All-NECC basketball selection, played seven years in the minor leagues. . . . The pep song for Chadron (Neb.) State should have been "Here's to Mrs. Robinson" during eight seasons from 1988-89 through 1995-96 when three brothers (Josh, Jason and Jeremy Robinson) played for the Eagles. Each of Gerry and Triss Robinson's sons was a four-year starter and they collaborated for 5,081 points and 2,138 rebounds in a total of 330 games. No one can determine for sure, but they might have combined for more points and rebounds than any other trio of brothers at any single college. Josh, the eldest brother, finished his career as the school's all-time leading scorer (2,041 points). . . . Marquette's Al McGuire wasn't the only former Belmont Abbey (N.C.) coach to make a name for himself at the major-college level. All four Belmont Abbey coaches in the 1980s went on to coach Division I schools - Bobby Hussey (Davidson/Virginia Tech), Eddie Payne (East Carolina/Oregon State), Kevin Eastman (UNC Wilmington/Washington State) and Rick Scruggs (Gardner-Webb). . . . Todd Beamer, a backup guard for Wheaton (Ill.) in 1988-89, was the Oracle Corp account manager traveling from New Jersey to California on United Airlines Flight 93 for a business meeting on September 11, 2001, when helping lead a "let's roll" takeover by passengers from Islamic terrorists, forcing the plane down in Pennsylvania countryside about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. . . . Glenn Jacobs, the leading rebounder for Northeast Missouri State (now known as Truman State) in 1988-89 with 6.8 rpg, went on to become a three-time world champion in wrestling with ring name of Kane. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.

Todd Rowe, a 1992 graduate who is the all-time leading scorer for Malone (Ohio), became the first player in a professional Chinese league to score 3,000 points before he moved on to a league in Japan. . . . Bob Hoffman was deprived of becoming the first coach in NAIA history to guide men's and women's champions when No. 1 seed Oklahoma Baptist bowed to Hawaii Pacific (88-83) in the 1993 championship game. Hoffman had directed Southern Nazarene (Okla.) to the 1989 NAIA women's title. . . . John Pierce of David Lipscomb (Tenn.) became college basketball's all-time leading scorer after totaling 33 points in his 1993-94 regular-season finale, a 119-102 triumph over Cumberland. Pierce's 4,110 total career points broke former roommate Phil Hutcheson's mark of 4,106 set in the 1990 NAIA Tournament. . . . NAIA powerhouse Life (Ga.) had a 99-game homecourt winning streak, the third longest in college history, snapped by Talladega (Ala.), 75-72, in January 1999. Talladega was an unlikely spoiler, having won just two of its first 16 games that season. Life went on to become the first unseeded team to win the NAIA Tournament by overcoming a 26-point deficit to frustrate Mobile, 63-60. . . . Central Arkansas ranks among the schools for most NAIA Tournament appearances but none of those were when 1992 U.S. basketball Olympian and Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen played for the Bears. Pippen participated in two Olympiads (1992 and 1996). Additional small-college hoop Olympians were: Mike Barrett (West Virginia Tech/1968), Ron Bontemps (Beloit WI/1962), Kenny Davis (Georgetown College KY/1972), Don Dee (St. Mary of the Plains KS/1968), John Gibbons (Southwestern College KS/1936), Luke Jackson (Pan American TX/1964), Glynn Saulters (Northeast Louisiana/1968), Jerry Shipp (Southeastern Oklahoma State/1964) and William Wheatley (Kansas Wesleyan/1936). . . . David Lipscomb's Don Meyer reached the 700-win plateau quicker than any coach in college history. He compiled 702 victories through 1998-99 in 24 seasons before leaving for Northern State (S.D.) when he disagreed with Lipscomb's decision to move up to NCAA Division I. His 1989-90 squad won a college basketball-record 41 games. Meyer, atop the NCAA win list among active coaches with 891 at the time in 2008, had his left leg amputated below the knee after an auto accident. Meyer either fell asleep or was distracted when his car crossed the center line and collided with a semi. Meyer, 63, was diagnosed with a slow-growing cancer in his liver and bowels that doctors said might not have been found had he not been injured. . . . Six different members of the MIAA (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) from the state of Missouri - Central Missouri State, Missouri-Rolla, Missouri Southern, Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri State and Southwest Baptist - finished with a final Top 10 ranking in a 12-year span from 1990-91 through 2001-02. . . . Prior to the inaugural season for Westminster (Pa.) in the NCAA in 1998-99, the Titans were acknowledged as the all-time winningest program in NAIA history with 1,299 victories. . . . Danny Miles, en route to reaching the 1,000-win plateau in 2013-14, earned triumph No. 400 in 4 1/2 hours because a broken rim at Simpson College in Redding, Calif., forced the game to be moved 20 miles to another facility. In college at Southern Oregon, Miles set the all-time pass completion percentage record for both NCAA and NAIA for a single season based on 225 attempts (1965, 190-247, .769) and career percentage based on 500 completions (1964-67, 577-871, .662).

Three different North Dakota State coaches the first three years of the 21st Century - Ray Giacoletti, Greg McDermott and Tim Miles - went on to guide other schools at the NCAA Division I level to national postseason competition. . . . Kenyan Charles Maina, who led Lynn (Fla.) in blocked shots two seasons in the late 1990s, starred in the nationally-acclaimed movie "The Air Up There." . . . Haitian Robert Joseph of Union (Tenn.) surpassed David Robinson's record by becoming the single-season blocked shots leader for all levels of college basketball with 242 rejections in 2001-02. . . . The College of Staten Island (N.Y.) started hosting an in-season tournament, called CSI Tournament of Heroes, to pay homage to three former CSI players (Terrance Aiken, Scott Davidson and Tom Hannafin) who perished during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Aiken had just started a computer consulting job on the 97th floor of World Trade Center Tower I while Davidson and Hannafin were New York City firefighters. . . . Jaeson Maravich, a son of NCAA all-time leading scorer Pete Maravich, was an NAIA All-American for William Carey (Miss.) in 2002-03 and 2003-04. Jaeson previously had stints with Alabama and McNeese State sidetracked by a back ailment. . . . Hope International (Calif.) ended a 60-game losing streak with a 94-84 win over Redlands (Calif.) in 2003-04. . . . Jack Bennett, the coach of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's 2004 NCAA Division III champion, is a brother of Dick Bennett, who guided Wisconsin to the 2000 NCAA Division I Tournament Final Four. Just like Dick had a son (Tony) play for him at Wisconsin-Green Bay, Jack had a son (Nick) who supplied 83 three-pointers for the Pointers in 2003-04. . . . Grinnell (Iowa) set an NCAA single-season scoring record for all levels by averaging 126.2 points per game in 2003-04. The Pioneers (18-6) had more three-pointers (530) than either two-point baskets (472) or free throws (495). Boasting eight players with more than 25 treys, they scored fewer than 100 points only three times. Grinnell coach David Arseneault had his teams press from the start and they would surrender a layup for a chance to come back down and take a three-point shot. The Pioneers hit 530 of 1,582 attempts from beyond the arc (33.5%).

The Moir family has accounted for more than 1,500 college victories. Page Moir became the all-time winningest coach for a school, Roanoke (Va.), where his father, Charles, won the 1972 NCAA College Division crown before coaching at the Division I level with Virginia Tech and Tulane. Charles' brother, Sam, coached at Catawba (N.C.) for 31 seasons. . . . In 2006, Texas Wesleyan became the fourth unseeded team in eight years to capture the NAIA Division I title. Three years later, Rocky Mountain (Mont.) defeated Columbia (Mo.) in the first championship game between two unseeded teams since seeding was introduced in 1957. . . . In 2011, Georgetown College (Ky.) became the first school to appear in at least 30 NAIA tourneys while becoming the initial institution to make 20 consecutive trips. Georgetown's emotional run to the 1996 tourney final was in honor of its dying coach, Jim Reid, who battled cancer before dying less than a month after the campaign concluded. . . . Brian Rice, a 43-year-old Navy retiree, was a backup for Geneva (Pa.) in 2012-13.

Numerous small-college hoopers were so versatile they eventually excelled professionally in other major sports. Earning acclaim as MLB All-Stars were George Altman (Tennessee State), Glenn Beckert (Allegheny PA), Frank Bolling (Spring Hill AL), Al Bumbry (Virginia State), Mickey Cochrane (Boston University), George Crowe (Indiana Central), Larry Doby (Virginia Union), Rick Ferrell (Guilford NC), Wayne Gross (Cal Poly Pomona), Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Bill Henry (Houston), Chuck Hinton (Shaw NC), Gil Hodges (St. Joseph's IN/Oakland City IN), Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA), Duane Josephson (Northern Iowa), David Justice (Thomas More KY), Vern Kennedy (Central Missouri State), Dave Lemanczyk (Hartwick NY), Danny Litwhiler (Bloomsburg PA), Davey Lopes (Iowa Wesleyan/Washburn KS), Jerry Lumpe (Southwest Missouri State), Bake McBride (Westminster MO), Graig Nettles (San Diego State), Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD), Joe Niekro (West Liberty WV), Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS), Gary Peters (Grove City PA), Rip Repulski (St. Cloud State MN), Preacher Roe (Harding AR), Richie Scheinblum (LIU-C.W. Post), Hal Schumacher (St. Lawrence NY), Jeff Shaw (Rio Grande OH), Norm Siebern (Southwest Missouri State), Dick Siebert (Concordia-St. Paul MN), Matt Thornton (Grand Valley State MI), Bob Veale (Benedictine KS), Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL), Wes Westrum (Bemidji State MN) and Bill White (Hiram OH). Among current small-college alums, Bumbry, Doby, Hodges, Irvin, Justice, Litwhiler, Lopes, McBride, Nicholson, Niekro, Passeau, Repulski, Roe, Schumacher, Veale, Westrum and White participated in World Series competition along with former small-school hoopers Mike Adams (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Morrie Arnovich (Wisconsin-Superior), Clyde Barnhart (Shippensburg PA), Jim Bibby (Fayetteville State NC), Donn Clendenon (Morehouse GA), Jack Coombs (Colby ME), Harry Craft (Mississippi College), Jean Dubuc (Saint Michael's VT), George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA), Ray Fisher (Middlebury VT), Jake Flowers (Washington College MD), Gene Freese (West Liberty State WV), Mike Gazella (Mansfield PA), Charlie Gelbert (Lebanon Valley PA), Dick Hall (Swarthmore PA), Bobby Humphreys (Hampden-Sydney VA), Lou Johnson (Kentucky State), Lynn Jones (Thiel PA), Ernie Krueger (Lake Forest IL), Dave Leonhard (Johns Hopkins MD), Les Mann (Springfield MA), Roger Mason (Saginaw Valley State MI), Jimmy Moore (Union TN), Red Murray (Lock Haven PA), Greasy Neale (West Virginia Wesleyan), Billy North (Central Washington), Jim Northrup (Alma College MI), Curly Ogden (Swarthmore PA), Joe Ostrowski (Scranton PA), Jack Phillips (Clarkson NY), Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX), Paul Splittorff (Morningside IA), Kent Tekulve (Marietta OH), Bill Virdon (Drury MO), Ray Washburn (Whitworth WA), Monte Weaver (Emory & Henry VA), Dib Williams (Hendrix AR) and Tom Zachary (Guilford NC).

Ex-hoopers among NFL/AFL Pro Bowl selections included: Ken Anderson (Augustana IL), Ordell Braase (South Dakota), Marlin Briscoe (Nebraska-Omaha), Buck Buchanan (Grambling), Harold Carmichael (Southern LA), Ben Coates (Livingstone NC), Charley Cowan (New Mexico Highlands), Elbert Dubenion (Bluffton OH), London Fletcher (John Carroll OH), Len Ford (Morgan State), Jean Fugett (Amherst MA), Bill Groman (Heidelberg OH), Harlon Hill (Florence State AL), Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado), Dave Jennings (St. Lawrence NY), Ed "Too Tall" Jones (Tennessee State), Jacoby Jones (Lane TN), Gary Larsen (Concordia MN), Joe Lavender (San Diego State), Rolland Lawrence (Tabor KS), Cy McClairen (Bethune-Cookman FL), Bob McLeod (Abilene Christian TX), Zeke Moore (Lincoln MO), Elvin "Kink" Richards (Simpson IA), Art Shell (Maryland-Eastern Shore), Rod Smith (Missouri Southern State), Ed Sprinkle (Hardin-Simmons TX), Lionel Taylor (New Mexico Highlands), Otis Taylor (Prairie View A&M) and Rayfield Wright (Fort Valley State GA). Anderson, Braase, Briscoe, Buchanan, Carmichael, Coates, Fletcher, Fugett, J. Jones, Larsen, Shell, Smith, O. Taylor and Wright were Super Bowl participants along with former small-college hoopers Don Beebe (Aurora College IL junior varsity), Kevin Boss (Western Oregon), Vern Den Herder (Central College IA), Jim Duncan (Maryland-Eastern Shore), Bob Lurtsema (Michigan Tech), Keith McKeller (Jacksonville State AL), Herb McMath (Morningside IA), Pete Metzelaars (Wabash IN), Wayne Moore (Lamar), Charles Philyaw (Texas Southern), Charlie Stukes (UMES) and Fuzzy Thurston (Valparaiso). Larsen (Minnesota Vikings) and Den Herder (Miami Dolphins) opposed each other as defensive linemen in Super Bowl VIII following the 1973 season. The next year, Larsen and Lurtsema were DL teammates when Vikes lost back-to-back Super Bowls. Beebe caught TD passes for the Buffalo Bills in back-to-back Super Bowls but is best known for iconic hustle play in SB XXVII against the Dallas Cowboys when he chased down and stripped defensive end Leon Lett of the ball for a touchback just before showboating Lett crossed the goal line following running more than 60 yards after fumble recovery.

Smaller colleges, many from the hinterlands, supplied a striking number of the biggest names in major-college coaching. From 1995 through 2000, five of the six NCAA Division I Tournament championship coaches graduated from obscure colleges with significantly smaller enrollments - Jim Calhoun (American International MA), Jim Harrick (Charleston WV), Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan), Lute Olson (Augsburg MN) and Tubby Smith (High Point NC). In fact, it is rare for a Final Four not to feature at least one coach from a humble background. John Calipari, a graduate of Clarion (Pa.) State, guided Kentucky to the 2012 national championship before Michigan's John Beilein (Wheeling Jesuit NY), Wichita State's Gregg Marshall (Randolph-Macon VA) and Butler's Brad Stevens (DePauw IN) directed teams to the Final Four in the last decade or so. Small-school hoopers who coached prominent universities to multiple bowl games include Dan Devine (Minnesota-Duluth), Tom Osborne (Hastings NE) and Bobby Petrino (Carroll MT). Title game coaches in the NFL and AFL after playing small-college hoops include Wally Lemm (Carroll WI) and Marv Levy (Coe IA). Status as a cash cow notwithstanding, it would appear no one should have been able to accuse the NCAA hierarchy of unabashed favoritism for the DI level. After all, former Executive Director Cedric Dempsey (Albion MI) and former enforcement chief David Berst (MacMurray IL) were small-school hoopers. Dempsey coached his alma mater after he was named MIAA MVP in 1953-54. Berst averaged 6.3 ppg and 4 rpg and held the school's baseball record for best ERA in a career before coaching both sports at his alma mater.

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

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

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 5 in football at the professional level (especially Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens in 1999 and 2004 plus ex-college hoopers with the Eagles and Giants):

DECEMBER 5

• Washington Redskins RB Cliff Battles (four seasons of varsity hoops for West Virginia Wesleyan) rushed for two first-quarter touchdowns in a 49-14 win against the New York Giants in 1937. Giants TB Ed Danowski (Fordham hoops letterman in 1932-33) threw two TD passes.

• Buffalo Bills WR Don Beebe (Aurora College IL junior varsity hooper in 1983-84) caught a 65-yard touchdown pass from Jim Kelly in a 25-24 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1993.

• Philadelphia Eagles E Tony Bova (St. Francis PA hoops letterman in 1942) caught two touchdown passes (48 and 13 yards en route to leading league with 24.6-yd average) in a 38-28 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1943.

• In 1937, Chicago Bears QB Ray Buivid (Marquette hoops letterman in 1935-36) became the first rookie to throw five touchdown passes in a single NFL game (42-28 nod over Chicago Cardinals).

• Oakland Raiders WR Ronald Curry (averaged 4.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 3 apg for North Carolina in 1998-99 and 2000-01) caught nine passes for 141 yards - including two touchdowns from Kerry Collins - in a 34-27 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004.

• Buffalo Bills rookie TE Tim Euhus (averaged 1.3 ppg and 1.8 rpg for Oregon State in 1999-00) caught a career-high four passes, one from Drew Bledsoe for go-ahead touchdown, in 42-32 win against the Miami Dolphins in 2004.

• Pittsburgh Steelers TB Ray Evans (two-time All-American was four-year letterman and second-leading scorer for Kansas in 1942 NCAA Tournament) opened game's scoring with a nine-yard rushing touchdown in 38-28 win against the New York Giants in 1948.

• Los Angeles Dons rookie WR Len Ford (center for Morgan State's CIAA hoops titlist in 1944) caught two touchdown passes from Glenn Dobbs in a 38-21 AAFC setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1948.

• New York Giants' Dave Jennings (forward averaged 5.9 ppg for St. Lawrence NY in 1972-73 and 1973-74) punted four times for 55.3-yard average in 17-14 win against the Houston Oilers in 1982. Giants DE George Martin (Oregon hoops teammate of freshman sensation Ron Lee in 1972-73) had three sacks.

• Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper under legendary coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw three touchdown passes in a 37-16 win against the New York Jets in 1976.

• Chicago Cardinals E Mal Kutner (two-year Texas hoops letterman in early 1940s) had two of his league-high 14 pass reception touchdowns in a 42-7 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1948.

• Philadelphia Eagles rookie QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 21-17 setback against the Arizona Cardinals in 1999. Five years later, McNabb completed 32-of-43 passes - including five TDs - in a 47-17 win against the Green Bay Packers in 2004. WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) had eight of McNabb's 32 pass completions for 161 yards. Five years earlier with the San Francisco 49ers, Owens caught nine passes for 145 yards in a 44-30 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1999.

• Philadelphia Eagles B Dom Moselle (leading hoops scorer for Wisconsin-Superior in 1947-48 and 1948-49) had a career-high 46 rushing yards in 13-13 tie against the Detroit Lions in 1954.

• San Diego Chargers rookie WR Robert Reed (averaged 1.9 ppg in 18 contests for Arkansas' 1995 NCAA Tournament runner-up under coach Nolan Richardson Jr.) caught one pass from QB Jim Harbaugh and returned three punts for 49 yards in a 23-10 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1999.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) passed for 320 yards in a 21-19 setback against the Dallas Cowboys in 1965. Eagles DT John Meyers (played seven basketball games with Washington in 1959-60) contributed an interception.

• Denver Broncos SE Lionel Taylor (led New Mexico Highlands in scoring average with 13.6 ppg in 1955-56 and 20.3 in 1956-57) had eight pass receptions for 164 yards in a 24-13 AFL setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1965.

• New York Giants LB Brad Van Pelt (averaged 4.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg while shooting 61.7% from floor as Michigan State sophomore in 1970-71) had two interceptions in a 24-10 win against the Detroit Lions in 1976.

• Cincinnati Bengals DE Alfred Williams (Colorado hooper in 1989-90) supplied a safety by tackling Steve Young in end zone in 21-8 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1993.

Schools changed rosters and schedules during pandemic as much as woke leftists harvest questionable votes. In a bizarre return-to-normal year, 42 bowl games are slated to be played at conclusion of another season warranting "Let's Go, Brandon" chant. There have been a striking number of hoopers over the years contributing to bowl football teams prior to switching from the gridiron to the hardwood. Former South Carolina football wide receiver/basketball guard Bruce Ellington, after throwing a touchdown pass to the Gamecocks' quarterback on a reverse and catching a go-ahead TD pass in the second half of the Capital One Bowl against Wisconsin eight years ago, is among the all-time Top 10 "Men For All Seasons."

In an era of specialization, research reveals Ellington is the first major-college basketball regular to compete the same academic school year in three consecutive football bowl games. He joined Terry Baker (Oregon State), Mike Bush (Washington State), Rick Casares (Florida), Marcus Cotton (Southern California), Ronald Curry (North Carolina), Joe Dean Davenport (Arkansas), Charles Davis (Purdue), Pete Elliott (Michigan), Fred Gibson (Georgia), Teyo Johnson (Stanford), Matt Jones (Arkansas), Terry Kirby (Virginia), Dave Logan (Colorado), Tony "Zippy" Morocco (Georgia), Jerry Priestley (Georgia Tech) and Art Schlichter (Ohio State) as athletes scoring a touchdown in a bowl game shortly before or after switching uniforms and making significant contributions to the school's basketball squad. Ellington, after pacing USC in pass receptions, cut short both his college football and basketball career by declaring early for the NFL draft (started two of three early-season hoop contests). One of Baker's opposing QBs with Villanova was triple-threat Richie Richman, who went on to play Organized Ball as a Philadelphia Phillies' farmhand.

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

Michigan State's Andre Rison is among a striking number of athletes who "crafted" playing both sports at the highest collegiate level in the same school year. Rison participated in the granddaddy-of-them-all Rose Bowl, which has had more of the do-everything athletes in this special category than any bowl game post-World War II (Liberty Bowl and Orange Bowl are runners-up). NFL all-time great tight end Tony Gonzalez (California) is among the following alphabetical list of versatile athletes since end of WWII who played in at least one football bowl game the same school year they competed as a hooper (bowl year denotes when regular season was played):

Football-Basketball Player	College	FB Pos.	Bowl Game(s)	FB/Hoops Summary For Two-Way Athlete in Same Academic School Year
Ralph Armstrong	Ohio State	WR	1949 Rose	The Buckeyes' runner-up in pass receptions on the season had one reception in 17-14 win against California before averaging 2 ppg as teammate of Fred Taylor for NCAA Tournament team coached by Tippy Dye.
Doug Atkins	Tennessee	DE	1950 Cotton	Eventual NFL first-round pick helped defeat Texas 20-14 before averaging 9.9 ppg for Volunteers' basketball squad.
Terry Baker	Oregon State	QB	1962 Liberty	MVP's 99-yard run from scrimmage accounted for only points in 6-0 victory against Villanova before becoming runner-up in scoring (13.4 ppg) with Beavers' NCAA Tournament fourth-place finisher.
Octavus Barnes	North Carolina	WR	1994 Sun	Set school bowl game records for receptions (nine) and receiving yards (165) in 35-31 setback against Texas before playing in five basketball contests under coach Dean Smith.
Connor Barwin	Cincinnati	TE	2006 International	One solo tackle in 27-24 triumph against Western Michigan before averaging 1.2 ppg and 1.4 rpg for Bearcats' basketball team.
Andy Blount	North Texas	TE	2001 New Orleans	Capped off scoring in loss against Colorado State in inaugural NO Bowl with 13-yard touchdown reception before averaging 1.6 ppg and 1.3 rpg in nine basketball contests.
Matt Blundin	Virginia	QB	1989 Florida Citrus/1990 Sugar	Backup in two defeats (31-21 vs. Illinois and 23-22 vs. Tennessee) while averaging 3.3 ppg and 4.6 rpg with two NCAA playoff teams for Cavaliers.
Adarius Bowman	Oklahoma State	WR	2006 Independence	All-Big 12 Conference selection caught a touchdown pass in 34-31 win against Alabama before making one-of-four three-point field-goal attempts and grabbing four rebounds in five basketball games in Sean Sutton's first season as coach succeeding his father (Eddie).
Larry Brown	Georgia	TE	1997 Outback	Defeated Wisconsin 33-6 before averaging 6.3 ppg and 4.2 rpg for Bulldogs' NIT third-place team.
Mike Bush	Washington State	WR	2001 Sun	A 46-yard TD reception helped defeat Purdue 33-27 before becoming Cougars' third-leading scorer with 10.9 ppg as hoop senior.
Chris Carrier	Louisiana State	DB	1985 Liberty	Returned two interceptions for 46 yards on the gridiron in 1985 before appearing in two basketball games under coach Dale Brown, sinking his only field-goal attempt.
Rick Casares	Florida	FB-PK	1952 Gator	Rushed 21 times for 86 yards, scoring first TD in Gators' bowl history, and kicked both extra points in 14-13 nod over Tulsa before All-SEC second-team selection paced hoop squad in scoring (15.5 ppg) and rebounding (11.5 rpg).
Steve Chancey	Tennessee	RB	1971 Liberty	Rushed 12 times for 34 yards in 14-13 victory over Arkansas in bowl game before grabbing two rebounds in one basketball contest under coach Ray Mears.
Keon Coleman	Michigan State	WR	2021 Chick-fil-A Peach	Eventual early second-round NFL draft pick after transferring to Florida State caught two passes for 20 yards in 31-21 comeback victory against Pittsburgh before collecting five points and three steals in five Spartan basketball games under coach Tom Izzo.
Rip Collins	Louisiana State	FB	1947 Cotton	All-SEC pick helped LSU secure 15-1 edge in first downs and 255-54 advantage in net yards rushing in 0-0 tie with Arkansas in standoff known as Ice Bowl because of sleet and snow before earning letter for school's hoop squad.
Andre Cooper	Florida State	WR	1993 Orange	Caught eight passes for 111 yards in five games as freshman for Bobby Bowden-coached national champion (first reception was 35-yarder vs. Kansas). Collected 29 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists in seven basketball games under coach Pat Kennedy (including 7 points/3 rebounds/3 assists/3 steals in single contest vs. Maryland).
Gary Cooper	Clemson	WR	1987 Citrus	The Tigers' top receiver during the regular season (30 catches for 562 yards and four touchdowns) caught three passes for 32 yards in bowl-game victory against Penn State before playing in one basketball contest under coach Cliff Ellis.
Marcus Cotton	Southern California	LB	1986 Citrus	All-Pacific-8 Conference selection scored the Trojans' only touchdown with 24-yard interception return in 16-7 setback against Auburn before contributing one free throw for hoops coach George Raveling.
Sam Craft	Memphis	RB	2015 Birmingham	Scored seven touchdowns (5 rushing/2 receiving) for bowl team losing against Auburn, 31-10, before averaging 2.2 ppg under coach Josh Pastner.
Ed Crawford	Mississippi	DB	1955 Sugar	Thwarted any comeback attempt by TCU with interception in Rebels' 14-13 win in 1956 Cotton Bowl after 21-0 Sugar Bowl setback against Navy previous year before earning hoops letter as 6-3 forward.
Sam Crenshaw	Penn State	WR-DB	1997 Citrus	Caught two passes for 53 yards as freshman for Joe Paterno-coached team losing bowl game against Florida, 21-6, before collecting two points and one rebound in five basketball contests.
Ronald Curry	North Carolina	QB	1998 Las Vegas	Curry's 48-yard TD scamper put Tar Heels in front to stay in 20-13 win over San Diego State before averaging 2.8 ppg and 1.7 apg for hoop squad upset in first round of NCAA playoffs by Weber State.
Joe Dean Davenport II	Arkansas	TE	1998 Citrus	Fourth-quarter TD reception put Hogs ahead in eventual 45-31 setback against Michigan before he averaged 1.4 ppg and 1.2 rpg in 15 basketball games under coach Nolan Richardson Jr. (including two 1999 NCAA playoff contests).
Charles Davis	Purdue	TE	2004 Sun	His 6-yard TD reception from Kyle Orton put Boilermakers ahead with just over one minute remaining but Arizona State marched 80 yards in four plays to win 27-23 before Davis averaged 2.9 ppg and 3.1 rpg in coach Gene Keady's swan song.
Tony Davis	Florida	RB	1992 Gator	Rushed 21 times for 93 yards and caught 8 passes for 63 yards during season for football squad defeating North Carolina State in postseason. Played two minutes in one basketball game under coach Lon Kruger.
Matt Davison	Nebraska	SE	1999 Fiesta	Leading Husker receiver in three bowl games, including 31-21 nod over Tennessee, before starting two Big 12 Conference basketball contests.
Rickey Dudley	Ohio State	TE	1994 Florida Citrus	Caught two passes for 26 yards in 24-17 setback against Alabama before averaging team-high 7.5 rpg.
Tony Eisenhard	Ohio State	DE	1996 Rose	Two tackles during season for football squad beating Arizona State, 20-17, prior to starting four Big Ten games the next season. The 6-7 Eisenhard averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.1 rpg over seven of the Buckeyes' last eight basketball games in 1996-97.
Bruce Ellington	South Carolina	WR	2011 Capital One/2012 Outback/2013 Capital One	Season-long 45-yard kickoff return in 30-13 win over Nebraska and caught game-winning TD pass with only seconds remaining in 33-28 victory against Michigan before averaging 10.5 ppg while finishing Gamecocks' leader in either assists or steals.
Pete Elliott	Michigan	B	1947 Rose Bowl	Rushed seven times for 53 yards and caught 1-yard TD pass in 49-0 romp over Southern California before averaging 6 ppg for Wolverine hoopers.
Percy Ellsworth	Virginia	S	1994 Independence	Integral part of defense leading nation in interceptions helped Cavaliers end four-game bowl losing streak with 20-10 verdict over TCU before appearing in all four contests with Midwest Regional runner-up in NCAA tourney.
Bobby Etter	Georgia	PK	1964 Sun	Returned low snap for decisive five-year touchdown run in 14-7 regular-season win against ninth-ranked Florida for Vince Dooley-coached football squad before collecting 10 points and five rebounds in 10 basketball games.
Leland "Lee" Flachsbarth	Kansas	RB	1961 Bluebonnet	Originally a QB, he rushed for two touchdowns during season as halfback with QB John Hadl-led team defeating Rice, 33-7, in bowl game. Averaged 3.4 ppg and 3.8 rpg for coach Dick Harp's basketball squad.
James Francis	Baylor	LB	1986 Bluebonnet	Eventual NFL first-round pick helped Bears beat Colorado 21-9 before averaging 2.2 ppg and 2.2 rpg while shooting 52.2% from floor.
Charles Frederick	Washington	WR-KR	2001 Holiday	Top kick returner as freshman for Huskies team losing to Texas, 47-43, in bowl game went on to score five points in six basketball games.
Fred Gibson	Georgia	WR	2001 Music City	Opened scoring with 15-yard TD reception but Boston College rallied to prevail 20-16 before Gibson averaged 4.9 ppg with Bulldogs' NCAA playoff team.
Melvin Gilliam	Oklahoma State	DB	1985 Gator	Posted two interceptions as freshman for team losing bowl game against Florida State 34-23, before averaging 9.1 ppg and 2.9 apg as part-time hoops starter.
Tony Gonzalez	California	TE	1996 Aloha	Established Cal bowl record with nine receptions in 42-38 reversal against Navy before averaging 6.8 ppg and 4.5 rpg with Bears' squad losing against North Carolina in East Regional semifinals.
DeMarcus Grady	Northern Illinois	QB-WR	2010 Humanitarian/2011 GoDaddy.com	Backup on two gridiron teams winning bowl games against Fresno State and Arkansas State, respectively. Averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.2 rpg in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Gregg Guenther	Southern California	TE	2003 Rose	Part-time starter for national champion managed one reception for 19 yards from QB Matt Leinart in 28-14 win against Michigan before averaging 5.6 ppg and 4.7 rpg with Trojans' hoop squad.
Ross Hales	Indiana	TE	1993 Independence	Caught 34-yard pass in second quarter of 45-20 loss against Virginia Tech before making token appearance for Coach Bob Knight in Hoosiers' 67-58 win over Temple in NCAA playoffs.
Cecil Hankins	Oklahoma A&M	B	1945 Cotton	Two-way back and top pass receive for Aggies team that trounced TCU before playing forward and leading basketball squad in scoring in NCAA playoffs for 1945 national titlist.
Ernest Hawkins	Texas Tech	QB	1947 Sun	Red Raiders football squad lost, 13-12, to Ara Parseghian-led Miami of Ohio before Hawkins briefly played hoops.
Jesse Holley	North Carolina	WR	2004 Continental Tire	Caught five passes for 66 yards in 37-24 defeat against Boston College before appearing in a couple of NCAA tourney contests for 2005 national champion under coach Roy Williams.
Joe Howard	Notre Dame	WR	1983 Liberty	Caught one pass for 43 yards in 19-18 decision over Doug Flutie-led Boston College before averaging 5.5 ppg and 3.3 apg as part-time starter with Irish NIT runner-up.
William "Allen" Hughes	Navy	WR	1960 Orange	Wide receiver caught eight passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns during regular season as teammate of Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino before Midshipmen lost to Missouri, 21-14. Hughes averaged 4.6 ppg and 1.8 rpg for basketball squad coached by Ben Carnevale.
John Isenbarger	Indiana	TB	1967 Rose	Leading rusher for IU's lone participant in Rose Bowl (lost 14-3 against top-ranked USC) before making one of six field-goal attempts in three basketball games.
Ortege Jenkins	Arizona	QB	1997 Insight.com	Primary signal caller for UA as freshman threw 19 TD passes (one while throwing for 348 yards vs. Washington), but only played briefly in fourth quarter of 20-14 bowl game win against New Mexico. Scored 15 points in 13 games under coach Lute Olson, appearing in waning moments of three NCAA playoff contests.
Steve Joachim	Penn State	QB	1971 Cotton	Seven of 16 completions for John Hufnagel's backup went for touchdowns during regular season before playing briefly in 30-6 rout of Texas in bowl game. Joachim collected two points and two rebounds in only basketball game with the Nittany Lions under coach John Bach before transferring to Temple and winning Maxwell Award.
Teyo Johnson	Stanford	WR	2001 Seattle	A 4-yard fourth-quarter TD reception closed gap prior to bowing against Georgia Tech 24-14 before averaging 5.8 ppg and 4 rpg with Cardinal NCAA playoff squad.
Don Jonas	Penn State	HB	1960 Liberty	Scored a touchdown in 41-12 victory against Oregon before converting both of his free-throw attempts in one basketball game.
Matt Jones	Arkansas	QB	2003 Independence	Scored go-ahead TD, rushed 7 times for 74 yards and completed 6 of 14 passes in 27-14 verdict over Missouri before averaging 5 ppg and 4.5 rpg as Hogs hooper.
Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones	Kentucky	SE	1947 Great Lakes	Leader in pass receptions from QB George Blanda under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant for squad beating Villanova 24-14. All-SEC first-team selection in basketball averaged 9.3 ppg for Adolph Rupp's 1948 NCAA titlist.
Shaun Joplin	Bowling Green State	WR	2013 Little Caesars	Leading receiver for Falcons had team-high six pass receptions in 30-27 reversal against Pitt before son of former Toledo coach Stan Joplin played in one basketball game.
Bill Kaliden	Pittsburgh	QB	1956 Gator	Backup for team losing against Georgia Tech, 21-14, before converting one free throw over three basketball games with the Panthers.
Bronson Kaufusi	Brigham Young	DE	2012 Poinsettia	Recorded sack in 23-6 victory against San Diego State before collecting 21 points and 34 rebounds in 20 hoop games for NIT semifinalist.
Corbin Kaufusi	Brigham Young	DL	2016 Poinsettia	Posted four tackles in 24-21 triumph against Wyoming before 6-10 center collected 10 points and 15 rebounds in 16 hoop games for BYU.
Don King	Syracuse	RB	1961 Liberty	Teammate of Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis was member of football squad coming from behind to nip Miami (Fla.), 15-14, before averaging 5 ppg and 3.9 rpg.
Jeff King	Virginia Tech	TE	2004 Sugar	Caught three passes for 12 yards in 16-13 setback against Auburn before collecting 18 points and 23 rebounds in 16 games as hoop freshman with Hokies.
Erron Kinney	Florida	TE	1996 Sugar	Caught three passes for 40 yards as redshirt freshman with Steve Spurrier-coached team capturing national title upon defeating Florida State, 52-20. Averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.3 rpg in six basketball games under coach Billy Donovan.
Terry Kirby	Virginia	RB	1989 Florida Citrus/1990 Sugar	Rushed for 139 yards in 29 carries with one TD in losses against Illinois (31-21) and Tennessee (23-22) before averaging 2.8 ppg in two seasons with Cavaliers' hoops squad.
E. Roy Lester	West Virginia	E	1948 Sun	Caught 16 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns for football squad defeating UTEP, 21-12, in bowl game before scoring 16 points in 11 basketball games.
Marcedes Lewis	UCLA	TE	2002 Las Vegas	Future NFL first-round pick caught six passes for 51 yards and one touchdown as freshman backup for team beating New Mexico in bowl game before he collected nine points and four rebounds in seven basketball contests under Bruins coach Steve Lavin.
Dave Logan	Colorado	WR	1975 Bluebonnet	His 4-yard TD reception gave Buffaloes 14-0 lead prior to them succumbing against Texas 38-21 before becoming basketball team's runner-up in scoring (12.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg).
Ron Logback	New Mexico State	QB	1960 Sun	Backup to QB Charley Johnson for undefeated team finishing 11-0 after beating Utah State, 20-13. Collected 9 points and 19 rebounds in 10 basketball games for Aggies after appearing in NCAA Tournament the previous year.
Gene Lorendo	Georgia	WR	1948 Orange	Caught 22 passes for 440 yards and one touchdown for football team losing bowl game against Texas, 41-28, before scoring four points playing briefly with the Bulldogs' basketball squad.
Kendell Mack	Auburn	OT	1997 Peach	The Tigers defeated Clemson in bowl game, 21-17, before Mack collected 11 points and 4 rebounds in eight basketball games under coach Cliff Ellis.
David Macklin	Penn State	DB	1996 Fiesta	Member of football squad defeating Texas, 38-15, before freshman collected 13 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in 15 basketball games.
John Meyers	Washington	WR-DT	1959 Rose	Caught six passes for 99 yards during season with first of back-to-back Rose Bowl winners before switching to defensive line and becoming six-year NFL starter. Joined UW's basketball squad for game against UCLA day after first Rose Bowl victory.
Leonard Mitchell	Houston	DE	1978 Cotton	UH squandered 34-12 lead when Joe Montana-led Notre Dame scored 23 unanswered points in fourth quarter to win by one before Mitchell averaged 5.4 ppg and 5.6 rpg for Cougars' hoop squad coached by Guy Lewis.
John Moala	Brigham Young	TE	1996 Cotton	Caught one pass for 18-yard touchdown during season with team topping Kansas State, 19-15, in postseason before collecting 8 points and 25 rebounds in nine basketball games.
Tony "Zippy" Morocco	Georgia	HB	1950 Presidential Cup	Scored two second-half touchdowns (30-yard run from scrimmage and 65-yard punt return) as Co-MVP in 40-20 setback against Texas A&M before averaging 9.7 ppg with Bulldogs' basketball team.
Jordan Norwood	Penn State	WR	2006 Outback	Posted team-high four pass receptions in 20-10 win against Tennessee before grabbing one rebound and dishing out one assist in four basketball games.
Prince Parker	Virginia Tech	TE	2010 Orange	Caught one pass for four yards with Frank Beamer-coached squad finishing season with 40-12 loss against Stanford before making his only field-goal attempt and grabbing one rebound in four basketball games under coach Seth Greenberg.
Brent Petrus	Cincinnati	TE	1997 Humanitarian	Three-year backup QB caught 10 passes for 254 yards and one touchdown as TE his senior season for the Bearcats' first bowl team in 46 years (beat Utah State, 35-19). Averaged 2.5 ppg and 2.2 rpg while shooting 64.4% from the floor under UC coach Bob Huggins, participating in two 1998 NCAA tourney games.
Nate Poole	Marshall	WR	1997 Motor City	Teammate of Randy Moss caught 26 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns during freshman season for bowl team losing to Ole Miss, 34-31, before sinking all four free-throw attempts in two basketball games.
Jerry Priestley	Georgia Tech	QB	1965 Gator	One-yard touchdown run early in fourth quarter helped propel Yellow Jackets to 31-21 win over Texas Tech before he competed in eight basketball games later in school year.
Bryan Randall	Virginia Tech	QB	2003 Insight	Threw for more passing yards (398) than future NFL star Aaron Rodgers (394) in 52-49 setback against Cal before averaging 3.1 ppg and 1.3 rpg for the Hokies under coach Seth Greenberg.
Richie Richman	Villanova	QB	1962 Liberty	Rushed eight times for 20 yards, caught one pass for eight yards and completed 1-of-2 passes in 6-0 setback against Oregon State before averaging 1.3 ppg in 20 basketball games under coach Jack Kraft.
Pat Richter	Wisconsin	E	1962 Rose	Registered then Rose Bowl-record 11 pass receptions in 42-37 setback against USC as senior co-captain before averaging 3.3 ppg and 4.3 rpg in eight basketball games.
Andre Rison	Michigan State	WR	1987 Rose	Had two long pass receptions (55 and 36 yards) in a 20-17 win against USC before registering 24 points and 42 assists in 18 games for the Spartans' basketball squad coached by Jud Heathcote.
Jay Roberts	Kansas	WR	1961 Bluebonnet	Caught 7 passes for 83 yards and one touchdown during season with QB John Hadl-led team defeating Rice, 33-7, in bowl game. Averaged 1 ppg and 2.8 rpg for coach Dick Harp's basketball squad.
Clifton Robinson	Auburn	WR-PR	1997 Peach	The Tigers topped Clemson, 21-17, before freshman collected 22 points, six rebounds and six assists in 12 basketball games under coach Cliff Ellis.
Dave Robinson	Penn State	LB-WR	1960 Liberty	Two-way performer for PSU squad overwhelming Oregon, 41-12, before he made two free throws and grabbed five rebounds in two basketball games for the Nittany Lions.
Nate Robinson	Washington	CB	2002 Sun	His QB sack helped Huskies get off to strong start before bowing against Purdue 34-24 prior to freshman pacing hoopers in scoring (13 ppg).
Reggie Rogers	Washington	DL	1984 Orange	Eventual NFL first-round draft choice helped upend Oklahoma 28-17 before averaging 5.7 ppg and 3.9 rpg with Huskies' hoop squad.
Robert Royal	Louisiana State	TE	2000 Peach	Defeated Georgia Tech, 28-14, after setting school record for tight ends with five touchdown receptions in Nick Saban's first season as coach of the Tigers. Collected 10 points and six rebounds in five basketball games after turning in his cleats.
Bill Saul	Penn State	LB	1959 Liberty	Defeated Alabama 7-0 before averaging 6.1 ppg and 4 rpg with Nittany Lions' hoopers.
Art Schlichter	Ohio State	QB	1978 Gator/1980 Fiesta	True freshman ran for two touchdowns before interception triggering end of Woody Hayes' coaching career in 17-15 defeat against Clemson before scoring 14 points in eight basketball games under coach Eldon Miller. Two years later, he passed for 302 yards and three TDs under coach Earle Bruce in 31-19 setback against Penn State before scoring four points in three hoop contests.
Otto Schnellbacher	Kansas	E	1947 Orange	Football co-captain finished career with records for receptions (58) and receiving yards (1,069) standing for 22 years. Leading scorer for KU's hoop squad in 1947-48.
Dick Schnittker	Ohio State	E	1950 Rose	Rushed once for five yards in 17-14 victory against California before All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection was game-high scorer in two 1950 NCAA playoff contests for Buckeyes.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins	Washington	TE	2011 Alamo	Caught five passes for 59 yards in highest-scoring regulation bowl game in history (67-56 loss to RGIII-led Baylor) before collecting seven points and nine rebounds in four NIT contests for Huskies' semifinalist.
Jim Skala	Michigan	E	1950 Rose	Caught two passes for 33 yards with football team going on to defeat favored Cal, 14-6, prior to averaging 7.5 ppg on UM's hoop squad.
Dick Soergel	Oklahoma State	QB	1958 Bluegrass	Completed 6 of 12 passes for 77 yards and 2-point conversion in 15-6 win against Florida State before averaging 8.5 ppg and 4.9 rpg for Pokes' basketball squad plus posting 8-1 pitching record and winning national championship baseball game.
Elijah Staley	Mississippi State	QB	2015 Belk	Appeared in only two football games during season before half-brother of Patrick Ewing Jr. converted one free throw in total of two basketball contests.
Peter "Pat" Stark	Syracuse	QB	1952 Orange	Blasted by Bart Starr-led Alabama, 61-6, before averaging 9.7 ppg for SU's hoop squad.
Roy "Rebel" Steiner	Alabama	E-DB	1947 Sugar	All-SEC choice was leading pass receiver for Crimson Tide squad losing to Texas, 27-7, before forward earned a letter for Bama's basketball team.
Tai Streets	Michigan	WR	1996 Outback	Wolverines' leading receiver had only two catches for 12 yards in 17-14 setback against Alabama before collecting four points and seven rebounds in 13 basketball games for NIT titlist coached by Steve Fisher.
Syniker Taylor	Mississippi	FS	1999 Independence	Tied for team lead with three interceptions for football squad that edged Oklahoma, 27-25, before starting six basketball games en route to averaging 2.2 ppg and 2.3 rpg.
Adalius Thomas	Southern Mississippi	DE	1997 Liberty	All-CUSA defensive lineman for team pounding Pitt, 41-7, on gridiron before competing in three basketball games for USM after being a hoop regular as power forward the previous season.
Lamar Thomas	Miami (Fla.)	WR	2000 Cotton	Caught one pass for 14 yards in 46-3 trouncing of Texas before collecting 16 points and 4 rebounds in four basketball games.
Wilson Thomas	Nebraska	WR	2001 Rose	Huskers leading receiver caught three passes for 36 yards in 37-14 loss against Miami (Fla.) before averaging 4.6 ppg and 3.8 rpg.
Willie Townsend	Notre Dame	WR	1972 Orange	Irish's top pass catcher and teammates lost to Johnny Rodgers-led Nebraska 40-6 before averaging 2.1 ppg for Digger Phelps-coached hoop squad.
Fallon Wacasey	Tulsa	TE	1991 Freedom	Caught four touchdown passes during senior season for team beating San Diego State, 28-17, in postseason before averaging 2 ppg and 2 rpg for basketball squad coached by Tubby Smith.
Charlie Ward	Florida State	QB	1992 Orange/1993 Orange	Completed 39-of-73 passes for 473 yards in back-to-back victories over Nebraska (27-14 and 18-16) while pacing FSU in assists and steals average his final two hoop campaigns.
Derek Watson	South Carolina	RB	2002 Outback	Lou Holtz protege rushed for 27 yards on 11 carries and caught four passes for 37 yards in 31-28 win against Ohio State before scoring one point in two minutes of one hoops game.
Charlie West	Texas-El Paso	DB	1967 Sun	Bobby Dodd's pupil eventually named to 75th Anniversary of All-Sun Bowl Team collected two points and one rebounds in two games under Miners coach Don Haskins.
Ron Widby	Tennessee	P	1965 Bluebonnet/1966 Gator	Nation's top punter for coach Doug Dickey's second of first two Vols football teams that both went to bowl games (wins over Tulsa 27-6 and Syracuse 18-12) while also being an All-SEC basketball selection (including 50-point outburst in final home game).
De'Runnya Wilson	Mississippi State	WR	2013 Liberty	Caught three passes from Bulldogs QB Dak Prescott for 37 yards in 44-7 win against Rice before collecting 6 points and 11 rebounds in seven hoop games.
Pat Wilson	Michigan State	QB-DB	1956 Rose	Substituted in as DB for Earl Morrall (his roommate) in 17-14 win against UCLA. Single-platoon football permitted one substitution among the starting 11. Went on to average 6.1 ppg and 3.4 rpg in 14 hoop contests.
Irvin "Whiz" Wisniewski	Michigan	E	1947 Rose	Caught four passes for 73 yards in 1947 as member of 10-0 national championship team as sophomore before scoring two points in Wolverines' first NCAA playoff win (66-49 against Columbia in 1948 Eastern Regional third-place game).
Maury Youmans	Syracuse	DL	1956 Cotton/1958 Orange	Lineman for two football squads losing bowl games scored a total of eight points in 11 basketball games in 1956-57 and 1958-59.

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

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

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 2 in football at the professional level (especially in 1951 and 1956 plus ex-hoopers with the Redskins):

DECEMBER 2

• Washington Redskins B Steve Bagarus (Notre Dame hooper in early 1940s) caught two touchdown passes (70 and 29 yards) from QB Sammy Baugh (TCU three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) in a 24-0 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1945. Baugh finished with three TD passes.

• Chicago Cardinals WR Max Boydston (played six basketball games with Oklahoma in 1952-53 under coach Bruce Drake) opened game's scoring with a 16-yard touchdown reception in 24-21 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1956.

• Philadelphia Eagles WR Harold Carmichael (starter two seasons for Southern LA averaged 9.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 1969-70) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from Ron Jaworski in a 44-7 win against the Detroit Lions in 1979.

• Chicago Bears B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern basketball letterman in 1916) contributed a touchdown pass, rushing TD and three extra points in the second quarter of 28-6 win against the Frankford Yellow Jackets in 1928.

• Dallas Cowboys TE Jean Fugett (leading scorer and rebounder for Amherst MA as junior in 1970-71) caught two touchdown passes in a 22-10 win against the Denver Broncos in 1973.

• Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught 10 passes for 140 yards in a 24-10 setback against the San Diego Chargers in 2007.

• Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw four first-half touchdown passes in a 49-28 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1951.

• New York Giants TB Hinkey Haines (Lebanon Valley PA transfer earned hoops letter for Penn State in 1920 and 1921) rushed for two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 19-13 setback against the New York Yankees in 1928.

• Los Angeles Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting center for Michigan in 1944) had a 91-yard touchdown reception from Bob Waterfield in 42-17 win against the Chicago Bears in 1951. Bears QB Johnny Lujack (averaged 3.4 ppg as starting guard for Notre Dame in 1943-44) rushed for two first-quarter TDs.

• Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 42-10 win against the Chicago Bears in 1956.

• Pittsburgh Steelers E Elbie Nickel (Cincinnati's second-leading scorer in 1942 also earned hoops letter in 1947) caught two touchdown passes in a 30-13 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1956.

• St. Louis Rams rookie LB Tommy Polley (played in one basketball game for Florida State in 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy) had 11 solo tackles in a 35-6 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 2001.

• Buffalo Bills TE Tom Rychlec (collected four points and six rebounds in one hoops game for American International MA in 1954-55) opened the game's scoring with a touchdown reception from Jack Kemp in 23-14 AFL win against the Dallas Texans in 1962.

• New York Giants DB Otto Schnellbacher (averaged 11 ppg in four-year Kansas career, earning All-Big Six/Seven Conference honors each season) returned an interception 46 yards for touchdown in 14-0 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1951.

• Washington Redskins QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 37-14 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1962.

• Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw three touchdown passes in a 28-7 win against the New York Giants in 1979.

• Houston Oilers CB Greg Stemrick (played in two basketball games for Colorado State in 1973-74) returned an interception 50 yards in a 14-7 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1979.

• Denver Broncos rookie WR Courtland Sutton (SMU hooper for three games in 2015-16 under coach Larry Brown) caught four passes for 85 yards in a 24-10 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018.

• Baltimore Ravens DE Adalius Thomas (averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Southern Mississippi in 1996-97 and 1997-98) had 1 1/2 sacks, five solo tackles and forced two fumbles in a 39-27 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 2001.

• Minnesota Vikings DB Charlie West (collected two points and one rebound in two UTEP games in 1967-68 under coach Don Haskins) returned a kickoff 42 yards in 27-0 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1973.

• San Francisco 49ers E Billy Wilson (averaged 3.3 ppg as senior letterman for San Jose State in 1950-51) caught two touchdown passes from Y.A. Tittle (one for 77 yards) in a 20-17 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1956.

• Boston Redskins B Doug Wycoff (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1926) opened game's scoring with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Cliff Battles (four seasons of varsity hoops for West Virginia Wesleyan) in 13-3 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1934.

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

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

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on December 1 in football at the professional level (especially in 1940, 1946 and 1963 plus ex-college hoopers with the Giants and Rams):

DECEMBER 1

• B Len Barnum (West Virginia Wesleyan hooper) accounted for the New York Giants' lone score with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jim Lee Howell (All-SWC first-five hoops selection as Arkansas senior in 1935-36) in 14-6 setback against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940.

• Los Angeles Rams E Jim Benton (forward was Arkansas' third-leading scorer in SWC play as senior in 1937-38) caught two touchdown passes from Bob Waterfield in a 31-21 win against the New York Giants in 1946.

• Cleveland Browns FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) rushed for 179 yards on 29 carries in a 24-10 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1963.

• B Olie Cordill (Rice hoops letterman in 1938) caught a third-quarter touchdown pass to help the Cleveland Rams secure 13-13 tie against the Green Bay Packers in 1940.

• Boston Patriots DE Larry Eisenhauer (collected 14 points and 18 rebounds in four basketball games for Boston College in 1959-60) intercepted a pass from QB Jack Kemp in 17-7 win against the Buffalo Bills in 1963.

• Green Bay Packers FB Ted Fritsch Sr. (Wisconsin-Stevens Point hoops letterman in 1940-41 and 1941-42) had three of his league-high nine rushing touchdowns in a 20-7 win against the Washington Redskins in 1946.

• Los Angeles Dons rookie E Dale Gentry (averaged 5.3 ppg for Washington State's 1941 NCAA Tournament runner-up) caught two touchdown passes in a 62-14 AAFC win against the Buffalo Bisons in 1946.

• Dallas Cowboys CB Cornell Green (Utah State's all-time leading scorer and rebounder when career ended in 1961-62) had two interceptions in a 34-27 setback against the New York Giants in 1963.

• TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught a touchdown pass midway through fourth quarter to give the Baltimore Ravens the lead in a 27-23 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2002.

• Minnesota Vikings QB Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) threw four touchdown passes in a 41-17 win against the Arizona Cardinals in 1996.

• Chicago Cardinals rookie E Mal Kutner (two-year Texas hoops letterman in early 1940s) caught two touchdown passes from Paul Christman in a 35-28 win against the Chicago Bears in 1946.

• Los Angeles Rams TE James McDonald (four-year Southern California letterman in early 1980s averaged 8.2 ppg and 4.8 rpg as senior forward) had a 35-yard pass reception in 29-3 setback against the New Orleans Saints in 1985.

• Brooklyn Dodgers TB Ace Parker (Duke hoops letterman in 1936) threw two touchdown passes in a 14-6 win against the New York Giants in 1940. One of the TD receptions was caught by rookie HB Banks McFadden (led Clemson in scoring each of his three seasons en route to becoming school's first All-American in 1939).

• Chicago Bears K Mac Percival (three-year hoops letterman was part of squad winning Texas Tech's first SWC championship in major sport in 1960-61) kicked three of his league-high 25 field goals in a 23-17 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1968. Bears QB Jack Concannon (grabbed one rebound in one Boston College basketball contest in 1961-62) threw two touchdown passes.

• New York Giants B Kink Richards (Simpson IA hoops letterman) had a decisive 31-yard rushing touchdown in fourth quarter of 21-14 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1935.

• Atlanta Falcons WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) had eight pass receptions for 124 yards - including two fourth-quarter touchdowns - in a 35-31 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1991.

• New York Giants CB Jason Sehorn (averaged 12.5 ppg and 6 rpg for Shasta Community College CA in 1990-91) had a career-high nine solo tackles in 32-29 setback against the Tennessee Titans in 2002.

• Washington Redskins QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) passed for 332 yards in a 36-20 setback against the Baltimore Colts in 1963.

• Cincinnati Bengals QB John Stofa (averaged 5.8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Buffalo in 1961-62) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 33-14 AFL setback against the Boston Patriots in 1968.

• Two opening-quarter touchdown receptions by Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton (SMU hooper for three games in 2015-16 under coach Larry Brown) accounted for game's first two scores in a 23-20 win against the Los Angeles Chargers in 2019.

• San Diego Chargers WR Kitrick Taylor (Washington State hooper in 1984-85 and 1986-87) had six pass receptions for 60 yards in a 9-7 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1991.

A high this month of 10 NCAA Division I All-Americans were born on December 11th including Seattle twins Eddie and Johnny O'Brien (also infielders for Pittsburgh Pirates). Kentucky contributed the most A-As born in December with five. Three All-Americans from different Big Ten Conference members plus pair of former Tulsa coaches (Nolan Richardson Jr. and Bill Self) were born on the 27th of this month. Luminaries Bill Henry, Bob Kurland, Fred Taylor and Jack Tingle were born 100 years ago this month. Following are A-As and Hall of Fame coaches born in December:

DECEMBER

1: All-American Rakeem Christmas (born in 1991/Syracuse).
2: All-Americans Ralph Beard (1927/Kentucky), Jason Collins (1978/Stanford), Alan Henderson (1972/Indiana) and De'Andre Hunter (1997/Virginia).
3: All-Americans Mike Bantom (1951/St. Joseph's) and Jim Brewer (1951/Minnesota) plus Hall of Fame coach Fred Taylor (1924/Ohio State).
4: All-Americans Brian Cook (1980/Illinois), Bernard King (1956/Tennessee), Jerome Lane (1966/Pittsburgh), Dick Ricketts (1933/Duquesne), Ronnie Shavlik (1933/North Carolina State), Doug Smart (1936/Washington) and Corliss Williamson (1973/Arkansas).
5: All-Americans Alfred "Butch" Lee (1956/Marquette) and Charlie Yelverton (1948/Fordham) plus Hall of Fame coach Bruce Drake (1905/Oklahoma).
6: All-American Otto Graham (1921/Northwestern).
7: All-Americans Larry Bird (1956/Indiana State), Aaron Gray (1984/Pittsburgh), Gary Phillips (1939/Houston) and Al Thornton (1983/Florida State).
8: All-Americans Ken Durrett (1948/La Salle), Bill Green (1940/Colorado State) and Johnny Green (1933/Michigan State).
9: All-Americans Otis Birdsong (1955/Houston), Cliff Hagan (1931/Kentucky) and Gerald Henderson (1987/Duke).
10: All-Americans Mark Aguirre (1959/DePaul), Lou Pucillo (1936/North Carolina State), Bennie Purcell (1929/Murray State) and Ray Ragelis (1928/Northwestern).
11: All-Americans Shareef Abdur-Rahim (1976/California), Mark Alarie (1963/Duke), Ernie Beck (1931/Penn), Malcolm Brogdon (1992/Virginia), Roy Hibbert (1986/Georgetown), Eddie O'Brien (1930/Seattle), Johnny O'Brien (1930/Seattle), Billy Schaeffer (1951/St. John's), Bob Spessard (1915/Washington & Lee VA) and Jim Tucker (1932/Duquesne).
12: All-Americans Bill Chmielewski (1941/Dayton), Byron Larkin (1965/Xavier), Bob Pettit (1932/Louisiana State) and Murray Wier (1926/Iowa).
13: All-Americans Fred "Buzz" Borries (1911/Navy), Phil Hubbard (1956/Michigan), Larry Kenon (1952/Memphis State) and Herb Wilkinson (1923/Iowa).
14: All-Americans William Bedford (1963/Memphis State) and John Brown (1951/Missouri).
15: All-Americans Thad Jaracz (1946/Kentucky), Jahlil Okafor (1995/Duke) and Charlie Scott (1948/North Carolina) plus Hall of Fame coach Phil Woolpert (1915/San Francisco).
16: All-Americans Brandin Knight (1981/Pittsburgh), Jeff Ruland (1958/Iona), Ben Swain (1933/Texas Southern), Jan van Breda Kolff (1951/Vanderbilt) and Sherman White (1928/Long Island).
17: All-Americans Jeff Grayer (1965/Iowa State), Bob Hassmiller (1916/Fordham), Chavano "Buddy" Hield (1992/Oklahoma), Kris Joseph (1988/Syracuse) and Albert King (1959/Maryland) plus Hall of Fame coach Sam Barry (1892/Iowa and Southern California).
18: All-Americans Vern Huffman (1914/Indiana), Bobby Jones (1951/North Carolina) and Gene Shue (1931/Maryland) plus Hall of Fame coach Ray Meyer (1913/DePaul).
19: All-Americans Jay Arnette (1938/Texas), Tom Gugliotta (1969/North Carolina State) and Jimmy McNatt (1918/Oklahoma).
20: All-Americans Bill Hosket (1946/Ohio State), Dave Stallworth (1941/Wichita) and Don Sunderlage (1929/Illinois) plus Hall of Fame coaches Edgar "Eddie" Hickey (1902/Creighton, St. Louis and Marquette) and William "Bo" Ryan (1947/Milwaukee and Wisconsin).
21: All-Americans Walt "Corky" Devlin (1931/George Washington), Ervin Johnson (1967/New Orleans) and Cameron Krutwig (1998/Loyola of Chicago).
22: All-Americans Tom Hawkins (1936/Notre Dame), Nick Johnson (1992/Arizona), Dave Robisch (1949/Kansas), Jack Smiley (1922/Illinois), George Wahlquist (1913/Nebraska) and Bob Wiesenhahn (1938/Cincinnati).
23: All-Americans Ben Hansbrough (1987/Notre Dame), Bob Kurland (1924/Oklahoma A&M), David "Big Daddy" Lattin (1943/Texas Western) and Dan Swartz (1931/Morehead State).
24: All-Americans Dennis "Mo" Layton (1948/Southern California) and Paul Pressey (1958/Tulsa) plus Hall of Fame coach Jerold "Jay" Wright (1961/Hofstra and Villanova).
25: All-Americans Eric Gordon (1988/Indiana), Tim James (1976/Miami FL), Ollie Johnson (1942/San Francisco) and Wil Robinson (1949/West Virginia) plus Hall of Fame coach Charles "Lefty" Driesell (1931/Davidson, Maryland, James Madison and Georgia State).
26: All-Americans Vince Hanson (1923/Washington State) and Eddie Owens (1953/UNLV).
27: All-Americans Kent Benson (1954/Indiana), Dwight Eddleman (1922/Illinois), Luka Garza (1998/Iowa) and Bill Henry (1924/Rice) plus Hall of Fame coaches Nolan Richardson Jr. (1941/Tulsa and Arkansas) and Bill Self (1962/Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and Kansas).
28: All-Americans Clyde Bradshaw (1959/DePaul), Keith Lee (1962/Memphis State) and Melvin Turpin (1960/Kentucky).
29: All-American Carlos "Bud" Ogden Jr. (1946/Santa Clara).
30: All-Americans Jesse Arnelle (1933/Penn State), Bill Logan (1934/Iowa), Kenyon Martin Sr. (1977/Cincinnati) and Jack Tingle (1924/Kentucky).
31: All-Americans Audley Brindley (1923/Dartmouth), Francisco Garcia (1981/Louisville), Cleo Littleton (1932/Wichita) and Chuckie Williams (1953/Kansas State).

Birthdays in January for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in February for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in March for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in April for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in May for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in June for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in July for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in August for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in September for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in October for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in November for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches
Birthdays in December for All-Americans and Hall of Fame Coaches

Weekly, we get a weak effort from #MessMedia super-spreaders of spit telling the entire story as public respect for their vocation plummets quicker than Plagiarist Biledumb's approval ratings. During messy presidential campaign in 2016, Wikileaks hacking confirmed what many believed about collusion between left-leaning politicians, a predictably pathetic press and big tech lawyer such as Jim Baker. If the lame-stream media featuring Chris "Fredo" Cuomo as Exhibit A did its job, there wouldn't be any need for paying attention to undisputed facts distributed by Wikileaks, let alone voting fraud. At any rate, the best pre-Christmas present in decades for conservatives was watching unhinged leftists whine and vomit in fetal position after biased bozos got Trumped for years. Seems as if majority of press puke should be in the woods tracking down #ShrillaryRotten for a selfie. They certainly didn't attend her "I'm So Vain" tour. Regrettably, the progressive mindset depicted by inauguration-nauseated Rockette(s), White House Christmas-party boycotting #CNNSucks and in lopsided editorial endorsements for POTUS also infects the toy department (sports).

According to Wikipedia, V was an American science fiction TV series running two seasons on ABC, chronicling the arrival on Earth of a technologically advanced alien species ostensibly coming in peace, but actually boasting sinister motives. This could be Webster's definition of the lame-stream media seeking therapy for post-election anxiety. ABC is in the midst of another annual V rerun on vaunted ESPN after losing in excess of 10 million subscribers over four years. The intent isn't vile (raising in excess of $140 million for cancer research) but, if an observer values the whole truth, there is vast soap-boxing fiction involved amid the "V" all day every day as the vindicated big man on ESPN's Jesus-free campus seemingly a perfect fit for "Z" as in zero-integrity Jeff Zucker to leave fake-news #CNNSucks and become chief executive for another press-puke venue. Would Zucker bring back Lov Gov bro for disgraced Don Lemon to practice his journalistic jackal moves like he did anal analyst Jeffrey Toobin and pet snake of Zoom renown? Paying any attention to these clowns and #Dimorat Administration/Congressional dumpster fire is akin to having Jeffrey Dahmer discuss culinary aspects of his policies more intelligently than #Dimorat Odd Squad vermin.

Veering off-course with velocity promoting gabby "V" - not baby "J" - as the reason for the season, the Nationwide Leader's culture violates the time-honored vow of telling the entire story in a veracious way. It's vexing as ESPN's parade of glorification pitchmen, including staffers and it-takes-a-village coaches, incessantly laud former commentator Jim Valvano by chapter and verse. If "V" sycophants could fly like Clinton with Epstein, the embellishing mess media highlighted by ESPN and most of the coaching community would be jets. A "Jimmy V Week" culminates with an early-season classic to enhance cancer research fundraising for a foundation named after an individual who joins John Calipari (UMass/Memphis) and Jerry Tarkanian (Long Beach State/UNLV) as the only repeat-offender coaches shackled with having multiple schools under their watch forced to vacate NCAA playoff participation. Too bad 100% of the donated plaudits don't go straight through a truth detector such as the "biased" New York Slimes, which detailed how ESPN received more than $250 million in state tax breaks and credits thus far this century.

Anyone with a visible pulse supports the vision of finding a cure for the vulnerable afflicted by cancer, but a classic lack-of-proper-perspective stemming from the cult-of-personality dynamic is ESPN's vivid hero worship of the vibrant Valvano. He wasn't a bloodthirsty vampire villain but there are a variety of vigorous Smollett-ruse reasons for not carrying ESPN's water supporting his canonization in the wake of vanquishing Houston to vault to the 1983 NCAA playoff title. How was his deceit that much different from another cancer celebrity such as Lance Armstrong? After Valvano ran afoul of NCAA investigators at Iona, a private attorney retained by North Carolina State volunteered he was convinced that the institution could successfully sue him for failing to ensure the academic progress of his NCSU players. While Duke overdoses on recruiting one-and-done exemptions with board scores nowhere close to average Cameron Crazy student, the biggest scholastic question in the ACC is which ethically-impaired school - NCSU vs. UNC - wins the battle for most egregious academic scandal over the last four decades.

At the very least, virile Valvano should have verified that standout guard Sidney Lowe took a remedial tax preparation course to help him steer clear of vice squad by vandalizing the state or Child Rearing 101; especially if Lowe, twice voted All-ACC and a first-teamer with teammate Thurl Bailey in 1983, was going to become one of his head coaching successors with the Wolfpack. Additional suspect characters aligning with Valvano at NCSU included Kenny Drummond, David Lee, Russell Pierre, Dinky Proctor, Charles Shackleford, Craig Tyson and Chris Washburn (of 470 SAT fame in a league where athletes previously had to reach 800 to be eligible). Did Jimmy V brag that stereo-stealer Washburn was going to "make our program"? Did V mean break rather than make? A commission cited one unidentified player completing four seasons of eligibility with a 1.122 grade-point average and 76 credits (52 shy of graduation). Awash in intellect, Shackleford, who admitted accepting $65,000 cash from outside influences during his final two years enrolled in college, is perhaps best known for the following quote: "Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious." After a series of drug-related incidents, he was found dead in his apartment at the age of 50.

The vice linked to Valvano's players goes back to his inaugural campaign as a major-college head coach. Paul Biko, Bucknell's runner-up in scoring average in 1972-73, was sentenced in mid-September 2016 to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $437,336 in restitution. Charged with living lavishly (more than $100,000 over three years on country club fees, a $30,000 boat, a $16,000 Caribbean vacation, his daughter's $200,000 wedding, $2.1 million on real estate, $21,750 for cosmetic dental work and $1.45 million to buy an ice cream franchise), the money covered all the income and Social Security taxes he collected from employees of his companies and never turned over to the IRS over a four-year period. In 2002, prosecutors charged Biko with ripping off more than $853,000 from an oral surgeon over the entire span of the 1990s.

Concurrent with holiday season King Herod-like ESPN vetoed a "venal" hospital ad several years ago celebrating Jesus before relenting, press parasites seemingly will "never give up" a vintage and valiant voyage portraying V as the most virtuous coach in history. The sanitized version is in the network's veins akin to trying to duplicate anchorman Ron Burgundy's humor in promotional ads. Voicing opposition to this mythical narrative leaves a cynic open to vilification as being venomous. Still, the network's doctored depiction of V is as honest as ex-POTUS #AudacityofHype and his vultures telling citizens with a "period" about retaining their current physician (ESPN previously aired ObamaCare ad passing its rigid standards); authentic as the sign language interpreter at a Nelson Mandela memorial; genuinely patriotic as lip-syncing Beyonce; real as Ray "Dancin' On Their Graves" Lewis lecturing us about NFL violence and ball-deflation ethics; genuine as claiming no behind-the-scenes negotiations occurred naming Bruce Jenner's inner woman courageous nearly 40 years after he was a gold-medal winning Olympian, or as valid as fake girlfriend of former Notre Dame All-American linebacker Manti Te'o. B.S. Detection Memo to prayerful #NannyPathetic as she sanctimoniously "shreds" Bible during her Congressional clown show to remove any perceived reference to abortion and swap out devil with another five-letter word (Trump): Yes, Russia's Putin, Plagiarist Biledumb's son ex-business partner Tony Bobulinski and aggrieved #SanFranfreakshow hairdresser made me point out these hate-ridden flaws to impact donations!

Irish idealist Dick Vitale spearheads promoting the V Foundation, impressively raising in the neighborhood of $200 million. Understandably, his visceral reaction probably is that any dissent makes Valvano the victim of a vicious vendetta. Anything but vapid, there is no doubt vivacious Vitale means well and has his heart in the proper place serving as Valvano's valet. But as verbose Vitale is wont to do, he is vulnerable to vehemently going overboard with his voluminous embellishment. Preying on emotions, a majority of vacuous media smugly fall in line seemingly signing off on one of those old phantom NCSU readmission agreements after flunking out where they made a commitment "pledging to work hard (at maintaining image) and keep a positive mental attitude." Does press know if Washburn signed worthless piece of paper in new vroom Datsun before vagabond ventured out to find victim's stereo while needing help from staff finding various classrooms such as demanding "Leisure Alternatives"?

In an affront to valuable numbers that never lie, there are fake-news times when ESPN sycophants operate in a vacuum shamelessly enhancing Valvano's credentials as a "survive-and-advance" tactician, perpetuating a falsehood he was a late-game strategical genius. You can't take a fake-news vacation from the veracity of cold hard facts having Valvano rank in the lower third of DI coaches among those with at least 150 close contests (decided by fewer than six points). Capitalizing on six opponents combining to shoot an anemic 56.8% from the free-throw line, the law of averages was with NCSU in 1983 when it became the only school to have as many as four NCAA playoff games decided by one or two points en route to a title. The Wolfpack trailed in the final minute of seven of its last nine triumphs, helping offset his typical high percentage of close-contest setbacks.

The arena in Reynolds Coliseum, the former home to N.C. State hoops, has been named for Valvano after supporters made a $5 million pledge. But people in power need to be held accountable even if a coach such as Duke's Mike Krzyzewski claims many of the "allegations were fabrications" against his ACC counterpart who entered the league together in 1980-81. "I can't breathe" holding opinion unless Coach K moonlighted as an investigator because there is no reason to be vague and treat big boys with velvet gloves. ESPN could virtually avoid any vanishing credibility in this instance by incorporating deceased Rick Majerus in the foundation equation. After all, the 24-year veteran college head coach was also a vocal ESPN analyst. Unless it detracts from the storyline, call it the V & M Foundation and add heart disease to the venture's research grants. Didn't Majerus exhibit as much, if not more, valor? Perhaps Vitale and trend-setting broadcaster Stuart Scott should be principal focal point because of their battles with cancer. Instead, we'll probably get lame-stream media responding like politicians legitimizing smash-and-grab crime.

A tearjerker ESPY speech notwithstanding, a cancer of priorities exists as ESPN sullies its reputation with insufferable verbal voodoo vouching Valvano was something he wasn't beyond a good coach who never had a season with fewer than four defeats in conference competition. Amid narcissism and extensive self-promotion, an "inspirational" story reeks of overkill because vermin among complicit sports media are predictably unprincipled and offer the maximum tear-inducement reminiscent of a fairy-tale sans conveying the entire picture. Forget the vulgar academic progress of Valvano's players at N.C. State (735 average SAT score and excessive number of positive drug tests during the 1980s). No Extra Sensitive Pious Network should be an outside-the-lines enabler seemingly unaccountable while selling a partial story. They have an obligation to visit the whole story; not vacillate and be on verge of failing their constituency in regard to vainly providing a viable role model. Don't forget guilt-by-association coaching vacancy at Drake, which forced former V enabler Tom Abatemarco (at Iona and NCSU) to resign due to various valueless practices with the Bulldogs akin to #Demonrat Congressional claptrap from specious sad sack of Schiff and heavyset heart of nutty Urkel Nadler - the Laurel and Hardy of petulant political pestilence unworthy of an Army/Navy prank "OK" hand gesture. The rot wasn't exactly virgin territory. The New York Daily News charged that Iona illegally subsidized its players, who billed the school for several thousand dollars worth of long-distance cab fares, restaurant and bar tabs plus telephone calls. Valvano was part-owner of one of the bars involved. Iona icon Jeff Ruland said he took unspecified amounts of money from Valvano (during recruiting process and while playing for the Gaels). "I'm watching those (TV apologists) guys, and I'm thinking, 'Don't give me that high-and-mighty stuff. People know some things. What I'm talking about, I lived. Greenbacks changed hands,'" Ruland told the Philadelphia Daily News.

As for venerable Majerus, there won't be a vicarious movie or "30 for 30" special made about his self-effacing humor, eating habits and fact none of his NCAA playoff teams with three different schools ever had to vacate NCAA play. In a stark scholastic contrast, his 1998 Utah squad provided the vanguard of Final Four achievements - only team ever to feature three Academic All-Americans among its versatile regulars. For the record, Majerus ranked among the top third of coaches in games decided by fewer than six points. But he simply doesn't fit into a contrived storyline. It would be a surprise if Utah players under Majerus took an "Understanding Music" class during Christmas vacation to help stay eligible like NCSU scholars did under Valvano.

Keep everything in perspective. This isn't Michael Bloomberg going after your Big Gulp and straws. Alluding to allegations about a professor altering grades of Wolfpack players, faculty senate chairman at the time asked SI: "If we're supposedly changing grades, how come we have so many people in academic difficulty?" Pulitzer Prize winner Claude Sitton, a vigilant local editor/columnist for the Raleigh News & Observer during Valvano's tenure, was unapologetic about the paper's contemporaneous coverage of NCSU scandal. "Looking back on it, Valvano just initiated academic rape as far as basketball players were concerned," Sitton said. "But Valvano only did what (Chancellor Bruce) Poulton wanted him to do, and that was win ball games no matter how." It's as crazy as ex-baseball 1B President Trump expected to give A1 attention to Puerto Rico trash-can lecture from cheater Alex Cora.

In a scornful column, Sitton wrote with verve: "College sports, in short, are corrupt. The rot reaches far beyond the campus - to the kid on the corner who thinks sports opens the glory road, the high school teacher who gives a player a free pass, the TV executive who manipulates universities for profit, sportswriters who see, hear and speak no evil, and all who know that higher education has been turned into a sideshow by the commercial sports conglomerate and do nothing to end it." Sitton's summary long before NCSU's unseemly sneaker-stench recruiting of Dennis Smith Jr. continued to ring true as the ACC summoned Louisville and Syracuse to its ranks in recent years as they each soon went on probationary status with their Hall of Shame coaches.

ESPN's abundant coverage seemed to revel in cancer front-man Lance Armstrong's arrogant stumblin' and bumblin' "one big lie" rather than taking his bike-ride fall in a valley as time for self-reflection. Might be deleted from holiday card list, but this vantage point is that defend-the-brand revisionist history is a misguided echo chamber resembling hostage videos. Amid the distortion, a final verdict persists about a greater-good higher calling. As many folks as possible should make a vintage donation to the V Foundation. Just envision V as Victory (over cancer) or as Vitale (regarding his long-term heavy lifting for project). We'd like to secure Dan Dakich's valuable view on the topic, but overly-politicized network shed his candid commentary as if he was some vagrant sans vaccine. At the very least after all of Vitale's heavy lifting over the years, network should rename promotion to Jimmy and Dickie V Classic.

It wasn't long before name-dropping ESPN, via former Out House correspondent Andy Katz apparently getting as much beer-summit face time with trustworthy ex-POTUS as ex-HHS Secretary Kathleen "Get-In-Line" Sebelius, went viral giving a prominent "Audacity-of-Hype" venue for Oval Office NCAA bracket selections. But the West Wing(ing) verve must absorb so much dignified time for the selfie-taking hooper-in-chief that a Sgt. Schultz "I-know-nothing" routine emerges while chronically pleading ignorance about various less vital matters such as the Benghazi terrorist attack, #ShrillaryRotten's multiple email address changes as Secretary of Yoga, IRS targeting of conservatives, Fast and Furious gun-running, healthcare exchange ineptitude, NSA spying on allies, disgraced Katie Hill's preferences, North Korea's cyber "vandalism," Bathhouse Barry Obama's Justice Department snooping on national media while unmasking opponents, etc., and then failing to attend a church service at Christmas. Meanwhile, a void in thought-police treatment made more faith-influenced individuals nearly vomit when the network's "inn" didn't have room for the authentic Messiah's message vying for a little air time more important to many Americans than giving free political points.

As the #AudacityofHype, our departed fearless leader, might proclaim to Russia: "Cut it out!" Thus, it was no surprise sister network A&E emerged equally intolerant of deeply-held religious beliefs when "be(ing) original" by suspending/marginalizing the brassy "Duck Dynasty" patriarch for his version of "Vagina Monologues." Are you buyin' what ESPN's flock of woke quacks are sellin' verbatim - accepting the laughing/thinking/crying hook, line and sinker? Very odd this vociferous emphasis on V. Upon "ducking" and turning the other cheek again, it's time to say an old-fashioned: "Merry CHRISTmas, ESPN!" If this vernacular is objectionable to sensibilities of the politically-correct elite, then avoid a GQ bearded set-up with a patronizing "Happy Holidays!" As multiple ESPN personnel layoffs reached into the hundreds, we'll try for the 100th time to appeal for virtuous network specifically and hoop press generally to lay off attempting portrayal of "V" as someone he wasn't. At least boast the vinegar to go beyond veneer and never give up attempting to tell the entire tale. Instead, we'll likely get spoon-fed version of the scene in book Personal Fouls regarding circumstances surrounding Walker Lambiotte's transfer from NCSU to Northwestern (where he averaged 17.4 ppg in 1988-89 and 1989-90). Vainglorious Valvano, exhibiting as much remorse and responsibility as #Hollyweird's gun-toting Alec Baldwin to Georgey Step-on-the-truth-to-us, said: "I don't deserve that. I'm above being treated like that." Are you kidding me?

The Identity-Crisis View From Here: Contrived "V" Week obsessing over a single individual was the first woke crack in erosion of ESPN's old empire losing millions and millions of viewers. Parent company ABC, led by tone-deaf Bob Iger (let Elon Musk say what he thinks of villain), went from "ghost" Whoopie Goldberg spouting "stay out of my 'v' regarding abortion to "ghosting" vixen Sage Steele for vivacious anchor espousing Conservative viewpoint triggering victim to sue network alleging free-speech violation.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks at NFL "slavery" and politicized multiple anthems, 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 promptly selected among the top 41 selections in same NFL draft.

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

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on November 28 in football at the professional level (especially in 1948 and 2004 plus ex-hoopers with the Eagles and Giants):

NOVEMBER 28

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Larry Ball (played eight hoops games for Louisville as sophomore in 1968-69 before persuaded by coach Lee Corso to concentrate on football) had an interception in 49-16 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1976.

• 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 32-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning with 3:15 remaining to give the New York Giants a 24-20 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2010.

• TE Luther Broughton (forward scored five points in five games for Furman in 1994-95) scored both of the Philadelphia Eagles' touchdowns with fourth-quarter receptions from QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) in a 20-17 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1999.

• Cleveland Browns FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) rushed for 146 yards on 20 carries and scored four touchdowns - three rushing/one receiving - in a 42-21 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1965.

• Brooklyn Dodgers E Harry Burrus (three-year hoops letterman in early 1940s for Hardin-Simmons TX) had a 60-yard pass reception for touchdown in 38-20 AAFC setback against the Baltimore Colts in 1948.

• Detroit Lions TB Dutch Clark (four-time All-Rocky Mountain Conference hoops choice for Colorado College) scored both of game's touchdowns in a 14-2 win against the Chicago Bears in 1935.

• New York Giants TB Ed Danowski (Fordham hoops letterman in 1932-33) threw two of his league-high 10 touchdown passes in a 21-0 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1935.

• Boston Yanks HB Bob Davis (Kentucky hoops letterman in 1937 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) opened game's scoring with a 21-yard touchdown catch in 34-10 win against the Detroit Lions in 1946.

• Oakland Raiders TE Rickey Dudley (averaged 13.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg as senior in 1994-95 when leading Ohio State in rebounding and finishing third in scoring) caught two touchdown passes from Rich Gannon in a 37-34 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1999.

• San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from Drew Brees in a 34-31 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004.

• 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 in a 49-24 win against the New York Giants in 2011.

• Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw four touchdown passes in a 31-28 AAFC win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1948.

• Dallas Cowboys CB Cornell Green (Utah State's all-time leading scorer and rebounder when career ended in 1961-62) returned a fumble recovery for touchdown in 34-31 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1965.

• Carolina Panthers WR Donald Hayes (played in two basketball games for Wisconsin in 1995-96 under coach Dick Bennett) caught a career-long 56-yard touchdown pass from Steve Beuerlein in 34-28 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 1999.

• Detroit Lions RB John Henry Johnson (made 5-of-8 FGAs in five games for Saint Mary's in 1950-51) provided go-ahead score with a 62-yard rushing touchdown in 18-6 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1957.

• Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper under legendary coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw three touchdown passes in a 24-0 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1976. Redskins DB Joe Lavender (averaged 13.4 ppg and 6.6 rpg for San Diego State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) had an interception in his fourth consecutive contest of month.

• OLT Frank Kinard (Ole Miss hoops letterman from 1935-36 through 1937-38) accounted for the Brooklyn Dodgers' only score with a four-yard touchdown reception in 24-7 setback against the New York Giants in 1943.

• Tennessee Titans TE Erron Kinney (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.3 rpg in six basketball games for Florida in 1996-97 under coach Billy Donovan) caught two first-quarter touchdown passes from Steve McNair in 31-21 setback against the Houston Texans in 2004.

• E Eggs Manske (point guard led Northwestern to share of 1933 Big Ten Conference crown) provided the Chicago Bears' second touchdown with a 43-yard pass reception in 15-7 win against the Cleveland Rams in 1937. Three weeks earlier, Manske had a 64-yard TD catch in 24-14 setback against the Green Bay Packers.

• Buffalo Bills TE Pete Metzelaars (averaged 19.2 ppg and 11.4 rpg for Wabash IN while setting NCAA Division III field-goal shooting records for single season as senior in 1981-82 and career) had 10 pass receptions in a 23-7 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993.

• Buffalo Bills HB Chet Mutryn (Xavier letterman in 1943) returned a punt 88 yards for touchdown in 35-14 AAFC win against the New York Yankees in 1948. Bills QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) had two second-quarter rushing TDs.

• Chicago Cardinals FB Ernie Nevers (All-PCC second-five hoops choice for Stanford in 1924-25) rushed for six touchdowns in a 40-6 win against the Chicago Bears in 1929. Two years later, Nevers rushed for two second-quarter TDs in a 21-0 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1931.

• Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) returned an interception 46 yards for touchdown in 21-14 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004.

• E Ray Poole (Ole Miss' leading hoops scorer in 1942-43 with 12.3 ppg) opened the New York Giants' scoring with a touchdown reception from QB Charlie Conerly in a 28-14 win against the Boston Yanks in 1948.

• Philadelphia Eagles HB Bosh Pritchard (four-sport letterman for VMI) opened the game's scoring with a five-yard rushing touchdown in 17-0 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1948.

• Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught an 85-yard touchdown pass from Jake Plummer in 25-24 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 2004.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw three touchdown passes to Pete Retzlaff in a 28-24 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965.

• Miami Dolphins DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) had three sacks in a 24-17 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 2004.