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 6 in football at the professional level (especially in 1953 and 1964 plus ex-college hoopers with the Browns and Steelers):

DECEMBER 6

• San Francisco 49ers RB Joe Arenas (averaged 6.2 ppg in 1949-50 and 1950-51 for Nebraska-Omaha) rushed for two touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers to finish 1953 campaign with seven TDs.

• Boston Braves RB Cliff Battles (four seasons of varsity hoops for West Virginia Wesleyan) scored a touchdown on 74-yard punt return in 14-0 win against the New York Giants in 1936.

• Cleveland Browns E Pete Brewster (forward-center was Purdue's fourth-leading scorer as junior and senior) caught three first-half touchdown passes (22, 23 and 36 yards) in a 62-14 win against the New York Giants in 1953. Browns QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) threw three TD passes.

• FB Rick Casares (Florida's scoring and rebounding leader both seasons as All-SEC second-team selection in 1951-52 and 1952-53) rushed for all four of the Chicago Bears' touchdowns in a 27-21 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1959.

• Indianapolis Colts DE Sam Clancy (two-time Eastern 8 first-team selection ended career in 1981 as Pittsburgh's all-time leading rebounder) had 2 1/2 sacks in a 6-0 win against the New England Patriots in 1992.

• Philadelphia Eagles rookie QB Jack Concannon (grabbed one rebound in one Boston College basketball contest in 1961-62) threw two touchdown passes in a 24-14 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1964.

• San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught eight passes for 167 yards in a 30-23 win against the Cleveland Browns in 2009. Browns WR Evan Moore (Stanford hooper in 2003-04 and 2004-05) had a career-high six pass receptions in his pro debut.

• Boston Patriots WR Art Graham (collected one point and three rebounds in two basketball games with Boston College in 1961-62) caught two second-half touchdown passes from Babe Parilli in a 31-24 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1964.

• Green Bay Packers RB Paul Hornung (averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) threw two first-half touchdown passes to Boyd Dowler (26 and 30 yards) in a 38-20 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1959.

• St. Louis Cardinals QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes and contributed a pair of one-yard plunges for TDs in a 28-19 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1964.

• RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight basketball games for Texas-El Paso in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) capped off the Green Bay Packers' scoring with a career-long 77-yard rushing touchdown in 30-16 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020.

• San Francisco 49ers DB Ronnie Lott (USC hooper as junior in 1979-80) had two interceptions in a 23-12 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1987.

• Pittsburgh Steelers QB Bill Mackrides (Nevada-Reno hoops letterman in 1944) passed for one fourth-quarter touchdown to Elbie Nickel (Cincinnati's second-leading scorer in 1942 also earned hoops letter in 1947) and rushed for another TD in a 21-17 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1953.

• In his first NFL game, Cleveland Browns TE Evan Moore (Stanford hooper in 2003-04 and 2004-05 under coach Mike Montgomery) managed a career-high six pass receptions in 30-23 setback against the San Diego Chargers, in 2009.

• A fourth-quarter touchdown catch by WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) gave the Oakland Raiders a 16-13 AFL win against the Buffalo Bills in 1964.

• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie WR Dave Smith (averaged 15.6 ppg and 11.6 rpg while shooting 51.1% from floor for Indiana PA in 1968-69 and 1969-70) caught an 87-yard touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw in 20-12 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1970.

• Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught eight passes for 165 yards in a 35-31 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1998.

• Kansas City Chiefs WR Otis Taylor (backup small forward for Prairie View A&M) scored two touchdowns (46-yard pass reception and 25-yard rush) in a 26-17 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1971.

• Baltimore Colts DB Carl Taseff (averaged 5.9 ppg for John Carroll OH in 1947-48) registered an interception in his fourth consecutive contest in 1958.

• Denver Broncos rookie WR Cedric Tillman (averaged 4.3 ppg and 2.6 rpg while serving as part-time starter for Alcorn State in 1990-91) had a career-long 81-yard touchdown reception in 31-27 setback against the Dallas Cowboys in 1992.

• Providence Steam Roller rookie TB Cy Wentworth (New Hampshire hoops letterman in 1922 and 1923) opened game's scoring with a 20-yard rushing touchdown in 13-10 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1925.

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.

• Buffalo Bills FL Bo Roberson (Cornell's leading rebounder and runner-up in scoring in 1955-56) caught a 74-yard touchdown pass from QB Daryle Lamonica in 29-10 AFL win against the Houston Oilers in 1965.

• 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.

When Holy Cross All-American Tommy Heinsohn passed away five 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 58 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):

Weekly, we get a weak effort from #MessMedia misfits serving as super-spreaders of spit telling the entire story as public respect for their vocation plummets to low approval ratings never seen before. 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 "Bilko" 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 former coach such as Duke legend 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 deceased 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 didn'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 Bathhouse Barry 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.

NCAA basketball All-Americans Bosey Berger (Maryland), Don Grate (Ohio State), Frank Howard (Ohio State), Johnny O'Brien (Seattle), Ryan Minor (Oklahoma) and Billy Werber (Duke) were involved in MLB transactions in December. Two-time All-Star outfielder Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL), involved in three December deals, is among the following former college hoopers who were part of MLB off-season transactions during this month:

DECEMBER

1: RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman with Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by Chicago White Sox in 1936. . . . SS Lee Elia (averaged 13.7 ppg in three basketball games for Delaware in 1957-58) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Chicago White Sox in 1964. . . . LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was nation's second-leading scorer as senior All-American in 1956-57) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to San Francisco Giants in 1965. . . . OF-INF Chuck Hinton (played multiple sports for Shaw NC before serving two years in U.S. Army in mid-1950s) traded by the Washington Senators to Cleveland Indians in 1964. . . . C Ed Madjeski (Seton Hall hoops letterman from 1928-29 through 1930-31) purchased from the New York Giants by Louisville (American Association) in 1937. . . . SS Gene Michael (Kent State's scoring leader with 14 ppg in 1957-58) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966. . . . RHP Rinty Monahan (scored 18 points for Niagara in 1947-48) selected from the New York Giants by Philadelphia Athletics in 1952 Rule 5 draft. . . . INF Johnny O'Brien (two-time All-American with Seattle was first college player to crack 1,000-point plateau in single season by scoring 1,051 in 37 games in 1951-52) selected from the St. Louis Cardinals by Philadelphia Phillies and 2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year hoops letterman for Western Michigan averaged 5.6 ppg in final season in 1947-48) selected from the Detroit Tigers by Kansas City Athletics in 1958 Rule 5 draft. . . . UTL Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball selection in 1962 for American River Community College CA) purchased from the Baltimore Orioles by New York Yankees in 1974. . . . C Les Peden (Texas A&M hoops letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43) selected from the Chicago Cubs by Washington Senators and RHP Jim Willis (Northwestern State hoops letterman in 1944-45 and from 1947-48 through 1949-50) selected from Shreveport (Texas) by the Chicago Cubs in 1952 Rule 5 draft.
2: OF Ethan Allen (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by St. Louis Browns in 1936. . . . OF Billy Cowan (co-captain of Utah's 1960 NCAA playoff team) selected from the Philadelphia Phillies by New York Yankees and INF-OF Darrell Evans (member of Jerry Tarkanian-coached Pasadena City CA club winning 1967 state community college crown) selected from the Oakland Athletics by Atlanta Braves in 1968 Rule 5 draft. . . . C Gene Desautels (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1929 and 1930) purchased from San Diego (PCL) by the Boston Red Sox in 1936. . . . C Bob Garbark (four-year hoops letterman graduated from Allegheny PA in 1932) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by Detroit Tigers in 1941. . . . INF Charlie Gelbert (scored at least 125 points each of last three seasons in late 1920s for Lebanon Valley PA) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by Cincinnati Reds in 1936. . . . C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to Detroit Tigers in 1971. . . . RHP Rich Hand (averaged 6.2 ppg for Puget Sound WA in 1967-68) traded with three additional players by the Cleveland Indians to Texas Rangers for LHP Denny Riddleberger (averaged 5.7 ppg and 2.5 rpg for Old Dominion in 1965-66) and three additional players in 1973. . . . RHP Vern Kennedy (Central Missouri State hooper in mid-1920s) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Detroit Tigers in 1937. . . . RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper with Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) traded by the Chicago Cubs to San Francisco Giants in 1965. . . . UTL Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball selection in 1962 for American River Community College CA) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Minnesota Twins in 1967. . . . LHP-1B Ossie Orwoll (Luther IA hooper in first half of 1920s) traded by Milwaukee (American Association) to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1927. . . . OF Ray Pepper (Alabama hoops letterman in 1926-27) purchased from the St. Louis Browns by Buffalo (International) in 1936. . . . RHP Clarence "Red" Phillips (East Central OK hooper from 1927-28 through 1930-31) shipped by Detroit Tigers to Indianapolis (American Association) in 1936 to complete a deal made three months earlier. . . . C Jim Robertson (scored two points in one basketball game for Bradley in 1948-49) purchased from the Kansas City Athletics by Seattle (PCL) in 1955. . . . RHP Wayne Schurr (Hillsdale College MI hooper in late 1950s) selected from the San Francisco Giants by Chicago Cubs in 1963 Rule 5 draft. . . . 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to California Angels in 1965. . . . UTL Roe Skidmore (scored 41 points in single game for Millikin IL in 1965-66) selected from the San Francisco Giants by Chicago Cubs in 1968 minor league draft. . . . RHP Dave Stenhouse (three-time All-Yankee Conference selection for Rhode Island from 1952-53 through 1954-55) selected from the Chicago Cubs by Cincinnati Redlegs in 1958 minor league draft. . . . UTL Jimmy Stewart (All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference selection for Austin Peay State in 1959-60 and 1960-61) selected from the Chicago White Sox by Cincinnati Reds in 1968 Rule 5 draft. . . . OF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) traded by the Los Angeles Angels to Cleveland Indians in 1963. . . . OF Hub Walker (Ole Miss hooper in 1927 and 1929) purchased from the Cincinnati Reds by Nashville (Southern Association) in 1937. . . . INF Jay Ward (attended McKendree IL for one semester as freshman in 1956-57) selected from the New York Yankees by Kansas City Athletics in 1958 minor league draft.
3: OF Frank "Tex" Carswell (three-time All-SWC first-team selection for Rice from 1938-39 through 1940-41) traded by the Detroit Tigers to St. Louis Cardinals in 1954. . . . CF Larry Doby (reserve guard for Virginia Union's 1943 CIAA hoops titlist) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Baltimore Orioles in 1957. . . . OF Grant Dunlap (Pacific hoops letterman in 1942-43 and 1946-47) purchased from Shreveport (Texas) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1952. . . . OF Walt French (hoops letterman for Rutgers and Army) shipped with a couple of additional players by Philadelphia Athletics to Portland (PCL) to complete trade made three months earlier in 1929. . . . RHP Marion Fricano (SUNY-Cortland hooper in early 1940s) selected from the Chicago White Sox by Cincinnati Redlegs in 1956 minor league draft. . . . RHP Dave Giusti (made 6-of-10 field-goal attempts in two games for Syracuse in 1959-60) traded by the San Diego Padres to St. Louis Cardinals in 1968. . . . OF-INF Harvey Kuenn (played briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV squad previous season) traded by the Cleveland Indians to San Francisco Giants in 1960. . . . OF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) traded by the Chicago Cubs to New York Giants in 1941. . . . CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) traded by the New York Yankees to Philadelphia Phillies in 2004. . . . C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) selected from the New York Yankees by Chicago Cubs and LHP Jack Spring (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) selected from the Philadelphia Phillies by Boston Red Sox in 1956 Rule 5 draft. . . . UTL Gary Sutherland (averaged 7.4 ppg with Southern California in 1963-64) traded by the Houston Astros to Detroit Tigers in 1973. . . . C El Tappe (All-Pioneer Conference first-team selection in late 1940s with Quincy College IL) selected from the New York Yankees by Chicago Cubs in 1951 minor league draft.
4: RHP Mark Acre (played in 1990 NCAA Tournament with New Mexico State) purchased from the Oakland Athletics by Yakult Swallows (Japan Central) in 1997. . . . RHP Walker Cress (Louisiana State hoops letterman from 1936-37 through 1938-39) selected from the Cincinnati Reds by Chicago White Sox in 1950 minor league draft. . . . OF Jim Gleeson (NAIA Hall of Famer was all-league hoops pick for Rockhurst MO in early 1930s) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Cincinnati Reds in 1940. . . . RHP Don Grate (NCAA consensus second-team All-American for Ohio State's Final Four teams in 1944 and 1945) selected from the Boston Braves by Dallas (Texas) in 1950 minor league draft. . . . OF-1B Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58 when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding) traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to Washington Senators in 1964. . . . OF-1B Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958. . . . RHP Joe Niekro (averaged 8.9 ppg and 3.8 rpg for West Liberty WV from 1963-64 through 1965-66) traded by the San Diego Padres to Detroit Tigers in 1969. . . . OF Carl Reynolds (juco recruit was basketball team MVP in mid-1920s for early SWC member Southwestern TX) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Washington Senators in 1931. . . . RHP Bill Sampen (MacMurray IL scoring leader as senior MVP with 14.9 ppg in 1984-85) selected from the Pittsburgh Pirates by Montreal Expos in 1989 Rule 5 draft. . . . OF Ken Singleton (member of Hofstra's freshman hoops squad in mid-1960s) traded by the Montreal Expos to Baltimore Orioles in 1974.
5: 1B Dale Alexander (starting hoops center for Milligan TN in mid-1920s) traded by Toronto (International) to the Detroit Tigers in 1928. . . . 2B Marv Breeding (Samford hooper in mid-1950s) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to Washington Senators in 1962. . . . LHP Al Downing (attended Muhlenberg PA on hoops scholarship but left before ever playing) traded by the New York Yankees to Oakland Athletics in 1969. . . . OF Grant Dunlap (Pacific hoops letterman in 1942-43 and 1946-47) selected from the Cleveland Indians by St. Louis Browns in 1949 minor league draft. . . . RHP Dave Frost (averaged 10.5 ppg and 4 rpg for Stanford from 1971-72 through 1973-74) traded by the Chicago White Sox to California Angels in 1977. . . . RHP Don Kaiser (one semester on scholarship at East Central OK) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Milwaukee Braves in 1957. . . . C Tom Lundstedt (played in four basketball games for Michigan in 1968-69 as teammate of Rudy Tomjanovich under coach Johnny Orr) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Minnesota Twins in 1974. . . . 2B Dutch Meyer (Texas Christian hoops letterman in 1934-35 and 1935-36) shipped as player to be designated by the Cleveland Indians to New York Yankees in 1946 to complete trade made two months earlier. . . . RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Chicago White Sox in 1983. . . . OF Leon Roberts (played in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) traded by the Houston Astros to Seattle Mariners in 1977. . . . RHP Cecil Upshaw (Centenary's leading scorer as junior in 1962-63) traded by the New York Yankees to Chicago White Sox in 1974. . . . OF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) purchased from the Chicago White Sox by Cincinnati Reds in 1968.
6: 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading scorer in 1945-46) shipped as player to be designated by the Cleveland Indians to Los Angeles Angels in 1963 to complete trade made earlier in the month. . . . OF Lyle Bigbee (hoops letterman with his brother for Oregon in 1915) traded by Seattle (PCL) to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1919. . . . 3B Buddy Blair (Louisiana State hoops letterman from 1932-33 through 1934-35) traded by the New York Yankees to Philadelphia Athletics in 1941. . . . 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State in 1962-63) shipped as player to be designated by the Philadelphia Phillies to California Angels in 1973 to complete trade made four months earlier. . . . 1B Walt Dropo (Connecticut's first player ever to average 20 points for season with 21.7 in 1942-43) traded with a couple of other players by the Detroit Tigers to Chicago White Sox for 1B Jack Phillips (leading scorer for Clarkson NY in 1942-43) and couple of additional players in 1954. . . . INF Howard Freigau (played hoops for Ohio Wesleyan) purchased from the Boston Braves by Toledo (American Association) in 1928. . . . LHP Bill Henry (letterman for Houston's NAIA Tournament team in 1946-47 featuring co-captain and future Cougars coach Guy Lewis) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Cincinnati Reds in 1959. . . . OF Hank Leiber (Arizona hooper in 1931) traded by the New York Giants to Chicago Cubs in 1938. . . . OF Leon Roberts (played in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) traded by the Detroit Tigers to Houston Astros in 1975. . . . 1B Moose Skowron (scored 18 points in eight games for Purdue in 1949-50) purchased from the Los Angeles Dodgers by Washington Senators in 1963. . . . OF-DH Champ Summers (led SIU-Edwardsville in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) traded by the San Francisco Giants to San Diego Padres in 1983. . . . 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) traded by the Washington Senators to Detroit Tigers in 1958.
7: 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) traded by the Detroit Tigers to Milwaukee Braves in 1960. . . . RHP Ray Burris (two-sport standout in Southwestern Oklahoma State Hall of Fame) traded by the Montreal Expos to Oakland Athletics in 1983. The next year, he was traded by the Athletics to Milwaukee Brewers in 1984. . . . OF Tony Johnson (All-VSAC selection in 1976-77 and 1979-80 for LeMoyne-Owen TN) selected from the Montreal Expos by Toronto Blue Jays in 1981 Rule 5 draft. . . . OF David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) traded by the New York Yankees to New York Mets in 2001. . . . LHP Ernie Koob (Western Michigan hoops letterman in 1914) traded by the St. Louis Browns to Louisville (American Association) in 1920. . . . INF Vance Law (averaged 6.8 ppg for Brigham Young from 1974-75 through 1976-77) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Montreal Expos in 1984. . . . RHP Lindy McDaniel (hooper with Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) traded by the New York Yankees to Kansas City Royals in 1973 for OF Lou Piniella (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg as Tampa freshman in 1961-62) and another player. . . . RHP Scott Medvin (briefly played JV hoops for Baldwin-Wallace OH in early 1980s) selected from the Pittsburgh Pirates by Houston Astros in 1987 Rule 5 draft. . . . RHP Mike Smithson (averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg for Tennessee in 1974-75 and 1975-76 under coach Ray Mears) traded by the Texas Rangers to Minnesota Twins in 1983.
8: OF Jim Gleeson (NAIA Hall of Famer was all-league hoops pick for Rockhurst MO in early 1930s) purchased from the Cleveland Indians by New York Yankees in 1936. . . . 3B-1B Wayne Gross (led Cal Poly Pomona in assists in 1974-75) traded by the Oakland Athletics to Baltimore Orioles for RHP Tim Stoddard (starting forward opposite All-American David Thompson for North Carolina State's 1974 NCAA champion). . . . OF Rusty Kuntz (played J.C. hoops for Cuesta CA) traded by the Minnesota Twins to Detroit Tigers in 1983. . . . RHP Ben McDonald (started six times as freshman forward for Louisiana State in 1986-87 under coach Dale Brown) traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to Cleveland Indians in 1997. . . . LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. . . . RHP Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Boston Red Sox in 1987.
9: OF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by Philadelphia Phillies in 1955. . . . INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Chicago White Sox in 1959. . . . LHP Don Gross (Michigan State freshman hooper in 1949-50) traded by the Cincinnati Redlegs to Pittsburgh Pirates in 1957. . . . RHP Dick Hall (averaged 13.5 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for Swarthmore PA Southern Division champions in Middle Atlantic States Conference) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Kansas City Athletics in 1959. . . . RHP Howie Judson (Illinois' third-leading scorer in 1944-45) shipped as player to be designated by the Chicago White to Cincinnati Reds in 1952 to complete trade made three months earlier. . . . 3B Fritz Knothe (member of Penn's freshman hoops squad in 1923-24) traded by Seattle (PCL) to the Boston Braves in 1931. . . . OF Terrell Lowery (two-time All-WCC first-team selection and league-leading scorer for Loyola Marymount in 1990-91 and 1991-92) selected from the New York Mets by Chicago Cubs in 1996 Rule 5 draft. . . . RHP Roy Parmelee (Eastern Michigan letterman in 1924-25 and 1925-26) traded by the New York Giants to St. Louis Cardinals in 1935. . . . RHP Ron Reed (Notre Dame's leading rebounder in 1963-64 and 1964-65 traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to Philadelphia Phillies in 1975. . . . RHP Jeff Shaw (freshman guard for 31-5 Rio Grande OH team participating in 1985 NAIA Tournament) traded by the Kansas City Royals to Montreal Expos in 1992. . . . UTL Roe Skidmore (scored 41 points in single game for Millikin IL in 1965-66) traded by the Houston Astros to Boston Red Sox in 1974. . . . 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) traded by the Boston Red Sox to Philadelphia Athletics in 1936. . . . 1B John Young (played sparingly for Chapman CA in late 1960s) traded by the Detroit Tigers to St. Louis Cardinals in 1974.
10: OF Morrie Arnovich (Wisconsin-Superior hooper in early 1930s) purchased from the Cincinnati Reds by New York Giants in 1940. The next year, he was purchased from the Giants by Reds on same date. . . . LHP Thornton Lee (played center for Cal Poly in 1925-26) traded as part of a three-team swap by the Cleveland Indians to Chicago White Sox in 1936. . . . CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) traded by the Houston Astros to Cleveland Indians in 1991. . . . 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) traded by the Minnesota Twins to Cleveland Indians in 1969. . . . C-OF Don Padgett (freshman in 1934 excelled in multiple sports for Lenoir-Rhyne NC) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941. . . . 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) purchased from the Cincinnati Reds by New York Giants in 1941.
11: 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola New Orleans in late 1920s and early 1930s) traded by the Washington Senators to New York Giants in 1938. . . . 1B Doe Boyland (averaged 5.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg for Wisconsin-Oshkosh in half a season in 1974-75) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to San Francisco Giants in 1981. . . . RHP Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76) traded with another player by the Kansas City Royals to San Francisco Giants for OF Jerry Martin (Furman's second-leading scorer in 1969-70 and third-leading scorer in 1970-71) in 1981. . . . RHP Vern Kennedy (Central Missouri State hooper in mid-1920s) purchased from the Washington Nationals by Cleveland Indians in 1941. . . . RHP Scott Medvin (briefly played JV hoops for Baldwin-Wallace OH in early 1980s) shipped as player to be designated by the Detroit Tigers to San Francisco Giants in 1985 to complete trade made two months earlier. . . . INF Pinky Pittenger (set Toledo's single-game scoring standard with 49 points in 1918-19) traded by the Philadelphia Athletics to Salt Lake City (PCL) in 1923. . . . OF-1B Gary Redus (J.C. hooper for Athens AL and father of Centenary/South Alabama guard with same name) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to Philadelphia Phillies in 1985. . . . 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) traded by the New York Yankees to Kansas City Athletics in 1959.
12: RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman with Sam Houston State first half of 1920s) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to Boston Braves in 1935. . . . C Mickey Cochrane (Boston University hooper in early 1920s) traded by the Philadelphia Athletics to Detroit Tigers in 1933. . . . C Gene Desautels (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1929 and 1930) traded by the Boston Red Sox to Cleveland Indians in 1940. . . . RHP George Earnshaw (Swarthmore PA hooper in 1922) traded by the Philadelphia Athletics to Chicago White Sox in 1933. . . . LHP Vic Johnson (Wisconsin-Eau Claire hoops letterman in 1942-43) traded by the Boston Red Sox to Cleveland Indians in 1945. . . . OF Jerry Martin (Furman's second-leading scorer in 1969-70 and third-leading scorer in 1970-71) traded by the Chicago Cubs with two additional players to San Francisco Giants for LHP Phil Nastu (averaged 13.6 ppg and 4.2 rpg as senior for Bridgeport CT 1976 DII Elite Eight team compiling 24-5 record) and another player in 1980. . . . OF Red Murray (Lock Haven PA hooper in early 1900s) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to New York Giants in 1908. . . . OF Leon Roberts (played in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) traded by the Seattle Mariners to Texas Rangers in 1980. . . . OF-1B Mike Stenhouse (averaged 4.1 ppg for Harvard in 1977-78) traded by the Minnesota Twins to Boston Red Sox in 1985.
13: 1B-OF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive contests in 1930 and 1931) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to Boston Bees in 1938. . . . RHP Marty McLeary (Mount Vernon Nazarene OH academic redshirt) selected from the Boston Red Sox by Montreal Expos in 1999 Rule 5 draft. . . . LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper in mid-1950s) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Boston Red Sox in 1969. . . . INF-OF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to New York Giants in 1956. Deal voided when Robinson refused to report to his new team. . . . LHP Preacher Roe (Harding AR hooper in late 1930s) traded by the Brooklyn Dodgers to Baltimore Orioles in 1954. . . . C Birdie Tebbetts (Providence hooper in 1932) purchased from the Boston Red Sox by Cleveland Indians in 1950.
14: UTL Leo Burke (averaged 9.2 ppg for Virginia Tech in 1952-53 and 1953-54) selected from the Baltimore Orioles by Washington Senators as first pick in 1960 premium expansion draft (minor league). . . . OF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's all-time scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing his career) selected from the New York Yankees by Kansas City Athletics as 38th pick in 1960 expansion draft. . . . RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman team) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to Cincinnati Reds in 1964. . . . INF Al Dark (hoops letterman for Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana during World War II) traded by the Boston Braves to New York Giants in 1949. . . . LHP Mark Hendrickson (two-time All-Pacific-10 Conference selection was Washington State's leading rebounder each season from 1992-93 through 1995-96) traded as part of a three-team swap by the Toronto Blue Jays to Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. . . . OF-INF Chuck Hinton (played multiple sports for Shaw NC before serving two years in U.S. Army in mid-1950s) selected from the Baltimore Orioles by Washington Senators as 46th pick in 1960 expansion draft. . . . RHP Ken Hunt (member of BYU's freshman basketball team in 1957-58) selected from the New York Yankees by Los Angeles Angels as 40th pick in 1960 expansion draft. . . . OF David Justice (led Thomas More KY in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg) traded by the New York Mets to Oakland Athletics in 2001. . . . OF Carl Reynolds (juco recruit was basketball team MVP in mid-1920s for former SWC member Southwestern TX) traded by the Washington Senators to St. Louis Browns in 1932. In 1933, he was traded by the Browns to Boston Red Sox. . . . 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri squads capturing back-to-back NAIA Tournament titles in 1952 and 1953) traded by the California Angels to San Francisco Giants in 1966. . . . RHP Dave Sisler (All-Ivy League second-team selection for Princeton's first NCAA Tournament team in 1952) selected from the Detroit Tigers by Washington Senators in 1960 A.L. expansion draft. . . . SS Coot Veal (averaged team-high 10.9 ppg as Auburn sophomore in 1951-52 before transferring to Mercer) selected from the Detroit Tigers by Los Angeles Angels as 27th pick in 1960 expansion draft and promptly traded to the Washington Senators. . . . 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) selected from the Detroit Tigers by Los Angeles Angels as 25th pick in 1960 expansion draft.
15: RHP Elden Auker (All-[Big Six Conference](conferences/big-eight-conference first five selection with Kansas State in 1931-32) traded by the Detroit Tigers to Boston Red Sox in 1938. . . . RHP Ray Benge (multi-year hoops letterman with Sam Houston State during first half of 1920s) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932. . . . RHP Gene Conley (All-PCC first-team selection led North Division in scoring in 1949-50 as Washington State sophomore) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Boston Red Sox in 1960. . . . INF Gene Freese (hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team for West Liberty WV) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Cincinnati Reds in 1960. . . . RHP Dick Hall (averaged 13.5 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for Swarthmore PA Southern Division champions in Middle Atlantic States Conference) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to Philadelphia Phillies in 1966. . . . 1B Gary Holle (Siena's scoring and rebounding leader in 1974-75 and 1975-76) traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to Texas Rangers in 1978. . . . INF Jack Kubiszyn (All-SEC first-team guard as senior averaged 18.3 ppg for Alabama from 1955-56 through 1957-58) traded by the Cleveland Indians to St. Louis Cardinals in 1962. . . . SS Doc Lavan (Hope MI hooper from 1908 through 1910) traded by the St. Louis Browns to Washington Senators in 1917. . . . INF Buddy Myer (Mississippi State hoops letterman in 1923-24) traded by the Boston Red Sox to Washington Senators in 1928. . . . OF Ray Pepper (Alabama hoops letterman in 1926-27) purchased from the St. Louis Cardinals by St. Louis Browns in 1933. . . . OF Earl Robinson (three-time All-PCC second-team selection for California from 1955-56 through 1957-58 under coach Pete Newell) purchased from the Los Angeles Dodgers by Baltimore Orioles for $60,000 in 1960. . . . OF Ted Savage (led Lincoln MO in scoring average in 1955-56) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to St. Louis Cardinals in 1964. . . . RHP Rollie Sheldon (third-leading scorer as sophomore for Connecticut's 1960 NCAA Tournament team) and another player shipped by the Boston Red Sox as players to be designated to Cincinnati Reds in 1966 to complete a trade made four months earlier. . . . RHP Dave Stenhouse (three-time All-Yankee Conference selection for Rhode Island from 1952-53 through 1954-55) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to Washington Senators in 1961. . . . 2B Johnny Temple (briefly played hoops for Catawba NC in 1945 before serving in U.S. Navy) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to Cleveland Indians in 1959. . . . OF Sammy Vick (pre-WWI three-sport athlete for Millsaps MS) traded by the New York Yankees to Boston Red Sox in 1920. . . . OF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) traded by the San Francisco Giants to St. Louis Cardinals in 1959. . . . RHP Billy Wynne (one of prime hoopers in mid-1960s for Pfeiffer NC) traded by the New York Mets to Chicago White Sox in 1967.
16: 1B Tom Hamilton (member of Texas' 1947 Final Four team was SWC's leading scorer in league competition in 1949-50) traded by the Philadelphia Athletics to New York Yankees in 1953 for C Jim Robertson (scored two points in one basketball game for Bradley in 1948-49) in an 11-player swap. . . . 1B-OF Buddy Hassett (hooper for Manhattan teams winning school-record 17 consecutive contests in 1930 and 1931) shipped as player to be designated by the Boston Braves to New York Yankees in 1941 to complete trade made previous week.
17: RHP Ownie Carroll (Holy Cross hoops letterman in 1922) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to St. Louis Cardinals in 1932. . . . RHP Roger Mason (multiple-year hoops letterman for Saginaw Valley State MI in late 1970s) traded by the New York Mets to San Diego Padres in 1992. . . . OF Carl Reynolds (juco recruit was basketball team MVP in mid-1920s for early SWC member Southwestern TX) traded by the Boston Red Sox to Washington Senators in 1935.
19: RHP Floyd Newkirk (Hall of Fame selection at Illinois College) shipped in late 1934 with several additional players and cash by the New York Yankees to San Francisco (PCL) for OF Joe Dimaggio to complete trade made the previous month. . . . RHP John Stuper (two-time all-conference junior college player in mid-1970s for Butler County PA) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to Montreal Expos in 1985.
20: OF-1B Larry Biittner (Buena Vista IA runner-up in scoring and rebounding in 1966-67) traded by the Texas Rangers to Montreal Expos in 1973. . . . INF Frankie Frisch (Fordham hoops captain) traded by the New York Giants with another player to St. Louis Cardinals for INF Rogers Hornsby in 1926. . . . INF Irv Jeffries (team-high 11.5 ppg for Kentucky in 1927-28) traded by the Cincinnati Reds to Philadelphia Phillies in 1933. . . . OF Moose McCormick (four-sport athlete for Bucknell in early 1900s) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Philadelphia Phillies in 1904. . . . RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection as Princeton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1999-00) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Montreal Expos in 2002.
21: INF Bosey Berger (Maryland's first hoops All-American in 1931-32) traded by the Chicago White Sox to Boston Red Sox in 1938. . . . RHP Don Carlsen (Denver hoops letterman in 1943) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by Hollywood (PCL) in 1950.
22: 3B Ryan Minor (two-time All-Big Eight Conference first-team selection for Oklahoma was league player of year as junior in 1994-95 when averaging 23.6 ppg and 8.4 rpg) traded by the Baltimore Orioles to Montreal Expos in 2000. . . . 1B Desi Wilson (Fairleigh Dickinson's all-time leading scorer was Northeast Conference player of year in 1989-90) traded by the Texas Rangers to San Francisco Giants in 1994.
23: OF Rip Repulski (part-time starter for St. Cloud State MN) traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958.
24: SS Leon Brinkopf (Southeast Missouri State hoops letterman in 1944-45) traded by Dallas (Texas League) to the Chicago Cubs in 1948.
26: INF Bosey Berger (Maryland's first hoops All-American in 1931-32) purchased from the Boston Red Sox by Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939. . . . OF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) traded by the Chicago Cubs to Philadelphia Phillies in 1917.
28: INF Pinky Pittenger (set Toledo's single-game scoring standard with 49 points in 1918-19) shipped as player to be designated by the Chicago Cubs to Louisville (American Association) in 1925 to complete trade made earlier in the month.
31: RHP Charlie Robertson (Austin College TX hooper pre-WWI) awarded off waivers from the Chicago White Sox to St. Louis Browns in 1925.

OFF-SEASON WHEELING AND DEALING PREVIOUS MONTH
MLB November Transactions Involving Former College Hoopers

Did You Know?: Marquee mentors John Beilein (Canisius), Vic Bubas (Duke), Denny Crum (Louisville), Bob Knight (Army), Guy Lewis (Houston), Ralph Miller (Wichita), Digger Phelps (Notre Dame) and Jerry Tarkanian (UNLV) lost their head coaching debuts with these schools between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Trivia buffs might also want to know bitter rivals Kentucky and Louisville each had their school rebounding record by an individual set on the same day in 1955.

Prominent players don't establish most of the school standards against lesser lights in non-conference competition. For instance, Utah's Billy McGill and Illinois' Skip Thoren set school single-game rebounding records in the early 1960s when each of them retrieved 24 missed shots against UCLA before the Bruins began their run of NCAA titles under legendary coach John Wooden.

Granted, fewer contests are played around Christmas but there clearly is a significant decrease in superior performances during that span. Holiday festivities can go awry between Christmas and New Year's Eve. Just ask top-ranked Virginia, which lost at tiny Chaminade in 1982, and NCAA champion-to-be Michigan, which bowed to Alaska-Anchorage on a neutral court in 1988. Following is a day-by-day calendar citing memorable moments in December college basketball history:

DECEMBER

1 - Eastern Kentucky's Jack Adams (49 points vs. Union KY in 1955), Iona's A.J. English (46 vs. Fairfield in 2015), Louisville's Wes Unseld (45 vs. Georgetown College KY in 1967) and NYU's Jim Signorile (50 vs. Herbert Lehman NY in 1969) set school Division I single-game scoring records. English's output tied a MAAC game mark. . . . Ronnie Shavlik (55 points vs. William & Mary in 1954 set North Carolina State's single-game scoring record against a major-college opponent. . . . Sacred Heart's Cameron Parker set an NCAA single-game record with 24 assists vs. Pine Manor MA in 2019. . . . Vic Bubas made his Duke head coaching debut in 1959 with a 59-49 loss against Georgia Tech before guiding the Blue Devils to three Final Fours in a four-year span in the mid-1960s. . . . Pete Carril made his Princeton debut in 1967 with a 62-59 win against Bob Knight-coached Army en route to becoming the Tigers' all-time winningest coach and capturing the Ivy League's only NIT championship (1975). . . . Denny Crum made his Louisville head coaching debut in 1971 with a 70-69 defeat at Florida before amassing a school-record 675 victories and reaching NCAA Final Four on six occasions. . . . Eddie Sutton made his Creighton head coaching debut in 1969 with an 84-62 decision over Wisconsin-Oshkosh en route to 802 victories with five schools. . . . Jerry Tarkanian made his UNLV head coaching debut in 1973 with an 82-76 defeat against Texas Tech before notching a school-record 509 victories with the Rebels including four Final Four appearances. . . . Ralph Miller made his Wichita head coaching debut in 1951 with a 62-55 defeat at Colorado before registering 657 victories with three schools. . . . Guy Lewis made his Houston head coaching debut in 1956 with a 97-78 defeat at Kansas State before compiling a school-record 592 victories and reaching five Final Fours. . . . Al McGuire made his Marquette debut in 1964 with a 69-49 triumph over St. Thomas MN en route to becoming the Warriors' all-time winningest coach and capturing national titles in both the NIT and NCAA tourneys. . . . Bob Knight made his Indiana debut in 1971 with an 84-77 triumph over Ball State en route to four-time national COY becoming the Hoosiers' all-time winningest coach and capturing three NCAA titles. . . . Digger Phelps made his Notre Dame debut in 1971 with a 101-83 defeat against Michigan before compiling a school-record 393 victories. . . . Frank McGuire made his South Carolina coaching debut in 1964 with a 76-59 triumph against Erskine SC en route to a school-record 283 victories. . . . John Beilein made his Canisius coaching debut in 1992 with a 110-62 defeat at Duke before going on to win more than 20 games in a single season with four different DI schools. . . . Bob Nichols made his Toledo coaching debut in 1965 with a 108-77 triumph against Baldwin-Wallace OH en route to a school-record 375 victories. . . . Oregon's school-record 46-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Boise State (73-70 in 2017). . . . Lynn Howden (24 vs. Florida State in 1970) set Texas' single-game rebounding record against a major-college opponent.
2 - Eventual NCAA all-time scoring leader Pete Maravich collected 48 points and career-high 16 rebounds in his LSU varsity debut (97-81 win against Tampa in 1967). . . . Northern Arizona's Cory Schwab (43 points at Cal Poly in overtime in 2000) and Wisconsin's Christian Steinmetz (50 at Sparta's Company C in 1904) set school Division I single-game scoring records. . . . Russ Sheriff (26 vs. Gonzaga in 1957) set Montana's single-game rebounding record. . . . Dean Smith made his North Carolina head coaching debut in 1961 with an 80-46 decision over Virginia en route to a school-record 879 victories and reaching Final Four 11 times. . . . Two-time national COY Norm Stewart made his Missouri head coaching debut in 1967 with a 74-58 success at Arkansas en route to a school-record 634 victories with the Tigers and six Big Eight Conference Tournament titles. . . . Don Haskins made his Texas Western head coaching debut in 1961 with a 66-59 triumph at Iowa State en route to a school-record 719 victories including 1966 NCAA Tournament title. . . . Terry Holland made his Virginia coaching debut in 1974 with a 77-69 victory against Washington & Lee VA en route to a school-record 326 victories and two Final Four berths. . . . Phil Martelli made his Saint Joseph's debut in 1995 with a 64-56 success at Delaware en route to becoming the Hawks' all-time winningest coach and national COY in 2004.
3 - Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Von McDade (50 points at Illinois in double overtime in 1990) set school single-game scoring record. . . . DeWayne Russell (42 vs. Louisville in 2016) set Grand Canyon's DI single-game scoring record. . . . Lew Alcindor collected 56 points and 21 rebounds vs. Southern California in his varsity debut with UCLA in 1966. . . . Six-time national COY John Wooden made his UCLA head coaching debut in 1948 with a 43-37 decision over UC Santa Barbara en route to a school-record 620 victories and 10 NCAA championships with the Bruins. . . . Lefty Driesell made his Davidson head coaching debut in 1960 with a 65-59 decision over Wake Forest en route to 786 victories and total of 14 final Top 20 rankings with four schools. . . . Everett Case made his North Carolina State coaching debut in 1946 with a 63-28 decision over the Cherry Point Marines en route to a school-record 377 victories and six straight Southern Conference Tournament crowns with the Wolfpack. . . . Arizona State's Mark Landsberger (27 vs. San Diego State in 1976), Jacksonville's Artis Gilmore (34 vs. St. Peter's in 1970) and UMKC's Tony Berg (23 vs. Baylor in 1996) set school single-game rebounding records.
4 - Mississippi State's Bailey Howell (47 points vs. Union TN in 1958) and Northwestern State's Billy Reynolds (42 at Lamar in 1976) set school Division I single-game scoring records. . . . Brown's Ed Tooley shot an NCAA-record 36 free throws in a single game in 1954. . . . Long Beach State's school-record 75-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by San Francisco (94-84 in overtime in 1974). . . . Two-time national COY Lou Carnesecca made his St. John's coaching debut in 1965 with a 64-62 triumph at Georgetown in overtime en route to a school-record 526 victories. . . . Bob Knight made his Army head coaching debut in 1965 with a 70-49 setback at Princeton before becoming Indiana's all-time winningest coach, capturing three NCAA championships with the Hoosiers in a 12-year span and compiling 899 victories. . . . UCLA's season-opening defeat by 27 points (110-83 at Illinois in 1964) was worst-ever for a team going on to capture an NCAA championship. . . . Marv Branstrom (28 vs. Arizona State in 1958) set San Jose State's single-game rebounding record.
5 - Kansas' Wilt Chamberlain (52 points vs. Northwestern in 1956), NJIT's Dylan O'Hearn (42 at Lafayette in 2OT in 2021), North Carolina State's David Thompson (57 vs. Buffalo State in 1974), Rider's Ron Simpson (48 at St. Francis NY in double overtime in 1987) and Washington State's Brian Quinnett (45 vs. Loyola Marymount in 1986 Amana Hawkeye Classic at Iowa City) set school Division I single-game scoring records. Chamberlain also grabbed 31 rebounds in his varsity debut, establishing an NCAA standard for most boards in first career game. . . . Charlotte's school-record 60-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Appalachian State (71-64 in 1977). . . . Dale Brown made his LSU head coaching debut in 1972 with a 94-81 triumph against Memphis State en route to a school-record 448 victories. . . . Harry Combes made his Illinois coaching debut in 1947 with a 67-27 success against Coe College IA before directing the Illini to three Final Fours in a four-year span from 1949 through 1952. . . . Shelby Metcalf made his Texas A&M head coaching debut in 1963 with a 61-58 triumph against Houston en route to a school-record 438 victories. . . . Gene Estes (24 vs. Texas Western in 1960) set Tulsa's single-game rebounding record against a major-college opponent.
6 - American's Russell "Boo" Bowers (45 points at Harvard in 1980), Old Dominion's Alex Loughton (45 vs. Charlotte in double overtime in 2003), Rice's Doug McKendrick (47 vs. Georgia Tech in 1965) and Texas-San Antonio's Roderic Hall (52 vs. Maine in consolation game of 1997 Southwest Missouri Tournament at Springfield, Mo.) set school Division I single-game scoring records. . . . Kent State's Doug Grayson set an NCAA single-game record by hitting 16 consecutive field-goal attempts vs. North Carolina in 1967. . . . Indiana's school-record 35-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Kentucky (66-51 in 1976). . . . Bob Presley (27 vs. St. Mary's in 1967) set California's single-game rebounding record.
7 - Niagara's Calvin Murphy (68 points vs. Syracuse in 1968), St. Mary's Jim Moore (43 vs. Sacramento State in 1964) and Binghamton's Sam Sessoms (40 vs. Boston University in 2019) set school Division I single-game scoring records. . . . Forest Arnold (46 points vs. Hardin-Simmons in 1955) set Memphis State's single-game scoring record against a major-college opponent. . . . Cincinnati's school-record 86-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Kansas (51-47 in 1963), Jacksonville's school-record 35-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Florida State (90-83 in 1971) and Tulsa's school-record 36-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Oklahoma State (93-75 in 1982). . . . Benny Becton (29 vs. Maine in 1962) set Vermont's single-game rebounding record.
8 - Davidson's Fred Hetzel (53 points vs. Furman in 1964), Rutgers' Bob Lloyd (51 at Delaware in 1965) and Wright State's Bill Edwards (45 vs. Morehead State in 1992) set school single-game scoring records. . . . Arizona's school-record 81-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Kansas State (76-57 in 1951) and Missouri's school-record 34-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Arkansas (95-82 in 1990). . . . Colgate's Jack Nichols (26 vs. Cornell in 1956) and Missouri State's Lee Campbell (20 vs. Southern Utah State in 1989) set school single-game rebounding records against DI opponents.
9 - Tony Bolds (41 points vs. Alcorn State in opening round of 1983 Great Busch Shootout at Southern Illinois) set Mercer's Division I single-game scoring record (subsequently tied). . . . Utah's school-record 54-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Weber State (79-77 in 2000). . . . Butler's Jeff Blue (23 vs. Michigan in 1961), College of Charleston's Thaddeous Delaney (21 vs. Charleston Southern in 1995), Dayton's Garry Roggenburk (32 vs. Miami Ohio in 1959), Iowa State's Bill Cain (26 vs. Minnesota in 1969), Lafayette's Ron Moyer (33 vs. Gettysburg PA in 1970) and Towson's Junior Hairston (21 vs. Niagara in 2007) set school single-game rebounding records against Division I opponents.
10 - Duke's Danny Ferry (58 points at Miami FL in 1988) and Long Beach State's Ed Ratleff (45 vs. St. Mary's in 1970) set school single-game scoring records. . . . Alex Young (43 vs. Western Kentucky in 2011) set IUPUI's single-game scoring standard at NCAA Division I level. . . . Troy State (28-of-74) and George Mason (16-of-34) combined to set NCAA single-game three-point field-goal records in 1994 for shots made and attempted beyond the arc with Troy State's figures establishing marks for one team. . . . Tulane's school-record 42-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Arkansas (42-41 in 1949). . . . Bucknell's Hal Danzig (29 vs. Lehigh in 1958), Colorado State's Mike Childress (26 vs. Rice in 1970), George Washington's Clyde Burwell (33 vs. Mount St. Mary's in 1973), Kentucky's Bob Burrow (34 vs. Temple in 1955) and Louisville's Charlie Tyra (38 vs. Canisius in 1955) set school single-game rebounding records.
11 - North Carolina A&T's Joe Binion (41 points vs. Livingstone NC in final of 1982 Miller Aggie Classic) and Virginia's Barry Parkhill (51 vs. Baldwin-Wallace OH in 1971) set school Division I single-game scoring records. . . . Louisville's Clifford Rozier set an NCAA single-game record by hitting all 15 of his field-goal attempts against Eastern Kentucky in 1993. . . . Ohio State's school-record 50-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Davidson (95-73 in 1963). . . . Marvin Barnes (28 vs. Fairfield in 1972) set Providence's single-game rebounding record against a DI opponent.
12 - Alabama's Mike Nordholz (50 points vs. Southern Mississippi at 1966 Birmingham Classic), North Dakota State's Ben Woodside (60 vs. Stephen F. Austin in 2008), Southern's Tim Roberts (56 vs. Faith Baptist LA in 1994) and Texas Christian's Lee Nailon (53 vs. Mississippi Valley State in first round of 1997 TCU Tournament) set school single-game scoring records. Woodside tied an NCAA mark by converting free throws against SFA. . . . Stanley Umude (41 vs. South Dakota State in 2020) established South Dakota's single-game scoring mark at NCAA Division I level. . . . Oklahoma's Mookie Blaylock set an NCAA single-game record with 13 steals vs. Centenary in 1987. . . . Henry "Hank" Iba made his Oklahoma A&M head coaching debut in 1934 with a 24-17 decision over Wichita en route to a school-record 655 victories and four Final Four appearances in seven-year span from 1945 through 1951 with the Cowboys. . . . Kent State's Leroy Thompson (31 vs. Case Western OH in 1948) and Weber State's Willie Sojourner (25 vs. West Texas State in 1969) set school single-game rebounding records.
13 - Evansville's inaugural year at the NCAA Division I level ended in tragedy in 1977 when coach Bobby Watson and 13 members of his Purple Aces squad perished in a plane crash shortly after taking off en route to their fifth game of the season. . . . Eastern Washington's Mason Peatling (54 points vs. Multnomah OR in 2019), Southern Mississippi's Jerome Arnold (41 vs. Missouri-Kansas City in 1978), Toledo's Clarke "Pinky" Pittenger (49 at Bluffton OH in 1918) and Tulsa's Willie Biles (48 vs. St. Cloud State MN in 1973) set school Division I single-game scoring records. . . . Phog Allen made his Kansas head coaching debut in 1907 with a 66-22 decision over Ottawa KS en route to a school-record 590 victories and three Final Four appearances with the Jayhawks. . . . Bradley's Barney Cable (28 vs. Canisius in 1955), Eastern Kentucky's Garfield Smith (33 vs. Marshall in 1967) and UALR's Rashad Jones-Jennings (30 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2005) set school single-game rebounding records against a DI opponent.
14 - Marshall's Keith Veney set an NCAA single-game record for three-pointers (making 15-of-25 shots from beyond arc vs. Morehead State in 1996). . . . Dennis Parker Jr. established Radford and Big South Conference single-game scoring record (53 points vs. Coppin State in 2025).
15 - UC Irvine's Kevin Magee (46 points vs. Loyola Marymount in 1981) and Providence's Marvin Barnes (52 vs. Austin Peay in 1973) set school single-game scoring records. . . . In 1973, Tennessee topped Temple, 11-6, in the lowest-scoring game since introduction of national postseason competition in 1938. . . . La Salle's Michael Brooks set the East Coast Conference single-game scoring record with 51 points in 3OT at Brigham Young in 1979. Brooks scored 28 consecutive points for the Explorers in the second half. . . . Jack Friel made his Washington State debut in 1928 with a 62-18 decision over Lewis-Clark State ID en route to becoming the Cougars' all-time winningest coach. . . . Cal State Fullerton's Kerry Davis (27 vs. Central Michigan in 1975), Colgate's Dick Osborn (26 vs. Yale in 1951/subsequently tied), Texas A&M's Vernon Smith and Rynn Wright (21 vs. UNLV in 1978) and Utah State's Wayne Estes (28 vs. Regis CO in 1962) set school single-game rebounding records against DI opponents.
16 - Cal State Fullerton's Bobby Brown (47 points vs. Bethune-Cookman in 2006), Creighton's Bob Portman (51 vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1967), Murray State's Marcus Brown (45 vs. Washington MO in 1995) and North Carolina's Bob Lewis (49 vs. Florida State in 1965) set school single-game scoring records. . . . St. Joseph's school-record 34-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Fairfield (82-68 in 1966) and Texas-El Paso's school-record 31-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Indiana (69-66 in 1989). . . . Florida State's Dave Cowens (31 vs. LSU in 1967), Mercer's Scott Farley (22 vs. Alabama in 1995), SMU's Ira Terrell (26 vs. New Mexico State in 1975) and UTEP's Jim Barnes (27 vs. Centenary in 1963) set school single-game rebounding records against a major-college opponent.
17 - Furman senior swingman Darrell Floyd set a Southern Conference single-game record with 62 points vs. The Citadel in 1955. . . . Oklahoma's Mookie Blaylock tied his NCAA single-game record with 13 steals vs. Loyola Marymount in 1988. . . . Cincinnati's LaZelle Durden set the Great Midwest Conference single-game scoring record with 45 points at Wyoming in 1994. . . . Illinois ended visiting San Francisco's school-record 60-game winning streak (62-33 in 1957). . . . Denver's Dick Brott (29 vs. Southern California in 1956) and Furman's Bob Thomas (35 vs. The Citadel in 1955) set school single-game rebounding records against a major-college opponent.
18 - Warren Isaac (50 points vs. Bates ME in 1964) set Iona's single-game scoring record. . . . Penn's school-record 34-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Temple (57-52 in 1971). . . . Adolph Rupp made his Kentucky head coaching debut in 1930 with a 67-19 decision over Georgetown College KY en route to school-record 876 victories and four NCAA Tournament titles. . . . Hec Edmundson made his Washington debut in 1920 with a 30-14 decision over Varsity/Alumni en route to becoming the Huskies' all-time winningest coach. . . . Alabama's Harry Hammonds (28 vs. Massachusetts in 1966), Brigham Young's Scott Warner (27 vs. Texas Tech in 1969), Cleveland State's Dave Kyle (24 vs. Ohio University in 1976), Hofstra's John Irving (28 vs. Long Island in 1975) and Northwestern State's Eric Kubel (26 vs. Southeastern Louisiana in 1993) set school single-game rebounding records against a major-college opponent.
19 - Iowa State's Lafester Rhodes (54 points vs. Iowa in overtime in 1987), Norfolk State's Tony Murphy (43 vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at UNLV in 2006) and UNC Asheville's Ricky Chatman (41 vs. James Madison in overtime in 1987/subsequently tied) set school Division I single-game scoring records. . . . Kevin Thomas (46 vs. Tennessee in 1955 Carousel Invitational at Charlotte) set Boston University's single-game scoring record against a DI opponent. . . . Oklahoma freshman Trae Young tied NCAA single-game assists record against DI opponent (22 vs. Northwestern State in 2017). . . . Auburn's Rex Frederick (27 vs. SMU in 1957), Lehigh's Greg Falkenbach (25 vs. Drexel in 1970) and New Mexico State's Sam Lacey (27 vs. Hardin-Simmons TX in 1969) set school single-game rebounding records against a major-college opponent.
20 - Fresno State's Charles Bailey (45 points at North Texas State in double overtime in 1973), Georgia's Ronnie Hogue (46 vs. Louisiana State in 1971) and Maryland's Ernest Graham (44 vs. North Carolina State in 1978) set school single-game scoring records. . . . John Connors (23 vs. Iona in 1956) set St. Bonaventure's single-game rebounding record against a major-college opponent.
21 - Idaho's Orlando Lightfoot (50 points at Gonzaga in 1993), Ohio's Dave Jamerson (60 vs. Charleston WV in 1989), Pacific's Bill Stricker (44 vs. Portland in 1968) and Pittsburgh's Don Hennon (45 vs. Duke in double overtime in 1957) set school single-game scoring records. . . . Visiting Cincinnati outlasted Bradley in seven overtimes in 1981 in the longest game in NCAA history. . . . Texas Christian hit an NCAA-record 56 free throws in 70 attempts in 1999 game against Eastern Michigan. . . . West Virginia ended North Carolina's school-record 37-game winning streak (75-64 in 1957 at Kentucky), Houston's school-record 59-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Illinois (97-84 in 1968) and Oklahoma State's school-record 49-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Southern California (28-25 in 1940). . . . Memphis State center John Gunn, who averaged 11 points and 9 rebounds per game the previous two years for national postseason tournament teams, died in 1976 due to complications of a rare disease (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome).
22 - Central Michigan's Tommie Johnson (53 points at Wright State in 1987), Georgia Tech's Kenny Anderson (50 vs. Loyola Marymount in 1990), Jackson State's Trey Johnson (49 at Texas-El Paso in 2006) and San Jose State's Adrian Oliver (42 vs. Puget Sound WA in 2010) set school Division I single-game scoring records. . . . Centenary's Robert Parish (50 at Lamar in 1972) and Seton Hall's Nick Galis (48 vs. Santa Clara in 1978 Cable Car Classic at San Francisco) set school single-game scoring records against a Division I opponent. . . . Louisiana State All-American Pete Maravich set an NCAA single-game record for most successful free throws by converting 30 foul shots at Oregon State in 1969. . . . Oklahoma's school-record 51-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Duke (90-85 in 1990). . . . Colorado State's Mike Childress (26 vs. San Jose State in 1969) and Stanford's Rich Kelley (27 vs. Kentucky in 1973) set school single-game rebounding records. . . . Oklahoma set an NCAA record for most consecutive points against a DI opponent with a 39-point run in the first half against Weber State in 2014.
23 - Scott Fisher (39 points at Montana State in 1985) set UC Santa Barbara's school single-game scoring record (subsequently tied). . . . Bob Portman (46 vs. Weber State in 1968) set Creighton's single-game scoring mark against a major-college opponent. . . . Darius McGhee (41 vs. Stanford at Hawaii in 2021) tied Liberty's single-game scoring standard at DI level. . . . Top-ranked Virginia and national player of the year Ralph Sampson lost in Hawaii at tiny NAIA school (Chaminade) in 1982 in perhaps the biggest upset in college basketball history.
27 - Gene Harris (46 points vs. Holy Cross in 1961 Quaker City Classic at Philadelphia) set Penn State's single-game scoring record.
28 - Oklahoma's Wayman Tisdale (61 points vs. Texas-San Antonio in 1983 All-College Tournament at Oklahoma City) and Texas A&M's Bennie Lenox (53 vs. Wyoming in 1963 All-College Tournament at Oklahoma City) set school single-game scoring records. . . . Pan American's Bruce King (49 vs. Tulsa in 1973) and Tulane's Johnny Arthurs (41 vs. Wyoming in 1968 All-College Tournament at Oklahoma City) set school single-game scoring records against a DI opponent. . . . NCAA champion-to-be Michigan lost on a neutral court at Salt Lake City to non-Division I opponent Alaska-Anchorage in 1988. . . . Providence's school-record 55-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by St. John's (91-79 in 1974). . . . Detroit's Bill Ebben (38 vs. Brigham Young in 1955), Gonzaga's Paul Cathey (28 vs. UNLV in 1977), Illinois' Skip Thoren (24 vs. UCLA in 1963), Michigan State's Horace Walker (29 vs. Butler in 1959), Niagara's Alex Ellis (31 vs. Villanova in 1956/subsequently tied by him), UAB's Cameron Moore (24 vs. George Washington in 2011) and Washington State's Jim McKean (27 vs. West Virginia in 1966) set school single-game rebounding records against a major-college opponent.
29 - Colorado's Burdette Haldorson (31 vs. Oklahoma in 1952), Louisiana-Monroe's Calvin Natt (31 vs. Georgia Southern in 1976), Ohio State's Frank Howard (32 vs. Brigham Young in 1956), San Diego State's Michael Cage (26 vs. La Salle in 1980), Texas A&M's Steve Niles (21 vs. Furman in 1969), Towson's Jerrelle Benimon (21 vs. Oregon State in 2012) and Utah's Billy McGill (24 vs. UCLA in 1961) set school single-game rebounding records against a major-college opponent.
30 - Austin Peay's James "Fly" Williams (51 points vs. Georgia Southern in final of 1972 Claxton Fruitcake Classic), Florida International's Carlos Arroyo (39 at North Texas in overtime in 2000), Fordham's Charlie Yelverton (46 vs. Rochester NY in 1970), Hawaii's Trevor Ruffin (42 vs. Louisville in 1993), Penn's Ernie Beck (47 vs. Duke in 1952 Dixie Classic at Raleigh, N.C.), St. Joseph's Tony Costner (47 vs. Alaska-Anchorage in 1983 Cable Car Classic at San Francisco) and Utah State's Wayne Estes (52 vs. Boston College in overtime at 1964 Rainbow Classic in Hawaii) set school single-game scoring records. . . . In 2020, Eastern Illinois guard Mack Smith set an NCAA record by hitting a three-point field goal in his 89th consecutive contest. . . . Duke overcame a 29-point halftime deficit to defeat Tulane in consolation game of 1950 Dixie Classic at Raleigh. . . . Stanford ended Long Island's school-record 43-game winning streak (45-31 in 1936). . . . Hawaii's Bob Nash (30 vs. Arizona State in 1971), Idaho State's Ed Wilson (26 vs. Arkansas in 1967), La Salle's Tom Gola (31 vs. Brigham Young in 1953), Michigan State's Johnny Green (29 vs. Washington in 1957), St. John's LeRoy Ellis Sr. (30 vs. NYU in 1961), South Alabama's Leon Williams (28 vs. Texas-Arlington in 1972) and Western Kentucky's Tom Marshall (29 vs. Louisville in 1953) set school single-game rebounding records against a major-college opponent.
31 - Loyola of Chicago's school-record 41-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by St. Louis (90-57 in 1964).

Most Memorable Games in NCAA Hoops History in November

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks about 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 30 in football at the professional level (especially in 1975 and 2003 plus ex-college hoopers with the Giants):

NOVEMBER 30

• New York Giants E Glenn Campbell (Emporia State KS hooper) opened game's scoring with a blocked punt return for touchdown in second consecutive contest in 1930.

• Pittsburgh Steelers HB Lynn Chandnois (forward scored 15 points in 11 games for Michigan State in 1946-47 and 1947-48) scored two first-quarter touchdowns - including 91-yard kickoff return - in a 63-7 win against the New York Giants in 1952. Steelers QB Jim Finks (led Tulsa with 8.9 ppg as sophomore in 1946-47) threw four of his league-high 20 TD passes.

• New York Giants B Stu Clancy (Holy Cross letterman from 1928 through 1930 was hoops captain as senior) rushed for game's only touchdown in a 10-0 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1933.

• In 2003, Atlanta Falcons WR Terrence Edwards (collected 26 points and 14 rebounds for Georgia in 14 games second half of freshman season in 1998-99) had his only NFL pass reception (10 yards in 17-13 setback against Houston Texans).

• Green Bay Packers FB Ted Fritsch Sr. (Wisconsin-Stevens Point hoops letterman in 1940-41 and 1941-42) rushed for two touchdowns in a 30-10 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1947.

• Dallas Cowboys TE Jean Fugett (leading scorer and rebounder for Amherst MA as junior in 1970-71) opened the game's scoring by catching a 54-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) in 14-3 win against the New York Giants in 1975. Giants P Dave Jennings (forward averaged 5.9 ppg for St. Lawrence NY in 1972-73 and 1973-74) punted six times for 53.2-yard average.

• Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught two touchdown passes in a 28-24 win against the San Diego Chargers in 2003.

• WR Ray Hamilton (Arkansas letterman for two SWC hoop champions from 1936 through 1938) scored the Los Angeles Rams' lone touchdown with a 10-yard pass reception from Bob Waterfield in 30-10 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1947.

• Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven basketball games for Clemson in 2010-11) caught nine passes for 238 yards - including two touchdowns from Ryan Fitzpatrick (58 and 34 yards) - in a 45-21 win against the Tennessee Titans in 2014. Titans WR Kendall Wright (Baylor hooper as freshman in 2008-09) caught seven passes for 132 yards.

• Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper under legendary coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw three touchdown passes in a 31-30 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 1975.

• Atlanta Falcons CB Rolland Lawrence (captain of Tabor KS hoops squad as senior in 1972-73) had two interceptions - returning a Kenny Stabler pick 87 yards for touchdown - in 37-34 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1975.

• In midst of catching a touchdown pass in 11 of the San Francisco 49ers' last 12 games of 1998 season, WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) had five receptions for 140 yards in 31-7 win against the New York Giants.

• St. Louis Rams LB Tommy Polley (played in one basketball game for Florida State in 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy) had 11 solo tackles in a 48-17 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 2003.

• Kansas City Chiefs WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) caught two touchdown passes from Rich Gannon in a 44-9 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1997.

• Baltimore Ravens LB Adalius Thomas (averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Southern Mississippi in 1996-97 and 1997-98) had seven solo tackles in a 44-6 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 2003.

• Detroit Lions B Whizzer White (two-time all-conference first-team hoops selection averaged 6.8 ppg for Colorado from 1935-36 through 1937-38) opened game's scoring with an 82-yard interception return for touchdown in 21-3 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1941.

• Chicago Bears E Joe Zeller (averaged 4.1 ppg as three-year Indiana letterman from 1929-30 through 1931-32) caught a 21-yard touchdown pass in 22-6 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1933.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against 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 29 in football at the professional level (especially in 1970 plus ex-college hoopers Dale Burnett and Antonio Gates supplying multiple TD catches):

NOVEMBER 29

• Cincinnati Bengals QB Ken Anderson (swingman finished Augustana IL career in early 1970s as fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,044 points) completed 26-of-32 passes (including four touchdowns) in a 41-21 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1981.

• Buffalo Bills WR Don Beebe (Aurora College IL junior varsity hooper in 1983-84) caught a 65-yard touchdown pass from Jim Kelly in 16-13 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in 1992.

• New York Giants B Dale Burnett (two-time all-conference hooper for Emporia State KS) caught two first-half touchdown passes in a 27-0 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1934. Giants rookie TB Ed Danowski (Fordham hoops letterman in 1932-33) threw two first-quarter TD passes.

• Boston Redskins rookie DL Victor Carroll (three-year hoops letterman for Nevada-Reno in mid-1930s) returned an interception 35 yards for touchdown in 30-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1936.

• Washington Redskins LB London Fletcher (started two games for St. Francis PA as freshman in 1993-94 before transferring to John Carroll OH) had 11 tackles for the third time during the 2009 campaign.

• 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 43-14 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009. Six years later, Gates had two touchdown receptions in a little over one minute late in first half of a 31-25 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015. In midst of four consecutive contests with a TD catch, Jacksonville Jaguars TE Julius Thomas (averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10) had nine pass receptions.

• Boston Patriots WR Art Graham (collected one point and three rebounds in two basketball games with Boston College in 1961-62) caught a pro career-long 80-yard touchdown pass from Babe Parilli in a 34-17 win against the Houston Oilers in 1964.

• Houston Oilers QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) threw three touchdown passes in a 31-21 win against the Denver Broncos in 1970. Oilers CB Zeke Moore (Lincoln MO hoops letterman in mid-1960s) had two interceptions.

• Brooklyn Dodgers B Ralph Kercheval (Kentucky hooper in 1932-33 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) provided the game's decisive score with a rushing touchdown in 13-7 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1936.

• Pittsburgh Steelers QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw four touchdown passes in a 31-0 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1959.

• Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens (UT Chattanooga hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) had seven pass receptions for 156 yards in a 37-27 win against the Green Bay Packers in 2007.

• 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) caught a pass for 19 yards in a 21-20 setback against the Baltimore Colts in 1970. Bears QB Jack Concannon (grabbed one rebound in one Boston College basketball contest in 1961-62) threw two first-quarter touchdown passes.

• Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) had five pass receptions for 143 yards in a 20-20 AFL tie against the Denver Broncos in 1964. 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 13 pass receptions.

• Minnesota Vikings TE Joe Senser (two-time NCAA Division I leader in FG% averaged 11.4 ppg and 7.4 rpg while shooting 66.2% from floor in four-year career for West Chester State PA) caught 11 passes (including touchdown in his third consecutive 1981 contest).

• Detroit Lions B Bill Shepherd (Western Maryland hooper) returned a fumble recovery 38 yards for touchdown in 26-17 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1936.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 38-24 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1964.

• Kansas City Chiefs rookie TE Morris Stroud Jr. (tallest TE in NFL history averaged 7.2 ppg and 10.2 rpg in 1967-68 when 6-10 junior shot team-high 50.9% from floor for Clark Atlanta GA) opened game's scoring with a career-long 50-yard touchdown reception from Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) in 26-14 win against the San Diego Chargers in 1970.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against 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 27 in football at the professional level (especially in 1955 and 2005 plus multiple ex-hoopers with the Bills, Browns, Dolphins and Steelers):

NOVEMBER 27

• Cleveland Bulldogs E Carl Bacchus (three-year Missouri hoops letterman in mid-1920s) opened the scoring with a 65-yard touchdown reception in 32-7 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1927.

• Houston Texans LB Connor Barwin (played 34 games for Cincinnati in 2005-06 and 2006-07) contributed four sacks and seven solo tackles in a 20-13 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011.

• Kansas City Chiefs LB Bobby Bell (first African-American hooper for Minnesota in 1960-61) returned a kickoff 53 yards for touchdown in 31-17 AFL win against the Denver Broncos in 1969. Broncos RB Wandy Williams (led Hofstra in scoring with 19.9 ppg in 1967-68) rushed for a TD.

• Detroit Lions E Cloyce Box (combined with twin brother Boyce to help West Texas A&M win Border Conference hoop championship in 1943) had nine pass receptions for 155 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-24 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1952. Three TD passes for Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) occurred in second quarter.

• Cleveland Browns E Pete Brewster (forward-center was Purdue's fourth-leading scorer as junior and senior) caught two touchdown passes (16 and 41 yards) from Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) in a 35-35 tie against the New York Giants in 1955. Graham finished with three TD passes.

• Miami Dolphins WR Chris Chambers (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught three touchdown passes in a 40-21 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 2003. Dolphins DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) returned a fumble recovery 34 yards for touchdown. Two years later, Taylor had three sacks in a 33-21 win against the Oakland Raiders in 2005.

• Buffalo Bills FL Elbert Dubenion (solid rebounder and defensive player for Bluffton OH in late 1950s) caught six passes for 134 yards in a 38-38 AFL tie against the Denver Broncos in 1960. Broncos SE Lionel Taylor (led New Mexico Highlands in scoring average with 13.6 ppg in 1955-56 and 20.3 in 1956-57), who caught three second-half touchdown passes from Frank Tripucka (80, 24 and 35 yards), finished game with nine receptions for 199 yards.

• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie DB Tony Dungy (roommate of Flip Saunders averaged 2.6 ppg for Minnesota in 1973-74 under coach Bill Musselman) intercepted a pass in second consecutive contest in 1977.

• Dallas Cowboys TE Billy Joe Dupree (scored four points in total of four basketball games for Michigan State in 1971-72) caught two touchdown passes in a 51-7 win against the Seattle Seahawks in 1980.

• New York Giants E Ray Flaherty (four-sport Gonzaga athlete including hoops) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 13-7 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932.

• Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught two second-half touchdown passes in a 42-29 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2005.

• 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 three touchdown passes in a 24-12 win against the Cleveland Browns in 2005.

• Chicago Bears E Luke Johnsos (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1927 and 1928) opened the game's scoring with a 49-yard touchdown catch in 7-7 tie against the Portland Spartans in 1932.

• Buffalo Bills rookie E Jim Lukens (Washington & Lee VA hoops letterman) caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) in 38-14 AAFC win against the Baltimore Colts in 1949. Ratterman finished game with three TD passes. Colts B John North (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1943) caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from Y.A. Tittle.

• Providence Steam Roller E Eddie Lynch (top hoops scorer for Catholic DC as junior and senior) opened game's scoring by catching a touchdown pass in 14-7 win against the New York Yankees in 1927.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw four touchdown passes in a 48-20 win against the Arizona Cardinals in 2008.

• Cleveland Browns WR Jordan Norwood (collected one rebound and one assist in four basketball games for Penn State in 2006-07) opened game's scoring with a 24-yard touchdown reception on pass from Colt McCoy in 23-20 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011.

• San Francisco 49ers E R.C. Owens (led small colleges with 27.1 rpg in 1953-54 while also averaging 23.5 ppg for College of Idaho) caught six passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-22 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1960.

• Green Bay Packers E Steve Pritko (Villanova two-year hoops letterman) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 41-21 setback against the Chicago Cardinals in 1949.

• Washington Redskins E-P Pat Richter (three-year Wisconsin hoops letterman in early 1960s) averaged 46 yards on six punts in a 72-41 win against the New York Giants in 1966.

• Miami Dolphins WR Otto Stowe (collected 12 points and five rebounds in four Iowa State basketball games in 1968-69) caught six passes for a career-high 140 receiving yards - including two touchdowns - in a 31-10 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972.

• New York Jets DB Rashad Washington (collected two points, two assists and five rebounds for Kansas State in eight games in 2000-01) had a sack in 21-19 setback against the New Orleans Saints in 2005.

• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie HB Sid Watson (averaged 4.1 ppg as Northeastern freshman in 1951-52) had a 62-yard pass reception touchdown from Jim Finks (led Tulsa with 8.9 ppg as sophomore in 1946-47) in 23-14 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1955.

• B Doug Wycoff (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1926) supplied the Staten Island Stapletons' only touchdown with a five-yard rush in 7-6 win against the New York Giants in 1930.

More than 20,000 thank yous can't begin to express infinite appreciation for setting the stage regarding procedure in Texas saving life of a grandson when he was only two days old. The gratitude beyond measure is for world-famous heart surgeon Dr. Denton Cooley, who performed well in excess of 20,000 open-heart operations before passing away several years ago at the age of 96. He was a three-year letterman (1938-39 through 1940-41) on Texas basketball teams combining for a 51-21 record. The 6-3 Cooley, named the 32nd most influential student-athlete in 2006 when the NCAA celebrated its centennial anniversary, saw action in both of the Longhorns' games in the inaugural NCAA Tournament in 1939 after they captured the Southwest Conference championship.

"I've always had the opinion that my training in athletics equipped me for a life in medicine," Houston-based Dr. Cooley said, "and particularly in surgery because there's so much of the physical part involved. Surgery is a specialty in which a person must have vigor and a healthy body to perform at his peak. It requires a certain amount of physical training as well as mental training. In surgery, operations are accomplished by teams. As in athletics, a strong individual effort is possible only with the support of a good team. The morale of the team must be maintained by the captain. And these are the things individuals learn in a program of competitive sports. We learn to accept defeat but not to be satisfied with defeat; that there is no alternative for winning. Extra effort and determination and hard work and practice are what lead to accomplishment and victory."

Again, thank you Dr. Cooley for your extra effort and determination and hard work. A Thanksgiving holiday week absolutely should include the time-honored tradition of a smorgasbord mulling over a mixture of heartfelt Thank Yous while also chewing on tasteless Turkeys. The list of candidates in college basketball is extensive stemming from issues and individuals your most grateful for and those of dubious distinction. Following is a healthy serving of food-for-thought Thanksgiving tributes and tongue-lashings for hoop observers to gobble-gobble up:

THANK YOUS

• Cheers to mid-major players deserving post-season recognition this season if A-A voters are paying attention.

• Cheers to multiple players carrying the torch for their father at the same school dear old dad attended or playing under their father at the same university.

• Cheers to this season's crop of entertaining freshmen although they pale in comparison to the depth exhibited by gifted group in 1979-80.

• Cheers to ex-college hoopers who dominated as NFL tight ends as long as they didn't #KneelWithJemele or #ColonKrapernick.

• Cheers to Canada, which could again provide a north-of-the-border All-American.

• Cheers to the Big East Conference, which appears to be continuing a renaissance after losing prominent members to supposedly superior leagues.

• Cheers to "old-school" seniors for not abandoning college hoops early and giving the sport at least some modicum of veteran leadership by attending the same school their entire career.

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

• Cheers to model coaches who have their egos in check and carry their personal profiles in school media guides after, not before, the player bios.

• Cheers to upstanding schools having their academic priorities in order although it is getting increasingly difficult not to accept the stereotype that universities need to be one-dimensional sports factories to assemble successful NCAA Division I basketball programs.

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

• Cheers to Caitlin Clark-inspired women's hoops, which has improved immeasurably while the men's game has suffered somewhat from inattention to fundamentals such as competent free-throw shooting. The team-oriented women look for passing angles to teammates "flashing" into the lane while far too many one-dimensional men seek camera angles to trigger a "flash-dance" routine. Some of the self-centered men haven't quite comprehended it isn't platform diving or figure skating they're participating in and you don't secure extra points for degree of difficulty.

• Cheers to junior college players and foreigners who overcome perceptions in some misguided quarters that they are the rogues of recruiting. Many of the premier players decades ago first attended a juco to help establish their credentials but lowering of academic standards has significantly reduced that flow.

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

TURKEYS

• Jeers to Hall of Fame coaches for Eeyore-like analysis after their schools became immersed in assorted Hall of Shame scandals. How close did Mike "Let's Move On" Krzyzewski come to joining this negative ACC-heavy list in aftermath of reasons for recruiting player paid by AAU coach/convicted felon, Reggie Love's profane party photographs, mediocre starter having $100G in jewelry, Rasheed Sulaimon's "Title IX" departure from Duke and one-and-done rental player Jahlil Okafor's infatuation with clubbing before the then NBA rookie center acquired a baby-sitting security guard before ever helping the Philadelphia 76ers win a game?

• Jeers to Division I schools in a chaotic restructuring of conferences forsaking tradition although the quest for mega-leagues could be delusional because they're vying for television revenue that might not exist as network sports divisions operate at ample deficits in post-pandemic era.

• Jeers to the striking number of power conference members who've provided a long list of players on their rosters participating in an authentic "War on Women."

• Jeers to recruiting services incapable of discerning who should have been a Top 100 recruit coming out of high school. Ditto to announcers who infect the sport by spreading this virus without ever seeing any of the players enough to properly evaluate them.

• Jeers to marquee coaches who've served up assistants as sacrificial lambs when the heat of an investigation of their program intensifies.

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

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

• Jeers to "Me Generation" showmen who've failed to comprehend their respective teams don't benefit on the court from a trash-talking Harlem Globetrotter routine.

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

• Jeers to high-profile coaches who take off for greener pastures despite having multiple years remaining on their contract or don sweaters and workout gear with a logo of a sneaker manufacturer instead of their school during TV games and interviews. Where is their allegiance?

• Jeers to network analysts when they serve as apologists for the coaching community. When their familiar refrain echoes throughout hoopdom, they become nothing more than the big mouths that bore.

• Jeers to marquee schools forsaking entertaining non-conference games with natural rivals while scheduling a half-dozen or more meaningless "rout-a-matics" at home.

• Jeers to several colleges hiring tainted coaches, showing winning is still more important than dignity at some schools of lower learning. The crass-act enablers of academic anemia know who they are!

• Jeers to defrauding coaches who manipulate junior colleges and high schools into giving phony grades to regal recruits even before encouraging them to take lame courses at their day-care facilities to keep the team GPA out of danger zone. Ditto coaches who steer prize high-school prospects to third parties toying with standardized test results.

• Jeers to "fatherly-advice" coaches who don't mandate that any player with pro potential take multiple financial literacy courses. Did they notice in recent years that products from Alabama, Georgia Tech, Georgetown, Kentucky and Syracuse filed for bankruptcy after combining for more than half a billion dollars in salaries over their NBA careers? What contrived classes such as Afro Studies at North Carolina are taken in college anyway if a staggering 60% of NBA players file for bankruptcy five years after retirement?

• Jeers to overzealous fans who seek to flog freshmen for not living up to their high school press clippings right away. The impatient onlookers need to get a grip on themselves.

• Jeers to the excessive number of small schools thinking they can compete at the Division I level. There are far too many examples of dreamy-eyed small schools that believe competing with the big boys will get them national recognition, make big bucks from the NCAA Tournament and put the institutions on the map. They don't know how unrealistic that goal is until most of the HBCU and hyphenated/directional schools barnstorm the country during their non-conference schedules in college basketball versions of Bataan Death Marches. For instance, numerous HBCU teams lost to power-conference members by more than 50 points pre-Thanksgiving.

• Jeers to lap-dog media embarrassed looking the other way at Louisville when stripped naked by lap-dancing Katina the Escort keeping copious copulation comments to assemble one of the biggest stories of the decade (Get Your Fill in the Ville) while the press passed out from Pitino Personality or his bourbon. How many other Pitino Places are out there such as Bo Knows Affairs at Wisconsin?

• Jeers to coaches who weigh in on political issues thinking anyone cares about their self-serving views. They sound dumb as a doorknob (a/k/a rooftop-dancing bartender AOC and Texas' Dummy Crockett).

• Jeers to ESPN (Extra Sensitive Pious Network) for rejecting a charity hospital ad promoting Jesus several years ago while giving forums to individuals who either lie to NCAA investigators as a head coach, lose new coaching job due to drunkenness, become a recruiting guru for the network after shady dealings at the highest level, specialize in man-check motivation, practice reprehensible race-baiting with the intellectually-bankrupt "Uncle Tom" bomb (Jalen Rose), damage our ears with Screamin' A. Stiff or spew journalistic-junk spin over the years with lunatic liberal propagandists Howard Bryant, LZ Granderson, Jemele Hill and Bomani Jones.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against 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 24 in football at the professional level (especially in 1957, 1963, 1974 and 1996 plus ex-hoopers with the Bears and Giants):

NOVEMBER 24

• Cleveland Browns rookie HB Al Akins (forward was letterman for Washington in 1944 after lettering with Washington State previous two years) rushed for a 50-yard touchdown in 42-17 AAFC win against the Buffalo Bisons in 1946.

• Cincinnati Bengals QB Ken Anderson (swingman finished Augustana IL career in early 1970s as fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,044 points) threw four touchdown passes in a 33-6 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1974. Bengals rookie DL Bob Maddox (two-time MVP for Frostburg State MD shot 60.7% from floor in three seasons) recovered a fumble for TD.

• Detroit Lions LB Roosevelt Barnes (collected 14 points and 23 rebounds in 24 games for Purdue's 1980 Final Four team after scoring 39 points in 43 games previous two seasons) returned an interception 70 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1983. Lions TE Ulysses Norris (Georgia hooper in 1975-76) caught two touchdown passes from Eric Hipple in 45-3 win against the Steelers.

• Cleveland Browns HB Bill Boedeker (teammate of DePaul All-American George Mikan in mid-1940s) opened the game's scoring with a six-yard rushing touchdown in 14-6 win against the Chicago Hornets in 1949.

• Dallas Texans TE Max Boydston (played six basketball games with Oklahoma in 1952-53 under coach Bruce Drake) caught a pro career high of six passes in 41-35 AFL setback against the New York Titans in 1960.

• Cleveland Browns rookie FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) rushed for four touchdowns - one of them for 69 yards - in a 45-31 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1957. Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting center for Michigan in 1944) caught two second-quarter TD passes from Norm Van Brocklin.

• Chicago Bears FB Rick Casares (Florida's scoring and rebounding leader both seasons as All-SEC second-team selection in 1951-52 and 1952-53) rushed for two touchdowns in a 27-7 win against the Detroit Lions in 1957.

• Indianapolis Colts TE Joe Dean Davenport II (appeared in two NCAA playoff games for Arkansas in 1999 under coach Nolan Richardson Jr.) caught a career-high three passes from QB Peyton Manning in a 23-20 win against the Denver Broncos in 2002.

• Chicago Bears TE Mike Ditka (averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Pittsburgh in 1958-59 and 1959-60) caught seven passes for 146 yards in a 17-17 tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1963.

• New York Giants DB Scott Eaton (three-year Oregon State letterman averaged 6 ppg and 2.8 rpg) secured his third interception of month in 1968.

• New York Giants rookie DB Percy Ellsworth (appeared in all four of Virginia's NCAA tourney contests for 1995 Midwest Regional finalist) provided an interception for second straight game in 1996.

• New York Giants rookie E Tod Goodwin (West Virginia hoops letterman in 1932-33) scored the game's lone touchdown with a 55-yard pass from Ed Danowski (Fordham hoops letterman in 1932-33) in a 10-0 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1935.

• 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 under coach Frank Haith) caught two touchdown passes from Drew Brees in a 34-27 setback against the Baltimore Ravens in 2014.

• Dallas Cowboys CB Cornell Green (Utah State's all-time leading scorer and rebounder when career ended in 1961-62) returned a fumble recovery 20 yards for touchdown in 27-17 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1963.

• Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw three touchdown passes - of them to SE Karl Noonan (member of Iowa's basketball squad in 1963-64) - in a 34-10 AFL win against the Boston Patriots in 1968. Nine years later, Griese threw six TD passes in a 55-14 NFL win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1977.

• Cleveland Rams TB Parker Hall (Ole Miss hoops letterman in 1938) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 47-25 defeat against the Chicago Bears in 1940.

• 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 28-14 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1996.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 21-7 win against the Green Bay Packers in 2002.

• St. Louis Cardinals QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 24-17 win against the New York Giants in 1963.

• Baltimore Ravens WR Jacoby Jones (part-time starter averaged 3.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg for Lane TN in 2004-05 and 2005-06) caught a 66-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco in 19-3 win against the New York Jets in 2013.

• San Francisco 49ers RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) had 11 pass receptions in a 19-16 win against the Washington Redskins in 1996.

• Oakland Raiders DB Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper as junior in 1979-80) returned two interceptions a total of 47 yards in a 38-14 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1991.

• Chicago Bears QB Johnny Lujack (averaged 3.4 ppg as starting guard for Notre Dame in 1943-44) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 28-7 win against the Detroit Lions in 1949.

• New York Giants DE George Martin (Oregon hoops teammate of freshman sensation Ron Lee in 1972-73) registered three sacks and returned an interception 56 yards for touchdown in 34-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985.

• Chicago Bears B Keith Molesworth (three-year hoops letterman for Monmouth IL in late 1920s) scored a touchdown in his third consecutive contest in 1932.

• Chicago Cardinals FB Ernie Nevers (All-PCC second-five hoops choice for Stanford in 1924-25) rushed for three touchdowns in a 19-0 win against the Dayton Triangles in 1929.

• New York Yankees TB Ace Parker (Duke hoops letterman in 1936) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 38-28 AAFC setback against the Chicago Rockets in 1946.

• Chicago Bears E Dick Plasman (Vanderbilt two-year starting hoops center named to 1936 All-SEC Tournament second five) caught a 58-yard touchdown pass in 47-25 win against the Cleveland Rams in 1940.

• Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton (SMU hooper in 2015-16 under coach Larry Brown) caught two second-half touchdown passes in 29-19 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024.

• New England Patriots TE John Tanner (JC recruit averaged 3.5 ppg and 3.4 rpg for Tennessee Tech in 1968-69) opened game's scoring by catching a touchdown pass from Jim Plunkett in 27-17 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1974.

• Tennessee Titans WR Kendall Wright (Baylor hooper as freshman in 2008-09) scored game-winning touchdown - 10-yard pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick - with 10 seconds remaining in a 23-19 nod over the Oakland Raiders in 2013.

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against 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 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 chosen 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 23 in football at the professional level (especially in 1947 plus ex-hoopers with the Lions and Redskins):

NOVEMBER 23

• Brooklyn Dodgers HB Al Akins (forward was letterman for Washington in 1944 after lettering with Washington State previous two years) caught a 50-yard touchdown pass in 16-12 AAFC setback against the Los Angeles Dons in 1947.

• New York Giants E Red Badgro (first-five All-PCC pick as forward in 1926-27 when named Southern California's MVP) opened game's scoring with a 22-yard touchdown reception in 13-6 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1930.

• Washington Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (Texas Christian three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw six touchdown passes in a 45-21 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1947. Two of the TD pass receptions were caught by rookie E Paul McKee (played hoops for Syracuse in 1942-43).

• Los Angeles Rams E Jim Benton (forward was Arkansas' third-leading scorer in SWC play as senior in 1937-38) had two touchdown receptions in a 28-17 win against the Detroit Lions in 1947. Rams B Tom Harmon (averaged 7.6 ppg as sophomore in 1938-39 when leading Michigan in scoring in five contests) scored two TDs (including 88-yard punt return). Lions rookie DB Bob Wiese (averaged 3.9 ppg for Michigan in 1942-43 and 1943-44) had two interceptions.

• Fourth field goal of game by PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) came as time expired and gave the Cleveland Browns a 26-24 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 2014.

• Pittsburgh Steelers QB Joe Geri (Georgia hoops letterman in 1943) rushed for two first-half touchdowns in a 28-17 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1950.

• 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 in a 54-31 setback against the Buffalo Bills in 2008.

• 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) passed for 312 yards and three touchdowns in a 23-21 setback against the New York Jets in 1997.

• Philadelphia Eagles TE Jimmie Johnson (averaged 2.7 ppg and 1.5 rpg for Howard University in 1988-89) had a career-high four pass receptions in 23-20 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997.

• Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two first-quarter touchdown passes in a 49-14 win against the New York Yanks in 1950. Lions E Cloyce Box (combined with twin brother Boyce to help West Texas A&M win Border Conference hoop championship in 1943) caught three TD passes.

• Washington Redskins WR Bob Long (Wichita State hooper in 1960-61 and 1961-62 under coach Ralph Miller) had a career-high 10 pass receptions in a 27-20 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 1969.

• Green Bay Packers DB Ace Loomis (Wisconsin-La Crosse hooper in late 1940s) returned an interception 45 yards for touchdown in 42-14 win against the Dallas Texans in 1952.

• New York Giants DE George Martin (Oregon hoops teammate of freshman sensation Ron Lee in 1972-73) returned an interception 78 yards for touchdown in 19-16 win against the Denver Broncos in 1986.

• Buffalo Bills HB Chet Mutryn (Xavier hoops letterman in 1943) rushed for two touchdowns in a 33-14 AAFC win against the Baltimore Colts in 1947.

• Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens (UT-Chattanooga hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five basketball games) had seven pass receptions for 213 yards in a 35-22 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 2008.

• Cleveland Browns RB Greg Pruitt (Oklahoma frosh hooper in 1969-70) had more than 100 yards in rushing (121) and receiving (106) en route to scoring two touchdowns - including go-ahead pass reception from Mike Phipps in fourth quarter - in a 35-23 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1975.

• Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 34-30 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1969.

• Chicago Bears TE Ed Sprinkle (two-year hoops letterman for Hardin-Simmons TX in early 1940s) caught a decisive fourth-quarter touchdown pass from George Blanda in 24-23 win against the Detroit Lions in 1952.

• 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 in a 33-12 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1958.

• Staten Island Stapletons B Doug Wycoff (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1926) accounted for game's only scoring with a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown in 6-0 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1930.