I know he started only one season — waiting his turn behind Thurman Thomas before taking over as Oklahoma State's lead back in 1988 — but when you set 25 NCAA records in one year, including season marks for touchdowns (39), rushing yards (2,628) and all-purpose yards (3,249), average 7.6 yards per carry, rush for more than 300 yards in a game four times, score five touchdowns in a bowl game rout and have the Heisman Trophy wrapped up by Halloween, you deserve to be called the greatest. Or at least better than Deion Sanders.

C'mon, Deion Sanders at No. 8? Let me tell you something: If two recruits come for a campus visit and one guy is capable of scoring 39 TDs in 12 games and the other is good at covering receivers, you call every hooker in town, give them the A.D.'s credit card number, and make sure they know which one averages 7.6 yards per carry.

Other Sports Links:

Dick Vitale's Early Sweet 16 — Chock full of typical "insight" like "it isn't easy to replace a player and leader like Price," Dickie V. delivers his early picks for next year's top-shelf college hoops talent. UConn ranks No.1, with Syracuse at 11.

WWE Diva Search — The family-friendly wrestling organization has some boobs to click on.

Playboy.com Interviews Barry Zito — I like Zito, a great talent with a brain in his head. I'll like him even more when the A's can't afford him anymore and he becomes a Yankee.

ESPN.com Interviews Mike Ditka — Iron Mike correctly states that the Bears' Super Bowl win in January 1986 meant more to Chicago than all six of the Bulls' titles. He also says that Ricky Williams has already proved worthy of six draft picks.

Who's on Tap for Football HOF? — My buddy Craig Ellenport looks ahead to future football Hall of Fame weekends. John Elway and Barry Sanders are up next, with Steve Young and Dan Marino right behind.