NCAA lawsuit seeks ZERO for famous moments. ‘Mission at Michigan’ next on the agenda?

When describing the current state of college sports, the words of University of Colorado athletic director Rick George always come to mind: “We live in the wild, wild west.”

Yes, it is.

The latest? Members of the 1983 North Carolina State Wolfpack national championship basketball team are suing the NCAA. Led by former Utah Jazz forward Thurl Bailey, ten players from the team are seeking damages in North Carolina Superior Court for what they say is unlawful and continued use of their NIL and advertising rights for their famous tournament run.

Remember the images of coach Jim Valvano pacing the court looking for people to hug after NC State defeated the heavily favored University of Houston Cougars, featuring future NBA superstars Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler? Four decades later, players insist that continued broadcast of the game on the NCAA’s YouTube channel and other channels from the history-making series has continued to generate advertising revenue for others.

And that brings us to the University of Colorado Buffaloes in 1994 and the “Mission at Michigan.” Buffaloes fans will never forget quarterback Kordell Stewart firing a ball toward the Michigan end zone that was deflected by wide receiver Blake Anderson into the waiting arms of Detroit native Michael Westbrook.

How many times have we seen that amazing game repeated on television, fueling the magnificence and excitement of college football? Keith Jackson’s infamous late afternoon call from the Big House in Ann Arbor? It’s been shown thousands of times in the three decades since. It will forever remain one of the finest moments of my 20 years covering Colorado as the “Buff Guy” for KCNC-TV in Denver, then the home of University of Colorado athletics.

You couldn’t have asked for a better fall day for football in front of 105,000 fans. The buildup to the game was exciting. CU head coach Bill McCartney, a former Michigan assistant coach to Bo Schembechler, brought a talented group of Buffaloes back to his home state and put on what many still consider the greatest finale of all time. A football classic.

Your scribe was standing just fifteen feet away when the miracle happened. Have you ever seen a huge crowd go deaf and silent in an instant? Right next to the field at the goal line, it was surreal to see such a large crowd prevented from celebrating what seemed like a sure victory for the Wolverines.

Immediately prior to the improbable execution of a play the Buffs had rehearsed many times, I will never forget a brief but remarkable interaction with a Colorado fan during the pre-play television break: “McIntosh,” yelled a drunken Buff fan dressed head to toe in black and gold, “I drove all the way from Denver to watch this crap!”

It was a frustrating day for the Buffs. Too many turnovers and poor execution had laid the groundwork for a disappointing loss. The screaming woman was in despair as she leaned over the railing of the famous cathedral of college football. All I could do was shrug and give an “I don’t know what to say” look before turning to watch the game.

When the improbable happened, I cast a quick glance back in the direction of the woman. She had fallen from the stands and was thrashing around on the field like a fish out of water. Beside herself with joy. The thrill of victory. How sweet that is.

Earlier this year, your correspondent met Stewart at a celebration to mark Coach Prime’s SI Sportsman of the Year. I asked him, “What do you think your NIL would have been the day after that game?” The future NFL star, with his usual wide grin, didn’t hesitate for a second: “About ten million.”

Who knows. What I do know is that if the 1983 NC State basketball team wins its lawsuit against the NCAA? I’m not a lawyer, nor have I ever played one on television, but I would suggest the 1994 Buffs look for compensation for their incredible moment, which has since brought revenue to the beleaguered college athletics association.

Furthermore, the courts have not favored the NCAA when it comes to its past injustices. Who says student-athletes won’t demand back pay?

After all, it is the Wild, Wild West.