March Madness: Most famous alumni from every 2019 NCAA Tournament team
By Bryan Mauro
Michigan Wolverines – Tom Brady
The University of Michigan provided the NFL with the greatest player to ever play the quarterback position. Tom Brady (Class of ’99) was a late-round draft pick in the NFL and no one could have expected how good the quarterback would be. Since he has been in the NFL, he has led the Patriots to more Super Bowls than any other franchise in the history of the NFL. Brady has the most rings of any individual to ever play the game. That is not bad for a 41-year-old NFL quarterback who no team wanted to draft.
Michigan State Spartans – Magic Johnson
Earvin “Magic” Johnson (attended 1977-1979) is one of the top five greatest NBA players ever along with Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James and Michael Jordan. A lifelong Laker, Johnson led his L.A. dynasty to five NBA titles and has seen his jersey retired by the Los Angeles Lakers organization. Now that he is no longer playing, the Hall of Famer is part owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and president of basketball operations for the Lakers.
Minnesota Golden Gophers – Hubert Humphrey
Lyndon B. Johnson served as the President of the United States for six years. The last four of that term, his vice president was Hubert Humphrey (Class of ’39). Humphrey was a senator for Minnesota for two nonconsecutive terms. What people should remember Humphrey for was he was the Democratic Presidential nominee in the 1968 election losing to Richard Nixon.
Mississippi Rebels – Eli Manning
Yet another NFL Quarterback shows up on the list. Eli Manning (2000-2003) is a two-time super bowl winning quarterback who has spent his entire career with the New York Giants. The former Rebel was drafted with the number one overall pick by the Chargers and immediately traded to the Giants for Phillip Rivers. Manning is now on the downturn of his career and doesn’t have much time left but has accomplished a great deal in his long NFL career.