NFL Player’s Transition Game Unique

Kenny Tippins of the Dallas Cowboys is among four football players who have joined the suspension-riddled and injury-depleted basketball team at Middle Tennessee State University.

Tippins, who was on the Cowboys’ developmental squad last fall, is back in school this semester to complete his degree. He is eligible to play basketball under NCAA rules because he was never redshirted as a college football player at the school.

“I still can’t believe all this is really happening,” he said. “This is like something you hear about happening in the 1950s or ‘60s.”

Middle Tennessee Coach Bruce Stewart pieced together the makeshift team this week after eight players were suspended by the Ohio Valley Conference for fighting during a game against Tennessee Tech a week ago.

Two other Blue Raider basketball players are injured.