Which one of these should be the #FanTeaser image this week? What the heck, let’s just use them both!
When I think about quarterback Jeff George, the word mercurial comes to mind.
An ultra-talented prep star at Indianapolis Warren Central, George was named the first-ever recipient of the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award following his senior season in 1985. He matriculated to Purdue University just up I-65 in West Lafayette where he played all 11 games as a freshman, posting a 3-8 record and throwing a Big Ten-high 15 interceptions against only four touchdowns.
Boilermakers head coach Leon Burtnett resigned following the season and George was trying to move to the University of Miami but then-Coach Jimmie Johnson would not guarantee him the starting spot. Instead, he transferred to the University of Illinois and played a total of 22 games over his two seasons in Champaign-Urbana where he led the Fighting Illini to a 10-2 record and a Citrus Bowl victory over the University of Virginia. The Illini finished the season ranked No. 10 in the nation.
Jeff George spent three seasons quarterbacking Big Ten football teams. He played at Purdue University as a freshman before transferring to the University of Illinois for his final two seasons. (Purdue photo by George Gojkovich/Getting Images; Illinois photo by Bernstein Associates/Getty Images)
After learning he was guaranteed to be a top five draft selection, George gave up his final year of eligibility and was the first overall draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 1990. The Colts traded two draft picks, offensive tackle Chris Hinton and wide receiver Andre Rison to Atlanta for the right to draft George first overall. Indianapolis signed him to a then-record $15 million deal.
From there, it was an adventure for George. He lasted four seasons in Indianapolis before the Colts moved him – ironically – to Atlanta in a trade for three draft picks including one that became Marvin Harrison. Before his 12-year career ended, he also took snaps for the Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, and Washington Redskins and also spent time on the rosters of the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears.
He had a dynamite arm but the head did not always seem to be calibrated accordingly.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.