Prior to ripping up the NFL, Walter Payton was the BMOC at an HBCU - Historically Black College and University, which is how tiny Jackson State refers to itself on its Web site.Had he played for a big-time Division I school instead of Jackson State, he might never have fallen all the way to the Bears' No. 4 position in the 1975 NFL draft.
Rather than being eternally blessed with Sweetness, the Bears would have been the first Chicago professional team to draft an All-American guard from North Carolina - Ken Huff.
Certainly, every NFL team had ample opportunity to see how Payton's multiple talents would succeed in the big time.
During his four years at Jackson State, Payton served as the Tigers' primary option on first, second, third and fourth down.
On the first three downs, he shredded enough defenses to set the NCAA Division I record with 66 touchdowns - a mark that went untouched until Texas' Ricky Williams topped him last year.
After many of his touchdowns, Payton tacked on the extra point. He registered 53 point-afters during his career.
And on the rare occasions when his 3,563 rushing yards and 474 receiving yards didn't add up into a trip to the end zone, Payton lined up on fourth down and used his feet in a different manner.
He kicked 5 field goals and averaged 39 yards per punt. Oh, and he made opponents pay for scoring against Jackson State by returning kickoffs for 43 yards at a clip.
Football Roundup thought so much of Payton's feats, the magazine named him the 1974 College Football Player of the Year.
Certain NFL teams didn't feel as strongly.
The Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys pulled off trades to move to the top of the draft, which began on Jan. 28, but they didn't do it with Payton in mind.
Atlanta traded its No. 1 draft pick (the third overall) and all-pro offensive tackle George Kunz to the Baltimore Colts for their No. 1 overall selection. The Falcons used it on quarterback Steve Bartkowski from California.
Bartkowski spent 10 years in Atlanta and became the franchise's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown throws, but he probably threw no better than Payton.
The Cowboys dealt quarterback veteran Craig Morton to the New York Giants for the No. 2 pick, which they used on defensive tackle Randy White.
White turned into an eight-time all-pro, but he probably didn't deliver more of a blow than Payton.
The Colts spent the No. 3 pick on the aforementioned Huff, who spent two years on the bench before serving as their starting right guard for six years. He probably couldn't block any better than Payton.
When the Colts drafted Huff, it was all new general manager Jim Finks and new coach Jack Pardee could do not to squeal with delight.
"We've been sweating it out all night," said Pardee, who declared the Bears would have taken Payton if they had owned the first pick. "What happened is what we were hoping for."
Someone suggested to Pardee that Payton was too small at 5-feet-101/4 and 200 pounds.
"But he runs big," Pardee said. "He's a big little man."
When Payton received word of his selection in Mississippi, he couldn't have sized up the situation more presciently.
Said Payton: "When I get through with Chicago, they'll be loving me.
"I'm glad I went that high in the draft. I hadn't really given much thought about who I was going to go with. I know Chicago is a nice place. I know it's cold in Chicago."
It's far colder today in Chicago.
