Why Allen Iverson still says he wanted to play football at Notre Dame
Some dreams never die.
Former NBA MVP and Hall of Fame point guard Allen Iverson once again went on record to tell listeners of the Dan Patrick Show last week that had he been afforded the opportunity, he would have loved to play football at Notre Dame. Legal trouble as a result of Iverson’s involvement in a bowling alley brawl in his native Virginia prevented that from ever happening.
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Originally convicted of the felony “maiming-by-mob” for allegedly striking a women with a chair during the infamous 1993 fight, Iverson was later acquitted of the charge because of insufficient evidence. He missed his entire senior year of athletics, but Georgetown basketball John Thompson Jr. had enough film on Iverson from his first three prep seasons to offer him a basketball scholarship.
Iverson averaged 23 points per game in college. But who knows how many touchdowns he could accounted for.
“(Football) was my first love,” Iverson told Patrick. “It was the first game I fell in love with. I just feel like my versatility, being able to play so many different positions (led me to) having more of an impact because I was able to play on both sides of the ball.”
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Iverson said there was a time when he thought he might be able to play both sports at Georgetown.
“We had to walk to the gym everyday from class, and I always had to pass the football field,” Iverson said. “Going past the football field, I’d always get emotional. Tears would be coming out of my eyes because I missed the game so much. One day I built up enough courage to ask (Thompson) if I could play. Due to language, I don’t think I can say what he said. But I never thought about playing again. I knew it wasn’t happening.”
According to ClutchPoints, Iverson accounted for 21 touchdowns and over 2,200 yards during a junior-year run to a state championship at Hampton (Va.) Bethel High School. Imagine an alternate universe in which Iverson was the first eye-popping dual-threat quarterback of his generation, running and throwing for scores in a patented golden helmet.
That could have been closer to becoming reality than many realize.
“I really wanted to go to Notre Dame,” Iverson said. “I wanted to go to Notre Dame.”
