Syracuse, N.Y. – Jim Boeheim. Undefeated quarterback.

During Jim Boeheim’s three years as a varsity basketball player, Syracuse went 52-24. But on the intramural football field, Boeheim never suffered a loss.

As a graduate student at Syracuse from 1967 to 1969, Boeheim quarterbacked two different squads to a total of three intramural titles.

“Undefeated,’’ Boeheim said, recalling his days on the gridiron. “Three championships.’’

And when asked about his abilities as a quarterback, Boeheim replied, “I was the best ever.’’

Boeheim never played football in high school. Dick Blackwell, his basketball coach at Lyons (N.Y.) Central High School, had prohibited it.

Boeheim played basketball at Syracuse from 1963 to 1966, teaming with the legendary Dave Bing. His hoops career ended with a loss to Duke in the East Region finals of the 1966 NCAA tournament.

When he enrolled in graduate school, Boeheim became a residence assistant in Syracuse’s Sadler Hall. He became the quarterback for the dorm’s intramural football team.

“I invented an offense and it cannot be stopped by anybody,’’ Boeheim said. “We never even came close to losing.’’

Boeheim’s offense featured two receivers split almost to each sideline with two more players stationed halfway from the sideline to the middle of the field. Boeheim lined up behind the center. Every player was eligible to go out for a pass.

Coming off his college basketball career, Boeheim was also preparing to play in the Eastern Basketball League and, thus, remained in great shape.

“If they sent two guys after me, I just hit whoever wasn’t covered,’’ he said. “If they sent one guy, whichever way he came from, I ran the other way. The fields were a little muddy so they couldn’t catch me.’’

The following year, Boeheim became an RA for the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He would lead the fraternity’s team to the next two intramural titles.

“We scored every time we had the ball,’’ Boeheim said. “We never did not score. We scored every single time. We won most every game like 28-0.’’

Boeheim finished work on his master’s degree and in 1972 was promoted to full-time assistant. His football career was over.

“We were unbeatable,’’ Boeheim said.

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