EAST LANSING – When the big game happened, I was only 11 years old and battling all comers as a starting running back for the Westside Cubs. Football was starting to take center stage in my young life.

I remember it like it was yesterday. My dad, a football coach, and I waited with great anticipation for Michigan State to engage Notre Dame in the so-called “Game of the Century.”

Then the day was finally here. It was 1966 and Michigan State and Notre Dame laced up the cleats and played, what remains to this day, one of the greatest and most controversial games in college football history.

The game was played in Michigan State’s Spartan Stadium on Nov. 19, 1966, and MSU entered the contest 9-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country, while Notre Dame entered the game 8-0 and ranked No. 1.

In the closing minutes of the contest, Notre Dame, with the game tied 10-10, chose to sit on the ball instead of moving downfield. Thus, the game ended in a 10-10 tie with both schools recording national championships.

Both teams were filled with legendary All-Americans.

I did not research this, but I think it’s safe to say that probably no school has ever had four players drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft with the first eight picks.

The Baltimore Colts drafted defensive end Charles “Bubba” Smith with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1967 NFL Draft; the Minnesota Vikings selected running back Clint Jones with the No. 2 pick; the Houston Oilers took linebacker George Webster with the No. 5 pick; and the Vikings selected wide receiver Gene Washington with the No. 8 pick.

Out of this quadrant of MSU stars, Webster stood out for me. Although I was not a defensive player as an athlete, I just liked number ‘90’ in your program.

Recently at MSU’s annual Green and White Spring Game, the Spartans remembered Webster as the annual scrimmage was played in memory of Webster, who died a year ago. A commemorative poster depicting his career as a Spartan football great was distributed.

The Spring Game provided an opportunity to raise funds for the George Webster Scholarship Fund, created in February 2007. The Scholarship Fund provides opportunities for two former student-athletes to return to Michigan State each year to complete their degrees.

For the first time ever at the Spring Game, fans had the opportunity to purchase press box seats and enjoy the same view as the media. One hundred press box seats were sold, and all proceeds from the sale went to the George Webster Scholarship Fund.

My hero and legend, Webster, who played at MSU from 1964 to 1966, roamed the field as a roverback, a unique position created by MSU Head Coach Duffy Daugherty as a combination safety-linebacker. Daugherty needed a player who could run with wide receivers but was strong enough to take on any running back.

Webster’s Spartan teams compiled a 23-6-1 record during his tenure. As an individual, Webster was named to the All-Big Ten and All-American teams in 1965 and 1966; his number ‘90’ was the second to be retired by the university; he was named MSU’s “Greatest Player” ever in 1969; and he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Life changed, however, as Webster entered the professional ranks.

He was named American Football League (AFL) Rookie of the Year in 1967, selected to the AFL All-Star Game three times (1967, 1968 and 1969), and is a member of the AFL All-Time Team.

Yet, pro football snubbed its nose at Webster.

In 1989, Webster applied for benefits as totally and permanently disabled. He was found to have lost most use of a hand, foot, knee and ankle due to football-related injuries, but, oddly, he did not meet the NFL’s definition as being totally disabled.

He had fought for his rightful compensation from the NFL over health issues and lost. And in 1998, the Supreme Court let stand a finding by the NFL’s retirement board that Webster’s disability was not related to his football career.

It is a shame. At the time, football-related disability benefits were $4,000 a month; non-football disability monthly benefits were $750.

As usual, capitalism ruled and the real needs of a wonderful human being were pushed to the side. In the end, the system ruled and humanity lost.

Leland Stein can be heard on WGPR radio (107.5) every Sunday from 11 p.m. to midnight. He can be reached at lelstein3@aol.com.