Eternal arguments endure.
Nelly or Diddy? Stoly or Ketel? Paper or plastic?
Why not both? Broaden your horizons as an increasing number of schools have done. In other words, it is possible to be good at football and basketball at the major-college level. All it takes is a few million dollars, a couple of good hires and a little bit of dedication.
Bobby Petrino's Cards finished the season ranked No. 19. (Getty Images)
It's important because the two sports bring in the most money at most schools. The list used to be small enough to jot on a cocktail napkin. Now it's a full-blown bar argument.
No Duke, Stanford or Michigan on this list. See if you agree with this group, based the latest accomplishments at each school:
1. Texas: Top 10 programs in both sports. National champion in football. Seven straight NCAA appearances in basketball (including a Final Four in 2003).
When Texas decides to do something, it does it big. Rick Barnes arrived in 1998 and the Longhorns took off. AD DeLoss Dodds provided the budget and facilities, Barnes did the rest. He attracted top in-state talent and the Horns are on track to win the Big 12 this year.
2. Oklahoma: Actually football had to catch up to basketball. Kelvin Sampson arrived 11 years ago, keeping Billy Tubbs' momentum going. It wasn't until Bob Stoops got to Norman in 1999 that Oklahoma football turned around.
When you think Oklahoma you think bloody noses -- whether its one given by a Taj Gray elbow or an Adrian Peterson shoulder.
In any given year the Sooners are candidates to go to the Final Four and BCS title game.
3. Florida: Along with Austin, Gainesville might be the epicenter of big-time college athletics right now. Two charismatic coaches (Billy Donovan, Urban Meyer) and national prominence for both programs.
Since 1996 Florida has won a national championship in football and been to a Final Four. After winning nine in his first season, Meyer added the latest capper with a No. 1 recruiting class.
4. Louisville: The Next Big Thing in football, an established national power in basketball. Credit AD Tom Jurich who led a facilities revolution and has survived schools cherry-picking his football coaches (or at least attempting to).
The football Cards are 22-5 since mid-November 2003. Meanwhile, Denny Crum's legacy remains. Basketball is coming off a Final Four berth last year.
5. Wisconsin: The home of the 1,000-yard back and paint-by-number defensive basketball.
Barry Alvarez built football into a Big Ten power. It seems the Badgers are in every Big Ten race in November.
Dick Bennett took the Badgers to the 2000 Final Four. Bo Ryan carried on winning either the regular-season or conference tournament titles from 2002-04. An Elite Eight run was ended last year by eventual champion North Carolina.
6. Ohio State: Since '99 Ohio State has endured an NCAA scandal in basketball and Maurice Clarett in football. It also has a Final Four appearance and a football national championship. Not too many schools could survive embarrassing scandals in both sports and chase national championships.
We knew Jim Tressel was Teflon; who has the non-stick formula in basketball?
7. Boston College: This is what Notre Dame wants to be: BC has won six consecutive bowl games and finished tied for the Atlantic Division title in its first year in the ACC. Al Skinner is about to take the basketball Eagles to their fourth tournament in six years.
8. UCLA: Even though there was a merry-go-round of coaches, UCLA never wavered in its desire to keep basketball on the national stage.
Ben Howland is the latest and has the Bruins ranked in the top 10 and leading the Pac-10. Karl Dorrell just completed a 10-win season, proving he won't cede the entire city to USC.
9. Pittsburgh: Hard to believe, but Pittsburgh is not just about the Steelers. We swear.
Walt Harris brought the football program back to a BCS level. Dave Wannstedt was disappointing in his first year but is destined to win a Big East title before he's through.
Howland and Jamie Dixon have the basketball program back to an elite level. Great accomplishments in an urban-campus setting.
10. Connecticut: This is a Lew Perkins production. The Huskies' former AD decided UConn could play big-time football. His vision was realized with a new stadium (Rentschler Field), a talented coach (Randy Edsall) and early entry into the Big East.
Oh yeah, that Calhoun guy does OK too.
11. Georgia Tech: Nine straight bowls under three coaches add up to one of the biggest enigmas in college football.
It has won exactly seven games for the last four consecutive seasons. Still, that's more consistent than, say, Notre Dame.
Or George O'Leary who essentially traded the middle of the ACC for the Central of Florida by ignoring White Out on his resume.
Since 1990, the school has been to two Final Fours and shared a national championship in football. Current hoops coach Paul Hewitt joins Bobby Cremins and Bobby Ross as keepers of the flame for the Yellow Jackets.
12. Utah: The influences of Meyer, Ron McBride and Rick Majerus are still being felt.
A year after a Fiesta Bowl berth, the Utes kept the momentum going with a Emerald Bowl win against Georgia Tech in Kyle Whittingham's first season.
Basketball is down (10-10 as of Monday) but not out. Remember, this was a program that was in the Final Four in 1998.
McBride set things up for Meyer, and AD Chris Hill has taken advantage of the 2002 Olympics facilities and a downturn by rival BYU to fine-tune both revenue producers.
Honorable mention
Alabama: Yeah, yeah football is king but probation keeps getting in the way. Mark Gottfried is 4-4 in the NCAA Tournament including an Elite Eight appearance in '04.
Without the ugly football probation, 'Bama might be on the best-of list.
Iowa: Two NCAA Tournaments since 1999. Steve Alford currently has the Hawkeyes alone in first in the Big Ten.
Kirk Ferentz has football going to New Year's Day bowls and among the big three in the Big Ten.
LSU: The John Brady Revolution continues in basketball. Through Nick Saban and Les Miles, LSU continues to be a national contender in football.
Memphis: You've got to love an AD who digs Elvis so much he has one of The King's guitars glued to the front of his desk. R.C. Johnson oversees a department that could be mistaken for the 13th SEC franchise.
The last Tigers' football coach to leave the school with a winning record was Fred Pancoast (20-12-1). Tommy West is 32-28, including a nine-win season in 2003, the school's first in 40 years.
John Calipari has stayed around long enough to get basketball to its highest point in 30 years.
Northern Iowa: Surprise! Best story in the best mid-major conference (Missouri Valley). The Panthers have beaten Iowa and LSU this year. They are in the second week of being ranked for the first time.
The football team lost in the I-AA national championship game last year and had tight end Ryan Hannam, a former Panther, in the Super Bowl for the Seahawks.
N.C. State: Carolina football hasn't been much since Mack Brown left. NC State has been, well, OK in both sports.
Herb Sendek was once on the hot seat, but turned down the heat with four straight NCAA appearances including a Sweet 16 last year.
Chuck "The Chest" Amato might have gotten out of trouble with a 7-5 bowl season after going 5-6 in 2004. He is 46-28 in six years and made a habit of beating Florida State.
Notre Dame: Maybe a reach here but AD Kevin White's stated goal is to stay competitive in every sport. Football drives the bus, but basketball hasn't been to the tournament since '03. This year's team is 1-8 in the Big East.
UTEP: How many basketball programs have major motion pictures made about them? Mike Price has led the Miners to consecutive 8-4 seasons that ended in bowl games. Miners were 4-21 in the previous two seasons before Price.
West Virginia: Football will start out in the top five this fall. Basketball is currently in the top 10 after an Elite Eight appearance last year. Have you been Pittsnogled?
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