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LEADING OFF
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Photograph by John W. McDonough
All Decked Out Camo-clad DeShawn Stephens (far left) and Chase Tapley of San Diego State shot down Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams during Sunday's Battle on the Midway. The ninth-ranked Orange beat the 20th-ranked Aztecs 62--49 in the season opener for both teams, played on the flight deck of the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway in San Diego Harbor in honor of Veterans Day.
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Photograph by Hy Peskin
Carmen Basilio 1927--2012 One of the most rugged fighters of his era, the "Upstate Onion Farmer" (from Canastota, N.Y.) won the welterweight title in 1955 with a 12th-round knockout of Tony DeMarco and was subsequently involved in The Ring magazine's Fight of the Year for five straight years. The string began with his 12th-round KO of DeMarco in the November '55 rematch (pictured here) and included Basilio's 15-round split decision over Sugar Ray Robinson for the middleweight title in 1957 and a split-decision loss to Robinson in the rematch in '58. Basilio retired in 1961 with a record of 56-16-7, and in 1990 he was among the inaugural class of the International Boxing Hall of Fame—located, partly in his honor, in Canastota. Reflecting on his career in 2004, Basilio told SI, "I'm just glad people haven't forgotten me."
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Photograph by John David Mercer/ US Presswire
'BAM! Texas A&M cornerback Dustin Harris laid the wood to Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron in the fourth quarter of the Aggies' 29--24 upset of the No. 1--ranked Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa last Saturday. A&M's Johnny Manziel (page 44) passed for 253 yards and two TDs and also rushed for a team-high 92 yards. The Aggies, making their SEC debut this season, climbed to eighth in the BCS ranking, while the reigning national champs fell to fourth. To see more great photos from this weekend's college football action, go to SI.com/Top25
