Planet Sport

That's what happened at Texea Southern University, where a certain Michael Strahan was such a dominant playing defensive end that double teams could not contain him and coaches came up with a new double teaming (even triple teaming) scheme dubbed the "Strahan Rules".

Strahan's trophy cabinet includes two First Team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference and SWAC's Player of the Year, as well as two SWAC Defensive Player of the Year in his four years at TSU. He was also named a First-team AP All-American in 1992.

Picked in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, Strahan was a one-team man till his retirement in 2007. In the 15 years as the team's key defensive end, Strahan would be the Giant's pillar of strength and defensive guru.

"I would define Strahan as the most intelligent defensive player on the field," noted Chris Cooley of the Washington Redskins in The Cooley Zone. "As I entered the NFL, Michael Strahan became a looming standard of competition. He played at a level far above anything I'd ever seen before and keeping up with him has made me a better player."

The Giants' number 92 set the standard of excellence when he broke the record for sacks in a single season with 22.5 in 2002; with then Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre deliberately diving into the 6 foot 5 inch behemoth to give his good friend the record.

Strahan would dominate the NFL as a defensive end from 2000 to 2005. The Giants' stalwart was named the 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was a two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2001 and 2003 for the fear he instilled in opponents every given weekend.

The pinnacle of Michael Strahan's career came on the 3rd of February 2008, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where he recorded two tackles and a sack in Super Bowl XLII, in what could be considered one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.

Bolstered by a strong defense and unrelenting pass rush, the Giants went on to win the game 17-14, over overwhelming favourite New England Patriots, giving Strahan his first Super Bowl victory in 15 seasons as an NFL starter.

Michael Strahan retired shortly after the 2007-08 season, uttering, "It's time, I'm done" to round up a stellar 15-year career.

The Giants' number 92 rode into the sunset with 141.5 career sacks, 794 career tackles, four career interceptions, 21 forced fumbles and two career touchdowns in 200 games over a 15 year career. He was also named to the Pro Bowl roster seven times during that span.

How right the coaches were back in 1992, when they evolved the double teaming idea and christened it: The Strahan Rules!