NEW YORK -- A football injury 25 years ago left Mike Utley paralyzed. The former Washington State and Detroit Lions offensive lineman played before concussion protocol, targeting fouls and rule tweaks intended to make a violent game safer.Ask him about the way the game has changed over the years and he responds with a question: Do I have to be politically correct?Utley still misses football and tries to stay as close to it as he can, whether hes attending Cougars games in Pullman, Washington, or Lions games in Detroit or pee-wee games wherever. He was able to reconnect again on Tuesday as part of the National Football Foundations latest class to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.Utley, who grew up in Seattle, was a three-time All-Pac 10 selection and an All-American as a senior in 1988 at Washington State. He was joined in the latest class of Hall of Famers by 13 players and two coaches:-Nebraska-Omaha quarterback Marlin Briscoe-Florida State linebacker Derrick Brooks-Ohio State linebacker Tom Cousineau-UNLV quarterback and punter Randall Cunningham-Iowa State running back Troy Davis-North Carolina defensive tackle William Fuller- LSU quarterback Bert Jones-Wisconsin defensive lineman Tim Krumrie-Harvard tight end and punter Pat McInally-Colorado defensive end Herb Orvis-Ashland linebacker Bill Royce-Georgia defensive back Scott Woerner-Purdue defensive back Rod Woodson-New Hampshire coach Bill Bowes-Lycoming coach Frank GirardiKrumrie and McInally were former NFL teammates with the Cincinnati Bengals, and they sat next to each other on the hotel dais during a news conference Tuesday for the new Hall of Famers.This is the greatest player Ive ever seen on any level, McInally said about Krumrie. I loved being your teammate, man.Utley, 50, was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1989 and became starter. In 1991, he suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury during a game against the Rams at the Silverdome. The injury paralyzed him from the chest down, but he famously gave a thumbs-up as he was being taken off the field.He said players today are stronger, theyre faster, theyre meaner, tougher than what we were back down there. But he doesnt think the game needs to change.Its a choice we all chose to cross that white line, Utley said. No. 1 it is our personal responsibility to take accountability for our own actions on and off the field.Utley blocked for record-breaking quarterbacks Timm Rosenbach and Mark Rypien at Washington State. He said the teammate he most wanted to share his Hall of Fame news with was no longer around. Chris Dyko was killed when a car hit him while he was riding his bicycle in January 2015. Dyko played right tackle next to Utley at guard for three seasons at Washington State.He was my right side and we were two peas in a pod, Utley said. I miss him the most him not being here.Utley called his continued rehabilitation a lifestyle.I learned to cherish the moment of getting up, getting to the gym with my hand cycle. Competing with my wife in the weight room and when we go to the gun range, Utley said. Its living life is what I cherish. I dont wait for a cure, I live for one.The Mike Utley Foundation works to raise money and support research for the treatment of spinal cord injuries.And when it comes to playing football, Utley said he has no regrets.When you ask me personally what I think of the game, he said. I miss it tremendously and I would go do it all over again even though Im sitting in here a crippled dude.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAPMore college football http://collegefootball.ap.org/ Marcus Allen Jersey . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Wholesale Chiefs Jerseys China . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. http://www.cheapchiefsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-christian-okoye-jersey . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Larry Johnson Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. Len Dawson Jersey . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. LOS ANGELES -- It looks like Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young hasnt learned much about fireworks safety from New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.TMZ Sports has posted a Snapchat video of Young holding up a firework in his hand as it explodes. TMZ says the video was taken at a Fourth of July party, and that Young wasnt injured.The Lakers say they have no comment on it. Youngs agent hasnt responded to a request for comment..ddddddddddddierre-Paul was featured in a public service announcement produced by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission about fireworks safety released last week. He shows off his mangled right hand in the video. Part of Pierre-Pauls hand had to be amputated last year following a fireworks accident. ' ' '