The year was 1989, and the Cleveland Browns were set to host the Chicago Bears for an October Monday Night Football showdown at Municipal Stadium.
Earlier in the season, Browns star wide receiver Webster Slaughter noticed 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice had started spray-painting his cleats red. The then 25-year-old had already added spunk to Cleveland's offense and was entering the discussion as the NFL's best deep threat.
Slaughter spent Monday afternoon spray-painting his cleats orange. Browns team historian Tony Dick said Slaughter invented the word swag 20 years before it would hit mainstream culture.
In the fourth quarter, with the Browns already up 17-0 on the Bears, Slaughter lit up the city of Cleveland, scoring a 97-yard touchdown from a Bernie Kosar deep pass. Tim Warsinskey of the News-Herald reported Slaughter and Kosar cooked up the play on the sideline just moments earlier.
With Bears cornerback Vestee Jackson chasing him all the way down the field, Slaughter shook the tackle and did a 360-degree turn into the end zone.
The spray-painted orange shoes worked. The Dawg Pound roared into the night. The headline from the Cleveland Plain Dealer? Browns make Stadium un-Bearable.
"I knew if the ball was there, it was going to be a touchdown," said Slaughter, who finished with a then career-high eight catches for 186 yards.
Cleveland went on to win the game 27-7, which ended up being the start of a prominent four-game win streak that eventually elevated the club into the playoffs and all the way to the AFC Championship game.
Slaughter finished the season with 65 receptions, 1,236 yards and six touchdowns. His yardage total from 1989 ranks fourth in franchise history.
Looking back at the collegiate careers of Browns SEC alumni.
The second top-10 pick on this list, Haden has built a reputation as one of the NFL's finest corners. Before being selected seventh overall in the 2010 draft, Haden honed his skills under Urban Meyer in Gainesville, earning All-American acolades.
Dwayne Bowe's LSU career saw him catch 180 passes for 2,598 yard and 24 touchdowns - one of the most prolific receivers in Tigers history.
Karlos Dansby stayed close to home for college - and had a prolific career as an Auburn Tiger. An inside linebacker in the NFL, Dansby started his collegiate career at safety before moving to outside linebacker.
Barkevious Mingo's speed on the edge terrorized SEC offensive lines throughout his Tigers career, leading to a top-10 selection in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Isaiah Crowell came to Georgia as one of the top recruits in his class - and immediately made an impact, with 856 yards and five touchdowns. After being dismissed from the team, he enrolled at Alabama State, and tallied 30 rushing touchdowns in two years for the Hornets.
The only Heisman winner on this list, Johnny Manziel burst onto the scene during his redshirt freshman year, then put up impressive stats the following year before entering the draft and being selected in the first round of the 2014 draft.
Georgia native Connor Shaw made the short trek north to Columbia, South Carolina, for his collegiate career - and he led the Gamecocks to a 27-5 record as a starter.
The second Commodore on this list, Ryan Seymour's Vanderbilt career was successful one, as he had 35 combined starts on the offensive line - at every position except for center. Additionally, he was a two-time selection for the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
This year's sixth-round pick, Malcolm Johnson has already carved out a role at fullback on the Browns - although he mostly played a tight end role with the Bulldogs.
California native Darrian Miller was a three-year starter at left tackle for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Mayfield, Ohio native Carey Spear earned accolades at Vanderbilt not just for his kicking, but for his reputation as a hard-hitter, making some highlight hits on kick returners.
