This year, however, Phillips is starting to catch on.

On the gridiron, the 6-ft., 5-in. Phillips was an integral part of the Crimson's passing attack, nabbing 14 passes for 191 yards, and two touchdowns.

He's still not in shape for basketball, "I'm far from it," he says, but he is trying to make up for it in other ways.

"I'm making up for my physical deficiencies by being mentally prepared," Phillips said. "Physically, I was a little slow, a step slower than everyone else [in the Lapchick tournament] and the mechanics of my shot are not there just yet."

Phillips has been practicing with his basketball teammates since Monday of last week, only two days after the conclusion of the gridders' Ivy winning championships season, yet he saw 19 minutes of action as the Crimson placed third in the Lapchick tournament.

"The second I stepped onto the court," Phillips said, "football season was over."

Although he missed all six shots he took in the two combined games, he did come up with a pair of steals in the Crimson's 87-83 consolation victory over Tennesse Tech.

"Coach Roby gave me some valuable game conditioning minutes," Phillips said. "He's always been very understanding."

"I'm very hopeful that when Neil gets back into shape again," Roby said, "and when he gets comfortable, and we get comfortable playing with him, that he'll give us a tremendous boost."

"Things are falling into place although I never thought it would be easy," Phillips said.