On Friday, in conjunction with "ESPN Classic Michigan" (noon - 9 p.m. ET, Saturday), former Michigan St. head basketball coach Jud Heathcote dropped by to take your questions.

Heathcote spent 19 years at Michigan State, where he captured one national championship and three Big 10 titles. His record at Michigan State was 340-220, with a career mark of 420-273. He coached in nine NCAA tournaments and three NIT's. He retired in 1995 as Michigan State's all-time winningest basketball coach.

Heathcote also served as assistant coach for the United States team in the Pan American games in 1975 and 1987, and was a head coach at the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1989.

Neal Anderson
This is Neal Anderson. I am definitely looking forward to the big showdown in Tallahassee this weekend. I am going to be there. The Gators need all the support they can get and it's going to be an exciting ball game.

Jeremy from evansville.edu
Neal, how did playing in the NFL for the Chicago Bears against the Packers, compare to playing against your rivals in college, mainly Florida State.

Neal Anderson
Actually, the rivalry in Chicago with the Packers was probably bigger to me because during my four years at Florida we never lost to FSU so the rivalry wasn't as big as it has become. Against Green Bay, it was a big rivalry. We played them twice a year, so it was a blood bath. One of my favorite teams to play was Green Bay because the rivalry was so intense. They hated me because I played with Chicago. One game, I got into some heated conversation with some fans at Lambeau. I had a big run towards the end of a game. I went to get into some conversation with them and they stood up and cheered me. I didn't know whether to cry or not because they truly appreciate good football. And it's truly one of the moments I will never forget in football. We won that game. The run I made towards the end sealed it. I came towards the sideline to the fans and they gave me a little standing ovation. I got the chills cause I was ready for another conversation.

Gatorfan:
Neal,
What's your favorite moment from an FL-FSU game? Also, is the crowd louder in Gainesville or Tallahassee?

Neal Anderson:
When I played, it was a lot louder in Gainsville. At that time, the Gator fans had more to cheer about. No one game stood out because we won all four of them. In the majority of them, we were expected to win. It wasn't as big as it is now with two national powers going at it. That was usually a game we expected to win and I was hoping to get some stats.

Roland:
How much did Walter Payton teach you?

Neal Anderson:
Actually, he didn't really teach me much in terms of playing the game. But the greatest lesson I learned from him was the way he worked. When I got to Chicago, he was one of the best to ever play. He worked in the off-season like a rookie trying to make the team. The work ethic was something you could learn from him. A running back's style is his own, it's instinctive.

Jaubry35:
What are you doing now that your outstanding football career is over?

Neal Anderson:
I am on the Board of Directors for the Community Bank of Marion County located in Ocala, Florida. A group of us started it two years ago. I was an organizer. Now, we have four banks. The fourth opens the end of this month. I am also President of 35 Farms in Florida, a peanut producing farm.

Candy:
Neal, what do you think about Coach Spurrier and do you think you would have enjoyed playing under him? Do you still play in the Chris Collingsworth golf tournament every year?

Neal Anderson:
I usually play in the Collinsworth golf tournament if it fits into the schedule. It's a good chance to get together with the guys if I can. A lot of alumni usually come back for it. A lot of guys that went on to the NFL and those that didn't. It's one of the few chances you get to see everybody. Coach Spurrier's record speaks for itself. He has been awfully successful. He's obviously good coach. I like the style of football I played in, a more post out offense. We featured the run more than the pass. One year we had four future first round picks (James Jones-Detroit, Lorenzo Hampton-Miami, John L Williams-Seattle and myself) in the back field. We were a little more run oriented and that suited me. I like that style.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flowerman from espn.com at 12:29pm ET Neal, here's an easy one. Who will win this year's Florida vs. Florida State game? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:30pm ET With my head, I have to say it's a toss up. I think if u had to be honest about it, I think FSU might have a slight advantage, a team that hasn't lost at home since 1991, it's hard to give anyone an advantage over them playing in Tallahassee. Although the Gators put up a lot of points against anybody, so they definitely have a chance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeremy from evansville.edu at 12:30pm ET What was the best advice you ever received and from who? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:32pm ET I think the best advice I ever received is from my parents. A couple things - my mom always told me, 'You are a good as the best and better than the rest.' She would instill that in me, basically I could do anything that I set my mind too and I believed it. That and also a basic way to treat people no matter how successful u become. That has carried over to letting me succeed in college and the pros. That's the biggest thing, there is a way to treat people, and it's a great lesson my parents taught me. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kurt from espn.com at 12:32pm ET What was it like to come into Chicago knowing you were supposed to replace Walter Payton? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:34pm ET I thought it was great because I knew that all eyes were going to be on me because that was looked at as an impossible task. Like me, if u believe in your abilities, there is no greater position to be put in because everybody is going to be looking. I welcomed it. The Bears knew what I could do. They didn't need a running back at the time and chose me with their first round pick and that told me what they thought about me. They knew what I could do. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sal from [155.40.239.166] at 12:35pm ET Who was the best practical joker you ever played with -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:36pm ET Walter Payton, no question. He had some kind of prank he was pulling on somebody at least every other day. There are times my rookie year he would disguise his voice like he was some model that got my number. We had 15-20 minute conversations before I realized what was going on. That was typical, he enjoyed himself. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- kevin from stcl1.mi.home.com at 12:36pm ET any aspirations of coaching in your future? with the xfl and all the arena teams, i think you might have a job if you wanted one -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:37pm ET As of right now, I don't see it in the future. I have a 2-year-old little boy (TC) and an 8-week-old daughter (Camille) so I've got an important job of raising kids. I am in a position to be able to spend some quality time with them. That is the most important job. And to coach, you have to give that up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- mugsy62 from treca.org at 12:38pm ET whats your thoughts on the bears current rushing situation? do you think enis will ever produce as expected? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:39pm ET I haven't seen a lot of him run the ball and his health situation. He obviously has a lot of talent. Transferring it to the pro ranks is obviously another story. We knew what he could do in college. But I haven't seen enough of him (at the pro level) to make a fair assessment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dargis from espn.com at 12:39pm ET Neal,

How did you get into peanut farming? That's seems worlds away from life in the NFL. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:40pm ET I have a business partner that talked to me about it. It was more of an investment than anything. He knew a lot about it. He oversees the day to day operations. I am president of it, own 80 percent, but don't oversee the operations. I have had it since 1991 and it turns out to be a great investment. But I am not a day to day peanut farmer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Benjamin Brednich from proxy.aol.com at 12:41pm ET Neal- I grew up in Chicago and remember reading an article aobut your concussions you would receive during the game. Were they pretty severe? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:42pm ET I had a couple that were pretty severe and fortunately, since football, I have had no side effects or after effects that have come from football. I was extremely blessed to play that style and that physically and come out relatively healthy. I can play tennis, golf and chase my little boy around. Not a lot of people can do that after playing the sport for 8 years. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- kevin schroeder from stcl1.mi.home.com at 12:43pm ET what back in the nfl do you think is most like your running style? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:45pm ET Edgerrin James. If I could run over anybody, I could and I had a lot of speed to get by people. I could catch passes too. I talked to Marshall Faulk at a golf tournament and he thanked me for that style. That made me feel kind of old. Marshall has been a little more effective at it. He's pretty successful. Seeing a halfback get split out wide, for example. Not many people did that when I was playing. James is physical, he will pound it up the middle, get tough yards and can get to the corner and not a lot of people are going to catch him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vik from Chicago from ce.mediaone.net at 12:46pm ET What is the difference between stars in college who perform well in the NFL and those who don't? Why haven't Enis, Kijana Carter panned out? How much of it is mental, physical? How much is the scouts' fault? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:48pm ET I think some of it is luck, being put in the right situation on the right team. Every player won't fit every offensive team, their style. Especially running backs, the guys that succeed seem to get off to a pretty good start their first couple years. Those that get off to shakier starts have a tougher time, especially in bigger cities like Chicago, where the media and fans are tougher. Some can't handle the negative media focus. Expectations are high if u are a high pick. Some guys when they get to the NFL aren't as good as the scouts think because u play tougher guys. U have to play more physically and tougher or u aren't going to be successful. In college, u can just be more athletic. At the next level, u play more games, against tougher people every week, first round picks, etc. They don't think anything about your athleticism. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nowling from [209.251.131.235] at 12:50pm ET I'm from DeFuniak Springs florida. Do you remember the big games with us when you played for Graceville in high school? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:51pm ET Most definitely. Actually, we played them to get into the playoffs one year. I remember Jeff Webb was the head coach there. It was a long time ago but I remember it. I play both offense and defense. I was at linebacker. They were calling plays at line of scrimmage and I picked up the signals. We were at their place. They didn't have any more success after that since I picked up their signals. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:52pm ET I have been over to speak at their high school banquet since then for Jeff Webb when he was coaching there. He's a very good football coach. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pete from [162.6.230.40] at 12:52pm ET Neal, What will Shane Matthews need to do this weekend in Tampa to get the win? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:53pm ET The biggest thing that will help him is prayer. That will be in order. He's facing a phenomenal defense. This is a division game. It will be tough against that defense. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- will flagg from twmaine.com at 12:53pm ET What are the GAtors chances of beating FSU this weekend? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:55pm ET I think the chances are good. It depends on the Gators offense. If it's clicking, I think they have a chance where most people go into Tallahassee don't. I'd give FSU the edge playing at home. But if the Gators get off to a good start and quiet the crowd a little bit, I think they will have a really good chance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neal Anderson at 12:56pm ET I think if u like football, no matter what school u like, u have to like a weekend like this coming up, two teams in the top five with equal talent with national tv prime time. As a player, if u don't like this, u have a problem. This is what I loved. Some people don't like it too much and if not, they won't be too successful at their sport. I'd like to thank the fans that supported me thru the years in Florida and Chicago. It meant a lot to me.