CHICAGO — Darryl Stingley, paralyzed after a vicious hit during an NFL exhibition game nearly 30 years ago, died Thursday. He was 55.

Stingley was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital after he was found unresponsive in his Chicago home, according to Tony Brucci, an investigator with the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The cause of death was not immediately available. An autopsy was scheduled.

Stingley, a star receiver with the New England Patriots, was left a quadriplegic after he was hit from behind by Oakland's Jack Tatum while trying to catch a pass.

The hit on Aug. 12, 1978 broke Stingley's neck, and he spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Big East and Southeastern Conference will match up for men's basketball games each of the next four years.The Big East-SEC Invitational will start in December with four games over two nights at two sites, all televised by either ESPN or ESPN2, the leagues and ESPN Regional Television announced Thursday.In this year's games, West Virginia will play Auburn on ESPN2 and Georgetown faces Alabama at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center on Dec. 5. ESPN will televise the second game.The following night, South Carolina meets Providence on ESPN2. LSU and Villanova will follow in an ESPN game.