Tommy Casanova Thomas Henry Casanova , III , known as Tommy Casanova ( born July 29 , 1950 ) , is an ophthalmologist in Crowley , Louisiana , and a former American football player and politician . He played football for the LSU Tigers and the Cincinnati Bengals . He is also a Republican former member of the Louisiana State Senate , having served from 1996 to 2000 . Early life . Casanova was born in New Orleans on July 29 , 1950 . While his father , Dr . Thomas H . Casanova Jr . served in the Korean War , Casanova ' s mother raised her children in New Orleans and Opelousas . When his father returned from Korea , the family moved to Crowley , Louisiana . Casanova graduated in 1968 from the Roman Catholic Notre Dame High School in Crowley , the seat of Acadia Parish . College . After high school , Casanova went to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge , where he became one of the greatest LSU football players in the history of the institution . He played three seasons for LSU : 1969 , 1970 , and 1971 . In 1969 , LSU fielded four defensive All - Americans in linebackers George Bevan and Mike Anderson , defensive tackle Ronnie Estay , and defensive back Tommy Casanova . Along with quarterback Mike Hillman , this team has been labeled by some sportswriters as the greatest ever assembled by LSU . The Tigers lost only one game that year to arch - rival University of Mississippi . Yet , the Tigers defeated Auburn University , 21 - 20 , only from an extra point in an afternoon game in Tiger Stadium televised by ABC . Casanova did it all at LSU , playing running back , punt returner , kick returner , and defensive back . During each of his three years at LSU , he was selected as a member of the College Football All - America Team Casanova is the only three - time All - American in LSU history . ) In the " September 13 , 1971 " issue of Sports Illustrated , the magazine featured Casanova on the front cover , with the headline : " Tommy Casanova of LSU , Best Player in the Nation . " In 2000 , the Walter Camp Football Foundation selected Casanova for their All - Century team NFL . In 1972 , Casanova was drafted in Round 2 , pick 29 by the Cincinnati Bengals . He played safety for the Bengals from 1972 to 1977 , being selected to the Pro Bowl in 1974 , 1975 , 1976 , and 1977 . Known as a faster than average , hard - hitting free safety , Casanova also collected 17 career interceptions , in what is considered a short career . Later life . While playing for the Bengals , Casanova began to pursue his M . D . at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine . In 1977 , he quit playing football early to pursue his medical degree full - time . He graduated from the UC College of Medicine in 1980 , and then began a three - year residency in ophthalmology in New Orleans . After completing his residency in 1983 , Casanova went on to complete a specialization in Oculoplastic Surgery at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City . Politics . In the historically Democratic District 26 , the Republican Casanova upset veteran state Senator Armand Brinkhaus of Sunset , a small town in St . Landry Parish , in the 1995 Louisiana nonpartisan blanket primary . Casanova received 21 , 543 votes ( 58 percent ) to Brinkhaus ' 15 , 753 ( 42 percent ) . In addition to Acadia and St . Landry , the district included parts of five other parishes : Avoyelles , Calcasieu , Cameron , Jefferson Davis , and Lafayette . During his term Casanova served alongside another physician , Donald E . Hines of Bunkie in Avoyelles Parish in District 28 , who subsequently was the state Senate President from 2004 to 2008 . After a single term , Casanova declined to seek reelection and returned to his ophthalmology practice in Crowley . He was succeeded by the Democrat Fred Hoyt . In the 2003 gubernatorial election , Casanova supported a Democratic candidate , former State Senate President Randy Ewing of Jackson Parish in north Louisiana . Ewing ' s term as Senate president coincided with Casanova ' s legislative years . Family . Casanova resides in Crowley with his wife , the former Jeanne Basara . They have two children , Lauren and Dominic . Like her father before her , Lauren Casanova attended LSU . His son , Dominic Casanova , attends Louisiana State University at Eunice . Casanova is a member of the Louisiana and Acadia Parish medical societies as well as the Louisiana Clean Team , the LSU Alumni Association , and Ducks Unlimited .