On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling October 14 NFL Gridiron

October 14th, 2023 - 8:42

Long before kneeling knuckleheads and politicized multiple anthems, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three do-everything members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoop selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on October 14 in football at the professional level (especially in 1962 and 1973):

OCTOBER 14

  • Detroit Wolverines E Carl Bacchus (three-year Missouri hoops letterman in mid-1920s) opened and completed game's scoring with touchdown receptions in a 35-12 win against the New York Yankees in 1928.

  • Green Bay Packers WR Don Beebe (Aurora College IL junior varsity hooper in 1983-84) delivered career highs of 11 pass receptions and 220 receiving yards - including 59-yard touchdown catch from Brett Favre - in a 23-20 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1996.

  • Baltimore Colts DE Ordell Braase (first-team All-NCC pick for South Dakota in 1952-53 and 1953-54) returned a fumble recovery 10 yards for touchdown in 36-14 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1962. Colts E R.C. Owens (led small colleges with 27.1 rpg in 1953-54 while also averaging 23.5 ppg for College of Idaho) caught two TD passes from Johnny Unitas.

  • Philadelphia Eagles WR Harold Carmichael (starter two seasons for Southern LA averaged 9.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 1969-70) caught 12 passes for 187 yards, including two touchdown receptions from Roman Gabriel, in a 27-24 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973.

  • Chicago Bears FB Rick Casares (Florida's scoring and rebounding leader both seasons as All-SEC second-team selection in 1951-52 and 1952-53) rushed for two second-half touchdowns in a 31-7 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1956.

  • Chicago Bears TE Mike Ditka (averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Pittsburgh in 1958-59 and 1959-60) caught eight passes for 132 yards in a 34-27 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1962.

  • Chicago Cardinals B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1916) accounted for all of game's scoring with two touchdowns, two field goals and one extra point in a 19-0 win against the Akron Pros in 1923.

  • Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught nine passes - including two touchdowns - in a 27-20 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2007.

  • Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw six touchdown passes - five in first half - in a 61-14 AAFC win against the Los Angeles Dons in 1949. Browns QB Cliff Lewis (Duke hoops letterman in 1945) threw for one TD and rushed for another in second half.

  • Houston Oilers WR Bill Groman (Heidelberg OH scoring average leader as sophomore and junior while averaging 14.6 ppg and 4.8 rpg from 1954-55 through 1957-58) caught two first-quarter touchdown passes from George Blanda in a 56-17 AFL win against the New York Titans in 1962. TE teammate Bob McLeod (all-time leading rebounder for Abilene Christian TX with 1,237 from 1957-58 through 1960-61) also caught two TD passes from Blanda.

  • Carolina Panthers WR Donald Hayes (played in two basketball games for Wisconsin in 1995-96 under coach Dick Bennett) had a career-high seven pass receptions in 27-25 setback against the New Orleans Saints in 2001.

  • Los Angeles Rams rookie E Norb Hecker (four-sport letterman including hoops with Baldwin-Wallace OH) caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Bob Waterfield in 27-21 win against the Detroit Lions in 1951.

  • Los Angeles Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting hoops center for Michigan in 1944) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 24-21 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1956.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's scoring leader with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) caught two touchdown passes in a 38-10 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) threw three second-half touchdown passes in a 31-28 setback against the Tennessee Titans in 2001.

  • Denver Broncos QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) threw four touchdown passes in a 48-20 win against the Houston Oilers in 1973.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers RB John Henry Johnson (made 5-of-8 FGAs in five games for Saint Mary's in 1950-51) rushed for more than 110 yards in third consecutive game in 1962.

  • Baltimore Ravens WR Jacoby Jones (part-time starter averaged 3.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg for Lane TN in 2004-05 and 2005-06) returned a kickoff 108 yards for touchdown in 31-29 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 2012.

  • Chicago Bears DB R.W. McQuarters (Oklahoma State hooper in 1995-96 and 1996-97 started two games) returned a fumble recovery 69 yards for touchdown in 20-13 win against the Arizona Cardinals in 2001.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers E Elbie Nickel (Cincinnati's second-leading scorer in 1942 also earned hoop letter in 1947) caught two touchdown passes - one for 77 yards - in a 28-24 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1951.

  • Philadelphia Eagles WR John "Red" O'Quinn (scored 91 points for Wake Forest's basketball team in 1947-48 under coach Murray Greason) had a career-long 38-yard pass reception in 37-24 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1951.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) had three of his league-high 16 touchdown receptions - including a 52-yarder in overtime to finish with nine catches for 183 yards - in 37-31 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 2001. The next year, Owens caught two TD passes from Garcia in a 28-21 win against the Seattle Seahawks in 2002.

  • Atlanta Falcons WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) had nine pass receptions for 172 yards - including two touchdowns - in a 45-35 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1990. Three years later, Rison had two TD catches in a 30-24 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1993.

  • Washington Redskins LB Dave Robinson (made two free throws and grabbed five rebounds in two basketball games for Penn State in 1960-61) returned an interception 28 yards for touchdown in 21-3 win against the New York Giants in 1973.

  • In his pro debut, Oakland Raiders RB Willie Simpson (San Francisco State letterman in 1960 and 1961 as hoops forward) rushed six times for 22 yards in a 23-6 AFL setback against the Denver Broncos in 1962.

  • Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 37-31 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1973. Cowboys WR Otto Stowe (collected 12 points and five rebounds in four Iowa State basketball games in 1968-69) had two TD receptions. Six years later, Staubach completed 13-of-18 passes - including three TDs - in a 30-6 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1979.

  • Kansas City Chiefs TE Morris Stroud Jr. (tallest TE in NFL history averaged 7.2 ppg and 10.2 rpg in 1967-68 when 6-10 junior shot team-high 50.9 FG% from floor for Clark Atlanta GA) opened game's scoring with a touchdown reception from Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) in 10-10 tie against the Green Bay Packers in 1973.

  • New York Giants DB Emlen Tunnell (forward was top reserve for Toledo team compiling 22-4 record and finishing second in 1943 NIT) returned a punt 81 yards for touchdown in 28-17 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1951.

  • Boston Redskins rookie HB Ted Wright (North Texas State hoops letterman in 1932) scored his lone NFL touchdown with a 59-yard rush in 39-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1934.