Walking Tall: Sky is the Limit for Purdue With 7-4 Zach Edey Manning Middle

November 18th, 2023 - 8:59

Sky-is-the-limit expectations face 7-5 Jamarion Sharp of Mississippi and 7-4 Zach Edey of Purdue. It will be a tall order, but their development likely will determine whether or not their teams thrive. Believe it or not, there has previously been a striking number of towering players with higher points of view.

Who have been the tallest players in major-college history? Seven of 11 NCAA Division I players taller than 7-4 have impacted major-college hoops this century and could literally look down upon national Player of Year winners Lew Alcindor (7-2/UCLA), Anthony Davis (7-0/Kentucky), Patrick Ewing (7-0/Georgetown) and Shaquille O'Neal (7-1/Louisiana State) plus two-time All-Americans Artis Gilmore (7-2/Jacksonville) and Hakeem Olajuwon (7-0/Houston). Nearly half of the players 7-4 or taller were layup line sideshows, averaging no more than 3 ppg in their major-college careers. Edey and Sharp are among the following list of skyscrapers:

Tallest DI Players Ht. School(s) Summary of NCAA Division I Career
Neil Fingleton 7-7 1/2 North Carolina/Holy Cross Missed both of his field-goal attempts in one game with Carolina in 2001-02 before averaging 2.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 bpg and 45.2 FG% for Holy Cross in 2002-03 and 2003-04
Tacko Fall 7-7 UCF 10.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.4 bpg and 74 FG% from 2015-16 through 2018-19 (All-AAC third-team selection)
Kenny George 7-7 UNC Asheville 9.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.7 bpg and 71.6 FG% in 2006-07 and 2007-08 (All-Big South Conference second-team selection) before having part of his right foot amputated because of staph infection
Shawn Bradley 7-6 Brigham Young 14.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.2 bpg and 51.8 FG% in 1990-91 (All-WAC second-team selection)
John Hollinden 7-6 Oral Roberts 1.2 ppg and 1.1 rpg in 1976-77 and 1977-78 before transferring to Indiana State-Evansville
Mike Lanier 7-6 Hardin-Simmons/UCLA Averaged 5.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.8 bpg and 45.2 FG% for Hardin-Simmons in 1988-89 and 1989-90 before averaging 1.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.1 bpg and 32.4 FG% with UCLA in 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Mamadou Ndiaye 7-6 UC Irvine 10.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.5 bpg and 67.6 FG% from 2013-14 through 2015-16 (All-Big West Conference first-team selection)
Sim Bhullar 7-5 New Mexico State 10.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.9 bpg and 63.3 FG% in 2012-13 (All-WAC third-team selection) and 2013-14
Chuck Nevitt 7-5 North Carolina State 3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1 bpg and 58 FG% from 1978-79 through 1981-82
Jamarion Sharp 7-5 Mississippi juco recruit averaged 7.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 4.4 bpg for Western Kentucky in 2021-22 and 2002-23 before NCAA leader in rejections last season transferred
Riley Sorn 7-5 Washington 3 ppg and 2.4 rpg in 2019-20 and 2020-21
Alan Bannister 7-4 Oklahoma State/Arkansas State 6.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.6 bpg and 45.9 FG% with OSU in 1985-86 and 1987-88 before averaging 2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.8 bpg and 45.2 FG% with ASU in 1989-90
Lonnie Boeckman 7-4 Oklahoma State 1.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg and 35.8 FG% from 1973-74 through 1976-77
Tom Burleson 7-4 North Carolina State 19 ppg, 12.7 rpg and 51.6 FG% from 1971-72 through 1973-74 (three-time All-ACC selection and All-American as junior)
Mark Eaton 7-4 UCLA 1.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.9 bpg and 44.9 FG% in 1980-81 and 1981-82
Zach Edey 7-4 Purdue After becoming consensus national player of the year last season, Canadian will be instrumental in whether Boilermakers reach Final Four and capture their first-ever NCAA championship
Christ Koumadje 7-4 Florida State 4.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.2 bpg and 62.2 FG% from 2015-16 through 2018-19
Rolf Mayr 7-4 Duquesne 1.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg and 42.9 FG% in 1987-88
Chase Metheney 7-4 Virginia 2.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 1 bpg from 1995-96 through 1997-98
Ralph Sampson 7-4 Virginia 16.9 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 3.5 bpg and 56.8 FG% from 1979-80 through 1982-83 (three-time national player of the year)
Rik Smits 7-4 Marist 18.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.2 bpg and 60.9 FG% from 1984-85 through 1987-88 (three-time all-conference first-team selection and two-time league player of the year)
Steve Turner 7-4 Vanderbilt 8.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 50.2 FG% from 1969-70 through 1972-73 (All-SEC third-team selection)
Matt Van Komen 7-4 Utah/Saint Mary's played sparingly for Utes in 2019-20 and Gaels in 2020-21

NOTES: George Bell (7-8/Morris Brown GA, UC Riverside and Biola CA), Paul Sturgess (7-7/Florida Tech and Mountain State WV), Manute Bol (7-6/Bridgeport CT) and Priest Lauderdale (7-4/Central State OH) played for non-DI colleges. . . . Homesick Gunther Behnke (7-4/Kentucky) left UK before start of 1984-85 season to return to his native West Germany.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 17 NFL Gridiron

November 17th, 2023 - 9:07

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 17 in football at the professional level (especially in 1963):

NOVEMBER 17

  • Philadelphia Eagles LB Connor Barwin (Cincinnati hooper in 2006 NCAA Tournament) contributed five solo tackles in a 24-16 win against the Washington Redskins in 2013.

  • Cleveland Browns E Pete Brewster (forward-center was Purdue's fourth-leading scorer as junior and senior) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 30-30 tie against the Washington Redskins in 1957.

  • Cleveland Browns FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) rushed for 154 yards on 22 carries in a 20-14 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1963.

  • New York Giants rookie E Glenn Campbell (Emporia State KS hooper) opened game's scoring with a 37-yard touchdown catch in 34-0 win against the Chicago Bears in 1929.

  • Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw three touchdown passes (90, 77 and 43 yards) in a 31-17 AFL win against the Boston Patriots in 1968.

  • Green Bay Packers E Lavvie Dilweg (Marquette hoops letterman in 1926) scored all of game's points with two touchdown receptions in a 12-0 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1929.

  • A field goal by Atlanta Falcons rookie PK Bobby Etter (collected 10 points and five rebounds in 11 basketball games for Georgia in 1964-65 and 1965-66) was the difference in 16-13 win against the Chicago Bears in 1968.

  • Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw four touchdown passes in a 51-14 win against the Chicago Rockets in 1946.

  • Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw three touchdown passes in a 38-21 AFL setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968.

  • Oakland Raiders WR Charlie Hardy (played in nine hoops games for San Jose State in 1954-55) had a career-high six pass receptions in 20-17 AFL setback against the Boston Patriots in 1961.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB King Hill (Rice hoops letterman in 1955-56 and 1956-57) threw three touchdown passes in a 27-20 setback against the Dallas Cowboys in 1963.

  • 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 10 passes for 165 yards in a 41-28 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 2013.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers RB John Henry Johnson (made 5-of-8 FGAs in five games for Saint Mary's in 1950-51) rushed for two touchdowns in a 34-28 win against the Washington Redskins in 1963. Redskins QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) passed for 424 yards.

  • Los Angeles Rams rookie E Lamar Lundy (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg for Purdue in mid-1950s) scored the decisive touchdown in fourth quarter with a 34-yard pass reception from Norm Van Brocklin in 31-27 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1957.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) completed 20-of-25 passes - including four touchdowns - in a 38-14 win against the Arizona Cardinals in 2002.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) had seven pass receptions for 171 yards - including two touchdowns from Jeff Garcia (32 and 76 yards) - in a 20-17 setback against the San Diego Chargers in 2002. The next year, Owens had eight catches for 155 yards in a 30-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2003.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers B Ace Parker (Duke hoops letterman in 1936) threw two third-quarter touchdown passes after returning an interception 68 yards for TD in the second period in 29-14 win against the Cleveland Rams in 1940.

  • Chicago Bears DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) had two sacks and eight tackles in a 23-20 win against the Baltimore Ravens in 2013.

  • Atlanta Falcons WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) caught three second-quarter touchdown passes in a 43-7 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1990.

  • Detroit Lions rookie B Bill Shepherd (Western Maryland hooper) rushed for two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 20-10 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1935.

  • Catching a touchdown pass in his fifth consecutive contest, New York Giants WR Del Shofner (Baylor hoops letterman in 1956) had seven pass receptions for 159 yards in 48-14 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1963.

  • Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw two second-half touchdown passes to TE Billy Joe Dupree (scored four points in total of four basketball games for Michigan State in 1971-72) in a 28-21 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1974.

  • Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton (SMU hooper for three games in 2015-16 under coach Larry Brown) caught five passes for 113 yards in a 27-23 setback against the Minnesota Vikings in 2019.

  • B Whizzer White (two-time all-conference first-team hoops selection averaged 6.8 ppg for Colorado from 1935-36 through 1937-38) had two third-quarter rushing touchdowns for the Detroit Lions' first two scores in a 21-0 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1940.

Centers of Attention: Debuts Depict Textbook Centers Becoming Rare Breed

November 17th, 2023 - 9:05

Textbook centers, none seem to exist this season, are becoming as rare as a #Dimorat politician criticizing social-distancing violations by protesters/rioters. Regal recruit Dereck Lively II, hampered by back ailment, had a less-than-sterling opening outing with Duke (4 points/2 rebounds/2 blocks in 14 minutes vs. USC Upstate) last year and wound up struggling most of campaign. Time will tell if Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren (14 points/13 rebounds/6 assists/7 blocked shots in debut vs. Dixie State) two years ago eventually deserves to be included among the premier pivotmen in college basketball history. Three years ago, Memphis celebrated center James Wiseman collected 28 points and 11 rebounds in debut vs. South Carolina State. Wiseman's brief three-game stint before declaring pro and signing with an agent didn't help build his case. He already was impacted by a 12-game NCAA suspension due to booster payment covering moving expenses from Nashville (especially when benefactor was current Tigers coach Penny Hardaway). After Wiseman's exit, USC's Evan Mobley was projected to emerge as the nation's premier big man in 2020-21. Mobley contributed 21 points/9 rebound/3 blocked shots in his debut against California Baptist. By almost any measure, centers in the last 50 years other than Kentucky's Anthony Davis don't seem to be anywhere close to duplicating feats luminaries Lew Alcindor, Wilt Chamberlain, Artis Gilmore, Bob Lanier, Jerry Lucas, Bill Russell and Bill Walton achieved in their initial varsity campaigns.

Similar to Navy's David Robinson in 1983-84, Connecticut's Andre Drummond was scoreless in his season debut in 2011-12 against Columbia. In a forgettable debut, Wake Forest's Tim Duncan was also scoreless in a season-opening loss to NCAA Division II Alaska-Anchorage in 1993-94 before rebounding with a 12-point, 12-rebound performance in his next outing against Hawaii. Reigning national player of year Zach Edey (Purdue) had a freshman campaign comparable to Robinson, Duncan and Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston) as they all averaged fewer than 10 ppg.

Alcindor (77: 56 points/21 rebounds) and Chamberlain (83: 52 points/31 rebounds) each totaled more points and rebounds in their college game debut than Drummond, Duncan, Patrick Ewing, Nerlens Noel, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, Robinson and Ralph Sampson amassed collectively. Following is a look at how many of the premier centers in history fared in their varsity debut against a major college and summary of their first season of NCAA Division I competition:

Celebrated Center School First Varsity Season Debut Game PPG RPG W-L Mark
Zach Edey Purdue 2020-21 19 points/5 rebounds 8.7 4.4 18-10
DeAndre Ayton Arizona 2017-18 19 points/12 rebounds/3 blocks 20.1 11.6 27-8
Mohamed Bamba Texas 2017-18 15 points/8 rebounds/4 blocks 12.9 10.5 19-15
Karl-Anthony Towns Kentucky 2014-15 8 points/8 rebounds 10.3 6.7 38-1
Jahlil Okafor Duke 2014-15 19 points/6 rebounds 17.3 8.5 35-4
Nerlens Noel Kentucky 2012-13 4 points/9 rebounds 10.5 9.5 21-12
Anthony Davis Kentucky 2011-12 23 points/10 rebounds 14.2 10.4 38-2
Greg Oden Ohio State 2006-07 14 points/10 rebounds 15.7 9.6 35-4
Tim Duncan Wake Forest 1993-94 12 points/12 rebounds 9.8 9.6 21-12
Shaquille O'Neal Louisiana State 1989-90 10 points/5 rebounds 13.9 12.0 23-9
Alonzo Mourning Georgetown 1988-89 10 points/10 rebounds 13.1 7.3 29-5
David Robinson Navy 1983-84 scoreless/1 rebound 7.6 4.0 24-8
Hakeem Olajuwon Houston 1981-82 2 points/0 rebounds 8.3 6.5 25-8
Patrick Ewing Georgetown 1981-82 7 points/4 rebounds 12.7 8.5 30-7
Ralph Sampson Virginia 1979-80 4 points/6 rebounds 14.9 11.2 24-10
*Bill Walton UCLA 1971-72 19 points/14 rebounds 21.1 15.5 29-1
**Artis Gilmore Jacksonville 1969-70 35 points/18 rebounds 26.5 22.2 17-7
*Bob Lanier St. Bonaventure 1967-68 23 points/17 rebounds 26.2 15.6 23-2
*Lew Alcindor UCLA 1966-67 56 points/21 rebounds 29.0 15.5 30-0
*Jerry Lucas Ohio State 1959-60 16 points/28 rebounds 26.3 16.3 25-3
*Wilt Chamberlain Kansas 1956-57 52 points/31 rebounds 29.6 18.9 24-3
*Bill Russell San Francisco 1953-54 16 points/17 rebounds 19.9 19.2 14-7

*Sophomore classification.
**Junior classification after attending junior college.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 16 NFL Gridiron

November 16th, 2023 - 7:26

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 16 in football at the professional level (especially in 1941 and 1947):

NOVEMBER 16

  • In 1947, Baltimore Colts rookie E Hub Bechtol (Texas Tech hoops letterman in 1944 before transferring to Texas and concentrating on football) had his lone NFL touchdown reception (against Brooklyn Dodgers).

  • Los Angeles Rams E Jim Benton (forward was Arkansas' third-leading scorer in SWC play as senior in 1937-38) had two touchdown receptions in a 41-21 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1947.

  • Only NFL reception for E Maurice Britt (Arkansas hoops letterman in 1939) was 45-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to give the Detroit Lions a 21-17 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1941. Lions B Whizzer White (two-time all-conference first-team hoops selection averaged 6.8 ppg for Colorado from 1935-36 through 1937-38) had a 71-yard pass reception for TD.

  • Los Angeles Rams rookie E Bob Carey (forward-center averaged 8.8 ppg in three-year Michigan State career in early 1950s) caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from Norm Van Brocklin in 40-24 win against the Chicago Bears in 1952. Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting center for Michigan in 1944) caught two TD passes - one of them for 84 yards.

  • New Orleans Saints DB Chuck Crist (averaged more than 10 ppg last two seasons under Penn State coach John Bach, leading team in FG% as junior and FT% as senior) returned an interception 42 yards in 20-7 setback against the Minnesota Vikings in 1975.

  • New York Giants TB Ed Danowski (Fordham hoops letterman in 1932-33) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 49-14 win against the Cleveland Rams in 1941. Giants TB Tuffy Leemans (three-year hoops letterman for George Washington in mid-1930s) logged a rushing TD in his third consecutive contest.

  • Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw three touchdown passes to Otis Taylor (backup small forward for Prairie View A&M in a 34-16 AFL win against the New York Jets in 1969.

  • Atlanta Falcons PK Bobby Etter (collected 10 points and five rebounds in 11 basketball games for Georgia in 1964-65 and 1965-66), in the midst of supplying two field goals in five contests during a seven-game span, converted all six extra points and both FGAs in 48-31 win against the Chicago Bears in 1969.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers QB Jim Finks (led Tulsa with 8.9 ppg as sophomore in 1946-47) threw four second-half touchdown passes in a 29-28 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1952.

  • Tennessee Titans WR Justin Gage (averaged 2.1 ppg and 2.9 rpg for Missouri from 1999-00 through 2001-02) caught four passes for 147 yards - including two second-half touchdowns from Kerry Collins - in a 24-14 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008.

  • Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw three touchdown passes in a 37-14 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1947.

  • Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven basketball games for Clemson in 2010-11) scored game's only touchdown with a 22-yard pass reception in fourth quarter of 10-6 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2015.

  • Chicago Bears rookie E Luke Johnsos (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1927 and 1928) had two touchdown pass receptions in a 20-14 setback against the Frankford Yellow Jackets in 1929.

  • A 25-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter by rookie B Art Jones (averaged 4.9 ppg as starting center for Richmond in 1940-41) propelled the Pittsburgh Steelers to 14-7 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941.

  • Dallas Cowboys DE Too Tall Jones (backup center averaged 1.7 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Tennessee State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) had three sacks in a 24-21 win against the San Diego Chargers in 1986.

  • San Francisco 49ers RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) returned a kickoff 101 yards for touchdown in 27-19 win against the Carolina Panthers in 1997.

  • Chicago Cardinals E Mal Kutner (two-year Texas letterman in early 1940s) caught two touchdown passes from Paul Christman in a 21-20 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1947.

  • Atlanta Falcons CB Rolland Lawrence (captain of Tabor KS hoops squad as senior in 1972-73) had two interceptions in a 16-7 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1975.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) logged two goal-line plunges for touchdowns in a 31-10 win against the New York Giants in 1958.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) completed 24-of-30 passes for 314 yards in a 28-10 win against the New York Giants in 2003. Five years later, McNabb passed for 339 yards in a 13-13 tie against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2008.

  • Chicago Bears DB R.W. McQuarters (Oklahoma State hooper in 1995-96 and 1996-97 started two games) returned a punt 60 yards for touchdown in 23-21 setback against the St. Louis Rams in 2003.

  • Green Bay Packers DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) returned an interception 52 yards for touchdown in 53-20 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014.

  • Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) returned a punt 65 yards for touchdown and had 10 pass receptions in 37-8 win against the San Diego Chargers in 2003.

  • Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) completed 10-of-14 passes - including three touchdowns - in a 34-31 win against the New England Patriots in 1975.

Jewish Political Perspective: From Basketball Jones to Basketball Moses

November 15th, 2023 - 9:17

Just give peace a chance! Sounds great conceptually but probably not practical in the Middle East. Very few Arab states recognize the existence of the state of Israel, which is roughly the size of New Jersey and surrounded by hostile dictatorships with 40 times as many citizens. It remains to be seen whether the Jewish community will finally wise up and stop voting more than 70% for #Dimorat presidential candidates as it has since 1968.

Factitiously, perhaps former President Barack Obama, a JV basketball player for Occidental (Calif.) and one of a number of politicians who played the game, would "be complicit" looking more favorably upon Israel if the landscape resembled several decades ago when there was a striking number of impact Jewish hoopsters. In a 30-year span from 1933-34 through 1962-63, occasional powerhouses CCNY, LIU, NYU and St. John's each featured three different Jewish All-Americans on CollegeHoopedia's comprehensive list.

Obama, who received more than 3/4 of the Jewish vote in 2008, said his commitment to Israel was "unshakable," but many Jewish State advocates think such an "I've-got-your back" claim is the height of diplomatic chutzpah. Obama's White House refused to allow non-official photographers to record a multi-layer lecturing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and no statement was issued afterward upon the PM being ushered out the back door like a scorned referee. The administration subsequently reinforced its stance by insisting that Israel stop building homes in Jerusalem, demanding it move back to pre-1967 indefensible borders and attempting to stall Israeli military action while neighboring Iran developed its nuclear technology.

Thus, the remedy for Israel generating more political support might be another prophet Moses surfacing for the Jewish community as it copes with a current U.S. basketball exodus of sorts for them. They're in the midst of wandering more than 40 years across the hoop desert seeking another All-American from this country. And the Promised Land isn't within sight since Tennessee's Ernie Grunfeld was the last American Jewish honoree (1976 and 1977). All-Americans aren't exempt from the horrors of war. Grunfeld, a Romanian-born Jewish child of Holocaust survivors, never saw his father's parents because they were murdered in Auschwitz.

Elite Ivy League institutions in particular have been embroiled in varying crimes, protests and public controversies in the aftermath of Hamas' barbaric atrocities igniting a war on October 7. A couple of months later, the testimony of a couple of Ivy Presidents at a Congressional hearing on the topic was abhorrent. The national debate includes backlash losing long-time donors as retribution for the schools' lame responses to the college campuses becoming flashpoints for demonstrations. In an AI (artificially intelligent) exodus, the number of Jews on Ivy campuses has been sliced in half or more over the past decade by woke doctrines downplaying merit in favor of ill-defined "diversity" and "privilege." A hostile environment and troubled history marginalizing Jews is nothing new. A century ago, Ivies sought underhanded ways to reduce the number of Jewish students. Social scholar wannabes supporting Palestinians who voted for Hamas barbarians are clueless when it comes to knowing the rich history of top-notch Jewish hoopers attending East Coast colleges. Beginning with Dartmouth's Rudy LaRusso in the late 1950s, more than half of the Ivy League members benefited from multiple-year, all-conference hoopers of Jewish descent by the mid-1960s (including Brown's Mike Cingiser, Columbia's Neil Farber, Penn's Jeff Neuman and Yale's Rick Kaminsky) before Brown's Arnie Berman, Penn's Steve Bilsky and Harvard's Lou Silver became multiple-year all-league performers in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Israel native Doron Sheffer, a Connecticut guard, was named an All-American in 1995-96. Additional Israeli products earning all-conference recognition included Connecticut forward Nadav Henefeld (Big East in 1989-90), Wright State center Israel Sheinfeld (Midwestern Collegiate in 1999-00 and 2000-01) and California forward-center Amit Tamir (Pacific-10 in 2002-03). In the current climate, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl has been far more outspoken than Jewish Duke counterpart Jon Scheyer about the tension stemming from dramatic increase in antisemitism. More than half of the following American Jewish All-Americans joined Grunfeld but secured such an honor before the State of Israel declared independence in mid-May 1948:

U.S. Jewish All-American, School (Year)
Irv Bemoras, Illinois (1953)
Jules Bender, Long Island (1937)
Meyer "Mike" Bloom, Temple (1938)
Harry Boykoff, St. John's (1943)
Tal Brody, Illinois (1965)
Howie Carl, DePaul (1961)
Marvin Colen, Loyola of Chicago (1937)
Irwin Dambrot, CCNY (1950)
William Fleishman, Western Reserve (1936)
Don Forman, New York University (1948)
Larry Friend, California (1957)
Moe Goldman, CCNY (1934)
Don Goldstein, Louisville (1959)
Hyman "Hy" Gotkin, St. John's (1944)
Ernie Grunfeld, Tennessee (1976 and 1977)
Art Heyman, Duke (1961 through 1963)
William "Red" Holzman, CCNY (1942)
Barry Kramer, New York University (1963 and 1964)
Jerry Nemer, Southern California (1933)
Bernie Opper, Kentucky (1939)
Lennie Rosenbluth, North Carolina (1956 and 1957)
Oscar "Ossie" Schectman, Long Island (1941)
Alan Seiden, St. John's (1959)
Sid Tanenbaum, New York University (1946 and 1947)
Irv Torgoff, Long Island (1939)
Neal Walk, Florida (1968 and 1969)

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 15 NFL Gridiron

November 15th, 2023 - 8:44

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 15 in football at the professional level (especially in 1964):

NOVEMBER 15

  • Detroit Lions TB Dutch Clark (four-time All-Rocky Mountain Conference hoops choice for Colorado College) rushed for two touchdowns in a 38-0 win against the New York Giants in 1936.

  • Rookie E Milan Creighton (All-SWC second-team guard for Arkansas in 1929-30) opened scoring for the Chicago Cardinals with a 27-yard touchdown reception from Ernie Nevers (All-Pacific Coast Conference second-five hoops choice for Stanford in 1924-25) in 21-13 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1931.

  • Chicago Cardinals RB Mal Hammack (played four basketball games with Florida in 1954-55) returned a blocked punt 17 yards for touchdown in 27-17 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1959. It was one of four TDs he scored against Philly in a three-year span from 1958 through 1960.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB King Hill (Rice hoops letterman in 1955-56 and 1956-57) threw two touchdown passes - including a go-ahead 38-yarder to Pete Retzlaff - in 17-14 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1964.

  • Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight basketball games for Texas-El Paso in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) scored two touchdowns in a 27-24 setback against the Seattle Seahawks in 2018.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) passed for 345 yards and four touchdowns - three to WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) - in a 49-21 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 2004. Five years later, McNabb passed for 450 yards - including two fourth-quarter TDs - in a 31-23 setback against the San Diego Chargers in 2009. The next year with the Washington Redskins, McNabb threw two second-quarter TD passes in a 59-28 setback against the Eagles in 2010.

  • Chicago Bears K Mac Percival (three-year hoops letterman was part of squad winning Texas Tech's first SWC championship in major sport in 1960-61) kicked four field goals in a 20-19 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1970. It was Percival's third consecutive contest with at least three FGs.

  • TE Marcus Pollard (JC transfer averaged 7.3 ppg and 5 rpg for Bradley in 1992-93 and 1993-94) caught 14-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning with 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Indianapolis Colts a 24-23 win against the New York Jets in 1998.

  • Los Angeles Rams rookie WR Bucky Pope (two-time All-Carolinas Conference pick for Catawba NC averaged 19.4 ppg from 1961-62 through 1963-64) caught two touchdown passes from Roman Gabriel in a 34-24 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1964.

  • Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught two second-half touchdown passes from Cotton Davidson in a 20-10 AFL win against the Houston Oilers in 1964.

  • Chicago Cardinals B Ray Ramsey (Bradley's top scorer in 1941-42 and 1942-43) returned an interception 37 yards for touchdown in 24-24 tie against the Los Angeles Rams in 1953.

  • Atlanta Falcons WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) caught two touchdown passes in a 20-17 win against the Phoenix Cardinals in 1992.

  • Washington Redskins DB Johnny Sample (freshman hooper for Maryland-Eastern Shore) had two interceptions - returning one 15 yards for touchdown - in a 30-0 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1964.

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

November 14th, 2023 - 9:57

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 14 in football at the professional level (especially in 1971):

NOVEMBER 14

  • Washington Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (Texas Christian three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw four touchdown passes in a 42-20 win against the Detroit Lions in 1943. Five years later, Baugh threw four TD passes in a 46-21 win against the Lions in 1948.

  • Chicago Bears E Jim Benton (forward was Arkansas' third-leading scorer in SWC play as senior in 1937-38) caught two touchdown passes from Sid Luckman in a 56-7 win against the New York Giants in 1943.

  • Detroit Lions rookie FB Bill Bowman (fouled out with four points in only basketball game with William & Mary in 1953-54) scored two touchdowns (66-yard pass reception and 43-yard rush) in a 48-7 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1954. Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two first-half TD passes.

  • Cleveland Browns FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-21 win against the New York Giants in 1965.

  • Minnesota Vikings TE Tyler Conklin (averaged 1.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 1.4 apg for Northwood MI as freshman in 2013-14 before transferring after first semester to Central Michigan to concentrate on football) caught two touchdown passes from Kirk Cousins in a 27-20 win against the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021.

  • Oakland Raiders TE Rickey Dudley (averaged 13.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg as senior in 1994-95 when leading Ohio State in rebounding and finishing third in scoring) caught two touchdown passes from Rich Gannon in a 28-9 win against the San Diego Chargers in 1999.

  • Frankford Yellow Jackets RB Paul "Bob" Fitzke (hoops letterman for Wyoming and Idaho in first half of 1920s) scored a rushing touchdown against the Pottsville Maroons in 1925.

  • Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw three touchdown passes in a 24-21 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1971. Steelers WR Dave Smith (averaged 15.6 ppg and 11.6 rpg while shooting 51.1% from floor for Indiana PA in 1968-69 and 1969-70) caught two first-half TD passes from Terry Bradshaw.

  • Detroit Lions rookie B Vern Huffman (All-American was All-Big Ten Conference selection for Indiana in 1935-36 and 1936-37) threw a 28-yard touchdown pass in 17-0 win against the New York Giants in 1937.

  • New York Jets QB Steve Joachim (collected two points and two rebounds in one basketball contest with Penn State in 1971-72 under coach John Bach) appeared in only game of his NFL career in 1976.

  • Washington Redskins 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) passed for 313 yards in a 35-28 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999.

  • New York Jets RB Johnny Johnson (averaged 11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 3.2 apg in 1988-89 after majority of hoop team members walked off San Jose State squad) rushed for 141 yards - including 57-yard touchdown - in a 31-17 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 1993.

  • B Ralph Kercheval (Kentucky hooper in 1932-33 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) accounted for the Brooklyn Dodgers' lone touchdown with a 54-yard pass to Jeff Barrett in 29-7 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1937.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers rookie HB Johnny Lattner (Notre Dame forward in 1951-52) scored a touchdown in his third consecutive contest in 1954.

  • Atlanta Falcons CB Rolland Lawrence (captain of Tabor KS hoops squad as senior in 1972-73) had two interceptions in a 21-16 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1976.

  • Arizona Cardinals DB David Macklin (collected 13 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists for Penn State in 15 basketball games as freshman in 1996-97) had a career-high nine solo tackles in 17-14 win against the New York Giants in 2004.

  • Chicago Bears DB R.W. McQuarters (Oklahoma State hooper in 1995-96 and 1996-97 started two games) returned a punt 75 yards for touchdown in 19-17 win against the Tennessee Titans in 2004.

  • Houston Texans LB Antwan Peek (made one field goal and grabbed five rebounds in six basketball games for Cincinnati in 2000-01 under coach Bob Huggins) intercepted a pass from QB Peyton Manning in 49-14 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in 2004.

  • Chicago Bears K Mac Percival (three-year hoops letterman was part of squad winning Texas Tech's first SWC championship in major sport in 1960-61) kicked three field goals in a 16-15 win against the Washington Redskins in 1971.

  • Buffalo Bills QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) threw three touchdown passes in a 27-20 AAFC setback against the Los Angeles Dons in 1948.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) passed for 311 yards in a 21-14 win against the Washington Redskins in 1965. Eagles DT John Meyers (played in seven basketball games with Washington in 1959-60) chipped in with an interception.

  • New York Giants rookie WR Bob Topp (Michigan forward averaged 1.4 ppg in 1951-52 and 1952-53) caught a third-quarter touchdown pass from QB Charlie Conerly for the second straight contest in 1954.

  • Dallas Cowboys P Ron Widby (three-time All-SEC selection averaged 18.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg for Tennessee from 1964-65 through 1966-67) punted six times for 275 yards (45.8 average) in a 20-7 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1971.

  • Tennessee Titans WR Kendall Wright (Baylor hooper as freshman in 2008-09) caught nine passes in a 30-27 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in 2013.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 13 NFL Gridiron

November 13th, 2023 - 8:30

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 13 in football at the professional level (especially in 1966):

NOVEMBER 13

  • TE Martellus Bennett (averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.5 rpg as Texas A&M freshman in 2005-06 before playing briefly next season under coach Billy Gillispie) managed a season-high seven pass receptions for eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in 31-24 setback against the Seattle Seahawks in 2016.

  • Detroit Lions E Cloyce Box (combined with twin brother Boyce to help West Texas A&M win Border Conference hoop championship in 1943) caught two 35-yard touchdown passes from Frank Tripucka in a 27-24 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1949.

  • Cleveland Browns FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) rushed for 173 yards in a 28-27 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1960.

  • New York Giants B Chris Cagle (four-year hoops letterman for USL and Army in mid-1920s) scored two touchdowns (pass reception and 70-yard punt return) in a 27-7 win against the Staten Island Stapletons in 1932. Stapletons B Doug Wycoff (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1926) opened game's scoring with a rushing TD.

  • 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 first-half touchdowns in a 24-20 setback against the Baltimore Colts in 1960. Colts DB Johnny Sample (freshman hooper for UMES) had an interception in his third consecutive contest.

  • Miami Dolphins WR Chris Chambers (played briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught two touchdown passes in a 23-16 setback against the New England Patriots in 2005.

  • New England Patriots WR Ray Crittenden (scored four points in four Virginia Tech basketball games in 1988-89) ignited comeback from a 17-point deficit with 31-yard touchdown reception from QB Drew Bledsoe in 26-20 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 1994.

  • Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw three touchdown passes - including an 89-yarder to Otis Taylor (backup small forward for Prairie View A&M) - in 34-16 AFL win against the Miami Dolphins in 1966. It was Taylor's third TD catch of at least 74 yards in a four-game span.

  • Dallas Cowboys E Pete Gent (three-time All-Big Ten Conference selection averaged 17.4 ppg and 8.3 rpg in leading Michigan State in scoring each season from 1961-62 through 1963-64) had career highs of six pass receptions and 93 receiving yards in a 31-30 win against the Washington Redskins in 1966. Redskins E-P Pat Richter (three-year Wisconsin hoops letterman in early 1960s) averaged 47 yards on seven punts.

  • Green Bay Packers B Roger Grove (forward led Michigan State in scoring in 1929-30 and 1930-31) opened game's scoring with a 10-yard touchdown pass reception in 21-0 win against the Boston Braves in 1932.

  • Minnesota Vikings DB Dale Hackbart (averaged 4 ppg and 3.5 rpg in 10 contests for Wisconsin in 1958-59) returned an interception 41 yards for touchdown in 32-31 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1966.

  • Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight UTEP basketball games as freshman in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) rushed for 138 yards in a 31-28 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 2022.

  • Houston Texans WR Jacoby Jones (part-time starter averaged 3.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg for Lane TN in 2004-05 and 2005-06) caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from Matt Schaub in 37-9 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2011.

  • A 37-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter by TE Greg Latta (two-year Morgan State letterman averaged 9.3 ppg and 5.4 rpg in 15 games in 1970-71) gave the Chicago Bears a 28-27 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1977.

  • Houston Oilers CB Zeke Moore (Lincoln MO hoops letterman in mid-1960s) returned a fumble recovery 66 yards for touchdown in 34-29 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1977.

  • Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) had three sacks in a 24-10 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006.

  • Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught two first-half touchdown passes from Tom Flores in a 41-19 AFL win against the San Diego Chargers in 1966.

  • Philadelphia Eagles HB Bosh Pritchard (four-sport letterman for VMI) opened game's scoring with a four-yard rushing touchdown in 44-21 win against the Washington Redskins in 1949.

  • Atlanta Falcons LB Marion Rushing (Southern Illinois hooper from 1954-55 through 1956-57) had an interception in 19-7 setback against the Baltimore Colts in 1966.

  • Buffalo Bills TE Tom Rychlec (collected four points and six rebounds in one hoops game for American International MA in 1954-55) had a career-high 10 pass receptions in a 20-7 AFL setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1960.

  • Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton (SMU hooper for three games in 2015-16 under coach Larry Brown) contributed eight pass receptions in a 24-22 win against the Buffalo Bills in 2023.

  • Jacksonville Jaguars TE Julius Thomas (averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10) had his third touchdown catch in four-game span in 2016.

Calling Cards: Listing of Most Distinctive Nicknames in NCAA Hoops History

November 13th, 2023 - 8:28

Who are the latest NCAA Division I players with entertaining nicknames? Bo and Mo, Buck and Duck, Butch and Dutch, Bud and Skip plus Red and Whitey are too commonplace. It's time for some additional players to join the following long list of collegians over the years with the most distinctive monikers:

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 12 NFL Gridiron

November 12th, 2023 - 9:18

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 12 in football at the professional level (especially in 1961):

NOVEMBER 12

  • New York Giants B Erich Barnes (played hoops briefly for Purdue as sophomore in 1955-56) caught a 62-yard touchdown pass from Y.A. Tittle in 38-21 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1961. Giants LB Tom Scott (hoops letterman as Virginia forward in 1951) returned an interception 65 yards for TD and Giants WR Del Shofner (Baylor hoops letterman in 1956) had eight pass receptions for 137 yards.

  • Miami Dolphins WR Marlin Briscoe (averaged 9.5 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Nebraska-Omaha in 1964-65) caught two second-half touchdown passes in a 52-0 rout of the New England Patriots in 1972. Briscoe finished the game with four catches for 128 yards.

  • Philadelphia Eagles WR Harold Carmichael (starter two seasons for Southern LA averaged 9.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 1969-70) caught two touchdown passes from Ron Jaworski in a 17-9 win against the New York Jets in 1978. The next year, Carmichael caught two TD passes from Jaworski in a 31-21 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1979 when Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) passed for 308 yards and three TDs.

  • San Francisco 49ers safety Chuck Crist (averaged more than 10 ppg last two seasons under Penn State coach John Bach, leading team in FG% as junior and FT% as senior) had two interceptions in a 16-10 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1978.

  • QB Bob Davis (Kentucky hoops letterman in 1937 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) accounted for the Boston Yanks' lone touchdown with a 14-yard pass in 21-7 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1944.

  • Chicago Bears rookie TE Mike Ditka (averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Pittsburgh in 1958-59 and 1959-60) caught nine passes for 190 yards - including three for touchdowns - in a 31-28 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1961. Packers RB Paul Hornung (averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) scored two second-quarter TDs and Packers E Ron Kramer (three-time All-Big Ten Conference selection was Michigan's MVP each season and All-American as senior in 1956-57) caught two first-half TD passes from Bart Starr (one for 53 yards).

  • Dallas Cowboys TE Billy Joe Dupree (scored four points in total of four basketball games for Michigan State in 1971-72) caught two touchdown passes from Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) in a 42-14 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1978.

  • Los Angeles Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting hoops center for Michigan in 1944) caught two touchdown passes in a 45-14 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1950.

  • Minnesota Vikings DB Earsell Mackbee (teammate of Utah State All-American Wayne Estes averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.4 rpg in 1964-65) recovered a fumble and returned it 55 yards for touchdown in 10-10 tie against the Detroit Lions in 1967.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 27-3 win against the Washington Redskins in 2006.

  • Chicago Bears rookie DB John "Red" O'Quinn (scored 91 points for Wake Forest's basketball team in 1947-48 under coach Murray Greason) returned an interception for touchdown in 28-20 win against the New York Yanks in 1950. Yanks QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) threw two first-half TD passes.

  • New York Jets DB Johnny Sample (freshman hooper for Maryland-Eastern Shore) returned an interception 41 yards for touchdown in 20-10 AFL win against the Buffalo Bills in 1967.

  • Denver Broncos SE Lionel Taylor (led New Mexico Highlands in scoring average with 13.6 ppg in 1955-56 and 20.3 in 1956-57) had 10 of his AFL-leading 100 pass receptions in a 19-16 AFL setback against the San Diego Chargers in 1961.

  • Green Bay Packers P Ron Widby (three-time All-SEC selection averaged 18.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg for Tennessee from 1964-65 through 1966-67) punted five times for 241 yards (48.2 average) in a 23-17 win against the Chicago Bears in 1972.

The Classics: Little Better as Holiday Gift Than Natural Rivalry Competition

November 12th, 2023 - 9:17

"Holy shadows of the dead, I am not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and brother people to fight one another. I do not feel happy for this victory of mine. On the contrary, I would be glad, brothers, if I had all of you standing here next to me, since we are united by the same language, the same blood and the same visions." - Alexander the Great

There is nothing better than natural rivalry competition. The best back-to-back non-conference games of two of the previous eight seasons may have been when Maryland came from behind to upend Georgetown both times. Where was this rivalry for more than three decades and why aren't they dueling again this campaign? We missed out on Patrick Ewing and David Wingate vs. Adrian Branch in the early 1980s, Reggie Williams vs. Len Bias in mid-1980s, Alonzo Mourning vs. Tony Massenburg and Walt Williams in late 1980s and early 1990s, Allen Iverson vs. Joe Smith in mid-1990s and Mike Sweetney vs. Juan Dixon at the turn of 21st Century. Instead of grand games giving us a shot of adrenalin, we got to overdose on cupcakes with the Hoyas and Terrapins combining to win all 66 of their mismatches against in-state weaklings UMBC, UMES, Morgan State and Towson from the early 1980s through 2003-04. It is time for both schools to commit to opposing each other like they did from 1946-47 to 1979-80. If so, the "Duel in D.C." immediately becomes annual must-see TV in pre-conference competition comparable to "Greatest Shows on Earth" such as Kentucky/Louisville, Illinois/Missouri and Cincinnati/Xavier.

Elsewhere, after 105 years steeped in history amid off-the-chart contempt, the rivalry between Kansas and Missouri came to a halt when Mizzou departed the Big 12 Conference for the SEC prior to common sense prevailing as a six-year series was negotiated for this decade. KU has a commanding edge in nearly every category (winning percentage, victories away from home and close games decided by single digits), but the Tigers have been enough of a tormentor to make the series as energetic and entertaining as you can find anywhere. Their border war stacks right up there with the more nationally-acclaimed "Clash of the Titans" between Duke and North Carolina.

Making about as much sense as creepy Plagiarist Biledumb securing 12 million more votes than suave #AudacityOfHype (Bathhouse Barry Obama) or hideous Hunter's amazing artistry, it was shortsighted of KU and Mizzou to let their rivalry end for any length of time. Other great natural non-league match-ups their fans previously weren't able to enjoy on a regular basis needing to be extended include DePaul/Illini, Pitt/West Virginia, Texas/Texas A&M and Cincinnati/Ohio State.

We nearly required self-absorbed former Secretary of State John Kerry to bring James Taylor for a "You've Got a Friend" sing-along to ease the stress after Utah cancelled its game against BYU for a year before re-engaging. After bruised egos were healed, Mizzou opposed KU in Kansas City much like it does in St. Louis against Illinois. But Mizzou couldn't complain when the Jayhawks acted like a jilted lover because the self-centered Tigers, hit-and-running away from problem akin to Beto O'Rourke DWI episode, fail to compete against competent in-state foes such as Missouri State and Saint Louis. Ditto LSU shying away from Louisiana (formerly Southwestern Louisiana).

By almost any measure including Alexander the Great's perspective, KU has a superior program to Mizzou, which is at its lowest ebb in more than 50 years after mess-maker Frank Haith left the Tigers' program in tatters. But Jayhawks coach Bill Self should have reined in his rhetoric as the divorce dialogue intensified or at least take a crash course in college basketball history. When comparing the significance of the Kentucky/Louisville rivalry to the termination of KU's home-and-home conference conflicts with the Tigers, Self said: "Well, they've always played every year (out of league). That's all they know."

Well, Self needs to "always know" that UK and Louisville went 61 years from 1923 through 1983 without a regular-season matchup before they came to their senses and saw the light. Speaking of light, KU and Mizzou simply had to shed one lightweight apiece to keep a good thing going for the sport in general and for their fans specifically like the entertaining Philly Big 5. KU shouldn't also deny hoop fans a Top 20 match-up with Wichita State. But Self-less seems more interested in "scheduling" jobs for family members of prize prospects.

By toning down picking on patsies, there is plenty of room on their respective non-league schedules to keep playing each other. Ditto for Indiana and Kentucky duplicating Memphis and Tennessee resuming their rivalries this year. If consistent, they would definitely be among the top 10 such confrontations in the country. The century-old KU/Mizzou spectacle could surpass Kentucky/Louisville and go atop the following list of the nation's top 25 non-conference rivalries if only because of longevity:

  1. Kentucky/Louisville
  2. Illinois/Missouri
  3. Cincinnati/Xavier
  4. Iowa/Iowa State
  5. Indiana/Notre Dame
  6. Brigham Young/Utah
  7. St. Joseph's/Villanova
  8. Georgia/Georgia Tech
  9. Florida/Florida State
  10. Marquette/Wisconsin
  11. Clemson/South Carolina
  12. New Mexico/New Mexico State
  13. Marshall/West Virginia
  14. Utah/Utah State
  15. Temple/Villanova
  16. La Salle/Villanova
  17. Florida/Miami (FL)
  18. Iowa/Northern Iowa
  19. Colorado/Colorado State
  20. Drake/Iowa
  21. Penn/Villanova
  22. Providence/Rhode Island
  23. Creighton/Nebraska
  24. La Salle/Temple
  25. Idaho/Idaho State

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 11 NFL Gridiron

November 11th, 2023 - 8:29

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 11 in football at the professional level (especially in 1945 and 2001):

NOVEMBER 11

  • Detroit Wolverines E Carl Bacchus (three-year Missouri hoops letterman in mid-1920s) completed game's scoring with a 30-yard touchdown reception in 19-19 tie against the New York Giants in 1928 after Giants TB Hinkey Haines (Lebanon Valley PA transfer earned hoops letter for Penn State in 1920 and 1921) opened scoring by returning a punt 70 yards for TD.

  • Houston Texans LB Connor Barwin (played 34 games for Cincinnati in 2005-06 and 2006-07) contributed six solo tackles in a 13-6 win against the Chicago Bears in 2012.

  • Cleveland Rams E Jim Benton (forward was Arkansas' third-leading scorer in SWC play as senior in 1937-38) had an 84-yard touchdown reception from Bob Waterfield in 20-7 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1945.

  • Miami Dolphins rookie WR Chris Chambers (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught two touchdown passes - including 74 yards for his first NFL score - in a 27-24 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 2001.

  • HB Bob Davis (Kentucky hoops letterman in 1937 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) accounted for the Boston Yanks' lone touchdown with an eight-yard pass in 34-7 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1945.

  • Dallas Texans QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw three touchdown passes - including a 75-yarder to Abner Haynes - in 52-31 AFL win against the New York Titans in 1962.

  • Chicago Bears B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern basketball letterman in 1916) opened game's scoring with a rushing touchdown and extra point in 27-0 win against the Dayton Triangles in 1928.

  • Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught 11 passes - including two touchdowns - in a 31-27 setback against the New Orleans Saints in 2012. Saints TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09) caught seven passes for 146 yards (including two second-quarter TDs from Drew Brees).

  • Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 20-17 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1951.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers B Jack Grossman (two-year Rutgers hoops letterman in early 1930s) threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Ralph Kercheval (Kentucky hooper in 1932-33 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) in 10-7 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1934.

  • Chicago Bears E Harlon Hill (Florence State AL hoops letterman in 1951) had two touchdown receptions in a 38-14 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1956.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB King Hill (Rice hoops letterman in 1955-56 and 1956-57) punted 10 times for 456 yards (45.6 average) in a 49-0 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1962.

  • Los Angeles Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting center for Michigan in 1944) caught two second-half touchdown passes (53 and 54 yards) in a 45-21 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1951.

  • New Orleans Saints WR Willie Jackson (started five games for Florida in 1989-90) had 11 pass receptions for 167 yards in a 28-27 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 2001.

  • Denver Broncos QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 30-19 win against the San Diego Chargers 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 138 yards on 25 carries in a 26-17 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1962.

  • Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight basketball games for Texas-El Paso in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-12 win against the Miami Dolphins in 2018.

  • 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 105 yards for touchdown in 55-20 win against the Oakland Raiders in 2012.

  • Baltimore Colts CB Rex Kern (averaged 8.4 ppg for Ohio State's freshman squad in 1968-69) returned an interception 22 yards in 44-0 setback against the Miami Dolphins in 1973.

  • Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper under legendary coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 33-9 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1973.

  • Oakland Raiders RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) returned a kickoff 90 yards for touchdown in 34-27 setback against the Seattle Seahawks in 2001.

  • Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw four touchdown passes in a 41-28 win against the Chicago Bears in 1951. Bears QB Johnny Lujack (averaged 3.4 ppg as starting guard for Notre Dame in 1943-44) threw two second-half TD passes.

  • San Francisco 49ers DB Ronnie Lott (USC hooper as junior in 1979-80) had an interception in his third consecutive contest in 1985.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw three touchdown passes in a 48-17 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 2001. Six years later, McNabb completed 20-of-28 passes - including four TDs - in a 33-25 win against the Washington Redskins in 2007.

  • Duluth Eskimos rookie FB Ernie Nevers (All-Pacific Coast Conference second-five hoops choice for Stanford in 1924-25) rushed for two touchdowns in a 14-13 setback against the New York Giants in 1926.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) caught two first-half touchdown passes from Jeff Garcia in a 28-27 win against the New Orleans Saints in 2001. Six years later with the Dallas Cowboys, Owens caught two second-half TD passes from Tony Romo in a 31-20 win against the New York Giants in 2007.

  • Detroit Lions rookie B Dave Ryan (Hardin-Simmons TX hoops letterman in 1942 and 1943) opened game's scoring by throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass in 35-28 win against the Chicago Bears in 1945.

  • New York Giants DB Otto Schnellbacher (averaged 11 ppg in four-year Kansas career, earning All-Big Six/Seven Conference honors each season) returned an interception 40 yards for touchdown in 28-14 win against the Washington Redskins in 1951.

  • Detroit Lions WR Freddie Scott (averaged 5.3 ppg as sophomore forward for Amherst MA in 1972-73) had a career-high nine pass receptions in 16-14 setback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1979.

  • New York Giants WR Del Shofner (Baylor hoops letterman in 1956) had six pass receptions for 158 yards - including three touchdowns - in a 41-10 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1962.

  • E Hub Ulrich (Kansas hoops letterman in 1942) accounted for the Miami Seahawks' lone score with a 28-yard touchdown reception in 20-7 AAFC setback against the Chicago Rockets in 1946.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers rookie HB Buist Warren (Tennessee hoops letterman in 1938 and 1940) had a 75-yard rushing touchdown in 23-0 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1945.

  • New England Patriots TE Bob Windsor (played two games for Kentucky in 1965-66 under coach Adolph Rupp) caught two touchdown passes from Jim Plunkett in a 33-13 setback against the New York Jets in 1973.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Roy Zimmerman (San Jose State hoops letterman as center in 1938 and 1939) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 38-17 win against the New York Giants in 1945.

Military Salute: Veteran All-Americans Serving USA With Honor & Distinction

November 10th, 2023 - 9:42

College basketball aficionados occasionally cite achievements they think never will be duplicated. During week including Veterans Day, they should be reminded about truly incredible comebacks likely never to be matched. In 1946-47, Andy Phillip (Illinois) and Gerry Tucker (Oklahoma) returned to first-team All-American status after missing three seasons while serving in the U.S. military during World War II. Charles Black (Kansas) and Kenny Sailors (Wyoming) also returned to All-American acclaim after missing two seasons serving in similar capacities. Such significant sacrifice is an off-the-chart achievement worthy of praise in stark contrast to soulless supporters of Hamas barbarians, unpatriotic NFL players stemming from #ColonKrapernick-inspired kneeling knuckleheads taking a National Anthem TO or sitting on their sorry butt; NeverTrump protesters donning pink caps or Halloween holdovers affiliated with Antifa toppling historic statues; #BoweKnowsDesertion avoiding jail time; one-sided voting fraud, and the incoherent hunger striker/professional student at Missouri majoring in Extortion 101 six years ago despite enjoying the black privilege of one-percenter father/executive VP for Union Pacific Railroad earning nearly $8.4 million in compensation.

Amid veterans draped in honor, the follow-the-pack press dwelt more several years ago on the cultural idiocy of boycott-threatening Mizzou football players and their "Black Mobs Matter" anarchy-supportive $4.1 million-a-year former coach. But the diaper-donning dissidents and clueless cowering former Democratic governor Jay Nixon flailing around again comparable to the Ferguson fiasco pale in comparison to the honor, dignity and courage exhibited by military veterans. Actually, many Mizzou football fans thought the sheep-like players' subsequent performances show the "entitled" already had quit. What's next in "containing" this rank self-absorbed nonsense from amateur-hour "cry-bullies" annoyed how terrorism carnage in Paris and elsewhere diverted media attention? It was surprising the Tigers' social scholars in solidarity with other professional protesters didn't boycott a game vs. BYU because the Cougars boast an honor code "discriminating" significantly more percentage-wise against African-Americans.

Infinitely more important, numerous truly honorable hoopers had their college playing careers interrupted by WWII; not sensitivity training to handle widdle feelings of self-proclaimed know-it-alls such as Ambassador Yovanowitch and Col. Vindman. For instance, Malcolm "Buck" Pitt Jr., Richmond's leader in scoring average in 1941-42, was skipper of a U.S. Navy landing craft during the Normandy invasion, where he was severely wounded by shrapnel. Elsewhere, Bob Dro served in the U.S. Navy after starting for Indiana's NCAA titlist in 1940 and Denny O'Shea served under General Patton during WWII, surviving the Battle of the Bulge before becoming member of Holy Cross' back-to-back Final Four teams in 1947 and 1948.

A couple of decades later, Al Kroboth, The Citadel's leading rebounder in back-to-back seasons in the late 1960s, was a U.S. Marine Lieutenant POW for nine months during the Vietnam War. Navigator on A-6 plane was shot down on July 7, 1972. He was forced to march barefooted for three months from jungles to prison in Hanoi. Following U.S. air raids, old women would come into local-village huts where he was confined to excrete on him and yank out hunks of his hair. He lost 80 pounds during captivity.

While much of the misguided #MessMedia are egg-faced after Plagiarist Biledumb's Afghan withdrawal debacle, even the toy department (sports) should be reminded about authentic American heroes and doing everything possible to implore bureaucrats to continue to improve conditions at many Veterans hospitals. The press puke could focus on the following list of greatest-generation All-Americans - three each from Illinois, Kentucky and Notre Dame - who deserve to be honored, at least for a day amid the snowflake campus whining, after having their college careers interrupted in the mid-1940s while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces:

Air Force - Charles Black (Kansas) and Jack Parkinson (Kentucky).

Army - Don Barksdale (UCLA), Lew Beck (Oregon State), A.L. Bennett (Oklahoma A&M), Gale Bishop (Washington State), Vince Boryla (Notre Dame/Denver), Harry Boykoff (St. John's), Bob Brannum (Kentucky), Arnie Ferrin (Utah), Alex Groza (Kentucky), Ralph Hamilton (Indiana), Walt Kirk (Illinois), Allie Paine (Oklahoma), Don Rehfeldt (Wisconsin), Jack Smiley (Illinois), Odie Spears (Western Kentucky) and Gerry Tucker (Oklahoma).

Marine Corps - Aud Brindley (Dartmouth), John Hargis (Texas), Mickey Marty (Loras IA), Andy Phillip (Illinois), Gene Rock (Southern California) and Kenny Sailors (Wyoming).

Navy - Bobby Cook (Wisconsin), Howie Dallmar (Stanford/Penn), Dick Dickey (North Carolina State), Bob Faught (Notre Dame), Harold Gensichen (Western Michigan), Wyndol Gray (Bowling Green State), Hal Haskins (Hamline MN), Leo Klier (Notre Dame), Dick McGuire (St. John's) and John Oldham (Western Kentucky).

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 10 NFL Gridiron

November 10th, 2023 - 9:34

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks about NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 10 in football at the professional level (especially in 1963):

NOVEMBER 10

  • Philadelphia Eagles LB Connor Barwin (played 34 games for Cincinnati in 2005-06 and 2006-07) contributed 3 1/2 sacks and six solo tackles in a 45-21 win against the Carolina Panthers in 2014.

  • Philadelphia Eagles WR Harold Carmichael (starter two seasons for Southern LA averaged 9.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 1969-70) caught two first-half touchdown passes from Roman Gabriel in a 27-20 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1974.

  • 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 touchdowns - including the decisive score in the fourth quarter - in a 21-14 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1957.

  • Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw three touchdown passes in a 21-0 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1974.

  • St. Louis Cardinals QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) threw three touchdown passes in a 24-20 win against the Washington Redskins in 1963. Redskins rookie E-P Pat Richter (three-year Wisconsin hoops letterman in early 1960s) averaged 48.8 yards on four punts.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers RB John Henry Johnson (made 5-of-8 FGAs in five games for Saint Mary's in 1950-51) rushed for 131 yards on 27 carries in a 9-7 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1963.

  • Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight basketball games for Texas-El Paso in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) rushed for three of his league-high 16 touchdowns in a 24-16 win against the Carolina Panthers in 2019.

  • Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw three second-quarter touchdown passes in a 27-16 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957.

  • New York Jets TE Dee Mackey (All-Lone Star Conference first-team hoops selection for East Texas State and member of NAIA All-Tournament team as senior) caught two second-half touchdown passes in a 31-27 AFL setback against the Houston Oilers in 1963.

  • RB Preston Pearson (swingman averaged 8.7 ppg and 6 rpg as Illinois senior in 1966-67) opened the Baltimore Colts' scoring by returning a kickoff 102 yards for touchdown in 27-10 win against the Detroit Lions in 1968.

  • New York Giants E Buster Poole (three-year Arkansas hoops letterman was senior captain in 1936-37) caught two touchdown passes in a 45-17 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1946.

  • Cleveland Browns RB Greg Pruitt (Oklahoma frosh hooper in 1969-70) opened game's scoring by returning a kickoff 88 yards for touchdown in 21-14 win against the New England Patriots in 1974.

  • Detroit Lions B Dave Ryan (Hardin-Simmons TX hoops letterman in 1942 and 1943) threw two long touchdown passes (72 and 88 yards) in a 17-7 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1946.

  • Baltimore Ravens DE Adalius Thomas (averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Southern Mississippi in 1996-97 and 1997-98) scored a touchdown on 25-yard interception return in 38-27 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2002.

Musical Chairs: 50% of Nation's Colleges Switched Conferences This Century

November 9th, 2023 - 15:31

"Man, that's messed up!" This concise summation certainly depicts higher education, which simply isn't what it used to be. Unless fear-mongering bureaucrats dictate otherwise, the changes could accelerate because of financial shortfalls stemming from coronavirus shutdown. Keeping remedial mathematics in mind, the Atlantic 10 Conference has more than that number of members; the Big Ten has more than 10 members and the Big 12 has more than 12 members. With respect to precise directions and logistics, the Atlantic Coast features Boston, Indiana (Notre Dame), Louisville, Pittsburgh and Syracuse, much of the Big East absorbs flyover country and the Southeast(ern) extends to the Midlands (Missouri and Texas A&M).

Amid Colon Krapernick-influenced Nike pulling "Betsy Ross" flag shoes off market plus all of the bizarre trans this and trans that, the most ardent fan probably can't come anywhere close to naming half of the schools transferring conferences the last several years. Heaven knows how future generations will explain the Big East split and UConn's leaving and returning. After Hampton abandoned the MEAC for the Big South, the resulting HBCU vindictiveness made one think the school was coercing its students to exhibit a little diversity and vote for Republicans because they were more supportive than Democrats of the Civil Rights Act. As NFL Hall of Famer Vince Lombardi, who coached freshman basketball with Fordham, would famously say: "What the hell's going on out here?"

When Appalachian State (Sun Belt), Elon (CAA) and Davidson (Atlantic 10) departed several years ago, they became the 32nd, 33rd and 34th schools to leave the Southern Conference. Following is a school-by-school look at league affiliations over the years with big changes in store again next season:

School Latest League Previous DI Conference(s)
Abilene Christian WAC (since 2022) Southland (1969-73 and 2014-21)
Air Force Mountain West (since 2000) WAC (1981-99)
Akron Mid-American (since 1993) Ohio Valley (1981-87)/Mid-Continent (1991 and 1992)
Alabama SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Alabama A&M SWAC (since 2000)
Alabama State SWAC (since 1983)
Albany America East (since 2002)
American Patriot League (since 2002) ECC (1967-84)/CAA (1985-2001)
Appalachian State Sun Belt (since 2015) Southern (1972-2014)
Arizona Big 12 (since 2025) Border (1932-61)/WAC (1963-78)/Pac-12 (1979-2024)
Arizona State Big 12 (since 2025) Border (1932-62)/WAC (1963-78)/Pac-12 (1979-2024)
Arkansas SEC (since 1992) SWC (1924-91)
Arkansas State Sun Belt (since 1992) Southland (1969-87)/American South (1988-91)
Army Patriot League (since 1991) MAAC (1982-90)
Auburn SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Austin Peay Atlantic Sun (since 2023) Ohio Valley (1964-2022)
Ball State Mid-American (since 1976)
Baylor Big 12 (since 1997) SWC (1915-96)
Bellarmine Atlantic Sun (since 2021)
Belmont Missouri Valley (since 2023) Atlantic Sun (2002-12)/Ohio Valley (2013-22)
Bethune-Cookman SWAC (since 2022) MEAC (1981-2021)
Binghamton America East (since 2002)
Boise State Big West (1997-2001 and since 2014) Big Sky (1971-96)/WAC (2002-11)/Mountain West (2012 and 2013)
Boston College ACC (since 2006) Big East (1980-2005)
Boston University Patriot League (since 2014) Yankee (1973-76)/America East (1980-2013)
Bowling Green Mid-American (since 1954)
Bradley Missouri Valley (1949-51 and since 1956)
Brigham Young Big 12 (since 2024) Rocky Mountain (1925-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/WAC (1963-99)/Mountain West (2000-11)/West Coast (2012-23)
Brown Ivy League (since 1954)
Bryant America East (since 2023) Northeast (2009-22)
Bucknell Patriot League (since 1991) ECC (1959-80)
Buffalo Mid-American (since 1999) ECC (1992 and 1994)/Mid-Continent (1995-98)
Butler Big East (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1933 and 1934)/Mid-American (1947-50)/Horizon League (1980-2012)/Atlantic 10 (2013)
California ACC (since 2025) Pac-12 (1916-2024)
UC Davis Big West (since 2008)
UC Irvine Big West (since 1978)
Cal Poly Big West (since 1997) American West (1995 and 1996)
UC Riverside Big West (since 2002)
UC San Diego Big West (since 2021)
UC Santa Barbara Big West (1970-74 and since 1977) West Coast Athletic (1965-69)
Cal State Bakersfield Big West (since 2021) WAC (2014-2020)
Cal State Fullerton Big West (since 1975)
Cal State Northridge Big West (since 2002) American West (1995 and 1996)/Big Sky (1997-2001)
Campbell CAA (since 2024) Big South (1986-94 and 2012-23)/Atlantic Sun (1995-2011)
Canisius MAAC (since 1990) ECAC North Atlantic (1980-89)
Central Arkansas Atlantic Sun (since 2022) Southland (2007-21)
Central Connecticut State Northeast (since 1998) ECC (1991-94)/Mid-Continent (1995-97)
Central Florida Big 12 (since 2024) Sun Belt (1992)/Atlantic Sun (1994-2005)/C-USA (2006-2013)/American Athletic (2014-23)
Central Michigan Mid-American (since 1973)
Charleston Southern Big South (since 1986)
Charlotte American Athletic (since 2024) Sun Belt (1977-91)/Metro (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005 and 2014-23)/Atlantic 10 (2006-13)
Chattanooga Southern (since 1978)
Chicago State independent (since 2023) Mid-Continent (1995-2006)/Great West (2010-13)/WAC (2014-22)
Cincinnati Big 12 (since 2024) Mid-American (1947-53)/Missouri Valley (1958-70)/Metro (1976-91)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)/Big East (2006-13)/American Athletic (2014-23)
The Citadel Southern (since 1937)
Clemson ACC (since 1954) Southern (1922-53)
Cleveland State Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1983-94)
Coastal Carolina Sun Belt (since 2017) Big South (1986-2016)
Colgate Patriot League (since 1991) ECAC North Atlantic (1980-90)
College of Charleston CAA (since 2014) TAAC (1994-98)/Southern (1999-2013)
Colorado Big 12 (1997-2011 and since 2025) Rocky Mountain (1923-37)/Big Eight (1948-96)/Pac-12 (2012-24)
Colorado State Mountain West (since 2000) Rocky Mountain (1924-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/WAC (1970-99)
Columbia EIBL/Ivy League (since 1902)
Connecticut Big East (1980-2013 and since 2021) New England/Yankee (1938-43 and 1946-76)/American Athletic (2014-20)
Coppin State MEAC (since 1986)
Cornell EIBL/Ivy League (since 1902)
Creighton Big East (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1929-48 and 1977-2013)
Dartmouth EIBL/Ivy League (since 1912)
Davidson Atlantic 10 (since 2015) Southern (1937-88 and 1993-2014)/Big South (1991 and 1992)
Dayton Atlantic 10 (since 1996) Midwestern Collegiate (1989-93)/Great Midwest (1994 and 1995)
Delaware CAA (since 2002) ECC (1959-91)/America East (1992-2001)
Delaware State MEAC (since 1972)
Denver Summit League (since 2014) Rocky Mountain (1923-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/Sun Belt (2000-12)/WAC (2013)
DePaul Big East (since 2006) Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)
Detroit Horizon League (since 1981) Missouri Valley (1950-57)
Drake Missouri Valley (1908-51 and since 1957)
Drexel CAA (since 2002) ECC (1959-91)/America East (1992-2001)
Duke ACC (since 1954) Southern (1929-53)
Duquesne Atlantic 10 (since 1977 except for 1993) Midwestern Collegiate (1993)
East Carolina American Athletic (since 2015) Southern (1966-77)/ECAC South/CAA (1983-2001)/C-USA (2002-14)
Eastern Illinois Ohio Valley (since 1997) Mid-Continent (1983-96)
Eastern Kentucky Atlantic Sun (since 2022) Ohio Valley (since 1949-2021)
Eastern Michigan Mid-American (since 1975)
Eastern Washington Big Sky (since 1988)
East Tennessee State Southern (1980-2005 and since 2015) Ohio Valley (1959-78)/Southern (1980-2005)/Atlantic Sun (2006-14)
Elon CAA (since 2015) Big South (1998-2003)/Southern (2004-2014)
Evansville Missouri Valley (since 1995) Ohio Valley (1949-52)/Midwestern Collegiate (1980-94)
Fairfield MAAC (since 1982)
Fairleigh Dickinson Northeast (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Florida SEC (since 1933)
Florida A&M SWAC (since 2022) MEAC (1980-2021)
Florida Atlantic American Athletic (since 2024) Atlantic Sun (1996-2004)/Sun Belt (2005-13)/C-USA (2014-23)
Florida Gulf Coast Atlantic Sun (since 2008)
Florida International C-USA (since 2014) TAAC (1992-98)/Sun Belt (1999-2013)
Florida State ACC (since 1992) Metro (1977-91)
Fordham Atlantic 10 (since 1996) MAAC (1982-90)/Patriot League (1991-95)
Fresno State Mountain West (since 2013) WCAC (1956 and 1957)/Big West (1970-92)/WAC (1993-2012)
Furman Southern (since 1937)
Gardner-Webb Big South (since 2009) Atlantic Sun (2003-08)
George Mason Atlantic 10 (since 2014) CAA (1983-2013)
Georgetown Big East (since 1980)
George Washington Atlantic 10 (since 1977) Southern (1942, 1943 and 1946-70)
Georgia SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Georgia Southern Sun Belt (since 2015) TAAC (1981-92)/Southern (1993-2014)
Georgia State Sun Belt (1977-81 and since 2014) Atlantic Sun (1985-2005)/CAA (2006-13)
Georgia Tech ACC (since 1980) Southern (1922-32)/SEC (1933-64)/Metro (1976-78)
Gonzaga West Coast (since 1980) Big Sky (1964-79)
Grambling State SWAC (since 1959)
Grand Canyon WAC (since 2014)
Green Bay Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1983-94)
Hampton CAA (since 2023) MEAC (1996-2018)/Big South (2019-22)
Harvard EIBL/Ivy League (1902-09 and since 1934)
Hawaii Big West (since 2013) WAC (1980-2012)
High Point Big South (since 2000)
Hofstra CAA (since 2002) ECC (1966-94)/America East (1995-2001)
Holy Cross Patriot League (since 1991) ECAC North (1980-83)/MAAC (1984-90)
Houston Big 12 (since 2024) Missouri Valley (1951-60)/SWC (1976-96)/C-USA (1997-2013)/American Athletic (2014-23)
Houston Baptist Southland (since 2014) TAAC (1980-89)/Great West (2009-13)
Howard University MEAC (since 1972)
Idaho Big Sky (1964-96 and since 2015) Pacific Coast (1922-59)/Big Sky (1964-96)/Big West (1997-2005)/WAC (2006-14)
Idaho State Big Sky (since 1964) Rocky Mountain (1950-60)
Illinois Big Ten (since 1896)
Illinois-Chicago Missouri Valley (since 2023) Mid-Continent (1983-94)/Horizon League (1995-2022)
Illinois State Missouri Valley (since 1981)
Incarnate Word Southland (since 2014)
Indiana Big Ten (since 1899)
Indiana State Missouri Valley (since 1977)
IUPUI Horizon League (since 2018) Summit League (1999-2017)
Iona MAAC (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Iowa Big Ten (since 1899)
Iowa State Big 12 (since 1997) Missouri Valley (1908-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)
Jackson State SWAC (since 1959)
Jacksonville Atlantic Sun (since 1999) Sun Belt (1977-98)
Jacksonville State C-USA (since 2024) TAAC/Atlantic Sun (1996-2003, 2022 and 2023)/Ohio Valley (2004-2021)
James Madison Sun Belt (since 2023) CAA (1983-2022)
Kansas Big 12 (since 1997) Missouri Valley (1908-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)
Kansas State Big 12 (since 1997) Missouri Valley (1914-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)
Kennesaw State Atlantic Sun (since 2006)
Kent State Mid-American (since 1952)
Kentucky SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Lafayette Patriot League (since 1991) ECC (1959-90)
Lamar WAC (since 2022) Southland (1969-87 and 1999-2021)/American South (1988-91)/Sun Belt (1992-98)
La Salle Atlantic 10 (since 1996) ECC (1959-83)/MAAC (1984-92)/Midwestern Collegiate (1993-95)
Lehigh Patriot League (since 1991) ECC (1959-90)
Le Moyne Northeast (since 2024)
Liberty C-USA (since 2024) Big South (1992-2018)/Atlantic Sun (2019-23)
Lindenwood Ohio Valley (since 2023)
Lipscomb Atlantic Sun (since 2004)
Long Beach State Big West (since 1970)
Long Island Northeast (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Longwood Big South (since 2013)
Louisiana-Lafayette Sun Belt (since 1992) Southland (1972-82)/American South (1988-91)
Louisiana-Monroe Sun Belt (since 2007) TAAC (1980-82)/Southland (1983-2006)
Louisiana State SEC (since 1933) Southern (1923-32)
Louisiana Tech C-USA (since 2014) Southland (1972-87)/American South (1988-91)/Sun Belt (1992-2001)/WAC (2002-13)
Louisville ACC (since 2015) Missouri Valley (1965-75)/Metro (1976-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)/Big East (2006-13)/American Athletic (2014)
Loyola of Chicago Atlantic 10 (since 2023) Horizon League (1980-2013)/Missouri Valley (2014-22)
Loyola (Md.) Patriot League (since 2014) Northeast (1982-89)/MAAC (1990-2013)
Loyola Marymount West Coast (since 1956)
Maine America East (since 1980) New England/Yankee (1938-43 and 1946-76)
Manhattan MAAC (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Marist MAAC (since 1998) Northeast (1982-97)
Marquette Big East (since 2006) Midwestern Collegiate (1990 & 1991)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)
Marshall Sun Belt (since 2023) Ohio Valley (1949-52)/Mid-American (1954-69 and 1998-2005)/Southern (1978-97)/C-USA (2006-22)
Maryland Big Ten (since 2015) Southern (1924-53)/ACC (1954-2014)
Maryland-Baltimore County America East (since 2004) ECC (1991 and 1992)/Big South (1993-98)/Northeast (1999-2003)
Maryland-Eastern Shore MEAC (1972-79 and since 1983)
Massachusetts Mid-American (since 2026) New England/Yankee (1947-76)/Atlantic 10 (1977-2025)
Massachusetts-Lowell America East (since 2014)
McNeese State Southland (since 1973)
Memphis American Athletic (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1968-73)/Metro (1976-91)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2013)
Mercer Southern (since 2015) Atlantic Sun (1980-2014)
Merrimack Northeast (since 2020)
Miami (Fla.) ACC (since 2005) Big East (1992-2004)
Miami (Ohio) Mid-American (since 1948)
Michigan Big Ten (since 1896)
Michigan State Big Ten (since 1949)
Middle Tennessee State C-USA (since 2014) Ohio Valley (1953-2000)/Sun Belt (2001-13)
Milwaukee Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1993 and 1994)
Minnesota Big Ten (since 1896)
Mississippi SEC (since 1933) Southern (1923-32)
Mississippi State SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Mississippi Valley State SWAC (since 1969)
Missouri SEC (since 2013) Missouri Valley (1908-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)/Big 12 (1997-2012)
Missouri-Kansas City Summit League (since 2021) Summit League (1995-2013)/WAC 2014-20)
Missouri State Missouri Valley (since 1991) Mid-Continent (1983-90)
Monmouth CAA (since 2023) Northeast (1986-2013)/MAAC (2014-22)
Montana Big Sky (since 1964) Pacific Coast (1924-29)/Skyline (1952-62)
Montana State Big Sky (since 1964) Rocky Mountain (1925-57 except for 1948)/Skyline (1952-62)
Morehead State Ohio Valley (since 1949)
Morgan State MEAC (1972-80 and since 1985)
Mount St. Mary's MAAC (since 2023)/ Northeast (1990-2022)
Murray State Missouri Valley (since 2023) Ohio Valley (1949-2022 except for 1962)
Navy Patriot League (since 1992) CAA (1983-91)
Nebraska Big Ten (since 2012) Missouri Valley (1908-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)/Big 12 (1997-2011)
Nebraska-Omaha Summit League (since 2013)
Nevada Mountain West (2013) WCAC (1970-79)/Big Sky (1980-92)/Big West (1993-2000)/WAC (2001-12)
New Hampshire America East (since 1980) New England/Yankee (1938-43 and 1946-76)
NJIT America East (since 2021) Great West (2009-13)/Atlantic Sun (2016-20)
New Mexico Mountain West (since 2000) Border (1932-42 and 1945-51)/Skyline (1952-62)/WAC (1963-99)
New Mexico State C-USA (since 2024) Border (1932-62)/Missouri Valley (1971-83)/Big West (1984-2000)/Sun Belt (2001-05)/WAC (2006-23)
New Orleans Southland (since 2014) Sun Belt (1977-80 and 1992-2011)/American South (1988-91)
Niagara MAAC (since 1990) ECAC North Atlantic (1980-89)
Nicholls State Southland (since 1992) Gulf Star (1985-87)
Norfolk State MEAC (since 1998)
North Alabama Atlantic Sun (since 2019)
North Carolina ACC (since 1954) Southern (1922-53)
UNC Asheville Big South (since 1986)
North Carolina A&T CAA (since 2023) MEAC (1972-2021)/Big South (2022)
North Carolina Central MEAC (1972-80 and since 2012)
UNC Greensboro Southern (since 1998) Big South (1993-97)
North Carolina State ACC (since 1954) Southern (1922-53)
UNC Wilmington CAA (since 1985)
North Dakota Big Sky (since 2013)
North Dakota State Summit League (since 2008)
Northern Arizona Big Sky (since 1971) Border (1932-53)
Northern Colorado Big Sky (since 2007)
Northern Illinois Mid-American (1976-86 and since 1998) Mid-Continent (1991-94)/Midwestern Collegiate (1995-97)
Northern Iowa Missouri Valley (since 1992) Mid-Continent (1983-91)
Northern Kentucky Horizon League (since 2016) Atlantic Sun (2013-15)
North Florida Atlantic Sun (since 2006)
North Texas American Athletic (since 2024) Missouri Valley (1958-75)/Southland (1983-96)/Big West (1997-2000)/Sun Belt (2001-13)/C-USA (2014-23)
Northwestern Big Ten (since 1896)
Northwestern State Southland (since 1988) TAAC (1981-84)/Gulf Star (1985-87)
Notre Dame ACC (since 2014) Big East (1996-2013)
Oakland Horizon League (since 2014) Summit League (1999-2013)
Ohio University Mid-American (since 1947)
Ohio State Big Ten (since 1912)
Oklahoma SEC (since 2025) Missouri Valley (1920-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)/Big 12 (1997-2024)
Oklahoma State Big 12 (since 1997) SWC (1918 and 1922-25)/Missouri Valley (1926-57)/Big Eight (1959-96)
Old Dominion Sun Belt (1983-91 and since 2023) CAA (1992-2013)/C-USA (2014-22)
Oral Roberts Summit League (1998-2012 and since 2015) Midwestern Collegiate (1980-87)/Southland (2013 and 2014)
Oregon Big Ten (since 2025) Pac-12 (1916-59 and 1965-2024)
Oregon State WCC (since 2025) Pac-12 (1916-59 and 1965-2024)
Pacific WCAC/WCC (1953-71 and since 2014) Big West (1972-2013)
Penn EIBL/Ivy League (since 1904)
Penn State Big Ten (since 1993) Atlantic 10 (1977-79 and 1983-91)
Pepperdine West Coast (since 1956)
Pittsburgh ACC (since 2014) Eastern 8 (1977-82)/Big East (1983-2013)
Portland West Coast (since 1977)
Portland State Big Sky (since 1997)
Prairie View SWAC (since 1921 except for 1991)
Presbyterian Big South (since 2010)
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Purdue Big Ten (since 1896)
Purdue Fort Wayne Horizon League (since 2021) Summit League (2008-20)
Queens Atlantic Sun (since 2023)
Quinnipiac MAAC (since 2014) Northeast (1999-2013)
Radford Big South (since 1986)
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Rice American Athletic (since 2024) SWC (1915-96)/WAC (1997-2005)/C-USA (2006-23)
Richmond Atlantic 10 (since 2002) Southern (1937-76)/CAA (1983-2001)
Rider MAAC (since 1998) ECC (1967-92)/Northeast (1993-97)
Robert Morris Horizon League (since 2021) Northeast (1982-2020)
Rutgers Big Ten (since 2015) Middle Atlantic (1959-62)/Atlantic 10 (1977-95)/Big East (1996-2013)/American Athletic (2014)
Sacramento State Big Sky (since 1997) American West (1995 and 1996)
Sacred Heart Northeast (since 2000)
St. Bonaventure Atlantic 10 (since 1980)
Saint Francis (Pa.) Northeast (since 1982)
St. John's Big East (since 1980)
Saint Joseph's Atlantic 10 (since 1983) ECC (1959-82)
Saint Louis Atlantic 10 (since 2006) Missouri Valley (1938-74)/Metro (1976-82)/Midwestern Collegiate (1983-91)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)
Saint Mary's West Coast (since 1953)
Saint Peter's MAAC (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
St. Thomas Summit League (since 2022)
Samford Southern (since 2008) Atlantic Sun (1980-2003)/Ohio Valley (2004-07)
Sam Houston State C-USA (since 2024) Gulf Star (1985-87)/Southland (1988-2021)/Western Athletic (2022 and 2023)
San Diego West Coast (since 1980)
San Diego State PCAA/Big West (1970-78 and since 2014) WAC (1979-99)/Mountain West (2000-13)
San Francisco West Coast (since 1953)
San Jose State Mountain West (since 2014) WCAC (1953-69)/Big West (1970-96)/WAC (1997-2013)
Santa Clara West Coast (since 1953)
Savannah State MEAC (since 2012)
Seattle WAC (since 2013) WCAC (1972-80)
Seton Hall Big East (since 1980) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Siena MAAC (since 1990) Northeast (1982-84)/ECAC North Atlantic (1985-89)
South Alabama Sun Belt (since 1977)
South Carolina SEC (since 1992) Southern (1923-53)/ACC (1954-71)/Metro (1984-91)
South Carolina State MEAC (since 1972)
USC Upstate Big South (since 2019) Atlantic Sun (2008-18)
South Dakota Big Sky (since 2013) Great West (2009-12)
South Dakota State Summit League (since 2008)
Southeastern Louisiana Southland (since 1998) Gulf Star (1985-87)/TAAC (1992-97)
Southeast Missouri State Ohio Valley (since 1992)
Southern (La.) SWAC (since 1935)
Southern California Big Ten (since 2025) Pac-12 (1922-2024)
Southern Illinois Missouri Valley (since 1975)
SIU-Edwardsville Ohio Valley (since 2012)
Southern Indiana Ohio Valley (since 2023)
Southern Methodist ACC (since 2025) SWC (1919-96)/WAC (1997-2005)/C-USA (2006-13)/American Athletic (2014-24)
Southern Mississippi Sun Belt (since 2023) Metro (1983-95)/C-USA (1996-2022)
Southern Utah WAC (since 2023) American West (1995 and 1996)/Summit League (1998-2012)/Big Sky (2013-22)
South Florida American Athletic (since 2014) Sun Belt (1977-91)/Metro (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)/Big East (2006-13)
Stanford ACC (since 2025) Pac-12 (1917-2024)
Stephen F. Austin WAC (since 2022) Gulf Star (1985-87)/Southland (1988-2021)
Stetson Atlantic Sun (since 1987)
Stonehill Northeast (since 2023)
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Syracuse ACC (since 2014) Big East (1980-2013)
Temple American Athletic (since 2014) ECC (1959-82)/Atlantic 10 (1983-2013)
Tarleton State WAC (since 2021)
Tennessee SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Tennessee-Martin Ohio Valley (since 1993)
Tennessee State Ohio Valley (since 1988)
Tennessee Tech Ohio Valley (since 1949)
Texas SEC (since 2025) SWC (1915-96)/Big 12 (1997-2024)
Texas A&M SEC (since 2013) SWC (1915-96)/Big 12 (1997-2012)
Texas A&M-Commerce Southland (since 2023)
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Southland (since 2007)
Texas-Arlington WAC (2013 and since 2023) Southland (1969-2012 except for 1987)/Sun Belt (2014-22)
Texas Christian Big 12 (since 2013) SWC (1924-96)/WAC (1997-2001)/C-USA (2002-05)/Mountain West (2006-12)
Texas-El Paso C-USA (since 2006) Border (1936-62)/WAC (1970-2005)
Texas-Pan American WAC (since 2014) TAAC (1980)/American South (1988-91)/Sun Belt (1992-98)/Great West (2009-13)
Texas-San Antonio American Athletic (since 2024) TAAC (1987-91)/Southland (1992-2012)/WAC (2013)/C-USA (2014-23)
Texas Southern SWAC (since 1955)
Texas State Sun Belt (since 2014) Gulf Star (1985-87)/Southland (1988-2012)/WAC (2013)
Texas Tech Big 12 (since 1997) Border (1933-56)/SWC (1958-96)
Toledo Mid-American (since 1952)
Towson CAA (since 2002) Northeast (1982)/ECC (1983-92)/Big South (1993-95)/America East (1996-2001)
Troy Sun Belt (since 2006) ECC (1994)/Mid-Continent (1995-97)/Atlantic Sun (1998-2005)
Tulane American Athletic (since 2015) Southern (1923-32)/SEC (1933-66)/Metro (1976-85 and 1990-95)/C-USA (1996-2014)
Tulsa American Athletic (since 2015) Missouri Valley (1935-96)/WAC (1997-2005)/C-USA (2006-14)
UAB American Athletic (since 2024) Sun Belt (1980-91)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2023)
UALR Ohio Valley (since 2023) TAAC (1981-91)/Sun Belt (1992-2022)
UCLA Big Ten (since 2025) Pac-12 (1928-2024)
UNLV Mountain West (since 2000) WCAC (1970-75)/Big West (1983-96)/WAC (1997-99)
Utah Big 12 (since 2025) Rocky Mountain (1925-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/WAC (1963-99)/Mountain West (2000-11)/Pac-12 (2012-24)
Utah State Mountain West (since 2014) Rocky Mountain (1925-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/Big West (1979-2005)/WAC (2006-13)
Utah Tech WAC (since 2021)
Utah Valley WAC (since 2014) Great West (2009-13)
Valparaiso Missouri Valley (since 2018) Mid-Continent (1983-2007)/Horizon League (2008-17)
Vanderbilt SEC (since 1933) Southern (1923-32)
Vermont America East (since 1980) New England/Yankee (1947-76)
Villanova Big East (since 1981) Eastern Athletic Association (1977-80)
Virginia ACC (since 1954) Southern (1922-37)
Virginia Commonwealth Atlantic 10 (since 2013) Sun Belt (1980-91)/Metro (1992-95)/CAA (1996-2012)
Virginia Military Southern (1926-2003 and since 2015) Big South (2004-14)
Virginia Tech ACC (since 2005) Southern (1922-65)/Metro (1979-95)/Atlantic 10 (1996-2000)/Big East (2001-04)
Wagner Northeast (since 1982)
Wake Forest ACC (since 1954) Southern (1937-53)
Washington Big Ten (since 2025) Pac-12 (1916-2024)
Washington State WCC (since 2025) Pac-12 (1917-59 and 1964-2024)
Weber State Big Sky (since 1964)
Western Carolina Southern (since 1978)
Western Illinois Ohio Valley (since 2024) Summit League (1983-2023)
Western Kentucky C-USA (since 2015) Ohio Valley (1949-82)/Sun Belt (1983-2014)
Western Michigan Mid-American (since 1948)
West Virginia Big 12 (since 2013) Southern (1951-68)/Atlantic 10 (1977-95)/Big East (1996-2012)
Wichita State American Athletic (since 2018) Missouri Valley (1946-2017)
William & Mary CAA (since 1983) Southern (1937-77)
Winthrop Big South (since 1986)
Wisconsin Big Ten (since 1896)
Wofford Southern (since 1998)
Wright State Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1992-94)
Wyoming Mountain West (since 2000) Rocky Mountain (1923-37)/Mountain States (1938-62)/WAC (1963-99)
Xavier Big East (since 2014) Midwestern Collegiate (1980-95)/Atlantic 10 (1996-2013)
Yale EIBL/Ivy League (since 1902)
Youngstown State Horizon League (since 2002) Ohio Valley (1982-88)/Mid-Continent (1992-2001)

Mount Rushmore: Where Does Bob Knight Rank Among Greatest DI Coaches?

November 9th, 2023 - 14:12

There are just over 20 coaches in history with tenures at least 30 years at one school. Insofar as players have had at most four seasons of eligibility, one could build a case that coaches enjoy a significant edge over players in long-term impact on the sport. In the aftermath of Bob Knight's recent death, how in the world does one attempt to pare down a "greatest" list? Here is where Coach Knight ranks among the all-time Top 10:

Rank Coach Career Record (Seasons and Schools/Winning Percentage) Summary of College Career
1. John Wooden 664-162 record (1947-75 with Indiana State and UCLA/.804) Classic example of why schools and fans should exercise a little more patience. Legendary coach lost his first five playoff games with UCLA by an average of 11.4 points and compiled an anemic 3-9 record from 1950 through 1963 before the Bruins won an unprecedented 10 national titles in 12 years from 1964 through 1975, including seven straight from 1967 through 1973. His 1962 team finished fourth in the NCAA Tournament and his 1974 squad finished third. Wooden, who inherited a program that posted only two winning seasons in 17 years before his arrival, had just two players (Alan Sawyer and Willie Naulls) compete in the NBA in his first 16 seasons in Westwood. Six-time national coach of the year won 13 conference titles in his last 14 years. Posted the nation's best record in back-to-back decades (1960s and 1970s). Excelled in close contests with a 100-62 mark (.617) in major-college games decided by fewer than six points.
2. Dean Smith 879-254 (1962-97 with North Carolina/.776) Only coach to direct teams to Final Fours in four different decades. He made 11 Final Four appearances (1967-68-69-72-77-81-82-91-93-95-97). All-time winningest major-college coach overall through 2006 and runner-up in NCAA Tournament competition (65 victories). Three-time national coach of the year reached NCAA Final Four 11 times--1967 (fourth), 1968 (runner-up), 1969 (fourth), 1972 (third), 1977 (runner-up), 1981 (runner-up), 1982 (champion), 1991 (tied for third), 1993 (champion), 1995 (tied for third) and 1997 (tied for third). Coach of 1971 NIT champion and 1973 third-place team. Captured 13 ACC Tournament championships and league-best 17 regular-season titles. Posted the nation's best record in the 1980s. Guided the Tar Heels to an NCAA-record 19 consecutive appearances in final Top 20 wire-service polls from 1971 through 1989. Compiled the best mark of any major-college coach with more than 250 games decided by fewer than six points (171-102, .626).
3. Adolph Rupp 876-190 (1931-72 with Kentucky/.822) Coached teams to four NCAA titles (1948, 1949, 1951 and 1958). His 1942 squad finished tied for third in the 1942 NCAA Tournament and his 1966 team was runner-up to Texas Western. Directed Kentucky to 1946 NIT title and to NIT championship game again in 1947. His 1944 UK team finished fourth at NIT. Coach of 1933 Kentucky squad that was selected as national champion by the Helms Foundation. Held NCAA career record for most victories until it was broken by Dean Smith. Coached UK to a SEC-record 24 conference and 13 league tournament titles. "If winning isn't important, why do they keep score?" said Rupp, who posted the nation's best record in back-to-back decades (1940s and 1950s). He reached the 400-, 500-, 600-, 700- and 800-win plateaus faster than any coach in major-college history. The Wildcats finished in the Top 10 of final AP polls each of the nine seasons they competed in the 1950s. Perhaps the only blemish on his resume is a 24-25 mark in one-point verdicts.
4. Clair Bee 412-87 (1929-51 with Rider and LIU/.826) Unbeaten LIU team won 1939 NIT. Lost fewer than four games seven times in nine years from 1934-42 en route to becoming the Blackbirds' all-time winningest coach. LIU went an eye-popping 218-20 (.916) during that nine-year stretch. "Play as a team and eliminate all thoughts of personal glory," Bee said. He reached the 200- and 300-win plateaus faster than any coach in major-college history. From 1934-35 until 1957-58, the Blackbirds had a homecourt winning streak of 139 games at the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy gymnasium. Bee boasted a brilliant 64-29 mark (.688) with LIU in games decided by fewer than six points. "In the first half of the century, Bee was basketball," said Bob Knight, who was befriended by Bee when Knight was at Army and Bee at a local military school. "There wasn't a thing he did that didn't affect the game, and there wasn't a thing that affected the game that he didn't do. He was one of the most singularly brilliant minds ever involved with athletics, and one of the greatest analytical basketball minds we've ever had. He had such a clear, brilliant grasp of what had to be done. He was a coach in the truest sense of the word."
5. Mike Krzyzewski 1,202-368 (1976-2022 with Army and Duke/.766) Five-time national coach of the year guided Duke to back-to-back NCAA Tournament titles in 1991 and 1992. Reached NCAA Final Four 12 times. Passed Dean Smith for most NCAA playoff victories in history. NCAA's all-time winningest coach has won 15 ACC Tournament championships. Ten consecutive Top 10 appearances in final AP polls from 1997 through 2006. Lost with the nation's No. 1 team seven straight seasons from 1997-98 through 2003-04 amid 24 such defeats from 1988-89 through 2010-11. Wooden, Smith, Rupp and Bee each had significantly better marks than Coach K in close contests. Lost to SUNY-Buffalo, Scranton (Pa.) and King's College (Pa.) in 1975-76 while coaching Army after his predecessor, Bob Knight, guided the Cadets to the NIT semifinals three times in a five-year span from 1966 through 1970. Failed to win an ACC regular-season title in last 11 seasons.
6. Bob Knight 902-371 (1966-2008 with Army, Indiana and Texas Tech/.709) Passed Dean Smith to become the nation's all-time winningest coach before one of his pupils, Mike Krzyzewski, passed him early in the 2011-12 campaign. Four-time national coach of the year reached NCAA Final Four five times - 1973 (third), 1976 (champion), 1981 (champion), 1987 (champion) and 1992 (tied for third). Coach of six NIT semifinalists captured 1974 Collegiate Commissioners Association Tournament championship. Winningest coach in Big Ten Conference history. Of the three coaches to win basketball championships at every major level (the NCAA, NIT and Summer Olympics), he is the only one to capture the "Triple Crown" in a span of less than 10 years. Coach of last undefeated Division I team (Indiana in 1975-76) guided 21 squads to Top 20 appearances in final wire-service polls. Compiled the best mark of any major-college coach with more than 300 games decided by fewer than six points (183-137, .572).
7. Hank Iba 767-338 (1930-70 with Northwest Missouri State, Colorado and Oklahoma State/.694) Only coach with six or more NCAA playoff appearances to reach the regional finals every time. Oklahoma State won two national titles, was national runner-up once, finished fourth once, and was regional runners-up on four occasions in eight playoff appearances under Iba from 1945-65. Reached Final Four on four occasions--1945 (1st), 1946 (1st), 1949 (2nd) and 1951 (4th)--after directing Oklahoma A&M to three NIT semifinals--1938 (3rd), 1940 (3rd) and 1944 (4th). Oklahoma State's all-time winningest coach led the nation in scoring defense 16 times in his first 23 seasons with the school. Captured MVC-high 12 regular-season titles. The engaging Iba, hailed as the patriarch of basketball's first family of coaches, had seven of his former Oklahoma State players eventually coach teams into the NCAA playoffs. At last count, it is believed a total of more than 60 coaches who can trace their coaching lineage to Iba have made participated in the NCAA Tournament. "Mr. Iba's system was so sound and he inspired such confidence that there was never any question in my mind that his philosophy offered the best opportunity to be successful," said former coach Eddie Sutton. "The things he gave us are as valid today as they were 40 years ago." But Iba compiled a losing mark (103-114) in games decided by fewer than four points.
8. Phog Allen 746-264 (1906-09 and 1913-56 with Baker, Haskell, Central Missouri State and Kansas/.739) Total of 21 league champions. Had 17 consecutive undisputed first-division finishes with Kansas in the Big Six Conference from 1930 through 1946. Won more than 60 percent of his games decided by fewer than six points (156-100, .609). "The team with a great defense coupled with a good offense will almost always defeat the team with a good defense and a great offense," Allen said.
9. Jerry Tarkanian 784-205 (1969-92 and 1995-2002 with Long Beach State, UNLV and Fresno State/.793) Coach of 1990 NCAA champion reached NCAA Final Four four times in 15 years from 1977-91. Coach of seven Big West Tournament champions--1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991. All-time winningest coach for Long Beach State and UNLV had penchant for recruiting suspect students. Guided UNLV to 10 straight Top 20 appearances in final wire-serivce polls from 1983 through 1992. Collected 14 PCAA/Big West Conference regular-season titles. Compiled the best mark of any major-college coach with more than 225 games decided by fewer than six points (151-80, .654).
10. Al McGuire 404-144 from 1958-77 with Belmont Abbey and Marquette/.737) Marquette's all-time winningest coach guided school to the NIT title in 1970 and NCAA championship in his swan song in 1977. McGuire's 1974 Marquette squad finished runner-up to North Carolina State in the NCAA Tournament and his 1967 team lost to Walt Frazier-led Southern Illinois in the NIT final. Two-time national coach of the year directed Marquette to Top 20 appearances in final wire-service polls his last 10 seasons. Excelled in close contests, winning 67.7% of his games decided by fewer than six points (63-30 mark). Posted a sterling 25-3 record in games decided by fewer than five points in a four-year span from 1971-72 through 1974-75. McGuire, equal parts P.T. Barnum and Bill Veeck, was one of the first white coaches to actively recruit inner-city players. LSU coach Press Maravich, whose son (Pete) became the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, had said before the 1970 NIT semifinals that "watching a team like Marquette play defense is like watching grass grow." McGuire's terse response before restricting Pistol Pete to nine field-goal attempts: "Well, if watching defense is like watching grass grow, your ass is grass and I'm the lawn mower."

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 9 NFL Gridiron

November 9th, 2023 - 9:23

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 9 in football at the professional level (especially in 1980 and 2008):

NOVEMBER 9

  • QB Matt Blundin (Virginia starter most of sophomore season in 1988-89 when averaging 6 ppg and 5.8 rpg while shooting 55.9% from floor) had his lone pass with the Detroit Lions intercepted by the Washington Redskins in 1997.

  • New York Giants TE Kevin Boss (averaged 3 ppg and 2.7 rpg while shooting 51.9% from floor for Western Oregon in 2004-05 and 2005-06) caught a touchdown pass from Eli Manning in his third consecutive contest in 2008. Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw three TD passes in a 36-31 setback against the Giants.

  • B Junior Boyd (Westminster MO four-sport letterman including hoops) caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Ernie Nevers (All-Pacific Coast Conference second-five choice for Stanford in 1924-25) for the Chicago Cardinals' lone score in 13-7 setback against the New York Giants in 1930.

  • Tennessee Titans rookie WR Tyrone Calico (played one basketball game for Middle Tennessee State in 1998-99) opened game's scoring with a 12-yard touchdown catch from QB Steve McNair in 31-7 win against the Miami Dolphins in 2003.

  • Philadelphia Eagles WR Harold Carmichael (starter two seasons for Southern LA averaged 9.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 1969-70) caught three touchdown passes from QB Ron Jaworski in a 34-21 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1980.

  • New York Giants T Victor Carroll (three-year hoops letterman for Nevada-Reno in mid-1930s) caught an 18-yard touchdown pass in 41-24 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1947. Eagles HB Bosh Pritchard (four-sport letterman for VMI) scored three second-half TDs (one run from scrimmage/two pass receptions).

  • Dallas Cowboys DE Shante Carver (Arizona State hooper in 1992-93) had two sacks in a 24-6 win against the Arizona Cardinals in 1997.

  • Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught 10 passes - including two touchdowns - in a 20-19 setback against the San Diego Chargers in 2008.

  • New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09) caught 10 passes - including two second-half touchdowns from Drew Brees - in a 27-24 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 2014. Three years later with the Seattle Seahawks, Graham caught two TD passes from Russell Wilson in a 22-16 win against the Arizona Cardinals in 2017.

  • Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 13-12 AAFC win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

  • Philadelphia Eagles E Bud Grant (third-leading scorer for Minnesota in 1948-49 after named team MVP previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre) caught two touchdown passes in a 38-20 win against the Washington Redskins in 1952.

  • Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 41-13 win against the Houston Texans in 2008.

  • 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 two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 27-24 setback against the Carolina Panthers in 2003.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers rookie B Art Jones (averaged 4.9 ppg as starting center for Richmond in 1940-41) rushed for a 25-yard touchdown in 7-7 tie against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1941.

  • Minnesota Vikings QB Joe Kapp (backup forward averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg for California's PCC champions in 1957 and 1958) threw three first-half touchdown passes in a 51-3 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1969. Vikings DB Charlie West (collected two points and one rebound in two UTEP games under coach Don Haskins in 1967-68) returned a punt 55 yards.

  • Atlanta Falcons CB Rolland Lawrence (captain of Tabor KS hoops squad as senior in 1972-73) had two interceptions in a 33-27 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1980.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw four touchdown passes in a 31-24 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958.

  • Kansas City Chiefs LB Frank Manumaleuga (San Jose State hooper in 1978-79) returned an interception 22 yards for touchdown in the fourth quarter of 31-30 win against the Seattle Seahawks in 1980.

  • New York Giants DE George Martin (Oregon hoops teammate of freshman sensation Ron Lee in 1972-73) caught a touchdown pass from Phil Simms in 38-35 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1980. Giants LB Brad Van Pelt (averaged 4.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg while shooting 61.7% from floor as Michigan State sophomore in 1970-71) had two interceptions.

  • TE Tom Mitchell (averaged 6.1 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 10 basketball games for Bucknell in 1963-64) opened the Baltimore Colts' scoring with a 51-yard touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in 14-6 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1969.

  • Buffalo Bills HB Chet Mutryn (Xavier hoops letterman in 1943) rushed for two third-quarter touchdowns in a 25-0 AAFC win against the Los Angeles Dons in 1947.

  • Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) had three sacks and seven tackles in a 17-6 win against the Oakland Raiders in 2008.

  • Atlanta Falcons WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) had 11 pass receptions in a 41-3 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1992.

  • In midst of three consecutive contests with a touchdown catch, Minnesota Vikings rookie TE Joe Senser (two-time NCAA Division I leader in FG% averaged 11.4 ppg and 7.4 rpg while shooting 66.2% from floor in four-year career for West Chester State PA) had a 58-yard TD reception in 34-0 win against the Detroit Lions in 1980.

  • Los Angeles Rams WR Del Shofner (Baylor hoops letterman in 1956) had two first-half touchdown receptions (64 and 72 yards) in a 56-7 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1958.

  • Denver Broncos TE Julius Thomas (averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10) caught two third-quarter touchdown passes from Peyton Manning in a 41-17 win against the Oakland Raiders in 2014.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 8 NFL Gridiron

November 8th, 2023 - 7:57

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks about NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 8 in football at the professional level (especially 1964):

NOVEMBER 8

  • Washington Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (Texas Christian three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw three touchdown passes in a 28-0 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1942.

  • Buffalo Bills WR Don Beebe (Aurora College IL junior varsity hooper in 1983-84) caught eight passes for 111 yards in a 28-20 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1992.

  • Kansas City Chiefs LB Bobby Bell (first African-American hooper for Minnesota in 1960-61) returned an interception 45 yards for touchdown in 24-9 win against the Houston Oilers in 1970.

  • Philadelphia Eagles WR Harold Carmichael (starter two seasons for Southern LA averaged 9.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 1969-70) caught two third-quarter touchdown passes from Ron Jaworski in a 52-10 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1981.

  • Kansas City Chiefs WR Chris Chambers (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes - including one for 54 yards - in a 24-21 setback against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009.

  • Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw four touchdown passes - one in each quarter - in a 42-7 AFL win against the Oakland Raiders in 1964.

  • Chicago Cardinals B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1916) provided the decisive field goal in final minute of a 9-6 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1925.

  • Oakland Raiders TE Rickey Dudley (averaged 13.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg as senior in 1994-95 when leading Ohio State in rebounding and finishing third in scoring) caught six passes for 105 yards in a 13-10 setback against the Baltimore Ravens in 1998.

  • New York Yankees rookie E Ray Flaherty (four-sport Gonzaga athlete including hoops) caught three touchdown passes in a 26-6 win against the Chicago Bears in 1927.

  • Minnesota Vikings TE Andrew Glover (All-SWAC second-team selection as senior in 1990-91 when leading Grambling with 16.2 ppg and 8.6 rpg while pacing league in field-goal shooting) caught nine passes in a 31-24 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1998. Vikings 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) passed for 316 yards.

  • San Diego Chargers rookie 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 from Philip Rivers - including game winner with 18 seconds remaining - in a 21-20 win against the New York Giants in 2009.

  • St. Louis Cardinals QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 34-30 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1964.

  • Phoenix Cardinals RB Johnny Johnson (averaged 11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 3.2 apg in 1988-89 after majority of hoop team members walked off San Jose State squad) rushed for two second-half touchdowns in a 20-14 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1992.

  • Chicago Cardinals FB Ernie Nevers (All-Pacific Coast Conference second-five hoops choice for Stanford in 1924-25) rushed for two second-quarter touchdowns in a 14-6 win against the Cleveland Indians in 1931.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) caught two touchdown passes in a 25-23 win against the Carolina Panthers in 1998. Twelve years later with the Cincinnati Bengals, Owens caught two TD passes from Carson Palmer en route to 10 receptions for 141 yards in a 27-21 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010.

  • Indianapolis Colts TE Marcus Pollard (JC transfer averaged 7.3 ppg and 5 rpg for Bradley in 1992-93 and 1993-94) caught two touchdown passes from Peyton Manning in a 31-28 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 2004.

  • Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from Tom Flores in a 22-7 AFL win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963.

  • Providence Steam Roller E Al Rose (Texas hoops letterman from 1928 through 1930) scored game's lone touchdown with a 35-yard pass reception in 7-0 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1931.

  • Detroit Lions WR Freddie Scott (averaged 5.3 ppg as sophomore forward for Amherst MA in 1972-73) had eight pass receptions for a career-high 156 receiving yards in 33-31 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1981.

  • New York Giants LB Tom Scott (hoops letterman as Virginia forward in 1951) had an interception in his second straight game in 1964. Fellow LB Lou Slaby (collected two points and two rebounds in two basketball games for Pittsburgh in 1960-61) also had an INT for the Giants, returning it 26 yards, in 42-20 setback against the Dallas Cowboys.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw three touchdown passes in a 24-17 win against the Miami Dolphins in 1970. Dolphins QB John Stofa (averaged 5.8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Buffalo in 1961-62) threw two fourth-quarter TD passes.

  • HB Ed Sutton (seven hoops games for North Carolina as sophomore in 1954-55) threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Joe Walton in fourth quarter to help propel the Washington Redskins to 27-24 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1959.

Versatility Personified: Former College Hoopers Touching All of the Bases

November 8th, 2023 - 7:56

MLB award winners for Most Valuable Player, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year will be announced next week. Times have changed but it was commonplace for former college basketball players to previously claim a striking number of the awards. In a 20-year span from 1948 to 1968, a total of six MVPs were ex-college hoopers. When St. Louis Cardinal outfielders accounted for back-to-back winners in 1954 (Wally Moon) and 1955 (Bill Virdon), seven rookies of year in first nine years of award were ex-college hoopers. Subsequently, sports specialization intervened. In aftermath of both AL and NL rookie of year winners in 1974 coming from small-college hoopdom (Mike Hargrove and Bake McBride), there has been only two honorees since then in this multiple-sport athlete category - Mike Flanagan in 1979 and David Justice in 1990 (only such individual in last 44 years). Following is a summary of MLB major award winners who previously competed on the hardwood in college (listed alphabetically):

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Ex-College Hooper School Summary of MVP Award With MLB Team
Lou Boudreau Illinois AL in 1948 with Cleveland Indians
Gordon "Mickey" Cochrane Boston University AL in 1928 with Philadelphia Athletics and in 1934 with Detroit Tigers
Frankie Frisch Fordham NL in 1931 with St. Louis Cardinals
Bob Gibson Creighton NL in 1968 with St. Louis Cardinals
Hyman "Hank" Greenberg New York University AL in 1935 and 1940 with Detroit Tigers
Dick Groat Duke NL in 1960 with Pittsburgh Pirates
Jim Konstanty Syracuse NL in 1950 with Philadelphia Phillies
Sandy Koufax Cincinnati NL in 1963 with Los Angeles Dodgers
Jackie Robinson UCLA NL in 1949 with Brooklyn Dodgers

CY YOUNG

Ex-College Hooper School Summary of Pitching Award With MLB Team
Mike Flanagan Massachusetts AL in 1979 with Baltimore Orioles
Bob Gibson Creighton NL in 1968 and 1970 with St. Louis Cardinals
Sandy Koufax Cincinnati ML in 1963-65-66 with Los Angeles Dodgers
Jim Perry Campbell AL in 1970 with Minnesota Twins

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Ex-College Hooper School(s) Summary of Rookie Award With MLB Team
Joe Black Morgan State NL in 1952 with Brooklyn Dodgers
Al Bumbry Virginia State AL in 1973 with Baltimore Orioles
Alvin Dark Louisiana State and Southwestern Louisiana ML in 1948 with Boston Braves
Walt Dropo Connecticut AL in 1950 with Boston Red Sox
Mike Hargrove Northwestern Oklahoma State AL in 1974 with Texas Rangers
Frank Howard Ohio State NL in 1960 with Los Angeles Dodgers
David Justice Thomas More KY NL in 1990 with Atlanta Braves
Harvey Kuenn Wisconsin AL in 1953 with Detroit Tigers
Arnold "Bake" McBride Westminster MO NL in 1974 with St. Louis Cardinals
Wally Moon Texas A&M NL in 1954 with St. Louis Cardinals
Gary Peters Grove City PA AL in 1963 with Chicago White Sox
Jackie Robinson UCLA ML in 1947 with Brooklyn Dodgers
Don Schwall Oklahoma AL in 1961 with Boston Red Sox
Bill Virdon Drury MO NL in 1955 with St. Louis Cardinals

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 7 NFL Gridiron

November 7th, 2023 - 8:02

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 7 in football at the professional level (especially in 1948, 1954 and 1965):

NOVEMBER 7

  • Chicago Bears HB J.R. Boone (hoops teammate of eventual NFL executive Jim Finks for Tulsa in 1947-48) rushed for two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 21-6 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1948.

  • Cleveland Browns E Pete Brewster (forward-center was Purdue's fourth-leading scorer as junior and senior) caught two second-half touchdown passes in a 62-3 win against the Washington Redskins in 1954. Browns QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) threw three touchdown passes.

  • Cleveland Browns FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) had three touchdowns - two rushing/one receiving - in a 38-34 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1965. Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) passed for 362 yards (including three TDs to Pete Retzlaff).

  • Green Bay Packers LB Fred Carr (hooper for defending NCAA champion Texas Western in 1967 playoffs) returned an interception 10 yards for touchdown in 32-27 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1976.

  • Baltimore Ravens PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) missed his only field-goal attempt in final 12 games of 2010 season but converted four other tries in a 2610 win against the Miami Dolphins.

  • In NFL's inaugural season, Racine Cardinals B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1916) returned a punt for the decisive touchdown in 6-3 win against the Chicago Tigers in 1920.

  • Detroit Lions rookie QB Fred Enke (three-year All-Border Conference first-team hoops selection under his father was Arizona co-captain as senior in 1947-48) threw two touchdown passes in a 56-20 setback against the Chicago Cardinals in 1948.

  • Washington Redskins TE Jean Fugett (leading scorer and rebounder for Amherst MA as junior in 1970-71) caught three touchdown passes from Joe Theismann in a 24-21 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1976.

  • San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught three touchdown passes from Drew Brees in a 43-17 win against the New Orleans Saints in 2004.

  • 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 for 123 yards in a 34-31 setback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004.

  • Seattle Seahawks TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from Russell Wilson in a 31-25 win against the Buffalo Bills in 2016.

  • New York Giants TB Hinkey Haines (Lebanon Valley PA transfer earned hoops letter for Penn State in 1920 and 1921) caught a 20-yard touchdown pass and rushed for 80-yard TD in 20-0 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1926.

  • Atlanta Falcons LB Ruffin Hamilton (played four basketball games for Tulane in 1992-93 under coach Perry Clark) registered a career-high four solo tackles in 30-7 defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1999.

  • Los Angeles Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting center for Michigan in 1944) caught two touchdown passes from Norm Van Brocklin in a 42-34 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1954. 49ers rookie RB John Henry Johnson (made 5-of-8 FGAs in five games for Saint Mary's in 1950-51) rushed for two TDs.

  • St. Louis Cardinals QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 21-17 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1965.

  • Buffalo Bills TE Pete Metzelaars (averaged 19.2 ppg and 11.4 rpg for Wabash IN while setting NCAA Division III field-goal shooting records for single season as senior in 1981-82 and career) had 10 pass receptions in a 13-10 win against the New England Patriots in 1993.

  • Cleveland Browns DE Mack Mitchell (varsity hooper for Houston in 1971-72) opened game's scoring by registering a safety in 21-7 win against the Houston Oilers in 1976.

  • Philadelphia Eagles B Dom Moselle (leading hoops scorer for Wisconsin-Superior in 1947-48 and 1948-49) caught a career-high seven passes for 100 yards - including 38-yard touchdown - in 30-14 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1954.

  • Buffalo Bills HB Chet Mutryn (Xavier hoops letterman in 1943) rushed for two of his AAFC-high 10 touchdowns - one of them for 68 yards - in a 26-21 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948. Dodgers B Ray Ramsey (Bradley's top scorer in 1941-42 and 1942-43) returned a punt 70 yards for TD.

  • Cleveland Browns rookie HB Ara Parseghian (Miami of Ohio hooper in 1946-47 and 1947-48) rushed for a 15-yard touchdown in 28-7 AAFC win against the Baltimore Colts in 1948.

  • Philadelphia Eagles HB Bosh Pritchard (four-sport letterman for VMI) had a 65-yard rushing touchdown in 35-14 win against the New York Giants in 1948.

  • Washington Redskins E-P Pat Richter (three-year Wisconsin hoops letterman in early 1960s) averaged 47.2 yards on five punts in a 23-7 win against the New York Giants in 1965. Redskins PK Bob Jencks (collected 3 points and 12 rebounds in five basketball games for Miami of Ohio in 1960-61) kicked a career-high three field goals.

  • First NFL touchdown catch for Freddie Scott (averaged 5.3 ppg as sophomore forward for Amherst MA in 1972-73) gave the Baltimore Colts a 10-3 victory against the Washington Redskins in 1977.

  • TB Cy Wentworth (New Hampshire hoops letterman in 1922 and 1923) accounted for the Providence Steam Roller's only score by throwing a touchdown pass in 7-6 setback against the Los Angeles Buccaneers in 1926.

Memory Lane: November Calendar For Record-Setting NCAA DI Hoop Contests

November 6th, 2023 - 17:57

Did You Know?: Rick Barnes (Texas), Gene Bartow (UAB), Bob McKillop (Davidson), Mike Montgomery (Stanford) and Bo Ryan (Wisconsin) incurred defeats in their debuts before eventually becoming the all-time winningest coaches for these schools. As the 2023-24 campaign gets underway, check out the following November calendar citing memorable games in NCAA major-college history:

NOVEMBER

8 - Utah set an NCAA record for largest margin of victory vs. a Division I opponent (94 points) with a 143-49 mauling of Mississippi Valley State in 2019. . . . UMass Lowell's Christian Lutete (51 points at LIU in 2019) and Northeastern's Jordan Roland (42 vs. Harvard in 2019) set school single-game scoring records.
9 - Brad Stevens made his Butler head-coaching debut in 2007 with a 61-45 victory at Ball State before guiding the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament championship game in back-to-back years in 2010 and 2011. . . . David Holston (43 points vs. St. Bonaventure at Austin, Tex., in 2006) set Chicago State's Division I single-game scoring record. . . . Junior Hairston (21 rebounds vs. Loyola Maryland in 2007) set Towson's NCAA Division I single-game rebounding record (subsequently tied).
10 - Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Martaveous McKnight (41 points at Colorado State in 2018) and North Dakota's Geno Crandall (41 vs. Troy at Honolulu in 2017) set school single-game scoring records against NCAA DI opponent.
13 - Rotnei Clarke (51 points vs. Alcorn State in 2009) set Arkansas' single-game scoring record before transferring to Butler. . . . Felipe Haase (41 at Winthrop in 2021) tied Mercer's single-game scoring standard against DI opponent. . . . Gregg Marshall made his Wichita State debut in 2007 with a 61-56 victory vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff before guiding the Shockers to 2013 Final Four and becoming national COY in 2014. . . . Siena's school-record 38-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Vermont (80-76 in 2010). . . . Shaka Smart made his Virginia Commonwealth coaching debut in 2009 with a 77-51 triumph vs. Bethune-Cookman before directing the Rams to 2011 Final Four.
14 - Robert Morris' Josh Williams tied NCAA single-game record with 15 three-pointers in a 104-57 victory against Mount Aloysius PA in 2018, finishing with a school-record 49 points. . . . Jamie Dixon made his Pittsburgh coaching debut in 2003 with a 71-62 triumph vs. Alabama in New York before becoming national COY in 2009. . . . Larry Eustachy made his Idaho debut in 1990 with an 88-54 victory vs. Simon Fraser before becoming national COY with Iowa State in 2000 and the first coach in NCAA history to compile at least 24 wins in a single season with five different DI schools. . . . Bill Guthridge made his North Carolina debut in 1997 with an 84-56 success vs. Middle Tennessee State en route to becoming the winningest first-year coach in NCAA history and national COY.
15 - Furman's Jordan Lyons tied NCAA single-game record with 15 three-pointers and set NCAA mark for most attempts beyond the arc (34) in a 107-67 victory against North Greenville in 2018.
16 - Al Skinner made his Boston College debut in 1997 with an 87-54 victory vs. Central Connecticut State before going on to become the Eagles' all-time winningest coach and national COY in 2001.
17 - Rick Barnes made his Texas debut in 1998 with a 71-69 reversal at Houston before going on to become the Longhorns' all-time winningest coach. . . . Bo Ryan made his Wisconsin debut in 2001 with a 74-69 defeat at UNLV before going on to become the Badgers' all-time winningest coach. . . . Florida's school-record 33-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Miami FL (69-67 in 2014).
18 - Mike Brey made his Notre Dame coaching debut in 2000 with a 104-58 rout of Sacred Heart before becoming national COY in 2011. . . . Jim Larranaga made his George Mason debut in 1997 with a 78-72 victory at Howard University before going on to become the Patriots' all-time winningest coach and guiding them to 2006 Final Four.
19 - Frank Kaminsky (43 points vs. North Dakota in 2013) set Wisconsin's modern-era single-game scoring record.
20 - Okechi Egbe (44 points vs. Bethel in 2000) set Tennessee-Martin's single-game scoring record at NCAA Division I level. . . . Tom Izzo made his Michigan State debut in 1995 with a 69-66 triumph at Chaminade en route to becoming the Spartans' all-time winningest coach. . . . Chicago product Ben Wilson, entering his senior season generally regarded as the nation's premier prospect because of Magic Johnson-like skills, was shot within a block of high school campus and died the next day after bumping into two gang members in 1984 while walking down the street following lunch break.
21 - Nick Davis (23 rebounds vs. Jackson State in 1997) set Arkansas' single-game rebounding record. . . . Mark Few made his Gonzaga debut in 1999 with a 76-61 triumph at Montana en route to becoming the Zags' all-time winningest coach. . . . Bill Self made his Kansas coaching debut in 2003 with a 90-76 victory vs. Chattanooga before guiding the Jayhawks to two NCAA Tournament championships (2008 and 2022). . . . Jay Wright made his Villanova coaching debut in 2001 with an 82-68 victory vs. Grambling State before twice becoming national COY (2006 and 2016) plus guiding the Wildcats to two NCAA Tournament titles (2016 and 2018).
22 - Billy Donovan made his Florida debut in 1996 with an 80-63 triumph vs. UCF en route to becoming the Gators' all-time winningest coach. . . . Scott Drew made his Baylor debut in 2003 with a 72-59 success vs. Texas Southern en route to becoming the Bears' all-time winningest coach. . . . Kevin Martin (46 points vs. Coastal Carolina in 2002) set Western Carolina's Division I single-game scoring record. . . . Bruce Weber made his Illinois coaching debut in 2003 with a 94-66 victory vs. Western Illinois before becoming national COY in 2005 when guiding the Illini to the NCAA Tournament championship game.
23 - Kevin Stallings made his Vanderbilt debut in 1999 with a 72-55 triumph over Belmont en route to becoming the Commodores' all-time winningest coach.
24 - Gene Bartow made his UAB debut in 1978 with a 64-55 defeat against Nebraska before becoming the Blazers' all-time winningest coach. . . . Steve Fisher made his San Diego State debut in 1999 with a 73-57 victory vs. UC Riverside en route to becoming the Aztecs' all-time winningest coach and national COY in 2011. . . . Nolan Richardson Jr. made his Arkansas debut in 1985 with an 86-72 triumph over Southern Illinois en route to becoming the Razorbacks' all-time winningest coach and guiding them to 1994 NCAA championship.
25 - Kevin Franklin (48 points at Loyola Marymount in 1989) set Nevada's Division I single-game scoring record. . . . Louisiana Tech's school-record 39-game homecourt winning streak was snapped by Stephen F. Austin (67-58) in 1985. . . . Steve Alford made his Southwest Missouri State coaching debut in 1995 with an 83-71 win against Texas-Pan American en route to guiding four different DI schools to the NCAA playoffs. . . . Lute Olson made his Arizona debut in 1983 with a 72-65 triumph over Northern Arizona en route to becoming the Wildcats' all-time winningest coach. . . . Bob Huggins made his Cincinnati debut in 1989 with a 66-64 triumph over Minnesota en route to becoming the Bearcats' all-time winningest coach. . . . Gale Catlett made his West Virginia debut in 1978 with an 86-66 triumph over Rider en route to becoming the Mountaineers' all-time winningest coach. . . . Bob McKillop made his Davidson debut in 1989 with an 84-65 setback at Wake Forest before becoming the Wildcats' all-time winningest coach and earning national COY acclaim in 2008. . . . Roy Williams made his Kansas coaching debut in 1988 with a 94-81 success at Alaska-Anchorage before becoming four-time national COY. . . . Eventual national player of year Tim Duncan went scoreless in his Wake Forest debut, a 70-68 loss at NCAA Division II Alaska-Anchorage in 1993.
26 - Dana Altman made his Creighton debut in 1994 with a 68-61 win at Oral Roberts en route to becoming the Bluejays' all-time winningest coach. . . . Dave Bliss made his New Mexico debut in 1988 with a 96-71 success vs. Loyola (Md.) en route to becoming the Lobos' all-time winningest coach. . . . Jim Boeheim made his Syracuse coaching debut in 1976 with a 75-48 triumph over Harvard en route to setting the NCAA career record for most victories for a single school. . . . Larry Brown made his Kansas coaching debut in 1983 with a 91-76 reversal at Houston before guiding the Jayhawks to the 1988 NCAA title when named national COY. . . . John Calipari made his Massachusetts coaching debut in 1988 with an 84-61 success vs. Southern Connecticut before directing the Minutemen and two more schools to Final Four. . . . In his freshman debut, Rudy Macklin (32 rebounds vs. Tulane in 1976) set Louisiana State's single-game rebounding record. By contrast, eventual national player of year David Robinson went scoreless with only one rebound for Navy in his first game against a DI opponent (Yale in 1983). . . . Kelvin Sampson made his Oklahoma coaching debut in 1994 with an 85-74 victory vs. Coppin State before becoming a two-time national COY with the Sooners. . . . . Bill Self made his ORU debut in 1993 with a 78-66 win vs. Sam Houston State before becoming the only coach in NCAA history to reach a Division I Tournament regional final in back-to-back years with different schools. . . . Tubby Smith made his Tulsa debut in 1991 with a 94-81 setback at TCU before becoming the only coach to take three consecutive teams seeded sixth or worse to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA playoffs and earn national COY acclaim with Kentucky in 2003.
27 - Jacksonville State's Jalen Gibbs (40 points at Elon in 2021), Samford's Demetrius Denzel-Dyson (40 vs. Nicholls State in 2OT in 2016) and Valparaiso's Brandon Wood (39 at Georgia Southern in 2009/subsequently tied) set school single-game scoring records against a Division I opponent. . . . P.J. Carlesimo made his Seton Hall coaching debut in 1982 with an 87-63 victory vs. St. Anselm (N.H.) before directing the Pirates to an NCAA Tournament runner-up finish in 1989 when he was named national COY. . . . Lon Kruger made his Texas-Pan American debut in 1982 with a 66-58 setback vs. Louisiana Tech before becoming the first coach to direct five different schools to Top 20 of a final wire-service poll. . . . John Thompson Jr. made his Georgetown debut in 1972 with a 61-60 triumph over St. Francis (Pa.) en route to a school-record 596 victories with the Hoyas. . . . Alvan Adams (28 vs. Indiana State in 1972) set Oklahoma's single-game rebounding record.
28 - Tom Davis made his Iowa debut in 1986 with a 91-81 success at Alaska-Anchorage en route to becoming the Hawkeyes' all-time winningest coach. . . . Lou Henson made his Illinois debut in 1975 with a 60-58 triumph at Nebraska en route to becoming the Illini's all-time winningest coach. . . . Mike Krzyzewski made his Army head coaching debut in 1975 with a 56-29 victory over Lehigh before becoming the all-time winningest coach in NCAA DI history with Duke. . . . Mike Montgomery made his Stanford debut in 1986 with a 67-65 defeat against Georgia Tech at Richmond before becoming the Cardinal's all-time winningest coach.
29 - The three-point goal was an experimental rule in the Southern Conference in 1980 when Western Carolina's Ronnie Carr made the first three-pointer in history at Reid Gymnasium vs. Middle Tennessee State. . . . Craig Bradshaw (42 points at Ohio University in 2014) set Belmont's single-game scoring record against a DI opponent. . . . Alan Williams (39 vs. South Dakota State in 2013) tied UC Santa Barbara's single-game scoring record. . . . Mike Krzyzewski made his Duke debut in 1980 with a 67-49 triumph over Stetson en route to becoming the all-time winningest coach in NCAA DI history. . . . Jim Calhoun made his Connecticut debut in 1986 with a 58-54 triumph over Massachusetts en route to becoming the Huskies' all-time winningest coach and capturing three NCAA Tournament titles. . . . Cliff Ellis made his South Alabama debut with an 82-68 defeat vs. Centenary before becoming the only coach in the 20th Century to hold three school single-season records with at least 25 victories at the same time. . . . Billy Tubbs made his Lamar head coaching debut in 1976 with an 80-73 triumph over Houston Baptist en route to more than 600 victories with three NCAA DI schools. . . . Gene Keady made his Purdue debut in 1980 with a 72-59 triumph over Colorado State en route to becoming the Boilermakers' all-time winningest coach.
30 - Dartmouth set an NCAA single-game record by having nine different players contribute at least one three-point basket vs. Boston College in 1993. . . . John Chaney made his Temple debut in 1982 with a 68-67 triumph at George Washington en route to becoming the Owls' all-time winningest coach. . . . Bobby Cremins made his Georgia Tech debut in 1981 with an 82-66 triumph against Presbyterian (S.C.) en route to becoming the Yellow Jackets' all-time winningest coach. . . . Tom Penders made his Columbia debut in 1974 with a 90-79 setback against CCNY en route to 594 victories coaching six NCAA DI schools.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 6 NFL Gridiron

November 6th, 2023 - 9:15

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 6 in football at the professional level (especially in 1977 and 2005):

NOVEMBER 6

  • Boston Braves RB Cliff Battles (four seasons of varsity hoops for West Virginia Wesleyan) rushed for two touchdowns (9 and 20 yards) in a 19-6 win against the Staten Island Stapletons in 1932.

  • Philadelphia Eagles WR Harold Carmichael (starter two seasons for Southern LA averaged 9.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 1969-70) caught two touchdown passes from Ron Jaworski in a 28-7 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1977.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Clyde Conner (two-time All-CBA second-team selection averaged 11.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg for Pacific in 1953-54 and 1954-55) tied his career high with nine pass receptions in a 24-0 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1960.

  • Buffalo Bills FL Elbert Dubenion (solid rebounder and defensive player for Bluffton OH in late 1950s) caught eight passes for 161 yards in a 45-28 AFL setback against the Dallas Texans in 1960.

  • Buffalo Bills TE Reuben Gant (averaged 1.4 ppg and 1.5 rpg for Oklahoma State in 1971-72 and 1972-73) caught seven passes for 97 yards in a 24-14 win against the New England Patriots in 1977.

  • San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught eight passes for 132 yards in a 31-26 win against the New York Jets in 2005.

  • Boston Patriots WR Art Graham (collected one point and three rebounds in two basketball games with Boston College in 1961-62) registered an AFL career-high 167 receiving yards (on eight catches) in a 25-24 win against the Houston Oilers in 1964.

  • Houston Oilers rookie 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 touchdown passes from George Blanda in a 45-25 win against the Denver Broncos in 1960. Broncos SE Lionel Taylor (led New Mexico Highlands in scoring average with 13.6 ppg in 1955-56 and 20.3 in 1956-57) had 10 of his AFL-leading 92 pass receptions.

  • Green Bay Packers RB Paul Hornung (averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) rushed for two second-half touchdowns in a 38-24 setback against the Baltimore Colts in 1960.

  • San Diego Chargers 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 seven passes for 141 yards - including three touchdowns from Philip Rivers - in a 34-7 win against the Green Bay Packers in 2011.

  • New York Giants' Dave Jennings (forward averaged 5.9 ppg for St. Lawrence NY in 1972-73 and 1973-74) punted eight times for 46.9-yard average in a 24-10 setback against the Dallas Cowboys in 1977.

  • Minnesota Vikings 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 two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 27-14 win against the Detroit Lions in 2005.

  • Chicago Cardinals E Chuck Kassel (Illinois hoops letterman in 1925 and 1926) opened the game's scoring with a 30-yard touchdown catch from Ernie Nevers (All-Pacific Coast Conference second-five hoops choice for Stanford in 1924-25) in a 16-0 win against the Providence Steam Roller in 1929.

  • Cleveland Browns QB Cliff Lewis (Duke hoops letterman in 1945) threw a career-long 55-yard touchdown pass in 35-2 AAFC win against the Chicago Hornets in 1949.

  • Chicago Cardinals B Ike Mahoney (Creighton hooper in early 1920s) opened the game's scoring with a rushing touchdown in 33-7 setback against the Frankford Yellow Jackets in 1926.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Kay McFarland (three-year hoops letterman for Colorado State was honorable mention UPI All-Skyline Conference selection in 1961) had a career-high four pass receptions for 89 yards in 21-13 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1966.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) passed for 304 yards in a 17-10 setback against the Washington Redskins in 2005.

  • WR Jordan Norwood (collected one rebound and one assist in four basketball games for Penn State in 2006-07) accounted for the Denver Broncos' first score with a 36-yard touchdown reception in 30-20 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 2016.

  • Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) had three sacks in a 34-14 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005.

  • New York Bulldogs E Hal Prescott (Hardin-Simmons TX hoops letterman multiple seasons in early 1940s) caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) in 31-24 win against the New York Giants in 1949. Giants DB Emlen Tunnell (forward was top reserve for Toledo team compiling 22-4 record and finishing second in 1943 NIT) returned a punt 67 yards for TD.

  • Cleveland Browns QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 24-14 win against the New York Giants in 1955.

  • TE Oscar Roan (averaged 5.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg for Southern Methodist in 1973-74) accounted for the Cleveland Browns' only touchdown with a pass reception from Brian Sipe in 10-7 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1977.

  • Detroit Lions WR Scottie Vines (collected 32 points and 22 rebounds in 17 games for Wyoming in 2000-01) had career highs of nine pass receptions and 109 receiving yards in a 27-14 setback against the Minnesota Vikings in 2005.

  • Cincinnati Bengals DE Alfred Williams (Colorado hooper in 1989-90) opened the Cincinnati Bengals' scoring by securing a safety in 20-17 setback against the Seattle Seahawks in 1994.

Starting Block: What's Ahead For Newcomer Lemoyne at NCAA DI Level?

November 6th, 2023 - 9:11

Four years ago, Merrimack (2019-20) joined South Dakota (2008-09) as the only NCAA Division I newcomers in the last 35 seasons to reach the 20-win plateau in its inaugural campaign. How will newbie Lemoyne (N.Y.) fare this campaign in its inaugural campaign at DI level?

Only 11 of the first 50 schools (including Queens NC last year) moving up to compete at DI in the 21st Century posted a winning record in their debut campaign. The average first-year mark for the previous 41 newcomers was 10-18. Eight of the nine best first-year seasons occurred in the 1970s when 40 of the 70 institutions elevating their programs to DI during the decade promptly posted winning records.

In 1971-72, Southwestern Louisiana, subsequently known as Louisiana-Lafayette and University of Louisiana, became the only school ever to finish in Top 10 of final DI rankings the year after placing in Top 10 of final Division II poll. The Ragin' Cajuns were one of three schools from the Pelican State to win at least 80% of their games in inaugural campaign at DI level in the 1970s (joined by Southern and McNeese State). But it wasn't long before USL was prohibited from fielding a formal team for two seasons (1973-74 and 1974-75) as part of an NCAA probation. Larry Fogle (transferred to Canisius), Fred Saunders (Syracuse) and Robert Wilson (Iowa State) - three of USL's top four rebounders in 1972-73 - were immediately eligible at other schools the next season, combining for 59.4 ppg and 32.6 rpg in 1973-74 when Fogle became the last sophomore to lead nation in scoring in the 20th Century (Griffs-record 33.4 ppg).

Alabama State (22-6 in 1982-83) is the only school since the 1970s to win more than three-fourths of its games in its DI debut campaign. Following is a first-year summary of schools moving up to the major-college ranks after the initial season of NCAA classification in 1947-48:

School Moving Up to DI Season W. L. Pct.
Maryland-Eastern Shore 1973-74 27 2 .931
Oral Roberts (Okla.) 1971-72 26 2 .929
Southwestern Louisiana 1971-72 23 3 .885
Seattle 1952-53 29 4 .879
Old Dominion (Va.) 1976-77 25 4 .862
Long Beach State 1969-70 24 5 .828
Hawaii 1970-71 23 5 .821
Southern (La.) 1977-78 23 5 .821
McNeese State (La.) 1973-74 20 5 .800
Jackson State (Miss.) 1977-78 19 5 .792
Alabama State 1982-83 22 6 .786
Alcorn State (Miss.) 1977-78 22 7 .759
Idaho State 1958-59 21 7 .750
Memphis State 1955-56 20 7 .741
Air Force 1957-58 17 6 .739
Stephen F. Austin (Tex.) 1986-87 22 8 .733
Georgia Southern 1973-74 19 7 .731
Northeastern (Mass.) 1972-73 19 7 .731
Virginia Commonwealth 1973-74 17 7 .708
College of Charleston (S.C.) 1991-92 19 8 .704
Miami (Fla.) 1948-49 19 8 .704
New Orleans 1975-76 18 8 .692
South Dakota 2008-09 20 9 .690
George Mason (Va.) 1978-79 17 8 .680
Weber State (Utah) 1963-64 17 8 .680
American (D.C.) 1966-67 16 8 .667
Fairfield (Conn.) 1964-65 14 7 .667
Florida A&M 1978-79 18 9 .667
Mercer (Ga.) 1973-74 16 8 .667
Tennessee Tech 1955-56 14 7 .667
Morehead State (Ky.) 1955-56 19 10 .655
James Madison (Va.) 1976-77 17 9 .654
Northwestern State (La.) 1976-77 17 9 .654
UNLV 1969-70 17 9 .654
Merrimack (Mass.) 2019-20 20 11 .645
Bellarmine (Tenn.) 2020-21 14 8 .636
Abilene Christian (Tex.) 1970-71 15 9 .625
Arkansas State 1970-71 15 9 .625
Drexel (Pa.) 1973-74 15 9 .625
Lamar (Tex.) 1969-70 15 9 .625
Massachusetts 1961-62 15 9 .625
Northern Colorado 1973-74 15 9 .625
UC Santa Barbara 1963-64 18 11 .621
Incarnate Word (Tex.) 2014-15 18 11 .621
Delaware State 1973-74 18 11 .621
Illinois State 1971-72 16 10 .615
North Carolina A&T 1973-74 16 10 .615
UNC-Wilmington 1976-77 16 10 .615
Northeast Louisiana 1973-74 16 10 .615
Texas Southern 1977-78 16 10 .615
Austin Peay (Tenn.) 1963-64 14 9 .609
Southern Mississippi 1968-69 15 10 .600
Chattanooga 1977-78 16 11 .593
Chicago State 1984-85 16 11 .593
Wright State (Ohio) 1987-88 16 11 .593
Loyola New Orleans (La.) 1951-52 20 14 .588
Los Angeles State 1970-71 15 11 .577
UNC Asheville 1986-87 15 11 .577
San Jose State 1952-53 15 11 .577
UAB 1978-79 15 11 .577
New Mexico State 1950-51 19 14 .576
Kentucky Wesleyan 1956-57 16 12 .571
North Dakota 2008-09 16 12 .571
North Dakota State 2005-06 16 12 .571
Radford (Va.) 1984-85 16 12 .571
Sam Houston State (Tex.) 1986-87 16 12 .571
Utah Valley 2004-05 16 12 .571
East Tennessee State 1958-59 13 10 .565
East Carolina 1964-65 12 10 .545
Queens (N.C.) 2022-23 18 15 .545
Cal State Fullerton 1974-75 13 11 .542
New Mexico 1950-51 13 11 .542
Southern Illinois 1967-68 13 11 .542
Boise State (Idaho) 1971-72 14 12 .538
Central Michigan 1973-74 14 12 .538
UNC Charlotte 1972-73 14 12 .538
West Texas State 1950-51 14 12 .538
Wisconsin-Milwaukee 1973-74 14 12 .538
Oklahoma City 1950-51 16 14 .533
Iona (N.Y.) 1953-54 11 10 .524
Corpus Christi (Tex.) 1972-73 13 12 .520
Belmont (Tenn.) 1998-99 14 13 .519
Eastern Illinois 1981-82 14 13 .519
Illinois-Chicago 1981-82 14 13 .519
Southeastern Louisiana 1980-81 14 13 .519
Western Illinois 1981-82 14 13 .519
Wisconsin-Green Bay 1981-82 14 13 .519
Cal State Bakersfield 2006-07 15 14 .517
Gonzaga (Wash.) 1952-53 15 14 .517
California Baptist 2018-19 16 15 .516
Catholic (D.C.) 1976-77 13 13 .500
Centenary (La.) 1959-60 12 12 .500
Grand Canyon (Ariz.) 2013-14 15 15 .500
Saint Peter's (N.J.) 1964-65 10 10 .500
Tarleton State (Tex.) 2020-21 10 10 .500
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 1999-00 13 13 .500
Texas Tech 1950-51 14 14 .500
Vermont 1961-62 12 12 .500
Southern Indiana 2022-23 16 17 .485
Murray State (Ky.) 1953-54 15 16 .484
Troy State (Ala.) 1993-94 13 14 .481
Hofstra (N.Y.) 1966-67 12 13 .480
Tennessee State 1977-78 11 12 .478
Regis (Colo.) 1961-62 10 11 .476
Bethune-Cookman (Fla.) 1980-81 13 15 .464
Hardin-Simmons (Tex.) 1950-51 13 15 .464
South Carolina State 1973-74 13 15 .464
Southwest Missouri State 1982-83 13 15 .464
Marist (N.Y.) 1981-82 12 14 .462
San Diego State 1970-71 12 14 .462
Maine 1961-62 11 13 .458
Fairleigh Dickinson (N.J.) 1967-68 10 12 .455
Stonehill (Mass.) 2022-23 14 17 .452
Mount St. Mary's (Md.) 1988-89 12 15 .444
Oakland (Mich.) 1998-99 12 15 .444
South Florida 1973-74 11 14 .440
Coastal Carolina (S.C.) 1986-87 12 16 .429
Maryland-Baltimore County 1986-87 12 16 .429
Southeast Missouri State 1991-92 12 16 .429
Howard University (D.C.) 1973-74 11 15 .423
West Chester State (Pa.) 1973-74 11 15 .423
Grambling State (La.) 1977-78 10 14 .417
Northern Illinois 1967-68 10 14 .417
Saint Francis (Pa.) 1955-56 10 14 .417
Kennesaw State (Ga.) 2005-06 12 17 .414
UC San Diego 2020-21 7 10 .412
Elon (N.C.) 1998-99 11 16 .407
IUPUI (Ind.) 1998-99 11 16 .407
Northern Kentucky 2012-13 11 16 .407
Delaware 1957-58 8 12 .400
Texas-El Paso 1950-51 10 15 .400
Texas A&M-Commerce 2022-23 13 20 .394
Albany (N.Y.) 1999-00 11 17 .393
UC Davis 2004-05 11 17 .393
Houston 1950-51 11 17 .393
Cleveland State 1972-73 9 14 .391
High Point (N.C.) 1998-99 10 16 .385
Dixie State/Utah Tech 2020-21 8 13 .381
Louisiana Tech 1973-74 8 13 .381
Ball State (Ind.) 1971-72 9 15 .375
Campbell (N.C.) 1977-78 9 15 .375
Rider (N.J.) 1967-68 9 15 .375
Alabama A&M 1998-99 10 17 .370
Coppin State (Md.) 1985-86 10 17 .370
Jacksonville State (Ala.) 1995-96 10 17 .370
Liberty (Va.) 1988-89 10 17 .370
Central Florida 1984-85 10 18 .357
UMass Lowell 2013-14 10 18 .357
Southern Utah 1988-89 10 18 .357
Nebraska-Omaha 2012-13 11 20 .355
Florida State 1956-57 9 17 .346
Fresno State 1955-56 9 17 .346
Hampton (Va.) 1995-96 9 17 .346
Loyola Marymount (Calif.) 1949-50 9 17 .346
Middle Tennessee State 1958-59 9 17 .346
Pacific (Calif.) 1953-54 9 17 .346
Towson State (Md.) 1979-80 9 17 .346
Lindenwood (Mo.) 2022-23 11 21 .344
Central Arkansas 2006-07 10 20 .333
Missouri-Kansas City 1987-88 9 18 .333
Quinnipiac (Conn.) 1998-99 9 18 .333
SIU-Edwardsville 2008-09 10 20 .333
St. Thomas (Minn.) 2021-22 10 20 .333
U.S. International (Calif.) 1981-82 9 18 .333
Western Carolina 1976-77 8 16 .333
Florida Gulf Coast 2007-08 10 21 .323
Binghamton (N.Y.) 2001-02 9 19 .321
Florida International 1987-88 9 19 .321
Portland State 1972-73 9 19 .321
UC Irvine 1977-78 8 17 .320
UC Riverside 2000-01 8 17 .320
Jacksonville (Fla.) 1966-67 8 17 .320
Texas-Pan American 1968-69 8 17 .320
Portland 1953-54 6 13 .316
North Alabama 2018-19 10 22 .312
South Dakota State 2005-06 9 20 .310
Eastern Michigan 1973-74 8 18 .308
Texas-Arlington 1968-69 8 18 .308
Arizona State 1950-51 8 19 .296
Northern Arizona 1950-51 8 19 .296
Northern Iowa 1980-81 8 19 .296
Texas-San Antonio 1981-82 8 19 .296
South Alabama 1971-72 7 17 .292
Augusta (Ga.) 1984-85 8 20 .286
Cal State Northridge 1990-91 8 20 .286
Winthrop (S.C.) 1986-87 8 20 .286
Central Connecticut State 1986-87 8 21 .276
Bryant (R.I.) 2001-02 7 19 .269
Providence 1948-49 7 19 .269
Robert Morris (Pa.) 1976-77 7 19 .269
Tennessee-Martin 1992-93 7 19 .269
Evansville (Ind.)* 1977-78 1 3 .250
Hartford (Conn.) 1984-85 7 21 .250
IU PU-Fort Wayne (Ind.) 2001-02 7 21 .250
UNC-Greensboro 1991-92 7 21 .250
Houston Baptist 1973-74 6 19 .240
Trinity (Tex.) 1970-71 5 16 .238
South Carolina Upstate 2007-08 7 23 .233
Arkansas-Little Rock 1978-79 6 20 .231
Southwest Texas State 1984-85 6 20 .231
Stetson (Fla.) 1971-72 6 20 .231
Lipscomb (Tenn.) 2001-02 6 21 .222
Monmouth (N.J.) 1983-84 6 21 .222
Norfolk State (Va.) 1997-98 6 21 .222
Armstrong State (Ga.) 1986-87 6 22 .214
Nicholls State (La.) 1980-81 6 22 .214
North Florida 2005-06 6 22 .214
Stony Brook (N.Y.) 1999-00 6 23 .207
Appalachian State (N.C.) 1973-74 5 20 .200
Baptist (S.C.) 1974-75 4 16 .200
Buffalo 1973-74 5 20 .200
Samford (Ala.) 1972-73 5 20 .200
San Diego 1979-80 5 20 .200
Longwood (Va.) 2003-04 5 22 .185
Gardner-Webb (N.C.) 2002-03 5 24 .172
New Jersey Institute of Tech 2006-07 5 24 .172
Winston-Salem State (N.C.) 2006-07 5 24 .172
Presbyterian (S.C.) 2007-08 5 25 .167
Baltimore 1978-79 4 21 .160
Savannah State (Ga.) 2000-01 4 21 .160
Eastern Washington 1983-84 4 22 .154
Utica (N.Y.) 1981-82 4 22 .154
Wofford (S.C.) 1995-96 4 22 .154
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1997-98 4 23 .148
Cal State Sacramento 1991-92 4 24 .143
North Texas State 1957-58 3 18 .143
North Carolina Central 2007-08 4 26 .133
New Hampshire 1961-62 3 20 .130
Wagner (N.Y.) 1976-77 3 21 .125
Florida Atlantic 1993-94 3 24 .111
Mississippi Valley State 1979-80 3 24 .111
Morgan State (Md.) 1984-85 3 25 .107
Sacred Heart (Conn.) 1999-00 3 25 .107
Prairie View A&M (Tex.) 1980-81 2 22 .083
Pepperdine (Calif.) 1955-56 2 24 .077
Northeastern Illinois 1990-91 2 25 .074
Georgia State 1973-74 1 25 .038
Cal Poly 1994-95 1 26 .037

*Evansville had an abbreviated schedule because of tragic plane crash.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 5 NFL Gridiron

November 5th, 2023 - 8:06

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks about NFL "slavery" 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 5 in football at the professional level (especially in 1950):

NOVEMBER 5

  • Dallas Cowboys TE Billy Joe Dupree (scored four points in total of four basketball games for Michigan State in 1971-72) posted a career-high eight pass receptions in 23-16 setback against the Miami Dolphins in 1978.

  • New York Giants E Ray Flaherty (four-sport Gonzaga athlete including hoops) caught two first-half touchdown passes (30 and 50 yards) in a 45-6 win against the Buffalo Bisons in 1929.

  • Buffalo Bills LB London Fletcher (started two games for St. Francis PA as freshman in 1993-94 before transferring to John Carroll OH) scored a touchdown on 17-yard interception return in 24-10 win against the Green Bay Packers in 2006.

  • Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 31-17 setback against the St. Louis Rams in 2006. Six years earlier, Gonzalez caught nine passes in a 49-31 reversal against the Oakland Raiders in his fourth consecutive contest with at least 100 receiving yards in 2000. Raiders TE Rickey Dudley (averaged 13.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg as senior in 1994-95 when leading Ohio State in rebounding and finishing third in scoring) caught two second-half TD passes from Rich Gannon after Raiders WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) caught two first-half TD passes.

  • 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) scored three touchdowns - including 80-yard pass reception - in a 55-14 AFL win against the Denver Broncos in 1961.

  • New York Giants' Dave Jennings (forward averaged 5.9 ppg for St. Lawrence NY in 1972-73 and 1973-74) punted four times for 51.8-yard average in 20-10 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1978.

  • Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (hooper under legendary UCLA coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw three of his league-high 19 touchdown passes in a 35-17 win against the New York Jets in 1972.

  • Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) rushed for two 15-yard fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 35-21 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1950 after Bears QB Johnny Lujack (averaged 3.4 ppg as starting guard for Notre Dame in 1943-44) rushed for two first-half TDs.

  • New York Giants rookie WR Bob McChesney (Hardin-Simmons TX hoops letterman in 1945-46) opened game's scoring with a 36-yard touchdown catch in 24-21 win against the Washington Redskins in 1950. McChesney finished contest with career-high four pass receptions.

  • Baltimore Colts rookie DB Herb Rich (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1947) returned an interception 45 yards for touchdown in 41-21 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1950.

  • Detroit Lions HB Kent "Rip" Ryan (two-time All-Rocky Mountain first-team choice for Utah State averaged 8.1 ppg in league play in 1933-34, 9.9 ppg in 1934-35, 9.3 ppg in 1935-36 and 7.6 ppg in 1936-37) scored go-ahead touchdown in fourth quarter with a six-yard pass reception in 18-14 win against the New York Giants in 1939. B Len Barnum (West Virginia Wesleyan hooper) opened the Giants' scoring with a 47-yard TD pass to Tuffy Leemans (three-year hoops letterman for George Washington in mid-1930s).

  • New York Giants WR Del Shofner (Baylor letterman in 1956) had three touchdown receptions in a 53-0 win against the Washington Redskins in 1961.

  • Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) had 10 pass receptions - including two second-half touchdowns - in a 38-28 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 2001.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw three touchdown passes in a 31-24 setback against the New Orleans Saints in 1967.

  • Miami Dolphins DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) returned an interception 20 yards for touchdown in 31-13 win against the Chicago Bears in 2006.

  • Detroit Lions HB Doak Walker (SMU letterman as freshman in 1945-46) rushed for two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 24-14 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1955.

  • Minnesota Vikings CB Charlie West (collected two points and one rebound in two UTEP games under coach Don Haskins in 1967-68) had an interception and returned four punts for 57 yards in 37-6 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1972. Saints WR Creston Whitaker (North Texas State guard led MVC in field-goal shooting as junior in 1968-69 when averaging 20 ppg and 6 rpg) notched his lone NFL pass reception (five-yard catch).

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 4 NFL Gridiron

November 4th, 2023 - 9:10

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks about NFL "slavery" and politized 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 members of a league championship basketball squad promptly selected among the top 41 selections in 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 November 4 in football at the professional level (especially in 1951):

NOVEMBER 4

  • Green Bay Packers BB Larry Craig (scored two points in seven South Carolina basketball games in 1936) returned a fumble recovery 18 yards for touchdown in 28-24 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1945.

  • HB Bob Davis (Kentucky hoops letterman in 1937 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) accounted for the Boston Yanks' lone touchdown with a six-yard pass in 10-9 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1945.

  • Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught 10 passes in a 33-22 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 2007.

  • Chicago Bears E Harlon Hill (Florence State AL hoops letterman in 1951) had two first-half touchdown receptions in a 35-24 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1956.

  • Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) had 10 pass receptions in a 19-17 win against the Denver Broncos in 2018.

  • St. Louis Cardinals QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) passed for 365 yards in a 31-28 setback against the New York Giants in 1962.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers RB John Henry Johnson (made 5-of-8 FGAs in five games for Saint Mary's in 1950-51) rushed for two touchdowns in a 39-31 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 1962.

  • Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw three second-half touchdown passes in a 24-17 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1951. A 47-yard pass reception for TD in fourth quarter by HB Doak Walker (Southern Methodist hoops letterman as freshman in 1945-46) proved decisive for the Lions.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 21-7 win against the Arizona Cardinals in 2001.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UT Chattanooga hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) caught two second-half touchdown passes from Jeff Garcia in a 21-13 win against the Detroit Lions in 2001. Six years later with the Dallas Cowboys, Owens had 10 pass receptions for 174 yards in a 38-17 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007.

  • Chicago Bears rookie HB Brad Rowland (four-sport participant for McMurry TX in late 1940s and early 1950s) rushed twice for 21 yards in a 27-0 win against the Washington Redskins in 1951.

  • A 49-yard touchdown catch by WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) late in fourth quarter lifted the Denver Broncos to 22-21 win against the Oakland Raiders in 1996.

  • Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) completed 14-of-18 passes - including three touchdowns - in a 38-10 win against the Cincinnati Bengals 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 kickoff 100 yards for touchdown in 37-31 win against the New York Yanks in 1951.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers HB Sid Watson (averaged 4.1 ppg as Northeastern freshman in 1951-52) rushed for two second-half touchdowns in a 17-14 setback against the New York Giants in 1956.

  • Denver Broncos FS Charlie West (collected two points and one rebound in two Texas-El Paso games under coach Don Haskins in 1967-68) returned an interception 26 yards in 10-3 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1979.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Roy Zimmerman (San Jose State hoops letterman as center in 1938 and 1939) threw three touchdown passes in a 45-3 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1945.

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