On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle October 23 NFL Gridiron

October 23rd, 2024 - 8:41

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

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

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on October 23 in football at the professional level (especially in 1960 and ex-hoopers with the Packers):

OCTOBER 23

  • 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 167 yards in a 31-29 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers QB Jim Finks (led Tulsa with 8.9 ppg as sophomore in 1946-47) rushed for a first-half touchdown in his fourth consecutive contest of the month in 1955.

  • Buffalo Bills TE Reuben Gant (averaged 1.4 ppg and 1.5 rpg for Oklahoma State in 1971-72 and 1972-73) caught five passes for 111 yards in a 27-16 setback against the Cleveland Browns 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 two second-half touchdown passes from Philip Rivers in a 35-21 setback against the Denver Broncos in 2014.

  • 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 two third-quarter touchdown passes from Drew Brees in a 62-7 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 2011.

  • Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes for second straight game in 1977.

  • 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 three first-half touchdown passes from George Blanda in a 42-28 AFL win against the New York Titans in 1960. Titans WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) had two of his AFL-high 14 TD catches.

  • Green Bay Packers RB Paul Hornung (averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) rushed for two of his league-high 13 touchdowns in a 41-14 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1960.

  • 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) amassed a career-high nine pass receptions for two touchdowns in a 23-21 setback against the Washington Redskins in 2022.

  • Chicago Bears QB Johnny Lujack (averaged 3.4 ppg as starting guard for Notre Dame in 1943-44) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 35-28 setback 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 an interception 45 yards for TD.

  • 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) returned an interception 60 yards for touchdown in 20-10 win against the Tennessee Titans in 2005. Titans WR Tyrone Calico (played one basketball game for Middle Tennessee State in 1998-99) contributed a career-high six pass receptions.

  • A fourth-quarter field goal by Mac Percival (three-year hoops letterman was part of squad winning Texas Tech's first SWC championship in major sport in 1960-61) boosted the Chicago Bears to 13-10 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 1972.

  • Philadelphia Eagles HB Bosh Pritchard (four-sport letterman for VMI) scored two long touchdowns (75-yard pass reception and 77-yard run from scrimmage) in 49-14 win against the Washington Redskins in 1949.

  • New England Patriots TE Derrick Ramsey (grabbed three rebounds in two Kentucky games in 1975-76) caught two touchdown passes from Steve Grogan in a 31-0 win against the Buffalo Bills in 1983.

  • Cleveland Browns QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 41-10 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1955.

  • Green Bay Packers E Al Rose (Texas hoops letterman from 1928 through 1930) opened game's scoring by returning an interception 16 yards for touchdown in 13-0 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 31-3 win against the New York Giants in 1966.

  • 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 92 pass receptions in a 31-24 AFL win against the Boston Patriots in 1960. Broncos DB Bob McNamara (averaged 1.3 ppg for Minnesota in 1952-53 and 1953-54 under coach Ozzie Cowles) chipped in with two interceptions.

  • San Francisco 49ers E Billy Wilson (averaged 3.3 ppg as senior letterman for San Jose State in 1950-51) caught two touchdown passes from Y.A. Tittle (37 and 72 yards) in a 34-23 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1955.