On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle October 28 NFL Gridiron

October 28th, 2024 - 9:00

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 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 28 in football at the professional level (especially in 1934 and 1962 and ex-hoopers with the Bears and Cardinals):

OCTOBER 28

  • Indianapolis Colts rookie TE Mo Alie-Cox (three-time All-Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Team selection averaged 7.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 1.8 bpg for four Virginia Commonwealth NCAA playoff squads from 2014 through 2017) opened game's scoring with a one-handed, 26-yard touchdown reception from Andrew Luck in 42-28 victory against the Oakland Raiders in 2018.

  • 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) had four of his NFL-leading 12 rushing touchdowns in a 38-21 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1956, giving him 10 rushing TDs during month.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers HB Lynn Chandnois (forward scored 15 points in 11 games for Michigan State in 1946-47 and 1947-48) provided a game-tying touchdown in fourth quarter with 49-yard pass to Joe Geri in 28-14 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1951.

  • Detroit Lions TB Dutch Clark (four-time All-Rocky Mountain Conference hoops choice for Colorado College) rushed for two touchdowns - including one for 82 yards - in a 38-0 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1934.

  • For the third consecutive contest, B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1916) accounted for all of the Chicago Cardinals' scoring in a 13-3 win against the Dayton Triangles in 1923.

  • Chicago Bears rookie HB Beattie Feathers (Tennessee hoops regular in 1931-32) scored two touchdowns for the second straight game in 1934. Bears B Gene Ronzani (among Marquette's top four hoops scorers in 1931-32 and 1932-33) threw two TD passes in 27-14 win against the Green Bay Packers.

  • A seven-yard touchdown reception by Reuben Gant (averaged 1.4 ppg and 1.5 rpg for Oklahoma State in 1971-72 and 1972-73) in fourth quarter from Joe Ferguson gave the Buffalo Bills a 20-17 win against the Detroit Lions in 1979.

  • San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught two first-half touchdown passes from Philip Rivers in a 35-10 win against the Houston Texans in 2007.

  • Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) threw two first-quarter touchdown passes in a 14-13 win against the New York Giants in 1951.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers B Jack Grossman (two-year Rutgers hoops letterman in early 1930s) scored two touchdowns - including a 72-yard punt return - in 21-3 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1934.

  • Carolina Panthers DE Greg Hardy (Ole Miss backup forward as freshman in 2006-07) had three sacks and five tackles in a 23-22 setback against the Chicago Bears in 2012.

  • Boston Redskins B Steve Hokuf (first-team All-Big Six Conference hoops selection for Nebraska in 1931 and 1933) supplied game's lone touchdown with a 45-yard pass in 9-0 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1934.

  • 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 second-quarter touchdown passes in a 41-14 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 2001.

  • 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 28-24 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1962. WR Sonny Randle (scoreless in seven basketball games in Virginia's third season in ACC in 1955-56) caught two of Johnson's TD passes including opening game's scoring with an 86-yard strike. Eleven years later with the Denver Broncos, Johnson threw two first-quarter TD passes in a 40-28 win against the New York Jets in 1973.

  • Carolina Panthers TE Jeff King (collected 18 points and 23 rebounds in 16 games as Virginia Tech freshman in 2004-05) had 10 pass receptions in a 31-7 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in 2007.

  • Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw three touchdown passes in a 28-23 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1951.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) passed for 333 yards in a 23-16 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 2007.

  • Denver Broncos TE Gene Prebola (Boston University hooper in 1957-58) caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from Frank Tripucka in 45-38 AFL setback against the Buffalo Bills in 1962.

  • New York Giants WR Del Shofner (Baylor hoops letterman in 1956) had 11 pass receptions for 269 yards in a 49-34 win against the Washington Redskins in 1962. Redskins QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) passed for 346 yards - including four touchdowns (one in each quarter).

  • Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught six passes for 159 yards in a 31-20 win against the New England Patriots in 2001.

  • Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 30-16 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1973. Cowboys WR Otto Stowe (collected 12 points and five rebounds in four Iowa State basketball games in 1968-69) had two TD receptions.