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

September 23rd, 2024 - 9:46

Long before kneeling knuckleheads and 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 September 23 in football at the professional level (especially in 1962 and ex-hoopers with Giants):

SEPTEMBER 23

  • Chicago Cardinals rookie QB Paul Collins (All-Big Six Conference first-team hoops selection for Missouri in 1943-44) made his lone NFL start (10-0 setback vs. Detroit Lions in 1945).

  • Detroit Lions QB Fred Enke (three-year All-Border Conference first-team hoops selection under his father at Arizona was co-captain as senior in 1947-48) threw two touchdown passes in a 27-24 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1949 season opener. Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting hoops center for Michigan in 1944) scored two TDs.

  • San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught 11 passes for 113 yards in a 31-24 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 2007.

  • New York Giants' Dave Jennings (forward averaged 5.9 ppg for St. Lawrence NY in 1972-73 and 1973-74) punted six times for a 46.7-yard average in 17-14 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1984.

  • Philadelphia Eagles DB Joe Lavender (averaged 13.4 ppg and 6.6 rpg for San Diego State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) returned a fumble recovery 96 yards for touchdown in 13-10 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1974.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 30-28 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1962. Steelers LB George Tarasovic (led NLU forerunner Northeast Junior College LA with 21 ppg in 1950-51) returned an interception 37 yards. Cowboys FB J.W. Lockett (three-year hoops letterman led Central Oklahoma with 8.8 rpg in 1958-59) opened the game's scoring with a 29-yard TD pass reception from Eddie LeBaron.

  • Baltimore Colts 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 touchdown passes in a 34-7 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 1962.

  • 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 27-3 win against the Seattle Seahawks in 2001. Six years later, McNabb passed for 381 yards - including four first-half TDs - in a 56-21 win against the Detroit Lions in 2007.

  • Miami Dolphins rookie RB Jerris McPhail (starting point guard for Mount Olive NC with 11 ppg in early 1990s) returned two kickoffs for 70 yards in a 10-6 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in 1996.

  • Frankfort Yellow Jackets B Ken Mercer (three-year hoops letterman as Simpson IA forward) scored two touchdowns in a 19-9 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1928 season opener.

  • Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) had eight pass receptions for 145 yards in a 34-10 win against the Chicago Bears in 2007.

  • New York Giants E Ray Poole (Ole Miss' leading hoops scorer in 1942-43 with 12.3 ppg) provided a fumble recovery for touchdown in 27-7 win against the Boston Yanks in 1948 season opener.

  • St. Louis Cardinals WR Sonny Randle (scoreless in seven basketball games in Virginia's third season in ACC in 1955-56) caught three second-half touchdown passes in a 43-21 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1960 season opener.

  • Atlanta Falcons WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88 under coach Jud Heathcote) had 11 pass receptions in a 19-13 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1990.

  • Detroit Lions WR Freddie Scott (averaged 5.3 ppg as sophomore forward for Amherst MA in 1972-73) opened game's scoring with a touchdown reception in 24-23 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 1979.

  • New York Giants WR Del Shofner (Baylor hoops letterman in 1956) caught two first-half touchdown passes from Y.A. Tittle (69 and 56 yards) in a 29-13 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1962.

  • Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught 14 passes for 162 yards - including two touchdowns from Brian Griese - in a 38-17 win against the Arizona Cardinals in 2001.