On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle September 3 NFL Gridiron

September 3rd, 2022 - 7:38

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, 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 making a name for themselves in September 3 football games at the professional level (especially unbeaten Cleveland Browns teammates Otto Graham and Ara Parseghian hooking up for touchdown pass in 1948 before they became coaches of prominent gridiron enterprises):

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  • Boston Patriots WR Art Graham (collected one point and three rebounds in two basketball games with Boston College in 1961-62) posted a 1967 AFL-long touchdown reception of 79 yards in 26-21 setback against the Denver Broncos in season opener.

  • Cleveland Browns rookie HB Ara Parseghian (Miami of Ohio hooper in 1946-47 and 1947-48) caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) in 19-14 win against the Los Angeles Dons in 1948 AAFC season opener.

  • Cleveland Browns WR Reggie Rucker (averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg for Boston University in 1966-67) registered three pass receptions for 113 yards in a 24-7 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1978 season opener.

  • Arizona Cardinals DL Mao Tosi (averaged 4.1 ppg and 5.5 rpg with Idaho in 1997-98) had a career-high seven solo tackles in 21-16 setback against the New York Giants in his NFL debut in 2000 season opener.