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

December 15th, 2023 - 10:42

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as ill-informed GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick and his supporters spurring politicized multiple anthems and league funding anti-cop activist groups, 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 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 December 15 in football at the professional level (especially in 1935 championship contest and 1963):

DECEMBER 15

  • Miami Dolphins LB Larry Ball (played eight hoop games for Louisville as sophomore in 1968-69 before persuaded by coach Lee Corso to concentrate on football) had an interception in 34-7 win against the Detroit Lions in 1973. Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw four touchdown passes to Paul Warfield.

  • Miami Dolphins WR Chris Chambers (played briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught seven passes for 138 yards in a 23-17 win against the Oakland Raiders in 2002. Dolphins DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) had three sacks.

  • Detroit Lions TB Dutch Clark (four-time All-Rocky Mountain Conference hoops choice for Colorado College in late 1920s) rushed seven times for a game-high 80 yards - including 40-yard touchdown - in 26-7 win against the New York Giants in 1935 NFL championship contest. TB Ed Danowski (Fordham hoops letterman in 1932-33) threw a 42-yard pass for the Giants' lone touchdown. Giants rookie E Tod Goodwin (West Virginia hoops letterman in 1933) had two pass receptions for 26 yards. Giants B Kink Richards (Simpson IA hoops letterman) rushed for 31 yards on 10 carries and returned one kickoff for 30 yards.

  • Chicago Bears QB Jack Concannon (grabbed one rebound in one Boston College basketball contest in 1961-62) threw two touchdown passes in a 28-27 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1968 season finale.

  • New York Giants B Eddie Crawford (averaged 2.8 ppg and 5.3 rpg for Mississippi in 1954-55) contributed an interception in 34-28 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1957 season finale.

  • Cincinnati Bengals LB James Francis (averaged 3 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Baylor in 1986-87 and 1987-88) had two interceptions - returning one 42 yards for a touchdown - in 21-13 win against the Houston Texans in 1996.

  • A fourth-quarter touchdown reception by rookie E Dale Gentry (averaged 5.3 ppg for Washington State's 1941 NCAA Tournament runner-up) propelled the Los Angeles Dons to 17-17 AAFC tie against the Chicago Rockets in 1946.

  • New Orleans Saints WR Eugene Goodlow (scored 38 points in 19 games for Kansas State in 1977-78 and 1978-79) caught five passes for 135 yards - including 76-yard touchdown from Bobby Hebert - in a 31-19 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1985.

  • Dallas Cowboys DB Manny Hendrix (All-WAC second-team selection for Utah as senior in 1985-86 averaged 12.1 ppg and team-high 5.1 apg as sophomore) recorded a safety in 25-13 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1991.

  • Los Angeles Rams E Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (starting center for Michigan hoops in 1944) caught two touchdown passes from Norm Van Brocklin in a 37-21 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1957 season finale.

  • Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) had 10 pass receptions for 170 yards and two touchdowns from DeShaun Watson in a 29-22 win against the New York Jets 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 299 yards - including two second-quarter touchdowns - in a 28-24 setback against the Dallas Cowboys 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 two third-quarter touchdowns in a 21-13 win against the Chicago Bears in 2019.

  • New Orleans Saints QB Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper under legendary coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 24-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1968 season finale.

  • Frankfort Yellow Jackets B Ken Mercer (three-year letterman as Simpson IA forward) rushed for three touchdowns in a 19-0 win against the Chicago Bears in 1928.

  • Baltimore Colts RB Preston Pearson (swingman averaged 8.7 ppg and 6 rpg as Illinois senior in 1966-67) had two pass reception touchdowns - including 61-yarder from Earl Morrall - in a 28-24 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1968 regular-season finale.

  • New York Giants E Buster Poole (three-year Arkansas letterman was senior captain in 1936-37) caught four passes for 40 yards in a 24-14 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1946 NFL championship game.

  • Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught two of his AFL-high 16 touchdown passes in a 35-31 AFL win against the Denver Broncos in 1963. Broncos TE Gene Prebola (Boston University hooper in 1957-58) had four pass receptions for 106 yards. 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 78 pass receptions.

  • New England Patriots TE-LB John Tanner (JC recruit averaged 3.5 ppg and 3.4 rpg for Tennessee Tech in 1968-69) played on offense, defense and special teams in a 34-27 setback against the Miami Dolphins in 1974 finale.

  • Washington Redskins rookie QB Harry Theofiledes (averaged 9.3 ppg and 5 rpg for Waynesburg PA in 1964-65 and 1965-66) threw a 39-yard touchdown pass in 14-3 win against the Detroit Lions in 1968 season finale.

  • Tennessee Titans WR Kendall Wright (Baylor hooper as freshman in 2008-09) caught 12 passes for 150 yards in a 37-34 setback against the Arizona Cardinals in 2013.