On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling December 21 NFL Gridiron

December 21st, 2023 - 8:13

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 21 in football at the professional level (especially in 1941 championship contest):

DECEMBER 21

  • Cleveland Browns DB Erich Barnes (played hoops briefly for Purdue as sophomore in 1955-56) had an interception in 31-20 Eastern Conference playoff win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1968.

  • Chicago Bears QB Young Bussey (Louisiana State hoops letterman in late 1930s) completed his lone pass in 1941 NFL championship game for eight yards in a 37-9 win against the New York Giants. George Halas (starting guard for Illinois' Big Ten Conference titlist in 1916-17) coached the Bears. TB Tuffy Leemans (three-year hoops letterman for George Washington in mid-1930s) passed for 73 yards and chipped in with a Giants-high 52 rushing yards. Bears B Ray Nolting (Cincinnati hoops letterman in 1936) rushed for 13 yards on four carries. Bears E Dick Plasman (Vanderbilt two-year starting center named to 1936 All-SEC Tournament second five) had a game-high 48 receiving yards on two catches.

  • Los Angeles Rams rookie E Bob Carey (forward-center averaged 8.8 ppg in three-year Michigan State career in early 1950s) had three pass receptions for 30 yards in 31-21 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1952 tiebreaker playoff game. Rams S Norb Hecker (four-sport letterman including hoops with Baldwin-Wallace OH) returned an interception 20 yards. Lions HB Doak Walker (Southern Methodist hoops letterman as freshman in 1945-46) threw a 24-yard touchdown pass and had two receptions for 75 yards.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers TB Johnny Clement (Southern Methodist hoops letterman in 1940) had a team-high 59 rushing yards in a 21-0 divisional playoff setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1947. Steelers E Elbie Nickel (Cincinnati's second-leading scorer in 1942 also earned hoop letter in 1947) had team-high 32 receiving yards. Eagles HB Bosh Pritchard (four-sport letterman for VMI) returned a punt 79 yards for touchdown.

  • Dallas Cowboys PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) converted all four of his field-goal attempts in a 19-3 win against the New York Giants in 2003.

  • San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught two touchdown passes from Philip Rivers in a 41-24 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008.

  • Dallas Cowboys rookie WR Percy Howard (All-Ohio Valley Conference selection averaged 12.4 ppg and 7.3 rpg for Austin Peay State from 1972-73 through 1974-75) returned two kickoffs for a total of 51 yards in 31-21 win against the New York Jets in 1975.

  • Chicago Bears rookie TE Greg Latta (two-year Morgan State letterman averaged 9.3 ppg and 5.4 rpg in 15 games in 1970-71) caught three touchdown passes in a 42-17 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1975 season finale.

  • Philadelphia Eagles DB Joe Lavender (averaged 13.4 ppg and 6.6 rpg for San Diego State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown in 26-3 win against the Washington Redskins in 1975 season finale. Five years later as a member of the Redskins, Lavender had two interceptions in 31-7 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980 season finale.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Codey McElroy (walk-on played in four basketball games for Oklahoma State in 2015-16 under coach Travis Ford) caught a 30-yard pass from QB Jameis Winston in 23-20 setback against the Houston Texans in 2019.

  • Houston Oilers CB Zeke Moore (Lincoln MO hoops letterman in mid-1960s) had an interception in 56-7 AFL divisional playoff setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1969.

  • New York Giants CB Jason Sehorn (averaged 12.5 ppg and 6 rpg for Shasta Community College CA in 1990-91) returned a Drew Bledsoe interception for touchdown in 23-22 setback against the New England Patriots in 1996 regular-season finale. It was the fourth game of the last five of campaign where Sehorn registered an INT.

  • Minnesota Vikings rookie TE Joe Senser (two-time NCAA Division I leader in FG% averaged 11.4 ppg and 7.4 rpg while shooting 66.2% from floor in four-year career for West Chester State PA) caught two first-half touchdown passes from Tommy Kramer in a 20-16 setback against the Houston Oilers in 1980 season finale.

  • Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from John Elway in a 38-3 win against the San Diego Chargers in 1997.

  • Houston Oilers CB Greg Stemrick (played in two basketball games for Colorado State in 1973-74) was credited with an interception in his third consecutive contest in 1980 season finale.

  • Miami Dolphins DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) had three sacks in a 20-3 win against the Buffalo Bills in 2003.

  • Miami Dolphins WR Lamar Thomas (collected 16 points and 4 rebounds in four games for Miami FL in 1990-91) had six pass receptions for 136 yards - including three touchdowns from QB Dan Marino - in a 31-21 win against the Denver Broncos in 1998. Thomas had multiple catches in all but one of 15 regular-season games.

  • Detroit Lions SS Charlie West (collected two points and one rebound in two Texas-El Paso games in 1967-68 under Don Haskins) returned two punts for 47 yards in a 24-13 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975 season finale.

  • TE Bob Windsor (played two games for Kentucky in 1965-66 under coach Adolph Rupp) caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from John Brodie in fourth quarter to power the San Francisco 49ers to 14-13 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1969 season finale.