On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling December 5 NFL Gridiron

December 5th, 2023 - 9:47

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as ill-informed GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick and his supporters spurring 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 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 5 in football at the professional level (especially Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens in 1999 and 2004):

DECEMBER 5

  • Washington Redskins RB Cliff Battles (four seasons of varsity hoops for West Virginia Wesleyan) rushed for two first-quarter touchdowns in a 49-14 win against the New York Giants in 1937. Giants TB Ed Danowski (Fordham hoops letterman in 1932-33) threw two TD passes.

  • Buffalo Bills WR Don Beebe (Aurora College IL junior varsity hooper in 1983-84) caught a 65-yard touchdown pass from Jim Kelly in a 25-24 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1993.

  • Philadelphia Eagles E Tony Bova (St. Francis PA hoops letterman in 1942) caught two touchdown passes (48 and 13 yards en route to leading league with 24.6-yd average) in a 38-28 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1943.

  • In 1937, Chicago Bears QB Ray Buivid (Marquette hoops letterman in 1935-36) became the first rookie to throw five touchdown passes in a single NFL game (42-28 nod over Chicago Cardinals).

  • Oakland Raiders WR Ronald Curry (averaged 4.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 3 apg for North Carolina in 1998-99 and 2000-01) caught nine passes for 141 yards - including two touchdowns from Kerry Collins - in a 34-27 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004.

  • Buffalo Bills rookie TE Tim Euhus (averaged 1.3 ppg and 1.8 rpg for Oregon State in 1999-00) caught a career-high four passes, one from Drew Bledsoe for go-ahead touchdown, in 42-32 win against the Miami Dolphins in 2004.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers TB Ray Evans (two-time All-American was four-year letterman and second-leading scorer for Kansas in 1942 NCAA Tournament) opened game's scoring with a nine-yard rushing touchdown in 38-28 win against the New York Giants in 1948.

  • Los Angeles Dons rookie WR Len Ford (center for Morgan State's CIAA hoops titlist in 1944) caught two touchdown passes from Glenn Dobbs in a 38-21 AAFC setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1948.

  • New York Giants' Dave Jennings (forward averaged 5.9 ppg for St. Lawrence NY in 1972-73 and 1973-74) punted four times for 55.3-yard average in 17-14 win against the Houston Oilers in 1982. Giants DE George Martin (Oregon hoops teammate of freshman sensation Ron Lee in 1972-73) had three sacks.

  • Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper under legendary coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw three touchdown passes in a 37-16 win against the New York Jets in 1976.

  • Chicago Cardinals E Mal Kutner (two-year Texas hoops letterman in early 1940s) had two of his league-high 14 pass reception touchdowns in a 42-7 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1948.

  • Philadelphia Eagles rookie 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 21-17 setback against the Arizona Cardinals in 1999. Five years later, McNabb completed 32-of-43 passes - including five TDs - in a 47-17 win against the Green Bay Packers in 2004. WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) had eight of McNabb's 32 pass completions for 161 yards. Five years earlier with the San Francisco 49ers, Owens caught nine passes for 145 yards in a 44-30 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1999.

  • Philadelphia Eagles B Dom Moselle (leading hoops scorer for Wisconsin-Superior in 1947-48 and 1948-49) had a career-high 46 rushing yards in 13-13 tie against the Detroit Lions in 1954.

  • San Diego Chargers rookie WR Robert Reed (averaged 1.9 ppg in 18 contests for Arkansas' 1995 NCAA Tournament runner-up under coach Nolan Richardson Jr.) caught one pass from QB Jim Harbaugh and returned three punts for 49 yards in a 23-10 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1999.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) passed for 320 yards in a 21-19 setback against the Dallas Cowboys in 1965. Eagles DT John Meyers (played seven basketball games with Washington in 1959-60) contributed an interception.

  • Denver 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 eight pass receptions for 164 yards in a 24-13 AFL setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1965.

  • New York Giants LB Brad Van Pelt (averaged 4.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg while shooting 61.7% from floor as Michigan State sophomore in 1970-71) had two interceptions in a 24-10 win against the Detroit Lions in 1976.

  • Cincinnati Bengals DE Alfred Williams (Colorado hooper in 1989-90) supplied a safety by tackling Steve Young in end zone in 21-8 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 1993.