On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 28 NFL Super Bowls

January 28th, 2024 - 9:27

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug NFL 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 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 hoops 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 are former college basketball players making a name for themselves on January 28 in Super Bowl competition:

JANUARY 28

  • Baltimore Ravens TE Ben Coates (Livingstone NC hooper) caught three passes for 30 yards in a 34-7 victory against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV following 2000 season. Ravens backup LB Brad Jackson (Cincinnati hooper in 1997-98 under coach Bob Huggins) collected one solo tackle and one fumble recovery. Giants RCB Jason Sehorn (averaged 12.5 ppg and 6 rpg for Shasta Community College CA in 1990-91) tied for team high with six solo tackles.

  • San Francisco 49ers FS Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper in 1979-80) contributed a solo tackle in 55-10 victory against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV following 1989 season. Starting LT for the Broncos was Gerald Perry (averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.3 rpg for South Carolina in 1983-84 under coach Bill E. Foster before transferring and averaging 2 ppg and 1.5 rpg with Southern LA in 1986-87 under coach Ben Jobe).