On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 18 NFL Gridiron

November 18th, 2023 - 9:01

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks against NFL "slavery" and 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 promptly selected 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 November 18 in football at the professional level (especially in 1945):

NOVEMBER 18

  • Washington Redskins B Steve Bagarus (Notre Dame hooper in early 1940s) tied the score twice - 7-7 with an 18-yard rushing touchdown and 14-14 with 70-yard TD reception from Sammy Baugh (Texas Christian three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) en route to 28-21 win against the Chicago Bears in 1945.

  • RB Cliff Battles (four seasons of varsity hoops for West Virginia Wesleyan) scored both of the Boston Braves' touchdowns (via runs from scrimmage) in a 14-7 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1934.

  • Cleveland Rams E Jim Benton (forward was Arkansas' third-leading scorer in SWC play as senior in 1937-38) caught two touchdown passes from Bob Waterfield in a 35-21 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1945.

  • Cleveland Browns FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) rushed for three second-half touchdowns in a 38-14 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1962.

  • Chicago Bears FB Rick Casares (Florida's scoring and rebounding leader both seasons as All-SEC second-team selection in 1951-52 and 1952-53) rushed for two second-half touchdowns in a 30-21 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1956.

  • 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 four passes for 120 yards in a 29-22 setback against the Minnesota Vikings in 2007.

  • Dallas Texans QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw three touchdown passes - including 92-yarder to Tommy Brooker - in a 24-3 AFL win against the Denver Broncos in 1962.

  • Chicago Bears TE Mike Ditka (averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Pittsburgh in 1958-59 and 1959-60) caught seven passes for 133 yards in a 34-33 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1962.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) passed for 399 yards in a 27-24 setback against the Chicago Bears in 2001.

  • Denver Broncos QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) passed for 445 yards in a 42-34 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1974.

  • Washington Redskins TE Jimmie Johnson (averaged 2.7 ppg and 1.5 rpg for Howard University in 1988-89) caught two passes for a career-high 55 receiving yards in 31-17 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1990.

  • Baltimore Ravens WR Jacoby Jones (part-time starter averaged 3.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg for Lane TN in 2004-05 and 2005-06) returned a punt 63 yards for touchdown in 13-10 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers rookie B Ralph Kercheval (Kentucky hooper in 1932-33 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) opened game's scoring with a 23-yard touchdown catch from Chris Cagle (four-year hoops letterman for USL and Army in mid-1920s) in 10-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1934.

  • FB George Kiick (captain of Bucknell hoops team as senior in 1939-40) supplied the Pittsburgh Steelers' only points with a rushing touchdown in 30-6 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1945.

  • Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw three touchdown passes in a 28-10 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1951.

  • Jacksonville Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball games in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) caught two touchdown passes in a 45-37 setback against the Houston Texans in 2012.

  • Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) had eight pass receptions for 173 yards - including four touchdowns from Tony Romo (three of them more than 30 yards) in a 28-23 win against the Washington Redskins in 2007.

  • Chicago Bears DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) had three sacks in a 16-0 win against the Miami Dolphins in 2010.

  • Indianapolis Colts TE Marcus Pollard (JC transfer averaged 7.3 ppg and 5 rpg for Bradley in 1992-93 and 1993-94) caught an 86-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning in 34-20 setback against the New Orleans Saints in 2001.

  • New England Patriots TE Derrick Ramsey (grabbed three rebounds in two Kentucky games in 1975-76) caught three first-half touchdown passes from Tony Eason in a 50-17 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 1984. Colts QB Art Schlichter (scored 18 points in 11 hoop games for Ohio State in 1978-79 and 1980-81) passed for one touchdown and rushed for another.

  • Rookie TB Manny Rapp (Saint Louis hoops letterman in 1932) threw a 56-yard touchdown pass for the St. Louis Gunners' lone score in 40-7 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1934.

  • Cleveland Browns WR Reggie Rucker (averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg for Boston University in 1966-67) had nine pass receptions for 177 yards in a 30-24 win against the Miami Dolphins in 1979.

  • Detroit Lions rookie B Dave Ryan (Hardin-Simmons TX hoops letterman in 1942 and 1943) had a 63-yard pass reception touchdown in 35-14 setback against the New York Giants in 1945. Giants rookie HB Junie Hovious (Ole Miss hoops letterman from 1940 through 1942) threw three TD passes and rushed 10 times for 42 yards.

  • New England Patriots LB Adalius Thomas (averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Southern Mississippi in 1996-97 and 1997-98) had 2 1/2 sacks in 56-10 win against the Buffalo Bills in 2007.