On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 23 NFL Gridiron

November 23rd, 2023 - 9:32

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 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 chosen 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 23 in football at the professional level (especially in 1947):

NOVEMBER 23

  • Brooklyn Dodgers HB Al Akins (forward was letterman for Washington in 1944 after lettering with Washington State previous two years) caught a 50-yard touchdown pass in 16-12 AAFC setback against the Los Angeles Dons in 1947.

  • New York Giants E Red Badgro (first-five All-PCC pick as forward in 1926-27 when named Southern California's MVP) opened game's scoring with a 22-yard touchdown reception in 13-6 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1930.

  • Washington Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (Texas Christian three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw six touchdown passes in a 45-21 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1947. Two of the TD pass receptions were caught by rookie E Paul McKee (played hoops for Syracuse in 1942-43).

  • Los Angeles Rams E Jim Benton (forward was Arkansas' third-leading scorer in SWC play as senior in 1937-38) had two touchdown receptions in a 28-17 win against the Detroit Lions in 1947. Rams B Tom Harmon (averaged 7.6 ppg as sophomore in 1938-39 when leading Michigan in scoring in five contests) scored two TDs (including 88-yard punt return). Lions rookie DB Bob Wiese (averaged 3.9 ppg for Michigan in 1942-43 and 1943-44) had two interceptions.

  • Fourth field goal of game by PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) came as time expired and gave the Cleveland Browns a 26-24 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 2014.

  • Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught 10 passes in a 54-31 setback against the Buffalo Bills in 2008.

  • Minnesota Vikings 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 312 yards and three touchdowns in a 23-21 setback against the New York Jets in 1997.

  • Philadelphia Eagles TE Jimmie Johnson (averaged 2.7 ppg and 1.5 rpg for Howard University in 1988-89) had a career-high four pass receptions in 23-20 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997.

  • Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two first-quarter touchdown passes in a 49-14 win against the New York Yanks in 1950. Lions E Cloyce Box (combined with twin brother Boyce to help West Texas A&M win Border Conference hoop championship in 1943) caught three TD passes.

  • Washington Redskins WR Bob Long (Wichita State hooper in 1960-61 and 1961-62 under coach Ralph Miller) had a career-high 10 pass receptions in a 27-20 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 1969.

  • Green Bay Packers DB Ace Loomis (Wisconsin-La Crosse hooper in late 1940s) returned an interception 45 yards for touchdown in 42-14 win against the Dallas Texans in 1952.

  • New York Giants DE George Martin (Oregon hoops teammate of freshman sensation Ron Lee in 1972-73) returned an interception 78 yards for touchdown in 19-16 win against the Denver Broncos in 1986.

  • Buffalo Bills HB Chet Mutryn (Xavier hoops letterman in 1943) rushed for two touchdowns in a 33-14 AAFC win against the Baltimore Colts in 1947.

  • Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens (UT-Chattanooga hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five basketball games) had seven pass receptions for 213 yards in a 35-22 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 2008.

  • Cleveland Browns RB Greg Pruitt (Oklahoma frosh hooper in 1969-70) had more than 100 yards in rushing (121) and receiving (106) en route to scoring two touchdowns - including go-ahead pass reception from Mike Phipps in fourth quarter - in a 35-23 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1975.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 34-30 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1969.

  • Chicago Bears TE Ed Sprinkle (two-year hoops letterman for Hardin-Simmons TX in early 1940s) caught a decisive fourth-quarter touchdown pass from George Blanda in 24-23 win against the Detroit Lions in 1952.

  • San Francisco 49ers E Billy Wilson (averaged 3.3 ppg as senior letterman for San Jose State in 1950-51) caught two touchdown passes from Y.A. Tittle in a 33-12 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1958.

  • Staten Island Stapletons B Doug Wycoff (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1926) accounted for game's only scoring with a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown in 6-0 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1930.