On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling November 3 NFL Gridiron

November 3rd, 2023 - 9:47

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ poster boy #ColonKrapernick's Netflix licks on 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 3 in football at the professional level (especially in 1968):

NOVEMBER 3

  • Cincinnati Bengals QB Ken Anderson (swingman finished Augustana IL career in early 1970s as fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,044 points) threw three touchdown passes for third time in a four-game span in 1974.

  • Philadelphia Eagles LB Connor Barwin (played 34 games for Cincinnati in 2005-06 and 2006-07) had an interception in 49-20 win against the Oakland Raiders in 2013.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers E Wayland Becker (Marquette hoops letterman in mid-1930s) opened game's scoring with a first-quarter touchdown reception in 13-7 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1935. Dodgers E Bud Hubbard (San Jose State hoops letterman in 1934) caught a 56-yard TD pass from Ralph Kercheval (Kentucky hooper in 1932-33 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) for decisive score.

  • Green Bay Packers WR Don Beebe (Aurora College IL junior varsity hooper in 1983-84) caught a 65-yard touchdown pass from Brett Favre in 28-18 win against the Detroit Lions in 1996.

  • 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 223 yards on 28 carries in a 23-17 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1963.

  • New York Giants E Ray Flaherty (four-sport Gonzaga athlete including hoops) caught two third-quarter touchdown passes in a 26-14 win against the Chicago Bears in 1929.

  • New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09) caught nine passes for 116 yards - including two first-half touchdowns from Drew Brees - in a 26-20 setback against the New York Jets in 2013.

  • Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw three touchdown passes in a 34-28 AFL setback against the San Diego Chargers in 1968.

  • Houston Oilers WR Bill Groman (Heidelberg OH scoring average leader as sophomore and junior while averaging 14.6 ppg and 4.8 rpg from 1954-55 through 1957-58) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 30-28 AFL setback against the Buffalo Bills in 1963.

  • 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 313 yards and five touchdowns in a 38-24 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 2002.

  • Minnesota Vikings QB Joe Kapp (backup forward averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg for California's PCC champions in 1957 and 1958) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 27-14 win against the Washington Redskins in 1968. Vikings rookie DB Charlie West (collected two points and one rebound in two UTEP games under coach Don Haskins in 1967-68) set a franchise record by returning punt 98 yards for TD and Redskins rookie QB Harry Theofiledes (averaged 9.3 ppg and 5 rpg for Waynesburg PA in 1964-65 and 1965-66) threw a TD pass to TE Pat Richter (three-year Wisconsin hoops letterman in early 1960s).

  • Cleveland Browns WR Greg Little (collected five points and five rebounds in 10 basketball games for North Carolina in 2007-08 under coach Roy Williams) had a career-high seven pass receptions in 24-18 win against the Baltimore Ravens in 2013.

  • Rookie E Eggs Manske (point guard led Northwestern to share of 1933 Big Ten Conference crown) scored the Philadelphia Eagles' touchdown with a 55-yard pass reception in 7-6 win against the Boston Redskins in 1935. Redskins rookie B Bill Shepherd (Western Maryland hooper) opened game's scoring with a 57-yard rushing TD.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) rushed for a touchdown in his fourth consecutive contest in 2002.

  • Houston Oilers CB Zeke Moore (Lincoln MO hoops letterman in mid-1960s) opened game's scoring by intercepting a Joe Namath pass and returning it 22 yards for touchdown in 27-22 win against the New York Jets in 1974.

  • A 41-yard touchdown catch by rookie E R.C. Owens (led small colleges with 27.1 rpg in 1953-54 while also averaging 23.5 ppg for College of Idaho) in fourth quarter gave the San Francisco 49ers a 35-31 win against the Detroit Lions in 1957. In the midst of catching a TD pass in four different contests in a five-game span, Clyde Conner (two-time All-CBA second-team selection averaged 11.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg for Pacific in 1953-54 and 1954-55) opened the 49ers' scoring with a reception from Y.A. Tittle.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UT Chattanooga hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) had 12 pass receptions for 191 yards in a 23-20 win against the Oakland Raiders in 2002.

  • A 43-yard field goal by Mac Percival (three-year hoops letterman was part of squad winning Texas Tech's first SWC championship in major sport in 1960-61) in fourth quarter boosted the Chicago Bears to 13-10 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1968.

  • Indianapolis Colts TE Marcus Pollard (JC transfer averaged 7.3 ppg and 5 rpg for Bradley in two seasons in 1992-93 and 1993-94) had a career-high seven pass receptions in 23-15 setback against the Tennessee Titans in 2002.

  • New York Jets DB Johnny Sample (freshman hooper for Maryland-Eastern Shore) had two interceptions - returning one of them 36 yards for touchdown - in a 25-21 AFL win against the Buffalo Bills in 1968.

  • Chicago Bears DE Ed Sprinkle (two-year hoops letterman for Hardin-Simmons TX in early 1940s) opened game's scoring by returning a fumble recovery 30 yards for touchdown in 10-7 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1946.

  • Kansas City Chiefs TE Morris Stroud Jr. (tallest TE in NFL history averaged 7.2 ppg and 10.2 rpg in 1967-68 when 6-10 junior shot team-high 50.9% from floor for Clark Atlanta GA) had a career-high five pass receptions in 33-27 setback against the New York Giants in 1974.

  • New York Giants DB Emlen Tunnell (forward was top reserve for Toledo team compiling 22-4 record and finishing second in 1943 NIT) returned an interception 52 yards for touchdown in 31-17 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1957.

  • Dallas Cowboys rookie P Ron Widby (three-time All-SEC selection averaged 18.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg for Tennessee from 1964-65 through 1966-67) punted five times for 267 yards (53.4 average) - including an NFL-high 84-yarder - in 17-3 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1968.