On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling October 11 NFL Gridiron

October 11th, 2023 - 10:45

Long before kneeling knuckleheads and 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 do-everything 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 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 October 11 in football at the professional level (especially in 1959 and 1964):

OCTOBER 11

  • New York Giants rookie E O'Neal Adams (three-year hoops letterman was third-leading scorer when Arkansas reached 1941 NCAA Tournament national semifinals) caught two touchdown passes from Tuffy Leemans (three-year hoops letterman for George Washington in mid-1930s) in a 35-17 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1942. Leemans finished the game with three TD passes.

  • Cincinnati Bengals QB Ken Anderson (swingman finished Augustana IL career in early 1970s as fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,044 points) completed 21-of-27 passes (including three touchdowns) in a 41-19 triumph against the Baltimore Colts in 1981.

  • Washington Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (TCU three-year letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw three touchdown passes in a 33-14 win against the Cleveland Rams in 1942. Rams TB Parker Hall (Ole Miss hoops letterman in 1938) threw two fourth-quarter TD passes.

  • Chicago Bears TE Mike Ditka (averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Pittsburgh in 1958-59 and 1959-60) scored three touchdowns - one fumble recovery and two pass receptions - in a 38-17 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1964. Rams rookie WR Bucky Pope (two-time All-Carolinas Conference pick for Catawba NC averaged 19.4 ppg from 1961-62 through 1963-64) caught a 70-yard TD pass from Roman Gabriel.

  • Chicago Cardinals B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1916) kicked four field goals - one from 50 yards - in a 19-9 win against the Columbus Tigers in 1925.

  • In the midst of five consecutive contests with at least one touchdown reception, Buffalo Bills FL Elbert Dubenion (solid rebounder and defensive player for Bluffton OH in late 1950s) caught five passes for 183 yards in a 48-17 AFL win against the Houston Oilers in 1964.

  • Baltimore Colts QB Fred Enke (three-year All-Border Conference first-team selection under his father was Arizona hoops co-captain as senior in 1947-48) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 16-14 win against the Chicago Bears in 1953.

  • TE Darren Fells (averaged 10.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg from 2004-05 through 2007-08, leading UCI in rebounding each of last three seasons) opened the Arizona Cardinals' scoring by catching a 14-yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer in 42-17 win against the Detroit Lions in 2015.

  • In his Dallas Cowboys debut, DE Greg Hardy (Ole Miss backup forward as freshman in 2006-07) had two sacks and four tackles in a 30-6 setback against the New England Patriots in 2015.

  • Chicago Bears E Harlon Hill (Florence State AL hoops letterman in 1951) had an 88-yard touchdown reception in 28-21 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1959.

  • QB King Hill (Rice hoops letterman in 1955-56 and 1956-57) had goal-line plunges for both of the Chicago Cardinals' touchdowns in a 23-14 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1959. Cardinals RB Mal Hammack (played four basketball games with Florida in 1954-55) contributed a career-high 92 rushing yards and Redskins rookie DE Art Gob (played two basketball games for Pittsburgh in 1957-58) recorded a safety by tackling Hill in end zone in fourth quarter.

  • B Ralph Kercheval (Kentucky hooper in 1932-33 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) scored the Brooklyn Dodgers' lone touchdown with a 12-yard rush in 10-10 tie against the New York Giants in 1936.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 28-24 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1959. Eagles rookie WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) returned a punt 58 yards for TD.

  • San Francisco 49ers rookie DB Ronnie Lott (USC hooper as junior in 1979-80) had two interceptions - returning one of them 41 yards for touchdown - in a 45-14 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 1981.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) completed 16-of-21 passes - including three first-half touchdowns - in a 33-14 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009.

  • Rookie E George Rogge (Iowa hoops letterman in 1929) had a rushing touchdown for the Chicago Cardinals' lone score in 26-7 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1931.

  • Green Bay Packers rookie CB Quinten Rollins (Miami OH steals leader all four seasons from 2010-11 through 2013-14 including MAC as senior) intercepted two passes - returning one 45 yards for a touchdown - in 24-10 win against the St. Louis Rams in 2015.

  • In 1987, TE Don Summers (averaged 13.4 ppg and 7.9 rpg for Oregon Tech in 1980-81) caught a 10-yard touchdown pass in fourth quarter to help boost the Green Bay Packers to lead but they eventually bowed to the Detroit Lions, 19-16.

  • 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) caught two second-half touchdown passes in a 33-27 AFL win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1964.

  • Providence Steam Roller rookie TB Cy Wentworth (New Hampshire hoops letterman in 1922 and 1923) returned a kickoff 92 yards for touchdown in 14-0 win against the New York Giants in 1925.