On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling October 16 NFL Gridiron

October 16th, 2023 - 9:38

Long before kneeling knuckleheads 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 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 16 in football at the professional level (especially in 1966):

OCTOBER 16

  • Chicago Bears DE Doug Atkins (third-leading scorer as Tennessee center with 9.9 ppg in 1950-51) had an interception in 17-0 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1966.

  • Washington Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (Texas Christian three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw four touchdown passes in a 38-14 win against the New York Bulldogs in 1949.

  • Kansas City Chiefs LB Bobby Bell (first African-American hooper for Minnesota in 1960-61) returned a fumble recovery seven yards for touchdown in 34-13 AFL setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1966.

  • New York Giants B Chris Cagle (four-year hoops letterman for USL and Army in mid-1920s) scored two first-quarter touchdowns (rush and 40-yard reception) in a 20-12 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932.

  • Chicago Bears rookie 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 touchdowns - including an NFL-long 81 yards for his first pro score - in a 38-10 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1955.

  • WR Ray Crittenden (scored four points in four Virginia Tech basketball games in 1988-89) contributed a career-high six pass receptions, opening the New England Patriots' scoring with a touchdown reception from QB Drew Bledsoe in 24-17 setback against the New York Jets in 1994.

  • Baltimore Ravens PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) converted all five of his field-goal attempts in a 29-14 win against the Houston Texans in 2011.

  • Chicago Bears B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern basketball letterman in 1916) opened the game's scoring with a rushing touchdown in 12-0 win against the New York Yankees in 1927.

  • Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 21-17 win against the New York Jets in 1977.

  • Houston Oilers rookie 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) had a career-high 10 pass receptions in 20-10 AFL win against the Dallas Texans in 1960.

  • Minnesota Vikings DB Dale Hackbart (averaged 4 ppg and 3.5 rpg in 10 contests for Wisconsin in 1958-59) had two interceptions in a 35-7 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1966.

  • New York Jets RB Johnny Johnson (averaged 11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 3.2 apg in 1988-89 after majority of hoop team members walked off San Jose State squad) rushed for 122 yards in a 24-17 win against the New England Patriots in 1994.

  • Green Bay Packers rookie E Bill Kelley (Texas Tech hoops letterman in 1945 and 1946) caught a touchdown pass in 39-17 setback against the Chicago Cardinals in 1949.

  • Chicago Bears TE Greg Latta (two-year Morgan State letterman averaged 9.3 ppg and 5.4 rpg in 15 games in 1970-71) caught a touchdown pass in his third contest of four-game span in 1977.

  • Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw three touchdown passes in a 35-0 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1954.

  • San Francisco 49ers DB Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper as junior in 1979-80) had two interceptions in a 24-21 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1988.

  • Detroit Lions TE Marcus Pollard (JC transfer averaged 7.3 ppg and 5 rpg for Bradley in 1992-93 and 1993-94) had three pass receptions for 105 yards in a 21-20 setback against the Carolina Panthers in 2005.

  • Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught two touchdown passes from Cotton Davidson in a 43-43 AFL tie against the Boston Patriots in 1964.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El (member of Indiana's 1999 NCAA Tournament team) returned a punt 72 yards for touchdown in 23-17 setback against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005.

  • Kansas City Chiefs WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from Elvis Grbac in a 31-3 win against the San Diego Chargers in 1997.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 31-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1966.

  • Buffalo All-Americans rookie LE Luke Urban (player-coach for Boston College's hoops squad from 1918-19 through 1920-21) caught a touchdown pass from Elmer Oliphant (All-Big Ten Conference hoops selection with Purdue in 1912-13 and 1913-14) in 1921 game against the New York Giants.

  • Cincinnati Bengals DE Alfred Williams (Colorado hooper in 1989-90) had four sacks in a 14-10 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1994.

  • Tennessee Titans WR Kendall Wright (Baylor hooper as freshman in 2008-09) caught eight passes for 133 yards - including 48-yard touchdown from Marcus Mariota - in a 28-26 win against the Cleveland Browns in 2016.