On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling October 20 NFL Gridiron

October 20th, 2023 - 21:08

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 20 in football at the professional level (especially in 1963):

OCTOBER 20

  • Washington Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (Texas Christian three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw three touchdown passes in a 34-17 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1940.

  • Detroit Lions rookie TB J.R. Callahan (Texas Tech hoops letterman in 1941-42) threw a 56-yard touchdown pass in 35-14 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1946. The previous week, Callahan rushed for a six-yard TD in 36-14 setback against the Chicago Cardinals.

  • Oakland Raiders WR Dobie Craig (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Howard Payne TX in 1960-61) had a 93-yard pass reception and run for touchdown in 49-26 AFL win against the New York Jets in 1963.

  • Chicago Bears HB Beattie Feathers (Tennessee hoops regular in 1931-32) opened game's scoring with a 19-yard rushing touchdown in 24-14 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1935. Dodgers rookie B Wilbur White (Colorado State letterman from 1932 through 1935) threw a 14-yard TD pass to Ralph Kercheval (Kentucky hooper in 1932-33 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp).

  • Dallas Cowboys CB Cornell Green (Utah State's all-time leading scorer and rebounder when career ended in 1961-62) returned an interception 55 yards for touchdown in 20-7 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 1968.

  • Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw three touchdown passes - including two of league-high 11 TD receptions for SE Karl Noonan (member of Iowa's basketball squad in 1963-64) - in a 24-22 AFL win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968. Rookie DE Harry Gunner (J.C. transfer averaged 4.4 ppg and 4.5 rpg for Oregon State, playing on NCAA playoff team in 1966) registered a safety by tackling Griese.

  • Rookie B Swede Hagberg (three-year West Virginia hoops letterman in late 1920s) scored the Buffalo Bisons' only touchdown with a 34-yard pass reception in 7-7 tie against the Providence Steam Roller in 1929.

  • Cleveland Rams TB Parker Hall (Ole Miss hoops letterman in 1938) threw two first-quarter touchdown passes of more than 60 yards in a 26-14 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1940.

  • Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught two touchdown passes in a 17-10 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2002.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB King Hill (Rice letterman in 1955-56 and 1956-57) punted six times for 286 yards (47.7 average) in a 37-7 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1963.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's scoring leader with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) caught two touchdown passes for the second week in a row in 2013. Jackson had 10 receptions for 138 yards.

  • Detroit Lions QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 31-27 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1957.

  • FB J.W. Lockett (three-year hoops letterman led Central Oklahoma with 8.8 rpg in 1958-59) scored the Baltimore Colts' first touchdown with an 11-yard pass reception from Johnny Unitas in 25-21 win against the Detroit Lions in 1963.

  • San Francisco 49ers DB Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper as junior in 1979-80) had two interceptions in a 20-17 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1991.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers rookie HB Banks McFadden (led Clemson in scoring each of his three seasons en route to becoming school's first hoops All-American in 1939) threw a 71-yard touchdown pass to Ace Parker (Duke hoops letterman in 1936) in 16-7 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1940.

  • CB Zeke Moore (Lincoln MO hoops letterman in mid-1960s) opened the Houston Oilers' scoring by intercepting a Joe Namath pass and returning it 51 yards for touchdown in 26-17 AFL setback against the New York Jets in 1963.

  • Chicago Bears K Mac Percival (three-year hoops letterman was part of squad winning Texas Tech's first SWC championship in major sport in 1960-61) converted all five of his field-goal attempts in a 29-16 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1968.

  • Minnesota Vikings WR Jerry Reichow (Iowa hooper in 1954-55) caught a 57-yard touchdown pass from Fran Tarkenton in 27-24 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1963.

  • Washington Redskins QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) passed for 309 yards in a 38-27 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1963.

  • Chicago Bears TE Ed Sprinkle (two-year hoops letterman for Hardin-Simmons TX in early 1940s) opened game's scoring with a 34-yard touchdown catch from Sid Luckman in 21-14 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1946.

  • San Diego Chargers WR Kitrick Taylor (Washington State hooper in 1984-85 and 1986-87) returned five punts for 79 yards in a 30-24 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1991.

  • New York Jets DE Marvin Washington (played in 1985 NCAA Tournament with UTEP under Don Haskins before averaging 2.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg for Idaho under Tim Floyd in 1987-88) had two sacks in 17-6 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 1991.

  • Tennessee Titans WR Kendall Wright (Baylor hooper as freshman in 2008-09) caught nine passes in a 31-17 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in 2013.