On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling October 25 NFL Gridiron

October 25th, 2023 - 9:31

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 25 in football at the professional level (especially in 1970):

OCTOBER 25

  • Chicago Bears E Connie Mack Berry (All-Southern Conference second-team selection as North Carolina State hoops center in 1937 and 1938) scored the Chicago Bears' last two touchdowns (32-yard rush and 46-yard fumble return) as they remained undefeated (11-0) with a 45-14 win against the Philadelpia Eagles in 1942. Eagles FB Bert Johnson (played one game in 1934-35 under legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp) had a TD reception.

  • New York Giants B Dale Burnett (two-time all-conference hooper for Emporia State KS) scored two touchdowns - one receiving/one rushing - in a 27-0 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1931. Giants B Doug Wycoff (Georgia Tech hoops letterman in 1926) returned an interception 77 yards for TD.

  • Chicago Bears TE Mike Ditka (averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Pittsburgh in 1958-59 and 1959-60) caught 13 passes for 168 yards in a 27-20 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1964.

  • Baltimore Colts CB Jim Duncan (Maryland-Eastern Shore hooper) returned an interception 26 yards in a 27-3 win against the Boston Patriots in 1970. The previous week, Duncan returned an INT 30 yards in a 29-22 win against the New York Jets.

  • Green Bay Packers TB Weert Englemann (All-NCC for South Dakota State) scored three first-quarter touchdowns - two on passes from Red Dunn (four-year Marquette letterman first half of 1920s) and an 85-yard kickoff return - in a 48-20 win against the Providence Steam Roller in 1931.

  • Chicago Bears rookie WR George Farmer (teammate of UCLA legend Lew Alcindor in 1968-69) caught six passes for 147 yards in a 16-10 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1970.

  • Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) caught two touchdown passes in a 42-23 win against the Miami Dolphins in 2018. It was the third of five consecutive contests where Hopkins had at least one TD reception from Deshaun Watson.

  • San Francisco 49ers rookie WR John Isenbarger (Indiana hooper for three games in 1967-68) caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from John Brodie in 19-14 win against the Denver Broncos in 1970.

  • San Diego Chargers 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 five passes for 142 yards in a 37-7 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009.

  • E Luke Johnsos (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1927 and 1928) supplied the Chicago Bears' lone touchdown with a 14-yard pass reception in 12-10 win against the Detroit Lions in 1936.

  • Jacksonville Jaguars TE Damon Jones (averaged 3.9 ppg and 3.1 rpg for Southern Illinois in 1995-96 under coach Rich Herrin) caught a career-long 31-yard touchdown pass from Mark Brunell in 37-24 setback against the Denver Broncos in 1998.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers B Ralph Kercheval (Kentucky hooper in 1932-33 under legendary coach Adolph Rupp) scored game's lone touchdown by returning an interception 57 yards in 9-0 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1936.

  • Atlanta Falcons rookie DE Randy Marshall (letterman on 1966 NWC championship hoops squad for Linfield OR) returned a fumble recovery for touchdown in 32-14 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1970.

  • Houston Oilers CB Zeke Moore (Lincoln MO hoops letterman in mid-1960s) had an interception in his third consecutive contest in 1970.

  • Chicago Cardinals FB Ernie Nevers (All-Pacific Coast Conference second-five choice for Stanford in 1924-25) rushed for two first-half touchdowns in a 34-7 win against the Frankfort Yellow Jackets in 1930.

  • A 46-yard touchdown catch by 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 20-17 win against the Chicago Bears in 1959.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (Chattanooga hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) scored two second-half touchdowns in a 28-10 win against the St. Louis Rams in 1998.

  • Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught nine passes for 152 yards - including two touchdowns - in a 40-7 AFL win against the Denver Broncos in 1964.

  • Cleveland Browns RB Greg Pruitt (Oklahoma frosh hooper in 1969-70) had more than 100 receiving yards for second straight game in 1981.

  • New York Giants B Kink Richards (Simpson IA hoops letterman) rushed for go-ahead touchdown in fourth quarter of a 21-17 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1936.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers LB Bill Saul (averaged 6.1 ppg for Penn State in 1959-60) returned an interception 13 yards in 34-10 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1964.

  • Philadelphia Eagles DE Tom Scott (hoops letterman as Virginia forward in 1951) recovered a fumble for touchdown in 56-17 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1953.

  • New York Giants LB Lou Slaby (collected two points and two rebounds in two basketball games for Pittsburgh in 1960-61) had an interception in 42-20 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1964.

  • Dallas Cowboys 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 seven times for 321 yards (45.9 average) in a 27-16 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1970.