On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling September 10 NFL Gridiron

September 10th, 2023 - 9:54

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 September 10 in football at the professional level (especially in 1978):

SEPTEMBER 10

  • Philadelphia Eagles WR Harold Carmichael (starter two seasons for Southern LA averaged 9.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 1969-70) caught nine passes for 127 yards in a 14-10 setback against the Atlanta Falcons in 1979 en route to becoming Philly's all-time receiving leader.

  • Buffalo Bills LB London Fletcher (started two games for St. Francis PA as freshman in 1993-94 before transferring to John Carroll OH) scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery in a 19-17 setback against the New England Patriots in 2006 season opener.

  • Los Angeles Dons rookie WR Len Ford (center for Morgan State's CIAA hoops titlist in 1944) opened the AAFC game's scoring with a 27-yard touchdown catch in 17-7 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948.

  • Washington Redskins TE Jean Fugett (leading scorer and rebounder for Amherst MA as junior in 1970-71) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from Joe Theismann in a 35-30 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1978.

  • Buffalo Bills TE Reuben Gant (averaged 1.4 ppg and 1.5 rpg for Oklahoma State in 1971-72 and 1972-73) caught six passes for 100 yards in a 21-20 setback against the New York Jets in 1978. Jets SS Shafer Suggs (averaged 10.7 ppg and 7.9 rpg in three-year career, setting Ball State record with nine consecutive field goals without miss and leading Cardinals in rebounding in 1974-75) returned an interception 32 yards.

  • Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught 10 passes in a 23-10 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006 season opener.

  • San Diego Chargers SS Rodney Harrison (averaged 7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3 apg and 1.6 spg for Western Illinois in 1992-93) intercepted two passes in a 14-10 win against the Seattle Seahawks in 1995.

  • Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (played in eight Texas-El Paso basketball games in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) scored two third-quarter touchdowns (one rushing/one receiving) in a 38-20 win against the Chicago Bears in 2023.

  • Atlanta Falcons CB Rolland Lawrence (captain of Tabor KS hoops squad as senior in 1972-73) returned an interception 44 yards in 10-0 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1978.

  • San Francisco 49ers DB Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper as junior in 1979-80) had two interceptions in a 13-12 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1990 season opener.

  • QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97), the Philadelphia Eagles' all-time passing leader, passed for 314 yards and three touchdowns in a 24-10 win against the Houston Texans in 2006 season opener.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers QB Reino Nori (four-year hoops letterman for Northern Illinois in mid-1930s) threw a decisive 60-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of 13-7 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1937.

  • Buffalo Bills WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from Jack Kemp (24 and 27 yards) in a 20-17 win against the New York Jets in 1967 AFL season opener.

  • Chicago Cardinals TB Jack Robbins (repeated as All-SWC first-team selection in 1938 for Arkansas) threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes (46 and 30 yards) in a 21-13 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1939 season opener.

  • WR Rod Smith (Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore swingman in 1990-91), the Denver Broncos' all-time receiving leader, caught two touchdown passes from Brian Griese in a 42-14 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 2000.

  • Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 34-24 win against the New York Giants in 1978.

  • In 1961 AFL season opener, 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) had seven pass receptions for 132 yards - including two touchdowns - in a 22-10 win against the Buffalo Bills.

  • Cincinnati Bengals rookie TE Melvin Tuten (scored seven points in four games for Syracuse in 1994-95 under coach Jim Boeheim) caught a go-ahead touchdown pass in 24-17 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.