On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling September 17 NFL Gridiron

September 17th, 2023 - 9:37

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 17 in football at the professional level (especially in 1967):

SEPTEMBER 17

  • 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 - all of them at least 27 yards to E Hugh Taylor (led Oklahoma City in scoring with 11.4 ppg as senior in 1947) - in a 38-14 win against the Baltimore Colts in 1950 season opener.

  • Philadelphia Eagles WR Harold Carmichael (starter two seasons for Southern LA averaged 9.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg in 1969-70) caught two second-half touchdown passes from Ron Jaworski in a 24-17 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1978.

  • First professional reception and touchdown for New York Titans rookie TE Thurlow Cooper (averaged 10.4 ppg for Maine in 1955-56 after averaging 6.7 ppg and 6.1 rpg previous season) was a 38-yarder in 28-24 setback against the Boston Patriots in 1960. Cooper caught a TD pass in each of his first three AFL games.

  • Cleveland Browns B Bob Cowan (averaged 1.7 ppg for Indiana in 1942-43) caught two third-quarter touchdown passes (39 and 40 yards) from Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) in a 28-7 AAFC win against the Chicago Rockets in 1948. Graham threw for three TDs.

  • Buffalo Bills FL Elbert Dubenion (solid rebounder and defensive player for Bluffton OH in late 1950s) scored two touchdowns - including a 72-yard run from scrimmage - in 41-31 AFL win against the New York Jets in 1961.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RB Mal Hammack (played four basketball games with Florida in 1954-55) scored go-ahead touchdown with a 28-yard run from scrimmage in fourth quarter of 21-10 victory against the New York Giants in 1961 season opener.

  • New York Giants' Dave Jennings (forward averaged 5.9 ppg for St. Lawrence NY in 1972-73 and 1973-74) punted seven times for 52.1-yard average in a 26-10 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1978.

  • Boston Patriots RB Walt Livingston (two-year hoops letterman for Heidelberg OH averaged 7.4 ppg and 3.9 rpg in 1954-55) opened the AFL game's scoring with a goal-line plunge for touchdown in 28-24 win against the New York Titans in 1960.

  • San Francisco 49ers DB Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper as junior in 1979-80) had two interceptions in a 20-16 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1989.

  • Baltimore Colts TE John Mackey (Syracuse hooper in 1960-61) had eight pass receptions for 126 yards in a 38-31 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 1967 season opener.

  • Green Bay Packers TE Rich McGeorge (all-league hooper for Elon averaged 13.7 ppg and 9.1 rpg while making 59% of his field-goal attempts) caught two first-half touchdown passes in a 26-10 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1972 season opener.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) amassed 350 passing yards en route to his second of seven games opening the 2006 campaign with multiple touchdown passes.

  • Houston Oilers rookie CB Zeke Moore (Lincoln MO hoops letterman in mid-1960s) returned two punts for 80 yards in a 20-3 AFL win against the Buffalo Bills in 1967.

  • Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) had three sacks in a 16-13 setback against the Minnesota Vikings in 2006. Eleven years later, Peppers had two sacks in a 9-3 win against the Buffalo Bills in 2017.

  • In expansion team Minnesota Vikings' first-ever game, WR Jerry Reichow (Iowa hooper in 1954-55) had three pass receptions for 103 yards in a 37-13 win against the Chicago Bears in 1961.

  • Green Bay Packers E Al Rose (Texas hoops letterman from 1928 through 1930) opened the season-opening game's scoring with an eight-yard touchdown reception in 7-7 tie against the Boston Redskins in 1933.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers DB Johnny Sample (freshman hooper for UMES) returned an interception 39 yards for touchdown in 27-24 setback against the Dallas Cowboys in 1961 season opener.

  • Portsmouth Spartans rookie B Elmer Schaake (Kansas hoops letterman as guard in 1932 and 1933) had a 22-yard touchdown reception in 21-0 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1933 season opener.

  • First pro touchdown for rookie WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) was a game-winning, 43-yard pass reception from John Elway boosting the Denver Broncos to 38-31 win against the Washington Redskins in 1995.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) passed for 301 yards - including two first-quarter touchdowns - in a 35-24 win against the Washington Redskins in 1967 season opener.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie WR Dave Stief (hoop teammate of Portland State All-American Freeman Williams in 1977-78) threw a 43-yard pass to Pat Tilley in 28-10 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1978.

  • Miami Dolphins QB John Stofa (averaged 5.8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Buffalo in 1961-62) completed both of his pass attempts for 51 yards and rushed for an eight-yard touchdown in 35-21 win against the Denver Broncos in 1967 AFL season opener. In the midst of three consecutive contests with an interception, Broncos DB Lonnie Wright (averaged 17.9 ppg from 1963-64 through 1965-66 while pacing Colorado State in scoring all three seasons) had two picks.

  • Miami Dolphins DE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) had 2 1/2 sacks in a 19-6 win against the Baltimore Ravens in 2000.

  • New England Patriots LB Adalius Thomas (averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Southern Mississippi in 1996-97 and 1997-98) had two sacks, seven solo tackles and an interception in 28-6 win against the Oakland Raiders in 2006.

  • In 1973 season opener, Green Bay Packers 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 six times for 303 yards (50.5 average) in a 23-7 win against the New York Jets.