On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling September 21 NFL Gridiron

September 21st, 2023 - 9:09

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 21 in football at the professional level (especially in 1997):

SEPTEMBER 21

  • Dallas Cowboys TE Billy Joe Dupree (scored four points in total of four basketball games for Michigan State in 1971-72) caught two nine-yard touchdown passes from QB Danny White in a 28-17 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1980.

  • Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore hoops guard for Purdue in 1964-65) threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 20-17 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 1980.

  • 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) returned an interception 75 yards for touchdown in 26-22 setback against the Seattle Seahawks in 1997.

  • Minnesota Vikings QB Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) threw three second-half touchdown passes in a 38-32 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1997. Six years later with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Johnson threw two second-quarter TD passes in a 31-10 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 2003.

  • Denver Broncos QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) passed for 329 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-33 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1975 season opener.

  • Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (hooper under legendary UCLA coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw four touchdown passes in a 41-3 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1975 season opener.

  • San Francisco 49ers RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) rushed for two touchdowns in a 34-7 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 1997.

  • Cleveland Browns TE Oscar Roan (averaged 5.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg for SMU in 1973-74) debuted with what became a career-high six pass receptions in 24-17 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1975 season opener.

  • Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught two touchdown passes from John Elway in a 38-20 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1997. Broncos DE Alfred Williams (Colorado hooper in 1989-90) returned a fumble recovery 51 yards for TD.

  • Dallas Cowboys rookie QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) opened the game's scoring with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Lance Rentzel in 24-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1969 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 12 of his AFL-leading 77 pass receptions in a 41-16 setback against the Boston Patriots in 1962.