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

September 25th, 2023 - 9:57

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 25 in football at the professional level (especially in 1966):

SEPTEMBER 25

  • Minnesota Vikings LB Matt Blair (played in 1970 NJCAA Tournament for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M hoops team finishing in seventh place) scored a 49-yard touchdown on lateral in 24-20 win against the Chicago Bears in 1978.

  • Cleveland Browns FB Jim Brown (averaged 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore and 11.3 as junior in mid-1950s) rushed for 153 yards on 24 carries in a 41-24 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960 season opener.

  • Washington Redskins E John Carson (Georgia hoops letterman in 1952 and 1953) caught two touchdown passes from Eddie LeBaron in a 27-17 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1955. Five years later with the Houston Oilers, Carson caught eight passes in a 14-13 AFL setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1960.

  • New York Jets TE Tyler Conklin (averaged 1.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 1.4 apg with Northwood MI in 2013-14 before transferring after first semester to concentrate on football at Central Michigan) garnered a career-high eight pass receptions in 27-12 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022.

  • Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw five touchdown passes in a 43-24 AFL win against the Boston Patriots in 1966.

  • Chicago Bears B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern basketball letterman in 1916) accounted for all of the game's scoring with a field goal and rushing touchdown in 9-0 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1927.

  • LB Bob Griffin (Arkansas hooper in 1950-51) recorded a safety by blocking punt out of end zone for the Los Angeles Rams' first score of season in 23-14 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1955 opener.

  • Green Bay Packers RB Paul Hornung (averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) scored two first-half touchdowns in a 24-13 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1966.

  • St. Louis Cardinals QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) threw three touchdown passes in a 34-28 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1966.

  • New York Jets RB Johnny Johnson (averaged 11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 3.2 apg in 1988-89 after majority of hoop team members walked off San Jose State squad) rushed for 126 yards on 12 carries in a 19-7 setback against the Chicago Bears in 1994.

  • Cleveland Browns WR Dave Logan (averaged 14.1 ppg and 6.3 rpg for Colorado in mid-1970s) caught eight passes for 121 yards in a 30-24 win against the San Diego Chargers in 1983.

  • Chicago Bears QB Johnny Lujack (averaged 3.4 ppg as starting guard for Notre Dame in 1943-44) threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 17-0 win against the Green Bay Packers in 1949 season opener.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) passed for 365 yards - including two third-quarter touchdowns - in a 23-20 win against the Oakland Raiders in 2005.

  • Rookie TE Gene Prebola (Boston University hooper in 1957-58) had a fourth-quarter touchdown catch from Tom Flores to boost the Oakland Raiders to 14-13 AFL win against the Houston Oilers in 1960.

  • Buffalo Bills QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 28-17 AAFC win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1949. Six years later with the Cleveland Browns, Ratterman threw two third-quarter TD passes in a 27-17 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1955.

  • Atlanta Falcons LB Marion Rushing (Southern Illinois hooper from 1954-55 through 1956-57) had an interception in 28-10 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1966.

  • In his rookie debut, Pittsburgh Steelers HB Don Samuel (appeared in 1947 NCAA Tournament for Oregon State) rushed for a 31-yard touchdown in 28-7 win against the New York Giants in 1949 season opener.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw three touchdown passes in a 35-17 win against the New York Giants in 1966.

  • Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton (SMU hooper for three games in 2015-16 under coach Larry Brown) caught eight passes for 97 yards in an 11-10 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 2022.