On This NFL Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle January 15 Football

January 15th, 2021 - 9:41

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map, 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 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 hoops 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 January 15 in football at the professional level (especially a couple of Kansas City Chiefs players in inaugural Super Bowl):

JANUARY 15

  • Kansas City Chiefs TE Reg Carolan (Idaho three-year letterman in early 1960s averaged 4 ppg and 4.7 rpg) had a seven-yard pass reception in 35-10 setback against the Green Bay Packers in inaugural Super Bowl following 1966 campaign. Chiefs DE Buck Buchanan (earned hoops letter as Grambling freshman in 1958-59) recorded a sack.

  • Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco in 31-24 AFC divisional-round playoff setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers following 2010 season.

  • St. Louis Rams WR Dane Looker (averaged 4.8 ppg as Western Washington freshman in 1995-96 and 10.2 ppg as sophomore in 1996-97 before transferring to Washington and concentrating on football) caught three passes for 38 yards and rushed once for 11 yards in a 47-17 NFC divisional-round setback against the Atlanta Falcons following 2004 season. Rams LB Tommy Polley (played in one basketball game for Florida State in 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy) had nine solo tackles.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El (member of Indiana's 1999 NCAA Tournament team) opened game's scoring with a six-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger in 21-18 AFC divisional-round playoff win against the Indianapolis Colts following 2005 season.