On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle September 7 NFL Gridiron

September 7th, 2022 - 8:57

Long before kneeling knuckleheads, 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 7 in football at the professional level (especially defensive performances by Don Blackmon and Ronnie Lott in 1986 season openers):

SEPTEMBER 7

  • New England Patriots LB Don Blackmon (collected 42 points and 32 rebounds in 12 games for Tulsa in 1977-78) registered three sacks in a 33-3 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 1986 season opener.

  • Tennessee Titans rookie WR Tyrone Calico (played one basketball game for Middle Tennessee State in 1998-99) scored team's first touchdown in 2003 on an 11-yard pass reception from QB Steve McNair in 25-20 season-opening win against the Oakland Raiders.

  • Miami Dolphins rookie WR Chris Chambers (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes (57 and 21 yards) in a 21-20 setback against the Houston Texans in 2003 season opener.

  • Kansas City Chiefs QB Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) threw four touchdown passes - including 81-yarder to Frank Jackson - in a 59-7 win against the Denver Broncos in 1963.

  • TE Demetrius Harris (led Milwaukee in FG% and rebounding as senior in 2012-13) opened the Kansas City Chiefs' scoring with a touchdown reception from Alex Smith in 42-27 win against the defending champion New England Patriots in 2017 season opener.

  • SS Rodney Harrison (averaged 7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3 apg and 1.6 spg for Western Illinois in 1992-93) opened the San Diego Chargers' scoring by recovering a fumble in end zone for touchdown in 20-6 win against the New Orleans Saints in 1997.

  • WR DeAndre Hopkins (played in seven hoop games for Clemson in 2010-11) opened the Houston Texans' scoring with a 76-yard touchdown catch in 17-6 win against the Washington Redskins in 2014 season opener.

  • 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 two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 27-24 win against the Chicago Bears in 1997.

  • San Francisco 49ers DB Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper as junior in 1979-80) had two interceptions in a 31-7 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1986 season opener.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) passed for 361 yards - including three first-half touchdowns - in a 38-3 win against the St. Louis Rams in 2008 season opener.

  • Oakland Raiders WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught seven passes for 181 yards in a 24-13 win against the Houston Oilers in 1963 AFL season opener.

  • Denver Broncos TE Gene Prebola (Boston University hooper in 1957-58) had a career-high seven pass receptions in 30-21 win against the San Diego Chargers in 1962 AFL season opener.

  • Buffalo Bills TE Robert Royal (collected 10 points and six rebounds in five Louisiana State basketball games in 2000-01) registered a career-high six pass receptions in 2008 season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.

  • Denver Broncos TE Julius Thomas (averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10) caught three second-quarter touchdown passes from Peyton Manning in a 31-24 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 2014 season opener.