On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling September 14 NFL Gridiron

September 14th, 2023 - 9:35

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 14 in football at the professional level (especially in 1969 and 2014):

SEPTEMBER 14

  • In his only NFL start, Los Angeles Rams QB Terry Baker (Oregon State's second-leading scorer with 13.4 ppg for 1963 Final Four team) completed 6-of-12 passes for 72 yards and threw three interceptions in a 23-2 setback against the Detroit Lions in 1963 season opener.

  • San Diego Chargers WR Chris Chambers (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught two touchdown passes from Philip Rivers in a 39-38 setback against the Denver Broncos in 2008.

  • San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught three touchdown passes from Philip Rivers in a 30-21 win against the Seattle Seahawks in 2014.

  • New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09) caught 10 passes for 118 yards - including two touchdowns from Drew Brees - in a 26-24 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 2014.

  • Miami Dolphins QB Bob Griese (sophomore guard for Purdue in 1964-65) passed for 327 yards in a 27-21 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1969 AFL season opener.

  • Rookie WR James Hardy (started three hoops games for Indiana in 2004-05) put the Buffalo Bills ahead to stay with a fourth-quarter touchdown reception in 20-16 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008.

  • 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) completed 29-of-44 passes for 334 yards in a 28-14 setback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1997. Six years later as member of Bucs, Johnson passed for 339 yards in a 12-9 setback against the Carolina Panthers in 2003.

  • Minnesota Vikings QB Joe Kapp (backup forward averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg for California's PCC champions in 1957 and 1958) threw three second-quarter touchdown passes in a 47-7 win against the Atlanta Falcons in 1968 season opener.

  • Jacksonville Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball games in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) supplied a career-long 63-yard touchdown reception in 41-10 setback against the Washington Redskins in 2014.

  • Houston Oilers CB Zeke Moore (Lincoln MO hoops letterman in mid-1960s) had two interceptions in a 21-17 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1969 AFL season opener.

  • Chicago Rockets E Max Morris (Northwestern All-American in 1945 and 1946 when two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection averaged 16.3 ppg) caught a touchdown pass in 28-20 setback against the Buffalo Bills in 1947 AAFC game. Rockets rookie QB Sam Vacanti (averaged 2.8 ppg as backup swingman for Iowa in 1942-43) threw three second-half TD passes.

  • Miami Dolphins SE Karl Noonan (member of Iowa's basketball squad in 1963-64) contributed career-highs of seven pass receptions and 104 receiving yards in a 24-10 setback against the Houston Oilers in 1968 AFL 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 (72 and 38 yards) in a 35-14 win against the St. Louis Rams in 1997.

  • WR Tai Streets (collected four points and seven rebounds in 13 games for Michigan's NIT titlist in 1997 under coach Steve Fisher) opened the San Francisco 49ers' scoring with a 16-yard touchdown catch from Jeff Garcia in 27-24 setback against the St. Louis Rams in 2003.

  • In 1969 AFL season opener, Kansas City Chiefs FL Otis Taylor (backup small forward for Prairie View A&M) caught two second-half touchdown passes from Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57) in a 27-9 win against the San Diego Chargers.

  • E Al Vandeweghe (William & Mary hoops letterman in 1942 and 1943) scored the Buffalo Bisons' lone touchdown with a 97-yard return of fumble recovery in 21-10 setback against the New York Yankees in 1946 AAFC contest.