On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling September 24 NFL Gridiron

September 24th, 2023 - 11:06

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 24 in football at the professional level (especially in 1961 and 2000):

SEPTEMBER 24

  • New York Giants DB Erich Barnes (played hoops briefly for Purdue as sophomore in 1955-56) had two interceptions off Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) in a 17-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1961.

  • First NFL reception for Buffalo Bills WR Don Beebe (Aurora College IL junior varsity hooper in 1983-84) went for a 63-yard touchdown from Jim Kelly in 47-41 win against the Houston Oilers in 1989.

  • Cleveland Rams E Jim Benton (forward was Arkansas' third-leading scorer in SWC play as senior in 1937-38) caught eight passes for three touchdowns in a 30-28 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1944 season opener.

  • New York Giants TE Al Dixon (Iowa State hooper in 1975-76 and 1976-77) opened the game's scoring with a 29-yard touchdown catch from Joe Pisarcik in a 27-10 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1978.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers DB Tony Dungy (roommate of Flip Saunders averaged 2.6 ppg for Minnesota in 1973-74 under coach Bill Musselman) returned an interception 65 yards in 15-9 win against the Cleveland Browns in 1978.

  • Green Bay Packers FB Ted Fritsch Sr. (hoops letterman for Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1940-41 and 1941-42) scored two touchdowns - one rushing and one on 50-yard interception return - in a 42-28 win against the Chicago Bears in 1944.

  • Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught 10 passes in a 23-22 win against the Denver Broncos in 2000.

  • Rookie LB Tom Greenfield (Arizona hoops letterman in 1937 and 1938) recovered a fumble for a touchdown to complete the Green Bay Packers' scoring in 21-16 win against the Chicago Bears in 1939.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB King Hill (Rice hoops letterman in 1955-56 and 1956-57) punted six times for 279 yards (46.5 average) in a 14-7 win against the Washington Redskins in 1961.

  • Seattle Seahawks TE Ron Howard (averaged 9.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Seattle from 1971-72 through 1973-74) supplied a fourth-quarter go-ahead touchdown with four-yard pass from QB Jim Zorn in 28-16 win against the Detroit Lions in 1978.

  • Jacksonville Jaguars rookie WR Willie Jackson (started five hoop games for Florida in 1989-90) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from Mark Brunell in a 24-14 setback against the Green Bay Packers in 1995.

  • Tennessee Titans rookie TE Erron Kinney (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.3 rpg in six basketball games for Florida in 1996-97 under coach Billy Donovan) caught an 18-yard pass from Steve McNair for game-winning touchdown with 1:25 remaining in 23-20 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2000.

  • Chicago Cardinals E Mal Kutner (two-year Texas hoops letterman in early 1940s) caught two touchdown passes in a 21-14 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1948 season opener. HB Bosh Pritchard (four-sport letterman for VMI) opened Philly's scoring with a 69-yard pass reception for TD.

  • In 1960 season opener, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw four touchdown passes - one in each quarter - in a 35-28 win against the Dallas Cowboys.

  • Jacksonville Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball games in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) caught three touchdown passes from Blake Bortles in a 44-7 win against the Baltimore Ravens in 2017.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 21-7 win against the New Orleans Saints in 2000. Six years later, McNabb threw two first-quarter TD passes in a 38-24 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 2006.

  • New York Giants DB R.W. McQuarters (Oklahoma State hooper in 1995-96 and 1996-97 started two games) returned an interception 27 yards for touchdown in 42-30 setback against the Seattle Seahawks in 2006.

  • Baltimore Colts TE Tom Mitchell (averaged 6.1 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 10 basketball games for Bucknell in 1963-64) supplied career highs of eight pass receptions for 114 yards in a 44-34 setback against the New York Jets in 1972.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) caught two touchdown passes from Jeff Garcia in a 41-24 win against the Dallas Cowboys in 2000.

  • A fourth-quarter 45-yard field goal by Mac Percival (three-year hoops letterman was part of squad winning Texas Tech's first SWC championship in major sport in 1960-61) boosted the Chicago Bears to a 13-13 tie with the Los Angeles Rams in 1972.

  • St. Louis Cardinals WR Sonny Randle (scoreless in seven basketball games in Virginia's third season in ACC in 1955-56) caught two first-half touchdown passes in a 20-17 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1961.

  • Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) passed for 303 yards in a 26-7 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1979.

  • Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton (SMU hooper for three games in 2015-16 under coach Larry Brown) caught eight passes for 91 yards in a 70-20 setback against the Miami Dolphins in 2023.

  • 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 11 of his AFL-leading 100 pass receptions in a 35-28 AFL setback against the New York Titans in 1961.

  • Dallas Cowboys P Ron Widby (three-time All-SEC selection for Tennessee averaged 18.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg from 1964-65 through 1966-67) punted six times for 277 yards (46.2 average) in a 20-14 setback against the Oakland Raiders in 1972.

  • Minnesota Vikings E A.D. Williams (Pacific hoops letterman in mid-1950s) had career highs of four pass receptions and 78 yards in a 21-7 setback against the Dallas Cowboys in 1961.