On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling October 2 NFL Gridiron

October 2nd, 2023 - 10:47

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 October 2 in football at the professional level (especially in 1960):

OCTOBER 2

  • Indianapolis Colts TE Mo Alie-Cox (All-Atlantic 10 Conference third-team selection as junior averaged 7.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 1.8 bpg for VCU's four NCAA playoff teams from 2013-14 through 2016-17) contributed career highs of six pass receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-17 setback against the Tennessee Titans in 2022.

  • Cleveland Browns HB Bill Boedeker (teammate of DePaul All-American George Mikan in mid-1940s) opened game's scoring with a 74-yard touchdown reception from Otto Graham (hoops All-American for Northwestern in 1942-43 and 1943-44) in 42-7 win against the Los Angeles Dons in 1949.

  • Chicago Bears QB Ray Buivid (Marquette hoops letterman in 1935-36) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 28-6 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1938. One of them went to E Fred Dreher (Denver basketball letterman in 1937 and 1938).

  • Pittsburgh Steelers HB Lynn Chandnois (forward scored 15 points in 11 games for Michigan State in 1946-47 and 1947-48) rushed for two second-half touchdowns in a 27-26 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1955.

  • Chicago Cardinals B-PK John "Paddy" Driscoll (Northwestern hoops letterman in 1916) had runs from scrimmage of 30 and 45 yards, ran for a touchdown, threw 33-yard TD pass and kicked two extra points in 20-0 win against the Minneapolis Marines in 1921.

  • In midst of four consecutive contests with at least 100 receiving yards, 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 132 yards in a 23-10 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers rookie B Jack Grossman (two-year Rutgers hoops letterman in early 1930s) scored game's only touchdowns with two pass receptions in a 14-0 win against the Boston Braves in 1932.

  • Green Bay Packers RB Paul Hornung (averaged 6.1 ppg in 10 contests for Notre Dame in 1954-55) scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 28-9 win against the Detroit Lions in 1960.

  • Washington Redskins QB Billy Kilmer (hooper under legendary UCLA coach John Wooden in 1959-60) threw three touchdown passes in a 24-14 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1977.

  • Tennessee Titans TE Erron Kinney (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.3 rpg in six basketball games for Florida in 1996-97 under coach Billy Donovan) supplied seven pass receptions in second consecutive contest in 2005.

  • Atlanta Falcons CB Rolland Lawrence (captain of Tabor KS hoops squad as senior in 1972-73) returned six punts a total of 82 yards in 17-3 win against the New York Giants in 1977.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers QB Bobby Layne (Texas hooper in 1944-45) threw two second-half touchdown passes in a 28-20 setback against the Cleveland Browns in 1960.

  • Chicago Cardinals QB Dave Leggett (averaged 1.7 ppg for Ohio State from 1951-52 through 1953-54) threw his only NFL pass (an incompletion) in 28-17 win against the New York Giants in 1955.

  • 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) had a career-high eight pass receptions in 44-24 setback against the New York Giants in 2005.

  • Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) passed for 369 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-31 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005. The next year, McNabb threw two third-quarter TD passes in a 31-9 win against the Green Bay Packers in 2006. In 2011 with the Minnesota Vikings, McNabb threw two TD passes in a 22-17 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs.

  • Detroit Lions TE Ulysses Norris (Georgia hooper in 1975-76) had a career-high five pass receptions in 21-10 setback against the Los Angeles Rams in 1983.

  • Baltimore Colts B John North (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1943) caught a 79-yard touchdown pass from Y.A. Tittle in fourth quarter of 35-28 AAFC win against the Buffalo Bills in 1949. Bills QB George Ratterman (third-leading scorer with 11.7 ppg for Notre Dame in 1944-45) had two second-half rushing TDs.

  • Philadelphia Eagles WR Terrell Owens (UTC hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) had 11 pass receptions for 171 yards in a 37-31 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005.

  • Green Bay Packers DE Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) returned an interception 49 yards for touchdown in 42-10 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 2014.

  • New York Titans WR Art Powell (averaged 10.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg for San Jose State in 1956-57) caught seven passes for 134 yards in a 37-35 AFL win against the Dallas Texans in 1960. Texans HB Jim Swink (averaged 5.8 ppg for TCU in 12 games in 1955-56) had a 32-yard pass reception and returned kickoff 36 yards.

  • Oakland Raiders RB Greg Pruitt (Oklahoma frosh hooper in 1969-70) returned a punt 97 yards for touchdown in 37-35 setback against the Washington Redskins in 1983.

  • Baltimore Colts rookie DB Herb Rich (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1947) returned a punt 86 yards for touchdown in 55-13 setback against the Chicago Cardinals in 1950. Cardinals E Bob Shaw (Ohio State hoops starter in 1942 and 1943) caught five TD passes.

  • Arizona Cardinals WR Patrick Robinson (starting guard for Tennessee State in 1990-91 when averaging 6.7 ppg and 2.9 apg) returned two kickoffs for 58 yards in a 17-7 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 1994.

  • Denver Broncos S Al Romine (four-year hoops letterman from 1951-52 through 1954-55 for Florence State AL) returned an interception 18 yards in 31-14 AFL win against the Oakland Raiders in 1960. Broncos SE Lionel Taylor (led New Mexico Highlands in scoring average with 13.6 ppg in 1955-56 and 20.3 in 1956-57) caught two second-quarter touchdown passes from Frank Tripucka.

  • Baltimore Colts DB Johnny Sample (freshman hooper for Maryland-Eastern Shore) returned a kickoff 94 yards for touchdown in 42-7 win against the Chicago Bears in 1960.

  • New York Giants QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw three touchdown passes to Ron Johnson in a 27-12 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1972.

  • Washington Redskins E Hugh Taylor (led OCU in scoring with 11.4 ppg as senior in 1947) caught two touchdown passes (24 and 61 yards) in a 21-21 tie against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1953.