On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 9 NFL Postseason

January 9th, 2024 - 9:09

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map prior to politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, 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 9 in football at the professional level (especially in 1982 playoff games before ex-hoopers with the Denver Broncos in postseason contests during the 1990s):

JANUARY 9

  • Cincinnati Bengals QB Ken Anderson (swingman finished Augustana IL career in early 1970s as fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,044 points) threw two first-quarter touchdown passes in a 44-17 AFC wild-card playoff setback against the New York Jets following the 1982 season. Bengals WR David Verser (Kansas hooper in five games in 1977-78 under coach Ted Owens) returned seven kickoffs for 116 yards.

  • Baltimore Ravens PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) converted all three of his field-goal attempts in a 30-7 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in AFC wild-card game following 2010 season. Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) had game highs of 10 pass receptions and 108 receiving yards.

  • Bud Grant (third-leading scorer for Minnesota in 1948-49 after named team MVP previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre) coached the Minnesota Vikings when they suffered a 32-14 setback against the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XI following 1976 season. Vikings LLB Matt Blair (member of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M's 1970 NJCAA Tournament seventh-place hoops team) contributed three solo tackles and Raiders DE Charles Philyaw (averaged 5.2 ppg and 5.2 rpg for Texas Southern in 1973-74 and 1974-75) recorded one solo tackle.

  • Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson hooper for seven games in 2010-11 under coach Brad Brownell) caught six passes for 69 yards in 30-0 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in AFC wild-card game following 2015 season.

  • San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UT Chattanooga hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) supplied game highs of eight pass receptions and 73 receiving yards in a 20-18 setback in NFC divisional-round playoff contest following 1998 season. Niners RB Terry Kirby (hooper for Virginia's NCAA tourney teams in 1989-90 and 1990-91) chipped in with two catches from Steve Young.

  • Minnesota Vikings TE Joe Senser (two-time NCAA Division I leader in FG% averaged 11.4 ppg and 7.4 rpg while shooting 66.2% from floor in four-year career for West Chester State PA in late 1970s) caught six passes for 81 yards in a 30-24 NFC first-round playoff win against the Atlanta Falcons following 1982 campaign.

  • Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught four passes for 71 yards - including 28-yarder for touchdown from John Elway - in a 38-3 win against the Miami Dolphins in AFC divisional-round playoff following 1998 season. Broncos DE Marvin Washington (played in 1985 NCAA Tournament with UTEP under coach Don Haskins before averaging 2.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg for Idaho under Tim Floyd in 1987-88) manufactured a sack. Dolphins WR Lamar Thomas (collected 16 points and 4 rebounds in four games for Miami FL in 1990-91 under coach Leonard Hamilton) caught three passes from Hall of Famer Dan Marino. Six years later, Smith recorded team highs of seven catches and 99 receiving yards - including TD from Jake Plummer - in a 49-24 setback against the Indianapolis Colts following 2004 campaign. Colts TE Marcus Pollard (juco transfer averaged 7.3 ppg and 5 rpg for Bradley in 1992-93 and 1993-94) provided a 25-yard pass reception from Peyton Manning.

  • Denver Broncos WR Kitrick Taylor (Washington State hooper in 1984-85 and 1986-87) had a 13-yard pass reception in 42-24 AFC wild-card playoff game setback against the Oakland Raiders following 1993 season.

  • Dallas Cowboys rookie DE Peppi Zellner (averaged 10.3 ppg and team-high 9.1 rpg for Fort Valley State GA in 1997-98) had four tackles in a 27-10 NFC wild-card playoff game setback against the Minnesota Vikings following 1999 campaign.