On This Date: Ex-College Hoopers Ready to Tackle October 13 NFL Gridiron

October 13th, 2024 - 8:12

Long before kneeling knuckleheads and politicized 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 13 in football at the professional level (especially in 1963 and ex-hoopers with the Bears and Redskins):

OCTOBER 13

  • Chicago Bears DE Doug Atkins (center was Tennessee's third-leading scorer with 9.9 ppg in 1950-51) had an interception in 52-14 win against the Los Angeles Rams in 1963. Bears TE Mike Ditka (averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Pittsburgh in 1958-59 and 1959-60) caught nine passes for 110 yards (including four touchdowns). Rookie PK Bob Jencks (collected 3 points and 12 rebounds in five basketball games for Miami of Ohio in 1960-61) kicked a career-high seven extra points.

  • Washington Redskins B Steve Bagarus (Notre Dame hooper in early 1940s) caught two go-ahead touchdown passes (51 and 13 yards) in a 24-14 win against the New York Giants in 1946. Redskins FB Jack Jenkins (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1941 and 1942) opened game's scoring with a rushing touchdown.

  • Washington Redskins QB Sammy Baugh (TCU three-year hoops letterman was All-SWC honorable mention selection as senior in 1936-37) threw three touchdown passes - including one for 81 yards to Dick Todd - in a 28-21 win against the Chicago Cardinals in 1940.

  • Cleveland Browns FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) scored three touchdowns - including 72-yard pass reception - in a 35-24 win against the New York Giants in 1963.

  • Chicago Cardinals E Billy Dewell (three-time All-SWC first-team hoops pick for SMU in late 1930s) caught two first-half touchdown passes from Paul Christman in a 36-14 win against the Detroit Lions in 1946.

  • Green Bay Packers FB Ted Fritsch Sr. (Wisconsin-Stevens Point hoops letterman in 1940-41 and 1941-42) scored two touchdowns - one receiving/one rushing - in a 19-7 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1946.

  • Denver Broncos DB Charlie Greer (played seven games for Colorado in 1965-66 as sophomore) had two interceptions in a 21-13 AFL win against the New York Jets in 1968.

  • Cincinnati Bengals rookie DE Harry Gunner (J.C. transfer averaged 4.4 ppg and 4.5 rpg for Oregon State, playing on NCAA playoff team in 1966) returned an interception 20 yards in 13-3 AFL setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1968.

  • Los Angeles Rams rookie B Tom Harmon (averaged 7.6 ppg as sophomore in 1938-39 when leading Michigan in scoring in five contests) scored two touchdowns - including 84-yard run from scrimmage - in a 28-28 tie against the Chicago Bears in 1946.

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's scoring leader with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) caught nine passes for 114 yards - including two second-quarter touchdowns - in a 31-20 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013.

  • St. Louis Cardinals QB Charley Johnson (transferred from Schreiner J.C. TX to New Mexico State to play hoops before concentrating on football) passed for 428 yards - including two fourth-quarter touchdowns - in a 24-23 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1963.

  • Chicago Bears LB-C Eddie Kawal (Illinois hoops letterman in 1930) returned an interception 13 yards for touchdown in 39-0 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1935.

  • Oakland Raiders RB Terry Kirby (averaged 3.4 ppg as Virginia freshman in 1989-90 and 2.1 as sophomore in 1990-91) had nine pass receptions in a 28-13 setback against the St. Louis Rams in 2002.

  • Green Bay Packers E Ron Kramer (three-time All-Big Ten Conference hoops selection was Michigan's MVP each season and All-American as senior in 1956-57) had a career-high 87 receiving yards on four catches in 37-28 win against the Minnesota Vikings in 1963.

  • Baltimore Colts TE John Mackey (Syracuse hooper in 1960-61) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes (52 and 15 yards) in a 42-14 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1968.

  • San Francisco 49ers rookie E R.C. Owens (led small colleges with 27.1 rpg in 1953-54 while also averaging 23.5 ppg for College of Idaho) caught two second-half touchdown passes from Y.A. Tittle in a 21-17 win against the Chicago Bears in 1957. WR teammate Clyde Conner (two-time All-CBA second-team selection averaged 11.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg for Pacific in 1953-54 and 1954-55) contributed career highs of nine pass receptions and 142 receiving yards.

  • Carolina Panthers rookie 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) had three sacks and an interception in 14-13 setback against the Dallas Cowboys in 2002.

  • Cleveland Browns RB Greg Pruitt (Oklahoma frosh hooper in 1969-70) threw his second touchdown pass in a three-game span in 1974.

  • Pittsburgh Steelers rookie WR Antwaan Randle El (member of Indiana's 1999 NCAA Tournament team) returned a kickoff 99 yards for touchdown in 34-7 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2002.

  • Detroit Lions TE Mikhael Ricks (played three basketball games for Stephen F. Austin in 1995-96) opened game's scoring with a 41-yard touchdown pass reception from Joey Harrington in 31-24 setback against the Minnesota Vikings in 2002.

  • Atlanta Falcons WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) caught two touchdown passes in a 39-34 win against the San Francisco 49ers in 1991.

  • Buffalo Bills DE Reggie Rogers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.9 rpg for Washington from 1982-83 through 1984-85) registered a sack in 42-6 win against the Indianapolis Colts in 1991.

  • Washington Redskins QB Norm Snead (averaged 7.8 ppg in four Wake Forest games as senior in 1960-61) threw two touchdown passes to Bobby Mitchell (66 and 35 yards) in a 37-24 setback against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1963.

  • B Wilbur White (Colorado State hoops letterman from 1932 to 1935) accounted for the Brooklyn Dodgers' lone score with a four-yard touchdown pass in fourth quarter of 10-7 setback against the New York Giants in 1935.

  • Dallas Cowboys TE Rayfield Wright (All-SIAC pick for Fort Valley State GA averaged 17 ppg and 15 rpg as junior and 21 ppg and 17.4 rpg as senior) caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Don Meredith in 34-14 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1968.