Bill “Big Train” Tranavitch was the first Rutgers player that participated in a post-season game. He played in the December 30, 1939 Blue-Gray All-Star Classic in Montgomery, Ala. and scored a second half touchdown but the Gray defeated the Blue 33-20. The second player was Billy Vigh who played in the same game in 1947 and saw the Gray win again 33-6.
An AP report in the September 11, 1940 New York Times reported the defending NFL Champion Washington Redskins defeated the Eastern College All-Stars 35-12 before 26,000 at Fenway Park in Boston, “… During the final session, after Rutgers Bill Tranavitch, easily the game’s most outstanding defensive power, intercepted one of Zimmerman’s passes and raced to the Redskins 16, Cahill broke through his right tackle for a touchdown.”