Countdown to Kickoff: A to Z

August 21: N is for NFL Success

Syracuse student-athletes have accomplished almost everything during their college careers. They have led the Orange to undefeated seasons and a national championship. They have won at least a share of the BIG EAST title four times. There has been a Heisman Trophy Winner and BIG EAST Player of the Years. The success that the student athletes have accomplished at Syracuse did not stop there. Players who bleed orange have also been very successful in the NFL. They have broken records, won Super Bowls, enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and received numerous honors. Be part of the growing excitement every day leading up to SU’s first game (Sept. 4 vs. West Virginia) with our Countdown to Kickoff: A to Z.

Number One Draft Picks

Only nine schools have had a player drafted first in both the NFL and NBA draft. Syracuse is one of the nine schools. Ernie Davis was drafted number one overall by the Washington Redskins in 1962 and Derrick Coleman repeated the feat in 1990 when he was drafted first by the New Jersey Nets.

Colleges that have had players drafted No. 1 in the NFL and NBA drafts:

Indiana
• NFL, 1938: Corbett Davis, Cleveland, FB.
• NBA, 1977: Kent Benson, Milwaukee, C.

LSU
• NFL, 1960: Billy Cannon, Los Angeles Rams, RB.
• NBA, 1992: Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando, C.

Michigan
• NFL, 1941: Tom Harmon, Chicago Bears, RB.
• NBA, 1966: Cazzie Russell, New York, F; 1993: Chris Webber, Orlando, F.

Michigan State
• NFL, 1967: Bubba Smith, Baltimore, DT.
• NBA, 1979: Magic Johnson, Lakers, G.

Notre Dame
• NFL, 1944: Angelo Bertelli, Boston, QB; 1946: Frank Dancewicz, Boston, QB; 1950: Leon Hart, Detroit, WR; 1957: Paul Hornung, Green Bay, RB; 1972: Walt Patulski, Buffalo, DE.
• NBA, 1971: Austin Carr, Cleveland, G.

Syracuse
• NFL, 1962: Ernie Davis, Washington, RB.
• NBA, 1990: Derrick Coleman, New Jersey, F.

UCLA
• NFL, 1989: Troy Aikman, Dallas, QB.
• NBA, 1969: Lew Alcindor, Milwaukee, C; 1974: Bill Walton, Portland, C.

Utah
• NFL, 2005: Alex Smith, San Francisco, QB.
• NBA, 2005: Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, C.

Virginia
• NFL, 1942: Bill Dudley, Pittsburgh, RB.
• NBA, 1983: Ralph Sampson, Houston, C.

Record Book

Former Syracuse athletes have made their way into the NFL Record Book and it all started with Jim Brown. Considered the best running back to play the game, Brown retired as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 12,312 yards in just nine seasons. He led the league in rushing an NFL record eight times, four more times than any other back in history. Brown also led the league in touchdowns on five occasions. His career average gain of 5.22 yards per carry is the highest by a running back. He is second among all players, trailing only Randall Cunningham (6.36 yards per carry).

Another prolific scorer who once wore Orange is kicker Gary Anderson. Anderson holds the NFL record for most points in a career with 2,434. He also holds the record for most points in a season without scoring a touchdown. He scored 164 points in 1998 as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Anderson has attempted (672) and connected (538) on more field goals than anybody in league history. He is tied with Morten Anderson for the most 100-plus point seasons with 14.

Marvin Harrison, a 1995 graduate of Syracuse, is the latest alum to honored in the record book. In 2002, Harrison broke the record for most receptions in a single-season with 143. He shattered the previous mark by 20 receptions.

Super Bowl Success

Many Syracuse alumni have gone onto play in the Super Bowl. Philadelphia’s Donovan McNabb became the 24th player to reach the pinnacle event of the NFL this past season. Although McNabb and the Eagles would lose, many players bleeding Orange have come out as victors. Former Syracuse players have won a combined 19 titles. Tebucky Jones was the last Syracuse champion, winning the title in 2001 as the starting free safety for the New England Patriots.

Three SU graduates have participated in three Super Bowls. Larry Csonka was the first do so. Csonka was a member of the Miami Dolphins who played in three straight title games from 1971 to 1973. The Dolphins won the last two, thanks to Csonka’s running game. Csonka rushed 15 times for 112 yards in Super Bowl VII as the Dolphins completed the only undefeated season in NFL history. In Super Bowl VIII, Csonka rushed a Super Bowl record 33 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns. He earned MVP honors for that record shattering performance. Csonka was named to the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary all-time team.

Art Monk, the great wide receiver, played in three Super Bowls for Washington (1983, 87, 91). The Redskins won the last two. Monk contributed with nearly 200 total receiving yards, including seven receptions for 113 yards against Buffalo in 1991.

Fullback Daryl Johnston is the last three-time participant at the Super Bowl for the Orange. Johnston won titles with the Cowboys in 1992, 1993 and 1995, making him the only SU player to win three championships.

Former Orange in the Super Bowl

PLAYER NFL TEAM POS YEAR ^ RESULT

Rob Burnett Baltimore Ravens DE 2000 Baltimore 34, N.Y. Giants 7

Rob Carpenter Green Bay Packers WR** 1996 Green Bay 35, New England 21

Mike Charles Miami Dolphins DT 1984 San Francisco 38, Miami 16

Ken Clarke Philadelphia Eagles DT 1980 Oakland 27, Philadelphia 10

Larry Csonka Miami Dolphins Back 1971 Dallas 24, Miami 3

1972 Miami 14, Washington 7

1973 Miami 24, Minnesota 7

John Flannery St. Louis Rams C** 1999 St. Louis 23, Tennessee 16

Paul Frase Green Bay Packers DE 1997 Denver 31, Green Bay 24

Qadry Ismail Baltimore Ravens WR 2000 Baltimore 34, N.Y. Giants 7

Daryl Johnston Dallas Cowboys FB 1992 Dallas 52, Buffalo 17

1993 Dallas 30, Buffalo 13

1995 Dallas 27, Pittsburgh 17

Pat Kelly Denver Broncos TE 1989 San Francisco 55, Denver 10

Tebucky Jones New England Patriots S 2001 New England 20, St. Louis 17

Scott Kiernan N.Y. Giants G* 2000 Baltimore 34, N.Y. Giants 7

Dave Laphann Cincinnati Bengals G 1981 San Francisco 26, Cincinnati 21

John Mackey Baltimore Colts TE 1968 N.Y. Jets 16, Baltimore 7

1970 Baltimore 16, Dallas 13

Donovan McNabb Philadelphia Eagles QB 2004 New England 24, Philadelphia 21

Kevin Mitchell San Francisco 49ers LB 1994 San Francisco 49, San Diego 26

Art Monk Washington Redskins WR 1983 Oakland 38, Washington 9

1987 Washington 42, Denver 10

1991 Washington 37, Buffalo 24

Keith Moody Oakland Raiders CB 1980 Oakland 27, Philadelphia 10

Joe Morris N.Y. Giants RB 1986 N.Y. Giants 39, Denver 20

Quinton Spotwood N.Y. Giants WR* 2000 Baltimore 34, N.Y. Giants 7

Melvin Tuten Denver Broncos T 1998 Denver 34, Atlanta 19

Roland Williams St. Louis Rams TE 1999 St. Louis 23, Tennessee 16

Oakland Raiders TE** 2002 Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21

Sir Mawn Wilson Denver Broncos WR* 1997 Denver 31, Green Bay 24

Dave Wohlabaugh New England Patriots C 1996 Green Bay 35, New England 21

* practice squad ** injured reserve ^Year indicates NFL season

Honors

Former SU student-athletes have also received numerous honors throughout their careers. It didn’t take long for Jim Brown to start gathering awards in the NFL. He was selected as NFL Rookie of the Year in 1957 and earned the NFL Player of the Year award in 1957, 1958, 1963 and 1965. In 1966, Jim Nance received AFL Player of the Year accolades. Larry Csonka was honored as the 1979 Comeback Player of the Year. In addition, former player and assistant coach Tom Coughlin earned honors as the 1996 AFC Coach of the Year.

A total of 23 players have earned All-Pro status a combined 58 times. Brown leads the way with nine selections. Hall of Fame center Jim Ringo was selected to the All-Pro team seven times. Others who have earned three or more selections include wide receiver Marvin Harrison (six selections), offensive guard Walt Sweeney (four selections), linebacker Keith Bulluck (four selections) and tight end John Mackey (three selections).

SU’s success in the NFL is also evident by the amount of Pro Bowl selections. A total of 23 different players have been selected on 80 occasions to the Pro Bowl. Ringo has garnered the most selections with 10 and Brown and Sweeney followed with nine. Brown was selected as the most outstanding back at three Pro Bowls (1962-63, 66). Other former Orange student-athletes who have earned five or more selections to the Pro Bowl include Harrison (six selections), Mackey (five selections), running back Floyd Little (five selections), fullback Larry Csonka (five selections) and quarterback Donovan McNabb (five selections).

Syracuse opens the 2005 season on Sunday, September 4 against West Virginia. The game kicks off at 1:30 and will be televised nationally on ABC.

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