Don McPherson finished second in the Heisman Trophy race during the 1987 season.
Three Orange Are Hall of Fame Candidates
3/7/2007 5:31:52 PM | Football
Three former members of the Orange football program are listed among the candidates for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Former Orange quarterback Don McPherson, wide receiver Art Monk and head coach Dick MacPherson were listed on the 2007 Division I-A Ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF). Seventy-five players and eight coaches are vying for college football’s top honor.
McPherson led the Orange to an undefeated season during the 1987 campaign. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy race and earned several other player of the year honors, including the Golden Helmet College Player of the Year and the Davey O’Brien Award and Johnny Unitas Award for the most outstanding collegiate quarterback.
McPherson set an SU record and posted the top mark in the NCAA with a 164.3 passing efficiency in 1987. He also set school records in yards (2,341), yards per attempt (10.2), yards per completion (18.1) and touchdowns (22) during his senior season. McPherson’s mark of 10.2 yards per attempt, 18.1 yards per completion and 22 passing touchdowns still remain the standard for Syracuse quarterbacks.
At SU, Monk holds the single-game record for receptions in a game with 14, which he accomplished against Navy in 1979. He is tied for sixth all-time at SU in career receptions with 102. Monk’s 1,644 career receiving yards is seventh in school history, while his 47.0 yards per game average ranks ninth all-time.
Monk led the Orange in receiving three times. In 1977, he caught 41 balls for 590 yards and four touchdowns. In 1978, he caught 19 passes for 293 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Finally, in 1979, Monk recorded 40 catches for 716 yards and three touchdowns to earn first-team All-America honors.
In his NFL career, Monk participated in three Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins and won two. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection. He finished his 16-year NFL career with 12,721 receiving yards on 940 catches. He had a 13.5 average and totaled 68 touchdowns.
MacPherson coached the Orange from 1981 to 1990, and is third on the all-time wins last at SU with 66. “Coach Mac” led the 1987 Orange to an 11-0-1 record, the program’s second undefeated season in its storied history. In that season’s Sugar Bowl, SU tied Auburn 16-16 and finished with a #4 national ranking, the school’s best finish next to the 1959 national championship team. MacPherson earned National Coach of the Year honors for his efforts. He closed his SU career with a 66-46-4 mark.
In his 17 years as a head coach, MacPherson compiled a record of 111-73-5. He spent seven years at Massachusetts before coming to Syracuse in 1981, where he went 45-27-1. MacPherson got his start at Illinois where he served as an assistant freshmen coach. From there, he went to Massachusetts as the head coach of the wrestling and freshman football team. MacPherson also spent time with Cincinnati, Maryland, and the Denver Broncos before being hired at UMass as the head coach. Before finally coming to SU, he spent time as the linebacker coach with the Cleveland Browns.
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