MacPherson's Dream is on the Horizon
12/8/2009 12:21:35 PM | Football
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The spotlight will shine tonight on former Syracuse head coach Dick MacPherson as he and 17 others are inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame at the 52nd annual National Football Foundation Awards dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. One of two coaches in the 2009 class, MacPherson will become the 17th person with Syracuse ties in the Hall of Fame.
“I don't know if humbled is the right word because, really, when you are in this business, it is a dream,” MacPherson said of the honor and the opportunity to be on the dais with the 2009 Hall of Fame class. “How many coaches achieve this? It is almost something you should never dream of because you're never going to get it.”
“Each 2009 honoree epitomizes everything right about college football,” said National Football Foundation board chair Archie Manning. “We hope by highlighting their accomplishments we will inspire others to follow in their footsteps.”
During his 10 years as Syracuse's head coach, MacPherson led the Orange to five bowl games. He produced 10 All-America selections, 38 NFL Draft picks and 12 members of Syracuse's All-Century Team. In 1987, the Orange finished the season undefeated and tied Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. The Orange's fourth-place finish in both the AP and Coaches polls solidified its legacy as the best SU team since the 1959 National Champions. MacPherson earned several National Coach of the Year awards for his team's superb performance.
“Is there any football coach in the country, no matter what level they play, who doesn't dream of being in this seat right here?” MacPherson asked. “It is overwhelming to me. If I am representing football coaches from across America, I do it proudly.”
During his speech, MacPherson deflected the attention to others, including a few he coached against in West Virginia quarterback Major Harris and Penn State running back Curt Warner, and another who beat out MacPherson's quarterback, Don McPherson, for the 1987 Heisman Trophy in Notre Dame's Tim Brown.
“Behind me is Timmy Brown, who won the Heisman. I thought Don McPherson should have won it, but I love him now,” said a laughing MacPherson.
“Next to him is (former West Virginia quarterback) Major Harris, and I hated him (when we played),“ MacPherson joked.
Syracuse is one of just 16 BCS schools with at least 17 representatives in the Hall of Fame and is one of seven schools to have 17 or more in the College Football Hall of Fame and at least six enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
“The main thing is that my family is here to see all of this,” MacPherson said of the induction. “For them to see their grandfather, father, husband, and to have the whole family sharing in this great event, is the epitome. I am just so grateful for being able to coach at Syracuse. I think of all of the great names like (College Football Hall of Fame coaches) Ossie Solem, Biggie Munn, Duffy Daughtery and Ben Schwartzwalder. I want to make sure that people know that I tried like heck to represent Syracuse University and it's football program to the ultimate.”
MacPherson left the Orange after the 1990 season to become the head coach of the New England Patriots. After coaching the Patriots for two seasons MacPherson eventually returned to The Salt City, where he is currently a radio analyst during the SU football season.
“Thank you very much Syracuse, Springfield College, and everywhere else I've been,” MacPherson concluded. “It has been wonderful.”
