Marvin Harrison Joins Football's Most Exclusive Club
8/6/2016 8:18:00 PM | Football
CANTON, Ohio – The third time proved to be the charm for Marvin Harrison.
In his third year as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Syracuse's all-time leading receiver earned the ultimate on-field honor in February when he was selected for induction into football's most exclusive club.
On Saturday night, he was formally enshrined and his bronze bust presented at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Harrison joined his coach with the Indianapolis Colts, Tony Dungy, quarterback Brett Favre, linebacker Kevin Greene, offensive tackle Orlando Pace, quarterback Ken Stabler, owner Eddie DeBartolo and guard Dick Stanfel in this year's eight-member class.
Saturday's induction capped a remarkable football journey for Harrison. It's one that started in his native Philadelphia, continued at Syracuse University and concluded in the NFL with the Colts.
In addition, he added to Syracuse's indelible legacy in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Harrison, who coincidentally wore No. 8 for the Orange, became the program's eighth inductee. Only USC, Notre Dame and Ohio State have more.
"Being inducted into the Hall of Fame isn't something that happens overnight. I'm very thankful and very grateful that this has happened," Harrison told the capacity crowd in Canton. "I've worked extremely hard to get to this point."
A two-sport star in football and basketball at Roman Catholic High School, located at the intersection of Broad and Vine Streets in Philadelphia's Center City, Harrison had his pick of college destinations. However, it was former Orange assistant coach Bob Casullo who ultimately gained Harrison's trust and sold him on the idea of Syracuse.
"Everybody wanted Marvin Harrison, trust me," Casullo told Syracuse.com back in 2014.
Casullo knew holding off college football's big boys wouldn't be easy. An intensely private person, Harrison didn't wanted word that he had picked Syracuse to get out. If it did, he may have changed his mind. Fortunately, it didn't and Harrison kept his end of the deal and signed with the Orange.
Harrison arrived on campus a lean 175 pounds in the fall 1991. With the likes of Shelby Hill and Qadry Ismail in front of him, he redshirted and contributed mainly on special teams the next year.
Then Harrison got his chance.
He replaced Ismail in the starting lineup in 1993 after "The Missile" was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings and did not disappoint. Harrison used his soft hands and breakaway speed to catch 41 passes for 813 yards, including a 180-yard effort against East Carolina. His 19.8 yards per reception led the team as did his seven touchdown catches.
The following year, Harrison's star continued to rise. He led the BIG EAST Conference in receiving yards per game (76.1) and recorded four 100-yard games. He also showcased another aspect of his game – his ability as a return man. Harrison ran back 18 punts for 165 yards to finish second in the BIG EAST in punt return average (9.2).
Entering his senior season in 1995, Harrison was on the short list of the top receivers in college football. That also happened to be the year a redshirt freshman quarterback named Donovan McNabb took over under the center for Syracuse.
The combination was magic.
With McNabb throwing to him, Harrison set the school single-season record with 1,131 receiving yards. He posted six 100-yard games and propelled the Orange to a 9-3 record and a top-20 finish in both national polls. The Orange capped the year with a 41-0 thrashing of Clemson in the 1996 Gator Bowl. Harrison saved his best for the Tigers, establishing Syracuse bowl records for receptions (7) and yards (173) in his final game in a Syracuse uniform. He also caught a pair of touchdowns.
In the spring of 1996, the Indianapolis Colts made Harrison the 19th overall pick in the NFL Draft. He contributed immediately, catching more than 60 passes in each of his first two seasons. In 1998, general manager Bill Polian decided to give the keys to the Colts offense to a rookie quarterback from Tennessee. His name was Peyton Manning, and much like when McNabb took over as Syracuse's signal caller, the results were explosive.
Manning and Harrison hooked up for an NFL-record 953 completions in their 11 years together, including 112 touchdowns, another league record for a quarterback-wide receiver tandem. In 2006, the pair guided Indianapolis to a Super Bowl victory over the Chicago Bears, the franchise's first world championship in 36 years.
The Super Bowl title was one of many highlights in Harrison's sparkling 13-year career. He was named to eight Pro Bowls and recorded eight 1,000-yard receiving seasons before retiring after the 2008 season. Harrison's best season was 2002 when he shattered Herman Moore's single-season record for catches by making 143 receptions for 1,722 yards.
Harrison finished his pro career with 14,580 yards, which ranks seventh on the NFL's all-time receiving yardage list, and he is one of only two players in league history to amass 14,000 receiving yards for one franchise. His 126 touchdown grabs are fifth all-time.
"You don't go into the NFL saying, 'I want to make the Hall of Fame.' You want to make it to the NFL, you want to play well for your team, play well for your fans," Harrison said. "All the pieces fell into place for me to where I was able to show my talent."
Charming indeed.
Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Instagram (@Cusepics, @CuseFootball) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
Â
In his third year as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Syracuse's all-time leading receiver earned the ultimate on-field honor in February when he was selected for induction into football's most exclusive club.
On Saturday night, he was formally enshrined and his bronze bust presented at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Harrison joined his coach with the Indianapolis Colts, Tony Dungy, quarterback Brett Favre, linebacker Kevin Greene, offensive tackle Orlando Pace, quarterback Ken Stabler, owner Eddie DeBartolo and guard Dick Stanfel in this year's eight-member class.
Saturday's induction capped a remarkable football journey for Harrison. It's one that started in his native Philadelphia, continued at Syracuse University and concluded in the NFL with the Colts.
In addition, he added to Syracuse's indelible legacy in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Harrison, who coincidentally wore No. 8 for the Orange, became the program's eighth inductee. Only USC, Notre Dame and Ohio State have more.
"Being inducted into the Hall of Fame isn't something that happens overnight. I'm very thankful and very grateful that this has happened," Harrison told the capacity crowd in Canton. "I've worked extremely hard to get to this point."
A two-sport star in football and basketball at Roman Catholic High School, located at the intersection of Broad and Vine Streets in Philadelphia's Center City, Harrison had his pick of college destinations. However, it was former Orange assistant coach Bob Casullo who ultimately gained Harrison's trust and sold him on the idea of Syracuse.
"Everybody wanted Marvin Harrison, trust me," Casullo told Syracuse.com back in 2014.
Casullo knew holding off college football's big boys wouldn't be easy. An intensely private person, Harrison didn't wanted word that he had picked Syracuse to get out. If it did, he may have changed his mind. Fortunately, it didn't and Harrison kept his end of the deal and signed with the Orange.
Harrison arrived on campus a lean 175 pounds in the fall 1991. With the likes of Shelby Hill and Qadry Ismail in front of him, he redshirted and contributed mainly on special teams the next year.
Then Harrison got his chance.
He replaced Ismail in the starting lineup in 1993 after "The Missile" was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings and did not disappoint. Harrison used his soft hands and breakaway speed to catch 41 passes for 813 yards, including a 180-yard effort against East Carolina. His 19.8 yards per reception led the team as did his seven touchdown catches.
The following year, Harrison's star continued to rise. He led the BIG EAST Conference in receiving yards per game (76.1) and recorded four 100-yard games. He also showcased another aspect of his game – his ability as a return man. Harrison ran back 18 punts for 165 yards to finish second in the BIG EAST in punt return average (9.2).
Entering his senior season in 1995, Harrison was on the short list of the top receivers in college football. That also happened to be the year a redshirt freshman quarterback named Donovan McNabb took over under the center for Syracuse.
The combination was magic.
With McNabb throwing to him, Harrison set the school single-season record with 1,131 receiving yards. He posted six 100-yard games and propelled the Orange to a 9-3 record and a top-20 finish in both national polls. The Orange capped the year with a 41-0 thrashing of Clemson in the 1996 Gator Bowl. Harrison saved his best for the Tigers, establishing Syracuse bowl records for receptions (7) and yards (173) in his final game in a Syracuse uniform. He also caught a pair of touchdowns.
In the spring of 1996, the Indianapolis Colts made Harrison the 19th overall pick in the NFL Draft. He contributed immediately, catching more than 60 passes in each of his first two seasons. In 1998, general manager Bill Polian decided to give the keys to the Colts offense to a rookie quarterback from Tennessee. His name was Peyton Manning, and much like when McNabb took over as Syracuse's signal caller, the results were explosive.
Manning and Harrison hooked up for an NFL-record 953 completions in their 11 years together, including 112 touchdowns, another league record for a quarterback-wide receiver tandem. In 2006, the pair guided Indianapolis to a Super Bowl victory over the Chicago Bears, the franchise's first world championship in 36 years.
The Super Bowl title was one of many highlights in Harrison's sparkling 13-year career. He was named to eight Pro Bowls and recorded eight 1,000-yard receiving seasons before retiring after the 2008 season. Harrison's best season was 2002 when he shattered Herman Moore's single-season record for catches by making 143 receptions for 1,722 yards.
Harrison finished his pro career with 14,580 yards, which ranks seventh on the NFL's all-time receiving yardage list, and he is one of only two players in league history to amass 14,000 receiving yards for one franchise. His 126 touchdown grabs are fifth all-time.
"You don't go into the NFL saying, 'I want to make the Hall of Fame.' You want to make it to the NFL, you want to play well for your team, play well for your fans," Harrison said. "All the pieces fell into place for me to where I was able to show my talent."
Charming indeed.
Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Instagram (@Cusepics, @CuseFootball) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
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