Undefeated and Unforgotten
6/29/2017 6:19:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Thirty years ago the Syracuse University football team made history finishing the regular season with an 11-0 record and earned an invitation to the Sugar Bowl. The '87 Orange became the second 'Cuse gridiron squad to go undefeated, joining the 1959 national champions in that elite club. This fall, Syracuse University will celebrate the 30th anniversary of that historic team on Sept. 9 when the Orange host Middle Tennessee.
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The '87 team finished fourth in both the Associated Press and UPI Coaches Poll and head coach Dick MacPherson was honored as the national coach of the year by multiple organizations. The Orange rolled through the competition, beating the likes of Penn State, Missouri, Navy, Virginia Tech, Boston College and West Virginia en route to an 11-0 regular-season mark. The Orange tied Auburn in the 1988 Sugar Bowl when Tigers coach Pat Dye elected to kick a 30-yard field goal in the final seconds instead of going for the end zone.
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A 1987 unanimous All-American, quarterback Don McPherson was one of six 1988 Syracuse NFL Draft selections and served as a team captain. All-America defensive tackle Ted Gregory and defensive end Paul Frase were also co-captains.
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McPherson, who was the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting, set 22 school records. The winner of more than 18 national player of the year awards, including the Maxwell Award as the nation's best player, the Davey O'Brien Award's as the country's top quarterback, and the inaugural Johnny Unitas Award. McPherson played professional football for seven years, including three years with the Philadelphia Eagles (1988-89, 1991) and one with the Houston Oilers (1990). He played for three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL (1992-94).
Season and individual game tickets for 2017 Orange football are on sale now at Cuse.com/tickets or by calling 888-DOME-TIX.
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For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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The '87 team finished fourth in both the Associated Press and UPI Coaches Poll and head coach Dick MacPherson was honored as the national coach of the year by multiple organizations. The Orange rolled through the competition, beating the likes of Penn State, Missouri, Navy, Virginia Tech, Boston College and West Virginia en route to an 11-0 regular-season mark. The Orange tied Auburn in the 1988 Sugar Bowl when Tigers coach Pat Dye elected to kick a 30-yard field goal in the final seconds instead of going for the end zone.
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A 1987 unanimous All-American, quarterback Don McPherson was one of six 1988 Syracuse NFL Draft selections and served as a team captain. All-America defensive tackle Ted Gregory and defensive end Paul Frase were also co-captains.
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McPherson, who was the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting, set 22 school records. The winner of more than 18 national player of the year awards, including the Maxwell Award as the nation's best player, the Davey O'Brien Award's as the country's top quarterback, and the inaugural Johnny Unitas Award. McPherson played professional football for seven years, including three years with the Philadelphia Eagles (1988-89, 1991) and one with the Houston Oilers (1990). He played for three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL (1992-94).
Season and individual game tickets for 2017 Orange football are on sale now at Cuse.com/tickets or by calling 888-DOME-TIX.
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For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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