College Football: 10 greatest players to never win the Heisman Trophy

The Syracuse Orange have had an interesting relationship with the Heisman Trophy. First, it was the controversy surrounding Jim Brown in 1956. Then, Ernie Davis makes history as the first African American to win in 1961.

Then there was 1987.

Syracuse and Notre Dame found themselves connected once again in Heisman Trophy controversy. Many people — most of them Syracuse fans — felt that quarterback Don McPherson was the best player in the country that year. He led the Orange to an undefeated season which included an upset of No. 10 Penn State and a Sugar Bowl berth. The Irish finished 8-4 and lost in the Cotton Bowl in 1987.

Tim Brown had a significantly better season in 1986 than in 1987. So, why did Brown run away with the Heisman voting in a year where neither he nor the Irish were as good?

Was McPherson a victim of a limited television viewing schedule in 1987? That’s one argument that has merit. Notre Dame played on national television every Saturday while Syracuse came on weekly regionally but sparingly nationally.

There was also a larger issue of perception. There was “East Coast bias” during this time. Syracuse and many schools in that part of the country that played football were not looked at in the same light as programs in other parts of the country because they were considered to be basketball schools.

Syracuse’s schedule was not as brutal as Notre Dame’s schedule. That still leaves some mystery as to the margin of victory, and why was McPherson not as highly regarded as Brown in 1987.