1987 Syracuse Orangemen football team

The 1987 Syracuse Orangemen football team represented Syracuse University in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Orangemen were led by seventh-year head coach Dick MacPherson and played their home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. The team finished 11–0–1 and tied Auburn in the 1988 Sugar Bowl. The 11 wins by the Orangemen matched the school record set by the national champion 1959 team, and their 4th-ranked finish in the AP Poll was the first ranked finish since 1961.[2]

1987 Syracuse Orangemen football
Eastern champion
Sugar Bowl, T 16–16 vs. Auburn
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 4
APNo. 4
Record11–0–1
Head coach
CaptainPaul Frase, Ted Gregory & Don McPherson[1]
Home stadiumCarrier Dome
(Capacity: 50,000)
1987 Major eastern college football independents records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 4 Syracuse $ 5 –0 –011 –0 –1
Penn State 4 –2 –08 –4 –0
Pittsburgh 3 –3 –08 –4 –0
West Virginia 2 –3 –06 –6 –0
Rutgers 2 –4 –06 –5 –0
Boston College 2 –4 –05 –6 –0
Temple 1 –3 –03 –8 –0
  • $ – Lambert Trophy Winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1987 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Miami (FL)   –  – 12 –0 –0
No. 4 Syracuse   –  – 11 –0 –1
No. 2 Florida State   –  – 11 –1 –0
No. 15 South Carolina   –  – 8 –4 –0
Pittsburgh   –  – 8 –4 –0
Penn State   –  – 8 –4 –0
No. 17 Notre Dame   –  – 8 –4 –0
Southern Miss   –  – 6 –5 –0
Rutgers   –  – 6 –5 –0
Southwestern Louisiana   –  – 6 –5 –0
Memphis State   –  – 5 –5 –1
Northern Illinois   –  – 5 –5 –1
West Virginia   –  – 6 –6 –0
Tulane   –  – 6 –6 –0
Army   –  – 5 –6 –0
Boston College   –  – 5 –6 –0
East Carolina   –  – 5 –6 –0
Akron   –  – 4 –7 –0
Cincinnati   –  – 4 –7 –0
Louisville   –  – 3 –7 –1
Temple   –  – 3 –8 –0
Tulsa   –  – 3 –8 –0
Virginia Tech   –  – 2 –9 –0
Navy   –  – 2 –9 –0
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 5Maryland
W 25–1135,234[3]
September 12at Rutgers
W 20–323,726
September 19Miami (OH)
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
W 24–1033,838
September 26at Virginia Tech
W 35–2133,300[4]
October 3at Missouri
W 24–1336,773
October 17No. 10 Penn StateNo. 13
  • Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY (rivalry)
W 48–2150,011
October 24ColgateNo. 9
W 52–648,097[5]
October 31at PittsburghNo. 8
W 24–1052,714
November 7at NavyNo. 8
W 34–1026,614
November 14Boston CollegeNo. 6
W 45–1749,866
November 21West VirginiaNo. 6
W 32–3149,866[6]
January 1vs. No. 6 AuburnNo. 4
ABCT 16–1675,495[7]
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster
1987 Syracuse Orange football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
RB 36 Robert Drummond Jr
RB 32 Daryl Johnston Jr
WR Tommy Kane Sr
TE 84 Pat Kelly Sr
QB 9 Don McPherson Sr
QB 5 Todd Philcox Jr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
LB David Bavaro So
DT Fred DeRiggi So
DT 94 Paul Frase Sr
NG 93 Ted Gregory Sr
DB 10 Markus Paul Jr
LB 90 Terry Wooden So
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
P 4 Jim Fox Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured Injured
    • Redshirt Redshirt

    1987 team players in the NFL
    PlayerRoundPickPositionClub
    Ted Gregory126Nose guardDenver Broncos
    Tommy Kane375Wide receiverSeattle Seahawks
    Paul Frase6146Defensive TackleNew York Jets
    Don McPherson6149QuarterbackPhiladelphia Eagles
    Pat Kelly7174Tight EndDenver Broncos
    Tim Vesling12327KickerIndianapolis Colts

    Awards and honors
    • Dick MacPherson, Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award[8]
    • Dick MacPherson, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award
    • Dick MacPherson, Paul Bear Bryant Award[9]
    • Dick MacPherson, Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award
    • Don McPherson, Sammy Baugh Trophy[10]
    • Don McPherson, Maxwell Award[11]
    • Don McPherson, Davey O’Brien Award
    • Don McPherson, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[12]
    • Don McPherson, Second in Heisman Trophy voting
    • Don McPherson, unanimous first team All-American (AP, UPI, AFCA, FWAA, WCF, SN)
    • Ted Gregory, consensus first team All-American (FWAA, UPI, SN, FN, PFW)
    • Tommy Kane, Sporting News second team All-American

    References
    1. 2017 Syracuse football media guide pg. 150
    2. "Syracuse Orange Football Record by Year". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
    3. "Syracuse defeats Maryland 25–11". Sunday News Journal. September 6, 1987. Retrieved February 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
    4. "Orange rallies on road". Press and Sun-Bulletin. September 27, 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
    5. Fallesen, Gary (October 25, 1987). "SU's Passing Blasts Colgate, 52-6, Keeps Record Perfect". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, N.Y. pp. 1E, 5E – via Newspapers.com.
    6. "Syracuse gets sweet victory with 10 seconds left". Fort Lauderdale News. November 22, 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
    7. "Orange taste bitter Sugar". Press and Sun-Bulletin. January 2, 1988. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
    8. "Past Winners". Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
    9. "Bear Bryant Award Past Winners -". Archived from the original on December 27, 2007.
    10. "Awards". www.touchdownclubofcolumbus.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
    11. "Football". Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2008.
    12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 16, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)


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