Hall of Fame
Position: Quarterback
Years: 1983-1987
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, NY
Date of Birth: Apr 02, 1965
Jersey Number: 9
Height: 6-0
Weight: 182
High School: West Hempstead (West Hempstead, NY)
Cultivating one of the most highly decorated careers in Syracuse football history, Don McPherson won over 18 national Player of the Year honors during his collegiate career. McPherson?s many honors included the Davey O?Brien National Quarterback Award, the Maxwell Player of the Year and the inaugural Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Garnering unanimous First Team All-America laurels and finishing second in the 1987 Heisman balloting, the West Hempstead, N.Y., native holds or shares 11 Syracuse football records. He claimed MVP honors in the Sugar Bowl, capping an undefeated 1987 regular season and a No. 4 final ranking for the Orange. Professionally, McPherson played four years in the NFL and three seasons in the Canadian Football League. He later founded the Sports Leadership Institute at Adelphi University and created the John Mackey Award, which annually recognizes college football?s most outstanding tight end. Honored with numerous humanitarian awards, including the Frederick Douglas Men of Strength Award and Lifetime?s Champions for Change Award, McPherson has become one of the nation's leading educators and advocates for the prevention of men's violence against women and has been featured on Nightline and The Oprah Winfrey Show. He currently President of Don McPherson Enterprises.
