Fansided

Ranking Heisman Trophy winners from 1-81

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Dec 14, 2013; New York, NY, USA; The Heisman Trophy is seen during a press conference before the announcement of the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2013; New York, NY, USA; The Heisman Trophy is seen during a press conference before the announcement of the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tim Brown 1987 Season Statistics

  • Games: 11
  • Receptions: 39
  • Receiving Yards: 846
  • Receiving Yards Per Game: 76.9
  • Receiving Touchdowns: 3
  • Rushing Attempts: 34
  • Rushing Yards: 144
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 13.1
  • Yards Per Carry: 4.2
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 1
  • Kick Returns: 19.8 average on 23 returns
  • Punt Returns: 11.8 average on 34 returns, 3 TD

We’re not picking on Notre Dame. Seriously. It just so happens that the Fighting Irish have had several of the least impressive Heisman Trophy winners of all-time. That’s certainly not a bad thing – after all, it means the Irish have had several legendary players that proved worthy of Heisman consideration.

Nevertheless, Tim Brown’s Heisman campaign in 1987 doesn’t compare well to many of the other great players that received college football’s top individual honor during his era.

A wide receiver and special teams weapon that played in a run-heavy offense, Brown caught 39 passes for 846 yards, but hauled in only three receiving touchdowns. In fact, Brown failed to match any of the statistics he posted as a junior, having gained 910 receiving yards and five TDs on 45 catches in 1986.

Brown also had an impact in the running game, having averaged 4.2 yards on 34 carries over the course of the Fighting Irish’s 11 games, and made big plays as a return man, including three punt returns for touchdowns. But, his Heisman legacy is also hurt by Notre Dame’s mediocre 8-4 record as well as weak competition for the award. Syracuse quarterback Don McPherson and Holy Cross running back Gordon Lockbaum finished second and third in the voting, respectively.

A Dallas, Texas native that attended the same high school as fellow Heisman winner Davey O’Brien, Brown wasn’t one of the greatest Heisman winner of all-time but he was certainly an outstanding player that also won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. He was also named a consensus All-American while setting many Notre Dame receiving records before going on to a Hall of Fame pro career.

Pat Sullivan 1971 Season Statistics

  • Games: 11
  • Pass Completions: 182
  • Pass Attempts: 325
  • Completion Percentage: 56.0
  • Passing Yards: 2,262
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 205.6
  • Passing Touchdowns: 21
  • Interceptions: 13
  • Rushing Attempts: 50
  • Rushing Yards: 66
  • Rushing Yards Per Game: 6.0
  • Yards Per Carry: 1.3
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 2

One of the most beloved players in Auburn football history, Pat Sullivan was the first Tigers player to win the Heisman Trophy in 1971. And, while obviously a tremendous player and quarterback, Sullivan ranks low on this list for a few important reasons.

First, given the fact that Sullivan’s statistics suffered across the board as a senior when compared to his 1970 SEC Player of the Year campaign (in which Sullivan finished sixth in Heisman voting and also won the Sammy Baugh Award), the signal caller’s Heisman year appears to be a reward for an outstanding career instead of a spectacular season.

Secondly, a strong argument can be made that Sullivan was less deserving of the Heisman in 1971 than Cornell running back Ed Marinaro, who finished in a very close second place (1,597 points to 1,445 points) in the voting after rushing for an NCAA record 1,881 yards and 24 touchdowns in just nine games. Even on the basis of the “career achievement” award many have applied to Sullivan’s victory, Marinaro was more deserving because of an even more spectacular career in which he became the first running back to ever run for more than 4,000 yards. Marinaro finished with 4,715 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns in just three seasons.

Nevertheless, Sullivan was selected as the Heisman winner and also won the Walter Camp Player of the Year after leading Auburn to a 9-1 regular season record. Sullivan completed 56 percent of his passes (which led the SEC and ranked tenth nationally) for 2,262 yards (which led the league and ranked sixth in the country) and 21 touchdowns (first in the SEC and second in the nation) while being intercepted 13 times. He added 66 rushing yards and two touchdowns, which pushed his total to an SEC-best 23 TDs.

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