Former Syracuse football star Marvin Harrison has earned a second chance at the College Football Hall of Fame. Here are all the details.
On Monday it was formally announced that former Syracuse football wideout Marvin Harrison is a 2020 candidate for the College Football Hall of Fame.
This will be Marvin’s second chance at solidifying his collegiate legacy. Someone becomes eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame 10 years after their final year of intercollegiate football played. Which would’ve been 2005 (Harrison last played at Syracuse in 1995), but there’s another clause in the requirements that also states that players who go on to play professionally “aren’t eligible until after they retire”, which would’ve been in 2008 for Marvin once he retired with the Indianapolis Colts.
So in other words, Marvin Harrison has been eligible for the last 11 years but has only been officially on the ballot during the last two years. He is one of 76 names up for consideration by the hall.
Why has he been forced to wait?
"“While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post-football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and his fellow man, with love of his country,” per the Football Foundation."
At the end of Marvin’s professional sports career, he was engulfed in some controversy involving a potential shootout. Tom Ley of Deadspin documented the disturbing details in his piece here. They say time heals all wounds, so potentially that is the case with Marvin finally breaking through over the last two years.
Even being on the list of 76 names is considered a tremendous honor. To be up for consideration there is a prerequisite: at some point, during your collegiate career, you had to have earned first-team All-American status.
With that factoid, only around 1,500 individuals are even eligible for consideration said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell in the press release.
There are only 1,067 players currently enshrined. Syracuse has the second-most inductees (18) among ACC programs, per the Syracuse press release.
Although according to the official Football Foundation website only 15 former SU players are
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listed (induction year is included in parentheses):
- Joe ‘Doc’ Alexander (1954)
- Jim Brown (1995)
- Larry Csonka (1989)
- Ernie Davis (1979)
- Tim Green (2001)
- Vic Hanson (1973)
- Howard Jones (1951)
- Tad Jones (1958)
- Floyd Little (1983)
- Dick MacPherson (2009)
- Don McPherson (2008)
- Art Monk (2012)
- Clarence ‘Biggie’ Munn (1959)
- Frank ‘Buck’ O’Neill (1951)
- Ben Schwartzwalder (1982)
Marvin Harrison played at Syracuse from 1992 through 1995. Marvin broke nearly every record imaginable on the hill. In those days, Syracuse participated in the Big East and Harrison led the league in receiving twice during his collegiate career.
"Not only was Marvin a dynamic wide receiver, but also contributed on special teams. So much so that “he was named the 1995 BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year and garnered first-team All-America honors from both the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News as a punt returner,” per the Syracuse press release."
Harrison was SU’s all-time leading receiver for over two decades prior to Steve Ishmael changing the record books back in 2017.
How will the votes be calculated and when will we find out whether the second time is the charm for Marvin Harrison? All great questions and the official press release shared the answers:
"“The 2020 College Football Hall of Fame ballot will be voted upon by the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers. Their votes will be tabulated by the NFF’s Honors Court, who will then deliberate and select the class. The announcement of the 2020 class will be made in January 2020 in the days leading up to the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship in New Orleans.”When will the induction take place?“The 2020 class will officially be inducted during the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8, 2020, at the New York Hilton Midtown. They will also be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2020 season.”"
The legend of Marvin Harrison could continue at Syracuse in the near future. His son aptly named Marvin Harrison Jr is a four-star class of 2021 prospect, keep an eye on him.