Syracuse Football: Make the Pro Football Hall of Fame Orange again

My name is Orange Chuck, aka Chuck Fiello Jr., and I’m a Syracuse football homer. I’m clarifying this before someone’s response is, “You’re biased and it’s showing.” I admit sometimes my Orange- colored glasses may impact my vision, BUT NOT THIS TIME!

Two former Syracuse football players, Gary Anderson and Donovan McNabb, are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame as nominees in its class of 2022, and both of them deserve this honor. And while opinions can vary on many subjects, the proof that they both played at that highest of levels and were among the best at their positions is indisputable.

Let’s start with the one most younger readers may not know, and that’s Gary Anderson. Anderson is a former All-American drafted in the 7th round by the Buffalo Bills in 1982, though he never played for them and instead spent 23 years in the NFL, including his first 13 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 1998, Gary was the first kicker to hit 100% of his field goals and extra points. When he retired, he was the all-time leading scorer in NFL history (ranks third currently) and had been selected to 4 Pro Bowls.

In my opinion, his accomplishments and longevity at the position should be sufficient to make it, and the fact that he’s been snubbed in the past should be considered borderline “criminal.” It’s time Hall of Famer voters gave more respect all around to special teams players, especially kickers who score valuable points for their teams.

Two former Syracuse football stars are nominees for the Hall of Fame.

And then there is Donovan McNabb. Syracuse football fans who are old enough to have watched at the time will remember McNabb’s last-second throw to TE Steve Brominski to beat Virginia Tech and how legendary that moment is in Syracuse football history. The debate about favorite Orange QB of all time often comes down to him, Don McPherson and if you’re really young, Eric Dungey.

As for his pro football career, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles, I think the mic drops when you mention one thing: QUARTERBACK IN FIVE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES!!! He led his team to 8 playoff appearances, was selected to 6 Pro Bowls, finished runner-up for NFL MVP in 2000, was the subject of many first-round draft picks in fantasy football, and made a Super Bowl appearance as well.

He’s the 4th QB in history to record more than 30,000 passing yards, 200 TD passes, 3,000 rushing yards and 20 rushing TDs with the three ahead of him already in the Hall of Fame (Steve Young, Fran Tarkenton, and John Elway). If you want to say that Super Bowl victories are the measuring stick, maybe we should remove Dan Marino too, since he was also 0-1 in Super Bowl appearances (he even made Hootie cry).

Also, when you look at today’s mobile quarterbacks, Donovan McNabb is a player who solidified that role and was an influence on young quarterbacks today. Anyone who watched youth football at that time witnessed many of those young kids trying to emulate him on the field and many likely benefited from his work with youth camps and such in the community.

I realize we all have different opinions on things and much of it is based on our experiences and life choices, including mine being a big Syracuse Orange fan. Honestly though, even if I was not a fan, unless I’m just biased for some reason or looking for reasons to keep them out, these two have resumes that equate to earning Hall of Fame status and that moment on the stage in front of their family and friends.

Their impact on the sport and the teams they played for has earned them the right to be called all-time greats and an example to young players on how to play the game at a top-level on the field.

If you take these players out of their respective places on their teams, do you think the teams would have been as successful without a mobile and accurate quarterback and a very accurate kicker and scorer?

I say if these two NFL greats and former Orangemen aren’t selected with what they’ve accomplished on the field, then I don’t understand the criteria and find it utterly wrong and ridiculous.