1956 Heisman

[UnknownOrange]

So obviously all the talk lately with a certain number led me to some research...

The 1956 Heisman Trophy

Paul Hornung wins over Johnny Majors (RB, Tennessee), Tommy McDonald (RB, Oklahoma), Jerry Tubbs (OL, Oklahoma... OL.. really) & of course Jim Brown (RB, Syracuse)

3 things jump out to me

Hornung was obviously viewed as a do-it-all king of player (but he wasn't outstanding in any area)

The 2 running backs ahead of Jim Brown did not have better overall stats

An offensive lineman... really? Don't get me wrong without a great line you do not have great QB's or great RB's because they don't have the time to do so.

Obviously where the country was in 1956 was not where it is today but it raises the question... was race the only factor?

It's fun to go back and look at numbers especially of guys I never got to see. But how crazy it is to see a true robbery if I've ever seen one.


Carry on, Monday

 

[jgeorge322]

i dont know where i saw it but recently i saw an article that compared brown's and hornung's stats. it wasnt close. also, nd went 2-8 that year,

 

[sutomcat]

So obviously all the talk lately with a certain number led me to some research...

The 1956 Heisman Trophy

Paul Hornung wins over Johnny Majors (RB, Tennessee), Tommy McDonald (RB, Oklahoma), Jerry Tubbs (OL, Oklahoma... OL.. really) & of course Jim Brown (RB, Syracuse)

3 things jump out to me

Hornung was obviously viewed as a do-it-all king of player (but he wasn't outstanding in any area)

The 2 running backs ahead of Jim Brown did not have better overall stats

An offensive lineman... really? Don't get me wrong without a great line you do not have great QB's or great RB's because they don't have the time to do so.

Obviously where the country was in 1956 was not where it is today but it raises the question... was race the only factor?

It's fun to go back and look at numbers especially of guys I never got to see. But how crazy it is to see a true robbery if I've ever seen one.


Carry on, Monday

Hornung was an awful choice that year. Notre Dame had a terrible team that went 2-8. Hornung completed 59 of 111 passes for 917 yards and 3 TDs, and ran for 420 yards on 94 carries (4.5 ypc). He scored 7 TDs. Mediorce stats for an awful team. Wake up the echos!

Jim Brown ran for 986 yards on 158 carries (6.2 ypc) and scored 13 TDs. He led Syracuse to the Cotton Bowl as the best team in the East. They finished 7-2 that season.

It was bad enough the greatest football player of all time was not selected. But selecting Hornung was really insulting. They could have at least picked Majors, who was a genuinely great college football player.

Only the selection of Tim Brown over Don McPherson in 1987 was close to as criminal was the selection of Hornung in 1956.

Notre Dame is not my favorite school. Can you tell?

 

[Toga]

Hornung was an awful choice that year. Notre Dame had a terrible team that went 2-8. Hornung completed 59 of 111 passes for 917 yards and 3 TDs, and ran for 420 yards on 94 carries (4.5 ypc). He scored 7 TDs. Mediorce stats for an awful team. Wake up the echos!

Jim Brown ran for 986 yards on 158 carries (6.2 ypc) and scored 13 TDs. He led Syracuse to the Cotton Bowl as the best team in the East. They finished 7-2 that season.

It was bad enough the greatest football player of all time was not selected. But selecting Hornung was really insulting. They could have at least picked Majors, who was a genuinely great college football player.

Only the selection of Tim Brown over Don McPherson in 1987 was close to as criminal was the selection of Hornung in 1956.

Notre Dame is not my favorite school. Can you tell?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[UnknownOrange]

Jesus '87 was terrible too

 

[tipphill]

dick schaap boycotted his heisman vote privilege when brown did not get the heisman trophy----man true to his conviction

 

[donniesyracuse]

It was a huge injustice, but it is hard to feel sorry for someone who throws women off of balconies (allegedly).

 

[longtimefan]

Hornung was an awful choice that year. Notre Dame had a terrible team that went 2-8. Hornung completed 59 of 111 passes for 917 yards and 3 TDs, and ran for 420 yards on 94 carries (4.5 ypc). He scored 7 TDs. Mediorce stats for an awful team. Wake up the echos!

Jim Brown ran for 986 yards on 158 carries (6.2 ypc) and scored 13 TDs. He led Syracuse to the Cotton Bowl as the best team in the East. They finished 7-2 that season.

It was bad enough the greatest football player of all time was not selected. But selecting Hornung was really insulting. They could have at least picked Majors, who was a genuinely great college football player.

Only the selection of Tim Brown over Don McPherson in 1987 was close to as criminal was the selection of Hornung in 1956.

Notre Dame is not my favorite school. Can you tell?

Add the stolen field goal game in ?'61, and all Syracuse fans have reasons to put ND at the top of their s### list.

 

[72Cuse]

So obviously all the talk lately with a certain number led me to some research...

The 1956 Heisman Trophy

Paul Hornung wins over Johnny Majors (RB, Tennessee), Tommy McDonald (RB, Oklahoma), Jerry Tubbs (OL, Oklahoma... OL.. really) & of course Jim Brown (RB, Syracuse)

3 things jump out to me

Hornung was obviously viewed as a do-it-all king of player (but he wasn't outstanding in any area)

The 2 running backs ahead of Jim Brown did not have better overall stats

An offensive lineman... really? Don't get me wrong without a great line you do not have great QB's or great RB's because they don't have the time to do so.

Obviously where the country was in 1956 was not where it is today but it raises the question... was race the only factor?

It's fun to go back and look at numbers especially of guys I never got to see. But how crazy it is to see a true robbery if I've ever seen one.


Carry on, Monday

I think Jim Brown carried every region except the South.

 

[pattycuse]

Add the stolen field goal game in ?'61, and all Syracuse fans have reasons to put ND at the top of their s### list.

Growing up in an Irish Catholic household, my father wanted to go to Notre Dame. Until that field goal in '61. Went to SU instead. Rest is history.

When it came time for me to go to college- my father said "Son- anywhere but Notre Dame or Georgetown". He wasn't kidding...

 

[wfschrec]

It was a huge injustice, but it is hard to feel sorry for someone who throws women off of balconies (allegedly).

Right because he was a saint ...

His penchant for high-living would prove disastrous when, in 1963, a major scandal erupted and Paul Hornung and another of the league's top stars, Alex Karras of the Detroit Lions, were suspended from football indefinitely by commissioner Pete Rozelle for betting on NFL games and associating with undesirable persons. Forthright in admitting to his mistake, Hornung's image went relatively untarnished, and in 1964 his suspension, and Karras's, were re-evaluated by the League. Both returned for the 1964 season.

 

[donniesyracuse]

Right because he was a saint ...

His penchant for high-living would prove disastrous when, in 1963, a major scandal erupted and Paul Hornung and another of the league's top stars, Alex Karras of the Detroit Lions, were suspended from football indefinitely by commissioner Pete Rozelle for betting on NFL games and associating with undesirable persons. Forthright in admitting to his mistake, Hornung's image went relatively untarnished, and in 1964 his suspension, and Karras's, were re-evaluated by the League. Both returned for the 1964 season.

I wasn't making a comparison to Hornung. Brown was really the first case where I had to separate the man from the athlete. I am a big fan of Jim Brown the football player, not a fan of Jim Brown the man.

 

[longtimefan]

I wasn't making a comparison to Hornung. Brown was really the first case where I had to separate the man from the athlete. I am a big fan of Jim Brown the football player, not a fan of Jim Brown the man.

He's done some good work off the field the past 20-30 years.

 

[Scooch]

dick schaap boycotted his heisman vote privilege when brown did not get the heisman trophy----man true to his conviction

Correct, Schaap never voted for a Heisman again after Brown was denied the award because of racists southern voters.

He was a wonderful man.

 

[donniesyracuse]

He's done some good work off the field the past 20-30 years.

I am glad to hear it.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Right because he was a saint ...

His penchant for high-living would prove disastrous when, in 1963, a major scandal erupted and Paul Hornung and another of the league's top stars, Alex Karras of the Detroit Lions, were suspended from football indefinitely by commissioner Pete Rozelle for betting on NFL games and associating with undesirable persons. Forthright in admitting to his mistake, Hornung's image went relatively untarnished, and in 1964 his suspension, and Karras's, were re-evaluated by the League. Both returned for the 1964 season.

Looks like Pete Rose bet on the wrong sport

 

[wfschrec]

I wasn't making a comparison to Hornung. Brown was really the first case where I had to separate the man from the athlete. I am a big fan of Jim Brown the football player, not a fan of Jim Brown the man.

Not saying you were however if you poke at Brown's character and insist you can't feel bad for him for his sins then the same should be said about the guy he lost to, Hornung wasn't exactly a golden boy. Ultimately he wasn't much more deserving than Brown even based on character.

 

[Bill Orange]

Correct, Schaap never voted for a Heisman again after Brown was denied the award because of racists southern voters.

He was a wonderful man.

Dick actually ended his boycott and voted for Marcus Allen in 1981.

 

[longtimefan]

Dick actually ended his boycott and voted for Marcus Allen in 1981.

I hope he didn't vote for Tim Brown in '87.

 

[OrangePA]

It was a huge injustice, but it is hard to feel sorry for someone who throws women off of balconies (allegedly).

Excellent.

Dick Schaap was right - and never wavered in his belief that Brown deserved the award.

 

[Macky44]

dick schaap boycotted his heisman vote privilege when brown did not get the heisman trophy----man true to his conviction

I love that he did that...made me really like Schaap. The Jim Brown and Ernie Davis Sportcentury episodes were epic.

 

[SWC75]

Point of order: Dick Schaap said the reason he stopped voting for the Heisman was because Brown finished 5th. You could make an argument for other candidates, (especially Johnny Majors), but 5th?!?

Here's a post I made on the '56 Heisman vote some years ago:

"The 1956 Heisman Vote

Here are the numbers for the top Heisman candidates of 1956:

Paul Hornung, QB, Notre Dame
Passing- 59/111 (.532) 917 yds 3TDs 13int
Rushing- 94c 420yds (4.5) (don't have TDs in individual categories)
Receiving- 3r 26yds (8.7)
Punt Returns- 4pr 63yds (15.8)
Kickoff Returns- 16kor 496yds (31.0)
Interceptions- 2int 59yds ((29.5)
Punting: 31p 1166yds (37.6)
Scoring: 7td 14xp 0fg 56pts.
Team record: 2-8-0
Heisman votes: 1,066

Comment: This was one platoon football and versatility was prized above all other qualities. Hornung certainly had that. But a QB with 3tds and 13int for a 2-8 team, (basically RJ Anderson numbers), has no business winning the Heisman

Johnny Majors, TB, Tennessee
Rushing- 108c 549yds (5.1)
Passing- 36/59 (.610) 552yds 5TD 3int
Receiving- none
Punt Returns- 10pr 86yds (8.6)
Kickoff Returns- 6kor 135yds (22.5)
Interceptions: none
Punting: 26p 1118yds (43.0)
Scoring: 7tds 0FG/XP 42pts
Team record: 10-0-0
Heisman votes: 994

Comment: His numbers aren't really that much better than Hornung's but his team was certainly better. Tennessee fans who are miffed that their man didn't win it have a point. Note: a Tailback was 50% halfback, 50% quarterback in the single wing.

Tommy McDonald, HB, Oklahoma
Rushing: 119c 853yds (7.2)
Passing: 8/12 (.667) 183yds 3TD 1int
Receiving: 12r 282yds (23.5) 4TD
Punt Returns: 13pr 149yds (11.5)
Kickoff returns: 3kor 95yds (31.7)
Interceptions: 6int 136yds (22.7)
Punting: none
Scoring: 17TD 0FG/XP 102pts
Team record: 10-0-0
Heisman votes: 973

Comment: the Big Gun, but not the only one for the national champion Sooners, who scored 466 points and rushed for a then national record of 391 yards per game. They also played one winning team all season.

Jerry Tubbs, Oklahoma C/LB
no numbers
Heisman votes: 742

Jim Brown, HB, Syracuse
Rushing: 158c 986yds (6.2)
Passing: 3/4 (.750) 76yds 1TD ?int
Receiving: 5r 56yds (11.2)
Punt Returns: 4pr 15yds (3.8)
Kickoff Returns: 7kor 169yds (24.1)
Interceptions: 3int 72yds (24.0)
Punting: none
Scoring: 14TD 22XP 0FG 106pts
Team record: 7-1-0
Heisman Votes: 561

Comment: Jim would surely have won the award these days, especially considering that other than Jim Ridlon, he was basically a one man team. But we have to remember that in 1956, he started out the year basically as an unknown. Southern voters may have refused to vote for him but why didn't they swing the vote for Johnny Majors? All these guys played both ways. I don't know about the others but Jim had a reputation as a somewhat indifferent defensive player. And he was never known for his blocking. Basically, he got interested when he had the ball in his hands. So did everybody else."


I'll add this note: Jim was our place kicker and there were several comments made in the articles I read for my series "The Bold, Brave Men of Archbold: 1956" that suggest that Brown was a force on defense as well as offense, so he was a better all-around player than the above implies in an era when being an all-around player was prized above specialized skills.