Why Did Three Syracuse Legends Make All-Time College Football List?

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Three Syracuse football legends were recently mentioned on a list of the greatest college football players to ever wear each number available to athletes.

Earlier this month, ESPN released a list of the best college football players to wear each number 0 through 99. 

Included on the list were Orange legends Ernie Davis, Floyd Little and Jim Brown. All three players famously wore the same number, 44, during their time in Central New York. 

Ernie Davis

A running back, Davis helped lead Syracuse to the school's lone national championship in 1959. In 1961, Davis became the school's first — and only — Heisman Trophy winner.

In three seasons, he played in 29 games, carrying the ball 360 times for 2,386 yards. He had 20 career touchdowns on the ground and added four more in the passing game.

Davis was selected by Washington but was immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns. 

Jim Brown and Floyd Little 

Brown and Little had many similarities despite a decade difference between their playing careers. Both running backs were selected No. 6 overall in their respective draft classes. Brown was picked by the Browns while Little was picked by the Denver Broncos. 

Both Brown and Little wore No. 44 at Syracuse, both eventually became Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, and both like Davis above, are honored with statues outside the football's practice complex. 

Brown spent three years with the Orange, playing in 24 games and amassing 2,091 yards rushing. He had 19 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns in his career. His 14 touchdowns in 1956 led his conference.

Little ran for over 2,700 yards and 35 touchdowns along with 50 catches for 582 yards and four touchdowns receiving. 

The legacy of Number 44 for Syracuse Football

Earlier this year, Syracuse unveiled "The Exhibit of 44" outside of Club 44 inside the JMA Wireless Dome. The exhibit features the history of the number and honors all 25 players who have worn the number since 1921.

Should Syracuse Football Restore No. 44?

The last Syracuse football player to wear number 44 was Rob Konrad in the late 1990s. Since then, the number has hung high in then Carrier Dome, now JMA Wireless Dome. Syracuse officially retired the number in 2005.

However other Syracuse sports programs, including basketball and lacrosse, have seen athletes wear numbers that have been "retired" or "honored" by the school. Should Syracuse football restore the number 44?

Well that discussion is something we will cover later this summer at Roundtable. 

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