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Notre Dame Football: 5 players who were robbed of the Heisman Trophy

By Daniel Morrison

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 07: Heisman finalists linebacker Manti Te'o of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and quarterback Johnny Manziel for the Texas A&M University Aggies pose with Heisman Memorial Trophy Award at an informal press gathering at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on December 7, 2012 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: Photographer approval needed for all Commercial License requests. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 07: Heisman finalists linebacker Manti Te'o of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and quarterback Johnny Manziel for the Texas A&M University Aggies pose with Heisman Memorial Trophy Award at an informal press gathering at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on December 7, 2012 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: Photographer approval needed for all Commercial License requests. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images) /
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Apr 13, 2019; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmets sit on the field following the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame Football: 5 players who were robbed of the Heisman Trophy

1977: Ken MacAfee, TE, 3rd Place

  • 54 Receptions, 797 Yards, 6 Touchdowns

Probably the best tight end in Notre Dame history, and it’s an impressive tight end history, Ken MacAfee finished third in the 1977 Heisman Trophy voting. That’s despite the decided disadvantage of being a tight end.

After all, the Heisman is a quarterback and running back award historically, with the odd wide receiver thrown in. This isn’t an award for tight ends, who spend half their time, or as it was in the 70s most of their time, blocking.

Another Notre Dame football player, Leon Hart, would win it in 1940, plus Yale’s Larry Kelley in 1936 would win the Heisman as ends, but this can be attributed to them standing out in multiple positions in an era where pass-catching almost didn’t exist as a skill. Besides those two, MacAfee is the only tight end to finish in the top three for Heisman voting as a tight end, and the only one to do so in over 80 years.

MacAfee had a remarkable 1977 season, as along with being an elite blocker, MacAfee could catch the ball. Even today, that’s a rare combination, reserved for a player like Rob Gronkowski, as many tight ends have morphed into big wide receivers. Along with being a special player, the 1977 season was special for Notre Dame.

They’d win the National Championship, and famously play the Green Jersey Game, leading a Trojan Horse onto the field against USC. Ahead of Joe Montana or Vagas Ferguson, MacAfee was the best player on that offense, and it wasn’t close. He’d win his third All-American honor in 1977, as well as being Knute Rockne and Walter Camp Trophy winners.

Of course, two players finished ahead of MacAfee in 1977. Terry Miller, the Oklahoma State running back, ran for 1,680 yards and 14 TDs and was a workhorse for the Cowboys. The winner, Earl Campbell of Texas, was absolutely deserving. His 1,744 rushing yards and 18 TDs were remarkable.

It’s just that MacAfee was remarkable too, and his position certainly held him back as far as the voters are concerned.

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