1942: Frank Sinkwich and Charlie Trippi
They aren’t the first great stable of running backs in school history, but they are certainly the first legendary duo. Frank Sinkwich, 1942 Heisman Trophy winner. Charley Trippi, 1946 Maxwell Award winner. Together in 1942, they led the Bulldogs to the Rose Bowl and a National Championship.
In his Heisman year, Sinkwich ran for 828 yards with 17 touchdowns and he passed for 1,456 yards with 10 touchdowns. Trippi, ran for 787 yards with six touchdowns and passed for 602 yards with five touchdowns.
They aren’t just two of the best players in school history, they’re among the best football players ever. Both are in the College Football Hall of Fame and Trippi is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Both were no. 1 overall picks in the NFL Draft. Although injuries Sinkwich sustained in the military shorten his pro career, but not before earning NFL MVP honors in 1944.
What else do I need to say to justify their spot at no. 2 on this list? It’s Sinkwich and Trippi. They’re legends. Separate, they are clearly in the top-10 if not top-five greatest players in school history. Together, on this list, just as on the field in 1942, nothing could stop them from reaching the top.