Syracuse Football Story

Every fall when the smell of dried leaves and early morning frost fills the air backyards and its playing fields and quiet streets are transformed with sounds of excited voices scuffling feet and the contact of youth playing America's most beloved game. Perhaps nowhere else is the spirit of this magical sport as alive as on the college campuses around the country such as Syracuse where on an autumn afternoon tens of thousands of the orange faithful have been making the pilgrimage to the center of campus to see their heroes at gaijin a game which Syracuse alumna Stephen Crane once compared to the rage of conflict on a battlefield. Of course football wasn't always a metaphor for war. In a quieter time in Syracuse University students prepared themselves for their first intercollegiate contest with the University of Rochester by working out in a tiny park. With fence rails serving as sideline markers. Student John Blake Hillier was the founder and first captain of the first Syracuse squad in 1889 and while the final score from the Rochester contest was

less than encouraging the seeds planted by Hillier and Sam Jacobs and an ex Yale player who served as trainers for some 1890s saw the arrival of the team's first coach a tough little Englishman by the name of Bobby Winston who reveled in drilling his team with three mile runs over the fields toward Onondaga Valley and tough workouts. The preparation paid off. Syracuse went eight in three including the school's first in a collegiate victory four to nothing over watches to. Football in those days was characterized by its detractors as little more than rough hard. Plain and indiscriminate slaughter due to derisive comments from the spectators Syracuse's uniforms and school colors were changed from pink and blue. To orange. Although a room had been appropriated for use by the team in the hall of languages. The dressing room was little more than a space in the basement with a trap door leading to an icy cistern for the players to wash in. The field wasn't much better. With players raking the melon sized rocks off before game

time. In 1895 Syracuse got its first home field the oval occupied the area where the quad is today. There were some physically imposing players of that era most notably the famed Ned glass and Frank Craig. It should be noted that most of the early football enthusiastic were considerably lighter than their modern counterparts today. But in spite of their modest weights these were tough hardened athletes. Players like LYN WHITE cuff Martin Smallwood Charles Burton. Carl door. And Hayden old boss Patton. Charles Marvin. And in this rare photo future are arranged coach George bond. We're tough as nails. They had to be the uniform of the time offered little in the way of protection and participants had to expect the unexpected. Against Colgate in 1897 Patton was running for what would have been Syracuse his winning touchdown when he was tackled by a local news. Neighbor man partial to Colgan

coaches Frank Wade and Edwin Sweetland successfully carried Syracuse football into the next century. Although the Cornell game of 1900 degenerated into a bloody slugfest with one of the big reds finest nearly being drowned in the flooded muddy field as someone held his head down. Cornell didn't play Syracuse again for 13 years. This rough tough style of football was being practiced throughout the country much to the delight of students alumni and the public. In 1905 President Roosevelt called together representatives from the major colleges and universities to help put a stop to the violence and mayhem. Despite increased scrutiny the game was as wild and popular as ever. Nineteen 06 witnessed the arrival of energetic Frank Buck O'Neil to coach the orange a brilliant innovator who would later be elected to the college hall of fame. O'Neal was known not only as the father of the Off tackle play but also was one of

the first to employ the forward pass. That year. John de Archibald university trustee made the university a gift of the greatest athletic arena in America. A magnificent concrete stadium that would hold upwards of 35000 spectators and signal a new era in Syracuse football. Archbold stadium opened on September 20 5th one thousand and seven with a victory against Hobart. The first game in Archibald featured a 75 yard touchdown by Syracuse his first all-American a six foot two inch 240 pound tackle named Mark Reed bill or he was known to playfully grab his smaller teammates and elevate them above his head. A gentle giant off the field. He was all business at the time. Building his teammates in 1908 soundly defeated Michigan held a Princeton to a scoreless tie and while losing to Yale 5 to 0 did not allow the allies a first down in the game. The Jones brothers would

coach after O'Neill's departure garnering respectable but not sensational reviews. Most notable in the Victory Column was Syracuse's win over the legendary Jim Thorpe and his Carlisle Indian team. O'Neill returned to campus in 1039 with Captain Marty Hilfiger and Jackie Rudy Probst made the best of a thin bench as the orange went 6 and 4. In this rare footage you can see Chancellor day a champion of the new sport sitting in the stands on the left of the screen cheering players coming out on the field. The scientific sport of football. A student of which we see demonstrating the correct picking technique was still the darling of the public in the years just before the war. Players were heroes. No more so than those on O'Neill's 1015 edition regarded as one of the greatest all time Syracuse teams. The team featured the famous Big Four of TR Johnson David White. Walter Campbell in America Chris schlechter. And Ty Cobb.

Together they weighed in at nearly half a tough. Quarter backed by Chick Mahan and half backs Walt rose and red Wilkinson Syracuse went 9 1 and 2 that year. Incredibly there were seven shutouts one scoreless time 331 points scored and 16 allowed including victories over Michigan. Oregon state Montana and Colgate with the winds of war blowing in Europe. O'Neill continued to field respectable teams. The highlight of 917 0 8 1 and 1 winning season was the 10 to 9 defeat of Nebraska and victories over Michigan State and Rutgers with the university and students doing their part for the war effort. The star tackle Louis Usher and his fellow orange gritters shortened their season. In 1900 all Neil fielded another brilliant club. Led by Joe Alexander a two time All-American tackle and Hall of Famer.

The argument went eight and three and work Grantland Rice is picked as the nation's top club. Behind the brute strength of Alexander in the hands of Joe Schmo to the orange Berry 2:36 a Pop Warner led Pittsburgh team that hadn't lost him for. Syracuse would begin the next decade with a new coach. Frank O'Neal would be gone. But the legacy he and his players left the university and with. Syracuse University had established itself as a power to be reckoned with on the national scene. The colorful twenties brought much in the way of change to Syracuse University. Charles Wesley Flint replaced day as chancellor and flamboyant showman tactician and psychologist John chick man took the reins of the arch. Me I'm a former Orange quarterback had a penchant for getting those players up for the big ones.

His accomplishments included back to back victories in 22 and 23 over one of the greatest Nebraska teams of all time a club that had dominated mighty Four Horsemen led Notre Dame. MEEHAN got his players ready for the Cornhuskers by telling them that the only reason they wanted to play Syracuse was to visit Niagara Falls after knocking them off. It so infuriated the Syracuse players that they did the knocking off in a brutally fought 9 to 6 contest. Under Million's guidance from 20 to 24 he has never lost more than two games per season. Much of the success could be attributed to the superbly conditioned football players he produced including Star Runner and passer Jack but. Stellar tackle and fame coach happy old. Doc Joe Alexander. McRae. REEVES Rivers Basinger Olympian Chet Bowman. Gifford Zimmerman and of course Syracuse legend.

Roy Simmons. A gifted athlete sent his quarterback theologies from 19 22 through 24 and was captain of both the football and lacrosse team. In 1923. Syracuse went eight and one with victories over Alabama Pittsburgh Penn State and Nebraska. Syracuse was invited to play in the Rose Bowl. An invitation which was declined by Chancellor Flint. To the rage and disappointment of the players. And one thousand twenty five feet Reynolds took over the reins early on with Simmons assisting. Graduation had depleted the ranks somewhat but Reynolds could find consolation in the form of a solid core of performers including the incomparable Vic Hansen. Hansen a Syracuse native was a tremendous all round athlete. Blessed with a speed and a sensational pair of hands. The owner could catch everything from in his direction. To this day the cancer remains the only Syracuse

athlete ever to be inducted into the National Football Foundation and Basketball Hall of Fame. Behind the speed of Hanson and God's car the finesse of future Olympian Rainbow beauty and trials and the talents of bust Friedman Charlie Lee and Hall of levy the knowledge went 8 1 and 1 with victories over Penn State Indiana and Columbia. The following year another fine team was feeling. Unfortunately the scene was marred by a meeting with West Point which resulted in one of the bloodiest confrontations ever stays in the name of college football. Following the massacre of the planes as it was called Syracuse an army would not lead again for nearly 30 years. Toward the end of the decade Lou and Rios who was slated to become long time athletic director at Syracuse took over the coaching Rams. And various teams if not world beaters were respectable and well coached. Stars of his teams were Harrell

basic grey Bob Jonah Goldman and Warren Street. The first night game in the US was played in one 229 versus Hobart with a white football. In 1930. Syracuse. University's greatest all around athlete was named head coach at 27 big cancer and was one of the youngest coaches in the nation. In 1932 Hansen's team went 71 and won including victories over Florida. Penn State Ohio Wesleyan and sleepy Jim Crowley's powerful Michigan State Spartans. Straws during the handsome era included the all-American tackle gym steam Joe fabric crema John tells the single twin. George Perrault and running back Vanny Albanians who during the Michigan state victory carried the ball 17 consecutive times throughout the 30s. School spirit and interest in football would never hide. There

were elaborate homecoming parade with floats bands and dances and a saltine warrior replace Billy the goat as mascot. Football weekends were the most exciting of events on campus. On game day. Co-ed sat on opposite sides of the field from the man and all the kids in the neighborhood would try their best to squeeze through the fence and Oswald to get a glimpse of their heroes. Unfortunately for Coach Hansen Syracuse's competition with their nearby neighbor and Hamilton was assuming mythic proportions. The last time the Anjan had defeated the Red Raiders was in 1925 and pressure was building on the young coach to produce a victory. Students faculty and alumni had rallies bonfires anything to help crash the Colgate jinx. Although. It was to no avail however and eventually Vick stepped down. In 1937. AC Solon was named head coach of the OC. With Clarens

big money and Bud Wilkinson at his side. So I'm glad I'm no miracle man. We'll do what we can with what we have and hope for the best. So Mom's first season in the Islands went 5 2 and one respectable by any standard but it was the 1938 season that would be for ever remembered in the hearts and the minds of the faithful. The 38 team had some brilliant talent. Phil Allen red hair old Babe Ruth the Erie press of old Duffy Dougherty Dick Bangor and his superior past Wilmoth sit at sing I also played on that team. The first of the miracle contests is still referred to as the game. Syracuse vs Cornell before a crowd of 25000 in Arch Bowl stadium and the big red leads 10 to nothing going into the final quarter. Within a period of six minutes Syracuse behind the powerful arm of Sadat Singh scored three lightning touchdowns

and pulled out a 19 to 17 victory in what many including the legendary sports writer Grantland Rice considered to be one of the most dramatic contests in college football history. So that singing was one of the finest players of his era despite racial prejudice from some of Syracuse his opponents. Sinead saying rose above the humiliation. Impressing his teammates with his character coolness under pressure and his brilliance. If as Hugh Cornell was the game. Than Su Colgate 38 and its affects on the city and populace of Syracuse. Musta been a Northern Mardi Gras after 14 a long embarrassing years a sit down sing lead Syracuse team defeated Colgate 7 to nothing. Alone put returned by the bank at a 14 yard touchdown and the round by the multi-talented Phil Allen won the ballgame. The breaking of The Jinx resulted in the sheer pandemonium. A year later Syracuse again

defeated the Red Raiders Forever laying to rest the hated. Acing Solem and his players have found their niche in SU folklore. Solms innovative coaching and revolutionary play development like the Resource Center crowd pleasers the resource center play consisted of having the center face his own backfield and resulted in the baffling of entre ponens until it was outlawed in 1941. For over a quarter of a century solum Runnels Mian and their peers had helped extend Syracuse's winning tradition. For all their successes however they would have been hard pressed to envision the giddy heights that Syracuse football would ascend to in future years. After the departure of Aussie solum Clarence biggie mon and later Reeves Basinger tried

their hand at coaching the orange with mixed results. Certainly there were some brilliant individual talents like running backs Walter slivers Levinsky Horace Maurice and Joe watts but not in the quantity that other schools had. Syracuse football was in another transition awaiting the right leader to turn it around. It found such an individual in one Floyd bench works well that Walter a West Virginia graduate an ex paratrooper had enjoyed success in his previous positions at smaller schools and hoped to build Syracuse into a consistent winner. In 1953 he took a Syracuse team that barely had more than the necessary platoon of players to face Alabama in the Orange Bowl. While the Aryans lost the contest. The year was a resounding success with a 7 2 record and the first bowl appearance in the school's history. Hard work and determination were beginning to pay off the foundation laid earlier by Bernie justice a superb passive. And talented athlete. Quarterback had starred Jim Rango George Davis

Bobby Young of Vegas St.. Bob Fleck and sure handed shows the fee was set. Lost with success and deserving national publicity additional funds were allocated for the program and eventually more scholarships. In 1953 Syracuse recruited a youngster from Long Island by the name of Jim Brown. He was given a jersey with the number 44. It would be the beginning of the closest thing that approaches legend in Syracuse football folklore a magical number worn by a succession of unbelievably talented athletes with the unstoppable Brown and other gifted athletes like Jim with Syracuse would build competitive teams through 1956. During that period Brown will develop into the premier wanting back in the country at the tender age of 20. Jim Brown was indisputably the finest college player in the country in 1956 and many players on the opposing teams had belongs to. Hall of Famer the West Virginia linebacker Sam Huff remembers his first meeting with Big Jim in Morgantown.

I looked down the field and saw the biggest running back I've ever seen. Huge shoulders and arms no hips and huge legs. The perfectly built human being during the course of the game which the orange one Sam got his first big shot of him when he regained consciousness he discovered that he had been hit so hard that his nose was broken and several of his teeth were missing. So much for first impressions. Behind the power and speed of Jim Brown's ball carrier the hands of Jim where the long and the arm of the RNC compiled a credible 7 1 record. Brown's forty three point Archibald farewell performance against Colgate still stands 33 years later in the NCAA record books as the most remarkable individual scoring performance of all time national attention turns of the Aryans in the postseason with a cotton bowl meeting with CCU. The game turned out to be a classic as the RS men were barely edged. What do you. 2:27 I'll walk to Syracuse However even in defeat had

several notches and prestige in the nation's eyes. If 1957 was a respectable year for the orange 1958 was outstanding behind quarterback Zimmerman halfback Erhard tackle Ron Lucianne No they aren't. When 18 won the best record since 1939 victories over Nebraska Penn State Pittsburgh and West Virginia were satisfying ones for Ben. Although they aren't bowed to a powerful Oklahoma team in the Orange Bowl 5:39. They had no regrets. The stage had been set for the ultimate season. Before the start of the 1959 coaches had indications they had the makings of a pretty good football team. The first and second teams were loaded with talent. They had a young sophomore from Elmira named Ernie Davis. Bernie had come to Syracuse to follow in the footsteps of his idol Jim Brown wearing the same number as Brown magic food before. Davis soon left little doubt that he was a worthy successor to Brown. Breaking a series of school records Davis would leave Syracuse with an

incredible 6.6 yards per carry average. That still stands in the record books. Ernie speed power and elusiveness combined with the back field of a quarterback and the other half back position. Was the kind of combination the coaches. The side an arsenal of outstanding officer firepower the 1959 team would post an incredible five shutouts holding many rushing figures. Play was responsible for much of the success and the brawny sizable consisting of all America Roger Davis Alfie Miller Bobby Tarbox. For yeoman Gerry struck fear into the hearts of many opposing. John Hedo led Kansas City was defeated and the Royal Navy Holy Cross and West Virginia were all blown away by huge margins. With national attention focusing on the Aryans following the 40 for nothing demolition of the West Virginia Mountaineers Ben remarked in his understated manner. We just take a one game at a

time. We're just country folks. Following the 35 nothing destruction of Pittsburgh the Aryans went through the rest of the schedule like a knife through warm butter. It should be noted that Ben had the luxury of using two almost equally talented brilliant quality players the likes of fullback Art Baker bone crushing lineman John Browning and a supporting cast the one writer likened to a group of marauding monsters of the Midway Syracuse in the Cotton Bowl. In a game that would decide the national championship on the second play in the game Davis reeled in a perfect garish ladies past and raced 87 yards for a touchdown. Stunning long. Lawrence. The spider. Told hamstrings. Davis would score again and be voted against most valuable player with an undercurrent of racial tension is directed at some of Syracuse says players emotions ran high in this violent warlike match up in the end the arms prevailed 23 to 14 and laid claim to the title of the nation's best.

The following year Syracuse would go respectable seventh too but reject the bowl appearance. Then continue to attract talented players like tight end John Mackey one of the most skilled and powerful players ever to hold that position that SU. And waltz in. 1961 was notable not only because Syracuse defeated Miami in the Liberty Bowl 15 to 14 behind the fabulous Ronnie Davis passages that. Cause Ernie Davis was awarded the Heisman Trophy as the best football player in the land the first black ever to be awarded such an honor. But because of a controversial game versus the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame as far as when Walt Sweeney was called for. Notre Dame critical. Time right out in the game. Instead of the orange walking away with a 15 14 decision. An overzealous umpire incorrectly allowed the Irish to attempt a closer frugal with no tie. I'm showing on the walk to kick sailed through the uprights at South Bend while the game soon became the TALK OF THE NATION and the controversy even reached the White

House. Some Republicans have been kind enough to get my letter even with Bush I met him head today you know you take care you day with. My daughter today. I get it from. The old. It was not until the return match in 1963 that Ben was able to return the Irish hospitality by subduing the Midwesterners 6:46. That year Syracuse went 82 behind such talents as John Mackey Charlie Brown and a pile driving running back named Jim Nantz at 6 1 2 on June 25 pounds. Nance who would later become an NCAA heavyweight champion wrestler terrorized the fences and became known as one of the most powerful backs ever to play that position. In 1964 he was paired with a new running back from New Haven. Named Floyd Little who had inherited the legendary number 44 from Ernie Davis. The duo was the stuff

football dreams are made of. In 1964 Mr. inside and Mr. outside as they would come to be known gained over a mile on the gridiron eclipsing story Davis and Blanchard the tandem of army. Floyd Little's first game against Kansas and Archibald was amazing. Two hundred fifty four yards five touchdown after before his career was over at Syracuse. Little would account for nearly 5000 yards about that season with victories over Penn State Pittsburgh and 39 nothing blow out of UCLA. Little Randy while. With virtually every defense in the country geared to stopping the Syracuse running attack the elusive little powerful Nantz made a shambles of their opponent's game plans. Syracuse faced LSU in the Sugar Bowl and going down a seven to three bands club did nothing to diminish the much deserved reputation of football. With graduating almost miraculously the position was filled by a young Ohio farm boy aka the muscular

Saka who was 6 3 and by senior year weight in the bone crushing 38 was almost immediately the quality complement to Little's open field running. The chemistry between the guard Gary Hagan impact devastating blocking was perfect. Little was secondary on every other play. In 1966 Syracuse on the Tory starting club went to defeating the likes of Marilyn. Penn State Florida State and West Virginia. Why resign because punishing straight ahead power running made him one of the most feared and hardest to bring down players on the gridiron. With strong arm which at the controls Syracuse took on the Tennessee Volunteers and the Gator Bowl after spotting the volunteers an almost insurmountable lead. Little Asako went to work pounding around and through the line and punishing the secondary. Tennessee was barely able to withstand the furious comeback attempt. Between Tsongas how Iranian Little's 216 yards which is more than Tennessee gave up an

entire team that season. They almost pulled it off Floyd said that the game was just a few minutes longer. The song might have sat on rings that night Be that as it may a little Zongo are moving Hagen chi ASCII and company had given a magnificent accounting of themselves and even in defeat stood tall in the eyes of a national TV audience that had marvel at their Never say die attitude with three time All-America Floyd Little's departure Larry Zaka was confronted with a challenge to keep the ground game moving zonk responded with a driving style that gave pause to even the most ardent lineman a defensive backs tackling the nearly 240 pound fullback was compared to grabbing a 220 full power line with your teeth. It was not uncommon to see Zaka dragging two three and four defensive players down the field. In 1967 because Sada led under rated R is ready when 18 to climax their season by traveling to Los Angeles to abuse Heisman Trophy winner Gary Stevens UCLA Bruins 32 to 14 Casada

and Song of the party and in 1968 the orange won six and four with the leaders Tony Gabriel and Al Newton. In 69 the orange barely went 500 but in 1970 the program had problems of another nature. When black players who boycotted practice were asked to leave the team. Eventually all the players were reinstated and administrative reforms made in the program. It was a trying season for all involved. Miraculously the armies managed to subdue a powerful Penn State team 6:36 and demolished Miami 56 to 16 from 71 to 74 the Orange had a hard time breaking 500. To be sure there was some brilliant individual talent the likes of Tommy Myers Joe Ehrmann Stan Walters dad Yoakum Greg Allen and Marty Janice Davis. But again they never had the quantity of athletes that their key opponents had in 1973 bench Walsh Walter would retire from coaching his beloved Orangeman. He accomplished what a golden few in his profession aspire to his record of 22 straight winning seasons four Lambert trophies seven bowl

games one hundred fifty three victories in the national championship made him one of the winningest college coaches of all time and put him securely on a level with the great tacticians and teachers of the game. In 1982 he would be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame to join the Rockies O'Neil's and wonders he had molded Syracuse into a national power. Now it was time for others to carry on with the tradition. Hi I'm Marv Albert with Ben Schwartz world his departure Syracuse went to the Big Ten Conference and found an energetic 33 year old defensive coach from the University of Michigan to become the 24th head coach of the orange. Frank Maloney inherited a program that was in the doldrums in the mid 70s. Syracuse teams would attempt to compensate for their lack of depth with hard play

and enthusiasm. It was an uphill struggle however. Yet there were some fine moments in the Maloney years in 75 repressed and Keith moody Ken Clarke Dave Jacobson Jim Donahue and co. tripped Bobby Bowden's Peach Bowl bound West Virginia Mountaineers in a nail biter and even football powerhouses like Ohio State Miami and Michigan State knew that they were in a fight when the orange rolled into town. When the final gun sounded in 1978 at the conclusion of the Syracuse Navy game the demolition of the venerable Archbold stadium was begun at 71. It had outlived its usefulness. A magnificent 50000 seat dome stadium would be erected at the site of the phone. It will be completed in time for the 1980 season and be the only on campus facility of its kind like its predecessor it would have a profound effect on the Syracuse football program. In 1979 Syracuse football took to the road while the carrier dome was being constructed. It was to be

Frank Moloney least most successful season as a coach with a talented and fearless quarterback named Bill Hurley. The orange would go seven in five that year which included a win over McNeese State in the Independence Bowl complemented by a sawed off ends of line that included Craig Wolf Link and a defense key by linebacker Jim Collins earlier work the option to perfection and as an accurate passing often found the incomparable long running wide open. Gary Anderson handled the kicking and the backfield belong to one Joe Marcus with incredible speed and power the 5 7 100 pound running back to rewrite orange record books. It mattered little who Syracuse's opponents were. Joel would find an opening in the opposing lines and be gone before he would leave Syracuse Joe Morris would account for an incredible four thousand two hundred ninety nine yards rushing eclipsing the mark set by all time greats Sancha little Davis and brown. In 1980 if they carry a dome opening the

orange would post the 36 24 victory over Miami of Ohio in a steamy night opening that year the orange would go five up and six down. It would be fright Maloney's last season at Syracuse. As the warm days of August gave way to the chill of fall changes in the Syracuse football program were in the air. Fearsome a native of Maine an assistant coach with the Cleveland Browns was brought in by Jake crowd home. The FSU athletic director to assume the head coaching duties in Macpherson's first year behind the spectacular running of Joe Maurice Syracuse managed to post a 4 6 1 record. The highlights of the season saw SU defeat of Doug Flutie lead Boston College Club and scored 27 24 upset of Peach Bowl bound West Virginia in 1982 on Mike Chas and Tony Romano at Syracuse team started off the season with a victory over Rutgers in the Meadowlands. Although there were some hints of promise the best the orange could do would be the post 2 and

9 record. The Pearsons only consolation of that rebuilding year was that he had brought in an outstanding freshman class MacPherson firmly believed to feel the kind of team needed to compete. He had to land the state's finest players. He did just that. When Tim Green a local high school started parade all of our got signed a letter of intent to play for they are symbolically Macpherson's signing of one of the most highly recruited high school players in all the nation was a clue besides depriving the competition including arch rival Joe paternalist Nittany Lions of an outstanding player. Graham's commitment attracted other outstanding players. The 1983 season proved that the labors of Coach Macpherson and his staff were beginning to bear fruit with one of the toughest schedules in the nation. The orange post of victories over Boston College over a strong West Virginia club they shut down a polio McCallum led Navy team and very nearly upset the powerful Penn State. Syracuse also posted its 500 winner in a

victory over Rush a marked improvement of the orange defense was one of the reasons for the Syracuse success. Su assistant coach George O'Leary's line but made up a defensive unit called four wheel drive comprised of tackles Billy's winner and Tim Green nose guard Bill Ben Doggett outside linebacker Jimmy Kimmel. The group frequently harassed tormented and abused the opposing quarterbacks to distraction with their aggressive hard nosed player. With the linebackers and secondary starting to come into their own fierce and was able to concentrate often in 1984 for a back yard normally and teammates engineer the upset of the number one rated lump Brasco Cornhuskers to post one of the biggest victories. In Syracuse football history. With the defense led by Tim Green. Jamie Kimmel and Rudy Reed harassing Nebraska they often passed and pounded on the visitors securing the 8:43. Needless to say the fans. Loved the. Additional victories over Maryland Pittsburgh dog western army allowed

circus school for the first back to back. Winning seasons. Since the late sixty. 1085 season marked the emergence of another player who was to have a major impact on Syracuse football. Don that fearsome was the ECAC Rookie of the year before he was injured in 1984. In 1985 a healthy MacPherson fast for nearly fifteen hundred yards and 12 touchdowns often just superb targets like Scott weightings and Mike S.A. with a subtle fence of line running back Robert Drummond and a veteran defensive unit. The RS meant we're not a group to be taken lightly. In 85 the RS posted a 7 4 record which included an exciting career win over archrival fans think. The off fence was exciting and competitive with the fans anchored by Green. Was ranked fourth nationally against the wrong arena was often double teamed finished his career with a. Credible. Forty five and a half. Have sex. With Chancellor Eggers and coach Macpherson in attendance.

Co-captains green and green accepted the official bid to play Marilyn in The Cherry Bowl. Although Maryland would provide them a contest coach Macpherson and his staff would use the programs we surgeons to make. 1985 was the most successful recruiting efforts in Syracuse history. In 86. The orange went five and six. One of the Pearsons favorite receiver Scott was catching everything thrown in his direction and in the process rewriting the record books. Late teen 87 proved a banner year for SU athletics. The basketball team made it down to do all of this for the NCAA Final Four and the Syracuse football team led by Don the fearsome Rob Roman nose guard Ted Gregory and Tommy Kane made a return trip nine months later to the Sugar Bowl. 1987 was the year that Syracuse electrified the college sports world by going up. Perfect 11 and all for the regular season the merciless pounding being administered to arch rival Penn State in the Carrier Dome before a national TV audience

by Donnie to pierce and rob or Pat Kelly Gregory rod Roman Tommy Kane and company personifies the kind of hard nosed in-your-face football that Ben Schwartz Walter loves so much the fans went wild for the first time in 17 years. Penn State was defeated by a score of forty eight to 21 as MacPherson passed for a record three hundred forty six young victories over Maryland Miami Virginia Tech Missouri Colgate Pittsburgh Navy Boston College and any credible final game of the year photo finish with West Virginia Fernhurst courtesy of Michael Owens. Camp. This season. Syracuse faced mighty STC champion all burnt in the Sugar Bowl before 75000. Although the orange man I'll play the Tigers and Donnie MacPherson was named the MVP of the game at the contest and the school or red 16 16. Overs goes on. Guy went to the guy instead of the wind.

No matter Syracuse had proven itself as the first squad to go undefeated since 1959 the first team to finish the top 10 since 1960 and the first Lambert Trophy winner since the days of Floyd Little coach Dick MacPherson had done something that only rarely had been accomplished in the history of Syracuse football. He had molded an undefeated season. Of course one could never quite duplicate the thrill of 1987 the 1988 edition came excitingly close behind a highly accurate passing of previously held a quarterback Todd Phil Cox. We aren't hosted at 10 and 2 Wreck-It defeating for a second time. Penn State's reliance by the power running and blocking of Daryl Johnston Robert Drummond and the heir apparent to the 44 legacy Michael Owens Syracuse pounded away at the opposition. Put a group of receive the top defensive line supported by script linebackers and arguably the best secondary in the country led by all American Marcus Hall spelled success

with the arm extended an invitation to the Hall of Fame ball to meet at Chaffey Louisiana State Police always stood tall while everyone wondered how the boys from Syracuse would stand up to the heat on the powerful tiger attack. They aren't before a national TV audience. Promptly What about the business of quickly playing outside. So if you say so fur fishing paid off as it had all season as the LSU players were the ones who will feel. It proved to be a. Great victory. Over quality program. That's Syracuse football has again risen to national prominence is a tribute to Dick Macpherson and his staff and to the university's administration. But it is also a testimony to the tough strong young men who have played for the orange and built a tradition in the true college spirit. These athletes have brought the finest measure of the talents and energy to the game that they love. Syracuse University has engaged in football competition at the highest

level. For a century its history is intertwined with that of other pioneering universities and their collegiate legends the force Warner sucked. Syracuse too has fielded legendary teams and athletes like the late bunny Davis personified all that is good and right in collegiate athletic competition. These young men have provided dream enjoyment and satisfaction to generations of Americans in a day and age when today's fascination is tomorrow's forgotten symbol. Syracuse football and its legends have endured. And for the youngsters who dream of greatness on leaf filled autumn afternoons it has provided an inspiration to be part of a tradition and follow in footsteps that were traveled so long ago. You're.

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