Post by Coach Campbell on Feb 28, 2009 20:30:56 GMT
The History of Syracuse Football
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1889
On Nov. 23 Syracuse travelled to Rochester for its first intercollegiate football game. Wearing pink and blue uniforms, SU lost 36-0 to finish the year 0-1.
1890
Orange was adopted as the school color and Syracuse athletic teams are henceforth known as "Orange" or "Orangemen". SU defeats Rochester 4-0 in the season opener for its first football victory, en route to an 8-3 record. Bobby Winston became the program’s first head coach.
1891
Stephen Crane, author of the Civil War classic, "Red Badge of Courage," was a member of the SU squad that finished 4-7.
1892
The only season in SU football history with no wins, when at least two games were played. The Orange went 0-8-1 under coach Jordan C. Wells.
1893
Without a coach, the Orange finished the season with a 4-9-1 record with wins against Syracuse High School, Hamilton, Onondaga Academy and Cazenovia.
1894
In his only season as SU’s head coach, George H. Bond led the Orange to a 6-5 record.
1895
The Orange secured its first real home field as SU went from playing in parks throughout the city of Syracuse to playing at The Oval, which was a space located behind the Hall of Languages. The Orange recorded its first victory against rival Colgate, by an unusual score of 4-0.
1896
The Orange played its first opponent from outside of New York State, losing to Williams (Mass.) College, 24-6.
1897
The Colgate "Hoodoo" was born when a newspaper reporter sympathetic to the Red Raiders’ cause tackled an SU player who was on his way to scoring the winning touchdown. The game ended in a 6-6 tie.
1898
The Orange posted an 8-2-1 record, outscoring opponents 192-69, under the direction of head coach Frank E. Wade.
1899
SU finished 4-4 in the final year of head coach Frank E. Wade’s three-year tenure.
1900
Edwin Sweetland, a Cornell grad, was hired as head football coach and to start the crew program. He later coached against SU as the head coach at Colgate.
1901
The image of success builds for the football program as the Orange finished the season with a 7-1 record, losing one game to Lafayette, 5-0.
1902
A 23-0 shutout of rival Colgate was an important win for the Orange as it cruised to a 6-2-1 season with other big wins against the Onondaga Indians, Amherst and Williams.
1903
The football program gained momentum as its budget increased to $5,500, bringing the overall SU sports budget to $10,400.
1904
The Orange put 144 points on the board against Manhattan, a record that still stands today.
1905
The Orange posted six shutouts as it finished the season with an overall record of 8-3.
1906
Head coach Frank J. O’Neill led the Orange to a 6-3 mark in SU’s final season playing in The Oval.
1907
The Orange opened Archbold Stadium, a 20,000-seat stadium, with a 28-0 victory against Hobart. The stadium provided the Orange with one of the finest facilities of its time. Once called "the eighth wonder of the world," Archbold was just the third concrete stadium built in the United States. A 22-0 victory against Hamilton was the program’s 100th win.
1908
SU played its first game against a Western Conference (now Big Ten) foe, beating Michigan 28-4. Marquis (Bill) Horr became SU’s first All-America selection in head coach Howard Jones’ only season as SU’s leader. Jones and Frank O’Neill were the first Syracuse people inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.
1909
SU posted a 4-5-1 record during the first of two seasons for head coach T.A.D. Jones. He finished with an overall record of 9-9-2.
1910
In its 22nd season of intercollegiate football, SU finished with a 5-4-1 record.
1911
First-year head coach C. DeForest Cummings led the Orange to a 5-3-2 season.
1912
After opening the season with a 12-0 victory against in-state rival Hobart, SU finished with a 4-5 record in C. DeForest Cummings’ final season as head coach.
1913
Coach Frank (Buck) O’Neill returned to coach the Orange after he had led the program to a winning season in 1907. He continued as the coach at SU for five more years.
1914
SU scored 81 points in a victory against Hamilton, a point total that ranks fourth on the Orange record list.
1915
SU’s first powerhouse team finished 9-1-2, recording seven shutouts and outscoring the opposition, 331-16. SU was invited to the Rose Bowl to play Washington, but declined because an earlier west coast trip (the first by an eastern school) to Oregon State had used up the travel budget. SU guards Christopher Schlacter and Harold White were both named All-Americans.
1916
In his only season as head coach William Hollenback led SU to a 5-4 record.
1917
All-America tackle Alfred R. Cobb captained the Orange squad to an 8-1-1 record.
1918
Joe Alexander earns his first of three consecutive All-America honors and becomes the first of two Syracuse football players to earn this honor three times. He was followed by Floyd D. Little, who was an All-American from 1964-1966. Tackle Louis Usher also earned All-America recognition in 1918. Alexander played in the NFL as center for the Rochester Jeffersons, Milwaukee Badgers, and New York Giants.
1919
All-American Joe Alexander and the Orange finished 8-3 in the last year of Frank (Buck) O’Neill’s tenure as SU’s head coach. He was SU’s sideline leader from 1906-07 and from 1913-15.
1920
Team captain Joe Alexander led the Orange to a 6-2-1 in his third year as an All-American and head coach John Meehan’s first year. Alexander was enshrined in the Collge Football Hall of Fame in 1954. Tackle Bertrand Gulick also earned All-America honors.
1921
Gifford Zimmerman became the first SU player to wear the fabled number 44. The number remained in circulation and was used as a recruiting tool until this season, when it will be retired (Nov. 12, 2005).
1922
The Penn State series started with a scoreless tie in the game played in the Polo Grounds in New York City. The clubs met regularly until 1990, when PSU ended the series. SU and PSU will play again in 2008 and 2009. Roy Simmons Sr. became the squad’s quarterback, marking the beginning of a relationship between the Simmons family and SU athletics that continues today with Roy Simmons III, who is an assistant men’s lacrosse coach. After his playing career concluded in 1924, Simmons Sr. coached the Orange lacrosse and boxing squads, as well as serving as an assistant football coach. Roy Simmons Jr. was SU’s men’s lacrosse coach from 1971 through 1998, taking the reins of the program from his father when he retired in 1970.
1923
All-America end Evander (Pete) MacRae led the Orange defense to a school-record seven consecutive shutouts.
1924
Syracuse defeated Boston College, 10-0, for the 200th victory in the program’s history.
1925
Clarence Thomas became the first quarterback to wear the storied number 44 jersey. He led the team to an 8-1-1 record.
1926
Vic Hanson earned All-America honors in football and captained the basketball team to the national championship. Hanson is the only athlete enshrined in both the Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
1927
In his first year as head coach Lewis Andreas led the Orange to a 5-3-2 record.
1928
After a 3-0 start, the Orange finished the season with a 4-4-1 record.
1929
SU played the first night game in the east, beating Hobart 77-0. Lew Andreas, who was SU’s basketball coach from 1924 through 1950, completes a three-year stint as football coach. Andreas also served as SU’s director of athletics from 1937 through 1964.
1930
Vic Hanson returned to SU to coach for three years after he had briefly played for the New York Yankees farm team, highlighting his multi-faceted athletic ability.
1931
The Orange outscored its opponents 238-56 en route to a 7-1-1 record.
1932
The program enjoyed its 250th victory, a 27-6 win against Oglethorpe.
1933
After a 3-0 start, the Orange closed the season with a 4-4 record under the direction of fourth-year head coach Vic Hanson.
1934
All-America tackle James Steen led the Orange to a 6-2 record.
1935
Senior guard Ed Jontos became SU’s first-ever professional football draft pick when he was selected 45th overall by the New York Giants in the 1936 draft.
1936
Vic Hanson concluded his SU coaching tenure with a seven-year record of 33-21-5. The Associate Press writers’ poll was introduced. Syracuse was not ranked among its top 20 teams.
1937
Ossie Solem succeeded Hanson as head coach. He brought with him an assistant by the name of Charles (Bud) Wilkinson, who later established a dynasty at Oklahoma. Wilkinson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969.
1938
Wilmeth Sidat-Singh, one of the first African-American quarterbacks to play college football, leads SU to a stunning 19-17 comeback win over Cornell. Among Sidat-Singh’s teammates — Olympic sprinter and legendary sports announcer Marty Glickman and the great Michigan State coach Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty. Sidat-Singh’s SU basketball jersey was retired in February, 2005.
1939
As a team, Syracuse set a defensive record as they only allowed 33.3 percent completed passing throughout the season.
1940
Under head coach Ossie Solem, SU beat NYU, 47-13, on October 12th. The game was played in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx in front of 8,000 people.
1941
The Syracuse special teams set a record as they accumulated 662 punt return yards.
1942
Winning the first five games of the season, the Orange were ranked as high as 15th as it went on to finish with a 6-3 record.
1943
Syracuse University suspended intercollegiate sports due to World War II.
1944
The Orange finished with a 2-4-1 record, including a game against Boston College at the well-known Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.
1945
Ossie Solom concluded his eight-year SU coaching stint, guiding the Orange to a 1-6 record. He had a 30-27-6 overall record.
1946
Future College Football Hall of Fame coach Clarence L. "Biggie" Munn served as the Orange head coach. Munn went on to coach at Michigan State. A member of Munn’s coaching staff, Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty, was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, in 1984.The Orange program enjoyed its 300th overall win, a 28-7 victory against Temple.
1947
Reaves Baysinger became head coach and promptly changed the Orange’s uniform jersey from a blue jersey with orange numbers to white to go along with the khaki moleskin pants. He led SU to a 3-6 record.
1948
In the final year for head coach Reaves Baysinger the Orange posted a 1-8 record.
1949
Ben Schwartzwalder was hired as head coach after the Orange had just completed its fifth straight losing season. That stretch is still the longest in SU history.
1950
With three interceptions against Penn State, Avatus Stone set the school record for most pass interceptions in one game. Two others (Tommy Myers, 1970, and Markus Paul, 1985) have since tied that mark.
1951
In a game against LaFayette, the Orange defense forced an SU record nine turnovers.
1952
Tackle Robert Fleck earned All-America honors, leading Syracuse to a 7-2 record and its first bowl invitation. SU is lost to Alabama, 61-6, in the Orange Bowl. Future Professional Football Hall of Fame center Jim Ringo concluded his three-year SU career.
1953
Robert Fleck moved to guard and earned his second consecutive All-America award as the Orange finished 5-3-1 during head coach Ben Schwartzwalder’s fifth season at the helm.
1954
A halfback from Long Island, well down on the pre-season depth chart, was issued jersey number 44. His name was Jim Brown.
1955
The Syracuse defense shined as it only allowed 35 pass completions on 95 attempts – still SU records for the fewest completions and attempts by opponents in SU football history. Against Army, the Orange did not allow a completion.
1956
With a bowl bid on the line in the regular season finale versus Colgate, Jim Brown scored an NCAA record 43 points in SU’s 61-7 victory. The Orange finished the regular season with a 7-1 record, earning an invitation to the Cotton Bowl, where it lost to TCU, 28-27. Brown broke the SU rushing record with 986 yards and earned first team All-America honors. He went on to a hall of fame career with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns after he was the sixth overall selection by Cleveland in the 1957 NFL Draft. In 1995, Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
1957
Syracuse recorded the 300th win in the program’s history with a 26-9 victory against Nebraska.
1958
Tackle Ronald Luciano earned All-America honors, leading the Orange to an 8-2 record and an Orange Bowl appearance. SU lost to Oklahoma, 21-6.
1959 • NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Undefeated, untied, and national champions, the Orange capped off an 11-0 season with its first bowl win, a 23-14 victory against Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Syracuse enjoyed its finest time on the gridiron, pulverizing its foes both offensively and defensively. The defense allowed a mind-boggling 193 yards rushing in 10 games. On offense, the Orange averaged 451 yards per game. Three SU student-athletes earned All-America honors, including guard Roger Davis, end Fred Mautino and tackle Robert Yates. Davis was the seventh overall selection by the Chicago Bears in the 1960 NFL Draft.
1960
Ernie Davis earned the first of two All-America honors playing halfback for the 7-2 Orange. The Philadelphia Eagles selected fullback Art Baker with the 14th overall pick in the 1961 NFL Draft.
1961
Ernie Davis won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first African-American to receive college football’s most prestigious award. Along the way, he broke Jim Brown’s SU career rushing record and closed his career by leading the Orange to a Liberty Bowl win against Miami. Less than two years later, Davis died of leukemia. Davis was the top pick in the 1962 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins (who traded his rights to Cleveland) and in the 1962 AFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. In 1979 Davis was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
1962
Ben Schwartzwalder was on the East coaching staff for the Coaches All-American game that included two of his players, Ernie Davis and John Brown. End Walt Sweeney was a first-round selection by the AFL’s San Diego Chargers in the 1963 draft.
1963
John Mackey begins his NFL career as a tight end for the Baltimore Colts, where he eventually played in two Super Bowls. In 1992, Mackey was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
1964
Sophomore half back Floyd Little, who was recruited to SU by 1961 Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, earned All-America honors in his first season. Center Patrick Killorin also earned All-America honors. The program celebrated it’s 400th win -- a 38-6 victory against Kansas.
1965
All-Americans Floyd Little (halfback), Charles Brown (defensive halfback) and Patrick Killorin (center) led the Orange to a 7-4 record, including a 13-10 loss to Louisiana State in the Sugar Bowl. The Tigers kicked a field goal with 3:50 left in the game for the victory. In the loss, Jim Nance rushed for 70 yards, while Little had 46.
1966
Halfback Floyd Little and fullback Larry Csonka, the greatest 1-2 running punch in Orange annals, led the team to an 8-3 record and a Gator Bowl berth. Little set an SU bowl game record with 216 yards and Csonka added 114, in the 18-12 loss to Tennessee. Little, Csonka and tackle Gary Bugenhagen earned All-America honors. The AFL’s Denver Broncos selected Little with the sixth overall pick in the 1967 league draft. In 1983 Little was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, an honor followed by his 1987 enshrinement in the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
1967
Larry Csonka earned All-America honors for the second year in a row after rushing for 1,127 yards and eight touchdowns. The AFL’s Miami Dolphins selected Csonka with the eighth overall pick in the 1968 draft. Csonka was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
1968
Defensive halfback Anthony Kyasky earned All-America honors for the 6-4 Orange. Defensive tackle Art Thoms was the 22nd overall selection by the Oakland Raiders in the AFL Draft.
1969
Against Penn State, Greg Allen set the record for the most individual punt return yards with 172.
1970
Facing a boycott by black athletes, Syracuse was outscored 100-29 in its first three games, but rebounded to win six of the next seven games. Defensive tackle Joe Ehrmann was named an All-American.
1971
Defensive back Tommy Myers intercepted an SU single-season record eight passes during a season in which a 28-24 win against West Virginia gave the SU program its 450th victory.
1972
The SU streak of 22 consecutive non-losing seasons ended with a loss in the regular season finale. SU finished 5-6. Defensive tackle Joe Ehrmann was the 10th overall pick in the 1973 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts.
1973
Ben Schwartzwalder retired after guiding the Orange to a 153-91 mark in 25 years. He was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
1974
The Orange began Frank Maloney’s seven-year SU coaching tenure with a 2-9 record.
1975
All-America Raymond Preston led the Orange to a 6-5 record and was invited to play in the East-West All-Star game. He enjoyed a nine-year NFL career as a linebacker with the San Diego Chargers (1976-84).
1976
Tim Moresco was a member of the victorious North squad in the American Bowl senior all-star game. It was the last year for the nine-year event. Five SU players were invited to play in the game.
1977
SU recorded a 6-5 record, including four consecutive victories to end the season.
1978
Joe Morris set the record for most consecutive 100-yard games in a season with four. He also set the freshman rushing record (1,001 yards). He is the only freshman ever to break 600 yards rushing. In the final game in Archbold Stadium, the Orange recorded a 20-17 victory against nationally-ranked Navy. SU had a 265-112-20 record in Archbold Stadium.
1979
With the razing of Archbold Stadium and the construction of the Carrier Dome, SU spent the entire season on the road, playing "home" games in the Meadowlands, Buffalo and Ithaca. Despite the obstacles, future NFL players Joe Morris, Art Monk, Bill Hurley, Craig Wolfley, Gary Anderson and Jim Collins led SU to its first bowl berth since 1967. Monk earned All-America honors for his effort as a wide receiver and was the 18th overall selection in the NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.
1980
Sept. 20 marked the beginning of a new era with the opening of the Carrier Dome. Joe Morris scored four touchdowns and had a record 300 all-purpose yards as the Orange christened its new home with a 36-24 win against Miami of Ohio. An all-time Syracuse record crowd of 50,564 witnessed the event.
1981
Down-easterner Dick MacPherson arrived on the scene, replacing Maloney. Running back Joe Morris concluded his career as SU’s all-time leading rusher and kicker Gary Anderson earned All-America honors.
1982
The winningest coach in Syracuse football history, Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. On the field, defensive tackle Michael Charles was named an All-American.
1983
The Orange reached a program milestone – the 500th victory – with a 14-7 victory against Navy.
1984
Syracuse native Tim Green earned the first of two consecutive All-America honors as a defensive tackle. Green and his teammates grabbed the nation’s attention with a 17-9 victory against No. 1 ranked Nebraska in the Carrier Dome.
1985
SU began a run of seven bowl berths in eight years, earning a spot opposite Maryland in the Cherry Bowl. SU lost to the Terps, 35-18, to finish the season with a 7-5 record. Defensive tackle Tim Green was named an All-American for the second consecutive year and became the 17th overall selection in the 1986 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Green was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
1986
The Orange won five of the final seven regular season games, setting the stage for the following season’s remarkable 11-0 regular season record.
1987
SU finished the regular season with an undefeated 11-0 record and earned a trip to the Sugar Bowl, its first New Year’s Day Bowl bid since 1965. Auburn’s Win Lyle kicked a last second field goal to pull out a 16-16 tie, the first deadlock in Sugar Bowl history. SU’s sensational quarterback Don McPherson finished second in the Heisman race, but earned several other player of the year and All-America honors. In addition, nose guard Ted Gregory was named an All-American and was the 26th overall selection in the 1988 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.
1988
SU put together consecutive double-figure win seasons for the first time ever, climaxing a 10-2 season with a 23-10 victory against LSU in the Hall of Fame Bowl on New Year’s Day. Defensive back Markus Paul was selected as an All-American, marking the second of six consecutive years the Orange was represented in this elite group.
1989
Syracuse football observed its 100th birthday and earned a record third-straight bowl invite. This time the Orange hit a last minute field goal, by John Biskup, to edge Georgia, 19-18, in the Peach Bowl and cap off an 8-4 season. Center John Flannery and wide receiver Rob Moore earned All-America honors. Moore entered his name in the 1990 NFL supplemental draft and was the first player selected by the New York Jets.
1990
The Orange finished the regular season with a 7-4-2 record and an invitation to the Aloha Bowl in Honolulu. SU put the finishing touches on its fourth-straight bowl by shutting out Arizona, 28-0, behind freshman quarterback Marvin Graves. The Wildcats had not been shut out in 20 seasons (214 games), the second longest streak in NCAA history. Center John Flannery was named an All-American for the second year in a row.
1991
Paul Pasqualoni replaced Dick MacPherson as head coach and SU joined The BIG EAST Football Conference. Pasqualoni led the Orange to a 10-2 record, a perfect 5-0 Big East record, and a 24-17 win against Ohio State in the Hall of Fame Bowl on New Year’s Day. The 10 wins for a rookie coach has been surpassed just five times in the history of major college football. Qadry Ismail became SU’s first-ever All-American in the kick return position.
1992
Pasqualoni and the Orange again won 10 games and made SU’s second straight New Year’s Day bowl appearance, knocking off Colorado, 26-22, at the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe. It was the fifth-straight bowl win for Syracuse, the second-best streak in the country behind Florida State. SU’s thrilling 16-10 loss to Miami in the Carrier Dome served notice that there was more than one major power in The BIG EAST Football Conference. Tight end Chris Gedney was a unanimous All-America selection.
1993
Another year, another winning season as the Orange finished with a 6-4-1 overall record for its seventh straight winning season. Breaking records was a regular occurrence during the campaign. Marvin Graves set new marks in almost every passing and total offensive category, while Shelby Hill, Pat O’Neill and Kevin Mitchell also left their names in the SU record books.
1994
In keeping with the tone in the recent past, the Orange recorded an eighth straight winning season, finishing 7-4 overall. The passing combination of Kevin Mason to Marvin Harrison was prominent throughout the year, while the return of linebacker Dan Conley for a sixth season of competition after numerous knee surgeries was a story of perseverance and dedication.
1995
A young SU team posted a 9-3 season and a victory in the Toyota Gator Bowl. The emergence of Donovan McNabb from a crowded young quarterback battle and his immediate chemistry with receiver Marvin Harrison provided thrills and records, as Harrison established himself as one of the all-time great receivers and kick returners at Syracuse, earning All-America honors as a kick returner. The receiver was the 19th overall player selected in the 1996 NFL Draft, taken by the Indianapolis Colts. Defensively, cornerback Kevin Abrams was an All-American.
1996
Despite getting off to an 0-2 start, the Orange won a share of The BIG EAST Conference title and once again was among the nation’s elite. A mid-season eight game win streak earned the Orange another post-season berth. Syracuse beat Houston in the Liberty Bowl for its seventh-consecutive bowl victory, which was the nation’s longest active bowl win streak at the time. Cornerback Kevin Abrams earned All-America honors for the second year in a row.
1997
Syracuse won its first-ever outright BIG EAST conference championship, clinched by a triumphant 33-18 victory at Miami. After opening the season wiht a 34-0 victory against Wisconsin in the Kickoff Classic, the Orange lost three straight games. SU then defeated Tulane to ignite an eight game winning streak that included the first-ever overtime game in school history against North Carolina State. A 35-18 loss to Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl did not detract from the fact that the Orange was one of six teams to earn a Bowl Alliance bid. Free safety Donovin Darius was an All-America selection.
1998
SU started the season hosting eventual national champion Tennessee. After a 34-33 loss, the Orange defeated defending national champion Michigan in Ann Arbor the following week, 38-28. From there, SU went 7-3, winning its second outright BIG EAST title, and third in a row. SU earned a Bowl Alliance bid, facing Florida in the Orange Bowl. Donovan McNabb was selected with the second overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1999 NFL Draft, the highest ever spot for an SU quarterback. Kick returner Kevin Johnson earned All-America honors.
1999
Syracuse earned a bowl invitation for the fifth straight year and the 11th time in the last 13 years. The Orange posted a 7-5 record in the final season of the millennium. The Orange kicked it off with two victories and closed the century with a 20-13 victory against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. Linebacker Keith Bulluck was selected in the first round (30th overall pick) by the Tennessee Titans in the 2000 NFL Draft.
2000
Syracuse ran its streak of winning seasons to 14 with a 6-5 record. Cornerback Will Allen was the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft and is still a starter for the New York Giants.
2001
Syracuse continued its streak of winning seasons with its 15th in a row with a 10-3 record. SU was one of just four schools that could make the claim. SU beat Kansas State in the Insight.com Bowl for its 12th bowl win. Consensus All-American Dwight Freeney was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, marking the fifth year in a row that an SU player heard his name in the opening round.
2002
Syracuse played in a school-record two triple overtime games, losing at Auburn and winning in the Carrier Dome against No. 8 Virginia Tech. Quarterback Troy Nunes concluded his SU career ranked in the top five on 10 different school record lists, while linebacker Clifton Smith and punter Mike Shafer etched their names among SU’s record-holders, as well. In November, former standout quarterback Donovan McNabb was named to SU’s Board of Trustees.
2003
Tailback Walter Reyes established the SU single-season records for rushing touchdowns (21) and total touchdowns (22) and the Syracuse career mark for rushing touchdowns (38) – as a junior. Wide receiver Johnnie Morant, defensive tackle Christian Ferrara, and offensive tackle Kevin Sampson entered the fraternity of Orange players selected in the National Football League Draft. Head coach Paul Pasqualoni moved into the second spot on SU’s career wins record list with 101.
2004
Running back Walter Reyes concluded his Orange career as SU’s second all-time leading rusher with 3,424 yards. Syracuse finished the season as BIG EAST co-champions, the program’s fourth league title, after a regular-season ending win at #17 Boston College. The Orange lost to Georgia Tech, 51-14, in the Champs Sports Bowl. Offensive Adam Terry was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2005 National Football League Draft.
2005
First-year Orange head coach Greg Robinson, who also serves as the defensive coordinator, made an immediate impact on the Syracuse unit. The pass defense jumped 69 spots in the NCAA statistical rankings from 2004 (90th to 21st), while the total defense improved from 101st in 2004 to 57th in 2005. Free safety Anthony Smith led a group of four seniors who were selected in the 2006 NFL Draft when he was chosen in the third round by the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Offensive tackle Quinn Ojinnaka (Atlanta Falcons), defensive end James Wyche (Jacksonville Jaguars) and defensive end Ryan LaCasse (Baltimore Ravens) were selected in the draft.
2006
Quarterback Perry Patterson saved his best for last, setting career-highs in passing yards and touchdwon passes. He finished his career ranked among the top five on five different Syracuse career record lists. Senior Brendan Carney led the special teams unit, finishing his career with Syracuse and BIG EAST records in punts and punting yardage. While Patterson and Carney closed out their careers, Delone Carter emerged as a threat during his freshman campaign. Carter rushed for 713 yards, the second-highest total for a freshman in school history. In April, Tanard Jackson and Kelvin Smith were selected in the 2007 NFL Draft.
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1889
On Nov. 23 Syracuse travelled to Rochester for its first intercollegiate football game. Wearing pink and blue uniforms, SU lost 36-0 to finish the year 0-1.
1890
Orange was adopted as the school color and Syracuse athletic teams are henceforth known as "Orange" or "Orangemen". SU defeats Rochester 4-0 in the season opener for its first football victory, en route to an 8-3 record. Bobby Winston became the program’s first head coach.
1891
Stephen Crane, author of the Civil War classic, "Red Badge of Courage," was a member of the SU squad that finished 4-7.
1892
The only season in SU football history with no wins, when at least two games were played. The Orange went 0-8-1 under coach Jordan C. Wells.
1893
Without a coach, the Orange finished the season with a 4-9-1 record with wins against Syracuse High School, Hamilton, Onondaga Academy and Cazenovia.
1894
In his only season as SU’s head coach, George H. Bond led the Orange to a 6-5 record.
1895
The Orange secured its first real home field as SU went from playing in parks throughout the city of Syracuse to playing at The Oval, which was a space located behind the Hall of Languages. The Orange recorded its first victory against rival Colgate, by an unusual score of 4-0.
1896
The Orange played its first opponent from outside of New York State, losing to Williams (Mass.) College, 24-6.
1897
The Colgate "Hoodoo" was born when a newspaper reporter sympathetic to the Red Raiders’ cause tackled an SU player who was on his way to scoring the winning touchdown. The game ended in a 6-6 tie.
1898
The Orange posted an 8-2-1 record, outscoring opponents 192-69, under the direction of head coach Frank E. Wade.
1899
SU finished 4-4 in the final year of head coach Frank E. Wade’s three-year tenure.
1900
Edwin Sweetland, a Cornell grad, was hired as head football coach and to start the crew program. He later coached against SU as the head coach at Colgate.
1901
The image of success builds for the football program as the Orange finished the season with a 7-1 record, losing one game to Lafayette, 5-0.
1902
A 23-0 shutout of rival Colgate was an important win for the Orange as it cruised to a 6-2-1 season with other big wins against the Onondaga Indians, Amherst and Williams.
1903
The football program gained momentum as its budget increased to $5,500, bringing the overall SU sports budget to $10,400.
1904
The Orange put 144 points on the board against Manhattan, a record that still stands today.
1905
The Orange posted six shutouts as it finished the season with an overall record of 8-3.
1906
Head coach Frank J. O’Neill led the Orange to a 6-3 mark in SU’s final season playing in The Oval.
1907
The Orange opened Archbold Stadium, a 20,000-seat stadium, with a 28-0 victory against Hobart. The stadium provided the Orange with one of the finest facilities of its time. Once called "the eighth wonder of the world," Archbold was just the third concrete stadium built in the United States. A 22-0 victory against Hamilton was the program’s 100th win.
1908
SU played its first game against a Western Conference (now Big Ten) foe, beating Michigan 28-4. Marquis (Bill) Horr became SU’s first All-America selection in head coach Howard Jones’ only season as SU’s leader. Jones and Frank O’Neill were the first Syracuse people inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.
1909
SU posted a 4-5-1 record during the first of two seasons for head coach T.A.D. Jones. He finished with an overall record of 9-9-2.
1910
In its 22nd season of intercollegiate football, SU finished with a 5-4-1 record.
1911
First-year head coach C. DeForest Cummings led the Orange to a 5-3-2 season.
1912
After opening the season with a 12-0 victory against in-state rival Hobart, SU finished with a 4-5 record in C. DeForest Cummings’ final season as head coach.
1913
Coach Frank (Buck) O’Neill returned to coach the Orange after he had led the program to a winning season in 1907. He continued as the coach at SU for five more years.
1914
SU scored 81 points in a victory against Hamilton, a point total that ranks fourth on the Orange record list.
1915
SU’s first powerhouse team finished 9-1-2, recording seven shutouts and outscoring the opposition, 331-16. SU was invited to the Rose Bowl to play Washington, but declined because an earlier west coast trip (the first by an eastern school) to Oregon State had used up the travel budget. SU guards Christopher Schlacter and Harold White were both named All-Americans.
1916
In his only season as head coach William Hollenback led SU to a 5-4 record.
1917
All-America tackle Alfred R. Cobb captained the Orange squad to an 8-1-1 record.
1918
Joe Alexander earns his first of three consecutive All-America honors and becomes the first of two Syracuse football players to earn this honor three times. He was followed by Floyd D. Little, who was an All-American from 1964-1966. Tackle Louis Usher also earned All-America recognition in 1918. Alexander played in the NFL as center for the Rochester Jeffersons, Milwaukee Badgers, and New York Giants.
1919
All-American Joe Alexander and the Orange finished 8-3 in the last year of Frank (Buck) O’Neill’s tenure as SU’s head coach. He was SU’s sideline leader from 1906-07 and from 1913-15.
1920
Team captain Joe Alexander led the Orange to a 6-2-1 in his third year as an All-American and head coach John Meehan’s first year. Alexander was enshrined in the Collge Football Hall of Fame in 1954. Tackle Bertrand Gulick also earned All-America honors.
1921
Gifford Zimmerman became the first SU player to wear the fabled number 44. The number remained in circulation and was used as a recruiting tool until this season, when it will be retired (Nov. 12, 2005).
1922
The Penn State series started with a scoreless tie in the game played in the Polo Grounds in New York City. The clubs met regularly until 1990, when PSU ended the series. SU and PSU will play again in 2008 and 2009. Roy Simmons Sr. became the squad’s quarterback, marking the beginning of a relationship between the Simmons family and SU athletics that continues today with Roy Simmons III, who is an assistant men’s lacrosse coach. After his playing career concluded in 1924, Simmons Sr. coached the Orange lacrosse and boxing squads, as well as serving as an assistant football coach. Roy Simmons Jr. was SU’s men’s lacrosse coach from 1971 through 1998, taking the reins of the program from his father when he retired in 1970.
1923
All-America end Evander (Pete) MacRae led the Orange defense to a school-record seven consecutive shutouts.
1924
Syracuse defeated Boston College, 10-0, for the 200th victory in the program’s history.
1925
Clarence Thomas became the first quarterback to wear the storied number 44 jersey. He led the team to an 8-1-1 record.
1926
Vic Hanson earned All-America honors in football and captained the basketball team to the national championship. Hanson is the only athlete enshrined in both the Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
1927
In his first year as head coach Lewis Andreas led the Orange to a 5-3-2 record.
1928
After a 3-0 start, the Orange finished the season with a 4-4-1 record.
1929
SU played the first night game in the east, beating Hobart 77-0. Lew Andreas, who was SU’s basketball coach from 1924 through 1950, completes a three-year stint as football coach. Andreas also served as SU’s director of athletics from 1937 through 1964.
1930
Vic Hanson returned to SU to coach for three years after he had briefly played for the New York Yankees farm team, highlighting his multi-faceted athletic ability.
1931
The Orange outscored its opponents 238-56 en route to a 7-1-1 record.
1932
The program enjoyed its 250th victory, a 27-6 win against Oglethorpe.
1933
After a 3-0 start, the Orange closed the season with a 4-4 record under the direction of fourth-year head coach Vic Hanson.
1934
All-America tackle James Steen led the Orange to a 6-2 record.
1935
Senior guard Ed Jontos became SU’s first-ever professional football draft pick when he was selected 45th overall by the New York Giants in the 1936 draft.
1936
Vic Hanson concluded his SU coaching tenure with a seven-year record of 33-21-5. The Associate Press writers’ poll was introduced. Syracuse was not ranked among its top 20 teams.
1937
Ossie Solem succeeded Hanson as head coach. He brought with him an assistant by the name of Charles (Bud) Wilkinson, who later established a dynasty at Oklahoma. Wilkinson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969.
1938
Wilmeth Sidat-Singh, one of the first African-American quarterbacks to play college football, leads SU to a stunning 19-17 comeback win over Cornell. Among Sidat-Singh’s teammates — Olympic sprinter and legendary sports announcer Marty Glickman and the great Michigan State coach Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty. Sidat-Singh’s SU basketball jersey was retired in February, 2005.
1939
As a team, Syracuse set a defensive record as they only allowed 33.3 percent completed passing throughout the season.
1940
Under head coach Ossie Solem, SU beat NYU, 47-13, on October 12th. The game was played in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx in front of 8,000 people.
1941
The Syracuse special teams set a record as they accumulated 662 punt return yards.
1942
Winning the first five games of the season, the Orange were ranked as high as 15th as it went on to finish with a 6-3 record.
1943
Syracuse University suspended intercollegiate sports due to World War II.
1944
The Orange finished with a 2-4-1 record, including a game against Boston College at the well-known Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.
1945
Ossie Solom concluded his eight-year SU coaching stint, guiding the Orange to a 1-6 record. He had a 30-27-6 overall record.
1946
Future College Football Hall of Fame coach Clarence L. "Biggie" Munn served as the Orange head coach. Munn went on to coach at Michigan State. A member of Munn’s coaching staff, Hugh "Duffy" Daugherty, was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, in 1984.The Orange program enjoyed its 300th overall win, a 28-7 victory against Temple.
1947
Reaves Baysinger became head coach and promptly changed the Orange’s uniform jersey from a blue jersey with orange numbers to white to go along with the khaki moleskin pants. He led SU to a 3-6 record.
1948
In the final year for head coach Reaves Baysinger the Orange posted a 1-8 record.
1949
Ben Schwartzwalder was hired as head coach after the Orange had just completed its fifth straight losing season. That stretch is still the longest in SU history.
1950
With three interceptions against Penn State, Avatus Stone set the school record for most pass interceptions in one game. Two others (Tommy Myers, 1970, and Markus Paul, 1985) have since tied that mark.
1951
In a game against LaFayette, the Orange defense forced an SU record nine turnovers.
1952
Tackle Robert Fleck earned All-America honors, leading Syracuse to a 7-2 record and its first bowl invitation. SU is lost to Alabama, 61-6, in the Orange Bowl. Future Professional Football Hall of Fame center Jim Ringo concluded his three-year SU career.
1953
Robert Fleck moved to guard and earned his second consecutive All-America award as the Orange finished 5-3-1 during head coach Ben Schwartzwalder’s fifth season at the helm.
1954
A halfback from Long Island, well down on the pre-season depth chart, was issued jersey number 44. His name was Jim Brown.
1955
The Syracuse defense shined as it only allowed 35 pass completions on 95 attempts – still SU records for the fewest completions and attempts by opponents in SU football history. Against Army, the Orange did not allow a completion.
1956
With a bowl bid on the line in the regular season finale versus Colgate, Jim Brown scored an NCAA record 43 points in SU’s 61-7 victory. The Orange finished the regular season with a 7-1 record, earning an invitation to the Cotton Bowl, where it lost to TCU, 28-27. Brown broke the SU rushing record with 986 yards and earned first team All-America honors. He went on to a hall of fame career with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns after he was the sixth overall selection by Cleveland in the 1957 NFL Draft. In 1995, Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
1957
Syracuse recorded the 300th win in the program’s history with a 26-9 victory against Nebraska.
1958
Tackle Ronald Luciano earned All-America honors, leading the Orange to an 8-2 record and an Orange Bowl appearance. SU lost to Oklahoma, 21-6.
1959 • NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Undefeated, untied, and national champions, the Orange capped off an 11-0 season with its first bowl win, a 23-14 victory against Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Syracuse enjoyed its finest time on the gridiron, pulverizing its foes both offensively and defensively. The defense allowed a mind-boggling 193 yards rushing in 10 games. On offense, the Orange averaged 451 yards per game. Three SU student-athletes earned All-America honors, including guard Roger Davis, end Fred Mautino and tackle Robert Yates. Davis was the seventh overall selection by the Chicago Bears in the 1960 NFL Draft.
1960
Ernie Davis earned the first of two All-America honors playing halfback for the 7-2 Orange. The Philadelphia Eagles selected fullback Art Baker with the 14th overall pick in the 1961 NFL Draft.
1961
Ernie Davis won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first African-American to receive college football’s most prestigious award. Along the way, he broke Jim Brown’s SU career rushing record and closed his career by leading the Orange to a Liberty Bowl win against Miami. Less than two years later, Davis died of leukemia. Davis was the top pick in the 1962 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins (who traded his rights to Cleveland) and in the 1962 AFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. In 1979 Davis was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
1962
Ben Schwartzwalder was on the East coaching staff for the Coaches All-American game that included two of his players, Ernie Davis and John Brown. End Walt Sweeney was a first-round selection by the AFL’s San Diego Chargers in the 1963 draft.
1963
John Mackey begins his NFL career as a tight end for the Baltimore Colts, where he eventually played in two Super Bowls. In 1992, Mackey was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
1964
Sophomore half back Floyd Little, who was recruited to SU by 1961 Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, earned All-America honors in his first season. Center Patrick Killorin also earned All-America honors. The program celebrated it’s 400th win -- a 38-6 victory against Kansas.
1965
All-Americans Floyd Little (halfback), Charles Brown (defensive halfback) and Patrick Killorin (center) led the Orange to a 7-4 record, including a 13-10 loss to Louisiana State in the Sugar Bowl. The Tigers kicked a field goal with 3:50 left in the game for the victory. In the loss, Jim Nance rushed for 70 yards, while Little had 46.
1966
Halfback Floyd Little and fullback Larry Csonka, the greatest 1-2 running punch in Orange annals, led the team to an 8-3 record and a Gator Bowl berth. Little set an SU bowl game record with 216 yards and Csonka added 114, in the 18-12 loss to Tennessee. Little, Csonka and tackle Gary Bugenhagen earned All-America honors. The AFL’s Denver Broncos selected Little with the sixth overall pick in the 1967 league draft. In 1983 Little was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, an honor followed by his 1987 enshrinement in the Professional Football Hall of Fame.
1967
Larry Csonka earned All-America honors for the second year in a row after rushing for 1,127 yards and eight touchdowns. The AFL’s Miami Dolphins selected Csonka with the eighth overall pick in the 1968 draft. Csonka was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
1968
Defensive halfback Anthony Kyasky earned All-America honors for the 6-4 Orange. Defensive tackle Art Thoms was the 22nd overall selection by the Oakland Raiders in the AFL Draft.
1969
Against Penn State, Greg Allen set the record for the most individual punt return yards with 172.
1970
Facing a boycott by black athletes, Syracuse was outscored 100-29 in its first three games, but rebounded to win six of the next seven games. Defensive tackle Joe Ehrmann was named an All-American.
1971
Defensive back Tommy Myers intercepted an SU single-season record eight passes during a season in which a 28-24 win against West Virginia gave the SU program its 450th victory.
1972
The SU streak of 22 consecutive non-losing seasons ended with a loss in the regular season finale. SU finished 5-6. Defensive tackle Joe Ehrmann was the 10th overall pick in the 1973 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts.
1973
Ben Schwartzwalder retired after guiding the Orange to a 153-91 mark in 25 years. He was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
1974
The Orange began Frank Maloney’s seven-year SU coaching tenure with a 2-9 record.
1975
All-America Raymond Preston led the Orange to a 6-5 record and was invited to play in the East-West All-Star game. He enjoyed a nine-year NFL career as a linebacker with the San Diego Chargers (1976-84).
1976
Tim Moresco was a member of the victorious North squad in the American Bowl senior all-star game. It was the last year for the nine-year event. Five SU players were invited to play in the game.
1977
SU recorded a 6-5 record, including four consecutive victories to end the season.
1978
Joe Morris set the record for most consecutive 100-yard games in a season with four. He also set the freshman rushing record (1,001 yards). He is the only freshman ever to break 600 yards rushing. In the final game in Archbold Stadium, the Orange recorded a 20-17 victory against nationally-ranked Navy. SU had a 265-112-20 record in Archbold Stadium.
1979
With the razing of Archbold Stadium and the construction of the Carrier Dome, SU spent the entire season on the road, playing "home" games in the Meadowlands, Buffalo and Ithaca. Despite the obstacles, future NFL players Joe Morris, Art Monk, Bill Hurley, Craig Wolfley, Gary Anderson and Jim Collins led SU to its first bowl berth since 1967. Monk earned All-America honors for his effort as a wide receiver and was the 18th overall selection in the NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.
1980
Sept. 20 marked the beginning of a new era with the opening of the Carrier Dome. Joe Morris scored four touchdowns and had a record 300 all-purpose yards as the Orange christened its new home with a 36-24 win against Miami of Ohio. An all-time Syracuse record crowd of 50,564 witnessed the event.
1981
Down-easterner Dick MacPherson arrived on the scene, replacing Maloney. Running back Joe Morris concluded his career as SU’s all-time leading rusher and kicker Gary Anderson earned All-America honors.
1982
The winningest coach in Syracuse football history, Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. On the field, defensive tackle Michael Charles was named an All-American.
1983
The Orange reached a program milestone – the 500th victory – with a 14-7 victory against Navy.
1984
Syracuse native Tim Green earned the first of two consecutive All-America honors as a defensive tackle. Green and his teammates grabbed the nation’s attention with a 17-9 victory against No. 1 ranked Nebraska in the Carrier Dome.
1985
SU began a run of seven bowl berths in eight years, earning a spot opposite Maryland in the Cherry Bowl. SU lost to the Terps, 35-18, to finish the season with a 7-5 record. Defensive tackle Tim Green was named an All-American for the second consecutive year and became the 17th overall selection in the 1986 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Green was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
1986
The Orange won five of the final seven regular season games, setting the stage for the following season’s remarkable 11-0 regular season record.
1987
SU finished the regular season with an undefeated 11-0 record and earned a trip to the Sugar Bowl, its first New Year’s Day Bowl bid since 1965. Auburn’s Win Lyle kicked a last second field goal to pull out a 16-16 tie, the first deadlock in Sugar Bowl history. SU’s sensational quarterback Don McPherson finished second in the Heisman race, but earned several other player of the year and All-America honors. In addition, nose guard Ted Gregory was named an All-American and was the 26th overall selection in the 1988 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.
1988
SU put together consecutive double-figure win seasons for the first time ever, climaxing a 10-2 season with a 23-10 victory against LSU in the Hall of Fame Bowl on New Year’s Day. Defensive back Markus Paul was selected as an All-American, marking the second of six consecutive years the Orange was represented in this elite group.
1989
Syracuse football observed its 100th birthday and earned a record third-straight bowl invite. This time the Orange hit a last minute field goal, by John Biskup, to edge Georgia, 19-18, in the Peach Bowl and cap off an 8-4 season. Center John Flannery and wide receiver Rob Moore earned All-America honors. Moore entered his name in the 1990 NFL supplemental draft and was the first player selected by the New York Jets.
1990
The Orange finished the regular season with a 7-4-2 record and an invitation to the Aloha Bowl in Honolulu. SU put the finishing touches on its fourth-straight bowl by shutting out Arizona, 28-0, behind freshman quarterback Marvin Graves. The Wildcats had not been shut out in 20 seasons (214 games), the second longest streak in NCAA history. Center John Flannery was named an All-American for the second year in a row.
1991
Paul Pasqualoni replaced Dick MacPherson as head coach and SU joined The BIG EAST Football Conference. Pasqualoni led the Orange to a 10-2 record, a perfect 5-0 Big East record, and a 24-17 win against Ohio State in the Hall of Fame Bowl on New Year’s Day. The 10 wins for a rookie coach has been surpassed just five times in the history of major college football. Qadry Ismail became SU’s first-ever All-American in the kick return position.
1992
Pasqualoni and the Orange again won 10 games and made SU’s second straight New Year’s Day bowl appearance, knocking off Colorado, 26-22, at the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe. It was the fifth-straight bowl win for Syracuse, the second-best streak in the country behind Florida State. SU’s thrilling 16-10 loss to Miami in the Carrier Dome served notice that there was more than one major power in The BIG EAST Football Conference. Tight end Chris Gedney was a unanimous All-America selection.
1993
Another year, another winning season as the Orange finished with a 6-4-1 overall record for its seventh straight winning season. Breaking records was a regular occurrence during the campaign. Marvin Graves set new marks in almost every passing and total offensive category, while Shelby Hill, Pat O’Neill and Kevin Mitchell also left their names in the SU record books.
1994
In keeping with the tone in the recent past, the Orange recorded an eighth straight winning season, finishing 7-4 overall. The passing combination of Kevin Mason to Marvin Harrison was prominent throughout the year, while the return of linebacker Dan Conley for a sixth season of competition after numerous knee surgeries was a story of perseverance and dedication.
1995
A young SU team posted a 9-3 season and a victory in the Toyota Gator Bowl. The emergence of Donovan McNabb from a crowded young quarterback battle and his immediate chemistry with receiver Marvin Harrison provided thrills and records, as Harrison established himself as one of the all-time great receivers and kick returners at Syracuse, earning All-America honors as a kick returner. The receiver was the 19th overall player selected in the 1996 NFL Draft, taken by the Indianapolis Colts. Defensively, cornerback Kevin Abrams was an All-American.
1996
Despite getting off to an 0-2 start, the Orange won a share of The BIG EAST Conference title and once again was among the nation’s elite. A mid-season eight game win streak earned the Orange another post-season berth. Syracuse beat Houston in the Liberty Bowl for its seventh-consecutive bowl victory, which was the nation’s longest active bowl win streak at the time. Cornerback Kevin Abrams earned All-America honors for the second year in a row.
1997
Syracuse won its first-ever outright BIG EAST conference championship, clinched by a triumphant 33-18 victory at Miami. After opening the season wiht a 34-0 victory against Wisconsin in the Kickoff Classic, the Orange lost three straight games. SU then defeated Tulane to ignite an eight game winning streak that included the first-ever overtime game in school history against North Carolina State. A 35-18 loss to Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl did not detract from the fact that the Orange was one of six teams to earn a Bowl Alliance bid. Free safety Donovin Darius was an All-America selection.
1998
SU started the season hosting eventual national champion Tennessee. After a 34-33 loss, the Orange defeated defending national champion Michigan in Ann Arbor the following week, 38-28. From there, SU went 7-3, winning its second outright BIG EAST title, and third in a row. SU earned a Bowl Alliance bid, facing Florida in the Orange Bowl. Donovan McNabb was selected with the second overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1999 NFL Draft, the highest ever spot for an SU quarterback. Kick returner Kevin Johnson earned All-America honors.
1999
Syracuse earned a bowl invitation for the fifth straight year and the 11th time in the last 13 years. The Orange posted a 7-5 record in the final season of the millennium. The Orange kicked it off with two victories and closed the century with a 20-13 victory against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. Linebacker Keith Bulluck was selected in the first round (30th overall pick) by the Tennessee Titans in the 2000 NFL Draft.
2000
Syracuse ran its streak of winning seasons to 14 with a 6-5 record. Cornerback Will Allen was the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft and is still a starter for the New York Giants.
2001
Syracuse continued its streak of winning seasons with its 15th in a row with a 10-3 record. SU was one of just four schools that could make the claim. SU beat Kansas State in the Insight.com Bowl for its 12th bowl win. Consensus All-American Dwight Freeney was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, marking the fifth year in a row that an SU player heard his name in the opening round.
2002
Syracuse played in a school-record two triple overtime games, losing at Auburn and winning in the Carrier Dome against No. 8 Virginia Tech. Quarterback Troy Nunes concluded his SU career ranked in the top five on 10 different school record lists, while linebacker Clifton Smith and punter Mike Shafer etched their names among SU’s record-holders, as well. In November, former standout quarterback Donovan McNabb was named to SU’s Board of Trustees.
2003
Tailback Walter Reyes established the SU single-season records for rushing touchdowns (21) and total touchdowns (22) and the Syracuse career mark for rushing touchdowns (38) – as a junior. Wide receiver Johnnie Morant, defensive tackle Christian Ferrara, and offensive tackle Kevin Sampson entered the fraternity of Orange players selected in the National Football League Draft. Head coach Paul Pasqualoni moved into the second spot on SU’s career wins record list with 101.
2004
Running back Walter Reyes concluded his Orange career as SU’s second all-time leading rusher with 3,424 yards. Syracuse finished the season as BIG EAST co-champions, the program’s fourth league title, after a regular-season ending win at #17 Boston College. The Orange lost to Georgia Tech, 51-14, in the Champs Sports Bowl. Offensive Adam Terry was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2005 National Football League Draft.
2005
First-year Orange head coach Greg Robinson, who also serves as the defensive coordinator, made an immediate impact on the Syracuse unit. The pass defense jumped 69 spots in the NCAA statistical rankings from 2004 (90th to 21st), while the total defense improved from 101st in 2004 to 57th in 2005. Free safety Anthony Smith led a group of four seniors who were selected in the 2006 NFL Draft when he was chosen in the third round by the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Offensive tackle Quinn Ojinnaka (Atlanta Falcons), defensive end James Wyche (Jacksonville Jaguars) and defensive end Ryan LaCasse (Baltimore Ravens) were selected in the draft.
2006
Quarterback Perry Patterson saved his best for last, setting career-highs in passing yards and touchdwon passes. He finished his career ranked among the top five on five different Syracuse career record lists. Senior Brendan Carney led the special teams unit, finishing his career with Syracuse and BIG EAST records in punts and punting yardage. While Patterson and Carney closed out their careers, Delone Carter emerged as a threat during his freshman campaign. Carter rushed for 713 yards, the second-highest total for a freshman in school history. In April, Tanard Jackson and Kelvin Smith were selected in the 2007 NFL Draft.