Syracuse Orange Football: A Storied History

The Syracuse Orange football team, representing Syracuse University, has a rich and storied history dating back to its formation in 1889. As a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the program boasts over 740 wins and a consensus national championship in 1959.

Early Success and National Prominence

Syracuse played its first football game on November 23, 1889, and achieved initial success in the 1890s and 1900s. The construction of Archbold Stadium in 1907 marked a turning point, propelling the team to national prominence under coach Frank "Buck" O'Neill. In 1915, the squad received a Rose Bowl invitation but declined due to having already played on the West Coast that season. The 1920s saw continued success, with teams featuring All-American Doc Alexander and star end Vic Hanson.

Vic Hanson was a three-sport athlete at Syracuse in the 1920s, excelling in football, basketball, and baseball. He earned All-American honors in basketball three times and was a consensus All-American in football in both 1925 and 1926. Hanson's exceptional achievements led to his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, the College Basketball Hall of Fame, and the College Football Hall of Fame, making him one of only two individuals with such a distinction.

Integration and Challenges in the 1930s

In the 1930s, Syracuse, along with Cornell University, pioneered the inclusion of African-American players in their starting lineups. Wilmeth Sidat-Singh, a basketball star, joined the football team and played a quarterback-like position. However, during games in Southern segregation states, African-American players were often banned. In a game against Maryland, Sidat-Singh was held out due to his racial identity being revealed, and Syracuse lost. The following year, in a rematch at Syracuse, Sidat-Singh led the Orange to a decisive victory. In 2005, Syracuse University honored Wilmeth Sidat-Singh by retiring his basketball jersey number.

The Jim Brown and Ernie Davis Era

The 1950s and 1960s were a golden era for Syracuse football, marked by the emergence of legendary running backs. Jim Brown, a consensus first-team All-American in 1956, set school records and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He went on to have a Hall of Fame career in the NFL, becoming a social issues activist.

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In 1959, Syracuse achieved its first consensus national championship, finishing No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches' Polls after an undefeated season and a Cotton Bowl Classic victory over No. 4 Texas. The team featured sophomore running back Ernie Davis, who became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy in 1961. Davis was drafted by the Cleveland Browns but tragically died of leukemia before playing professionally.

The Schwartzwalder Era

Ben Schwartzwalder coached Syracuse from 1949 to 1973, leading the team to sustained success. His accomplishments include 22 straight years of non-losing football, seven bowl appearances, four Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy wins, and the 1959 national championship. He also developed impressive running backs like Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Jim Nance, Floyd Little, and Larry Csonka. Under Schwartzwalder, Orange teams outrushed opponents by more than 22,000 yards.

The Syracuse 8 Boycott

In 1969, a group of nine African American student-athletes boycotted Syracuse University's football program to demand change and promote racial equality. Popularized erroneously in 1970 by the media as the “Syracuse 8,” the nine students behind the boycott were Gregory Allen, Richard Bulls, Dana Harrell, John Godbolt, John Lobon, Clarence “Bucky” McGill, A.

Coaching Changes and Conference Realignment

Following Schwartzwalder's retirement, Frank Maloney took over as head coach. His tenure was inconsistent, and he faced criticism from fans and alumni. Syracuse remained in the Big East Conference after initially being invited to join the ACC.

Struggles and Rebuilding

Syracuse's streak of winning seasons ended in 2002. The teams from 2002 to 2004 were considered mediocre, leading to changes in leadership. The 2005 season started with promise but ended with a 1-10 record, the worst on-field season in school history. Several coaching changes occurred in the following years, with Doug Marrone eventually taking over in 2008.

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Marrone and Shafer Eras

Doug Marrone, a Syracuse alumnus, brought improvement to the program. In 2010, the Orange finished with a winning record for the first time since 2001 and earned a bowl bid. After Marrone's departure, Scott Shafer was promoted to head coach. Shafer's first season saw the team achieve bowl eligibility and win the 2013 Texas Bowl.

Transition to the ACC and Recent Seasons

Syracuse joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 2013. The 2014 season saw a decline in quality. In Babers' first season in charge, Syracuse started the year at 4-4, with the highlight of the first eight games being a 31-17 upset of number-17 Virginia Tech at home. Syracuse kept the momentum from the upset going and beat rival Boston College on the road, 28-20. However, they were blown out 54-0 in their next game by No. 3 Clemson. In the final game of the season, Syracuse lost to ACC rival Pittsburgh by a score of 76-61. The game was the highest scoring in FBS history with a combined score of 137. Syracuse finished 4-8 for the second consecutive year. In 2017, the Orange started 4-3, including a win over No. In 2022, Syracuse started 6-0, earning a No. 14 ranking in the AP and Coaches' Polls. However, the team squandered a 21-10 halftime lead to Clemson, falling 27-21. The Brown era begun with a 38-22 win over Ohio, and he led the Orange to their first 9 win season since 2018. It included ranked wins over Georgia Tech, UNLV, and then beating then CFP ranked Miami. McCord broke several of Syracuse's single-season passing records, including the single-season passing record against UConn, as well as leading FBS in passing yards in 2024. Syracuse entered the AP, Coaches, and CFP rankings after the Miami game.

Legacy of No. 44

The number 44 holds a special place in Syracuse football history, representing a lineage of great running backs. Jim Brown and Ernie Davis, both legendary players, wore the number 44. Syracuse University officially retired #44 on Saturday, November 12, 2005.

Conference Affiliations

For much of its history, Syracuse played as an independent, as did the majority of what are now labeled as Division I FBS football-playing schools located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. In 1991, the majority of football independents in the East (including Syracuse) aligned themselves together in the Big East Football Conference. The Big East first crowned an official champion in 1993. In 2013, Syracuse joined the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

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