Csonka Returning to the Dome for Jersey Retirement
11/4/2007 6:07:45 PM | Football
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Orange legend Larry Csonka will be honored this Saturday (Nov. 10) in the Carrier Dome when his #39 jersey is raised to the Dome rafters to hang forever. The ceremony will be held during halftime of the Orange football game against South Florida (12:00 p.m., ESPN Regional). Tickets are available online (click here) or at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOMETIX). Fans are invited to use the ‘Print at Home’ ticket feature to avoid waiting in line at the Dome on gameday.
"Larry Csonka is obviously one of the greatest players of all time," said Syracuse Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross. "His accomplishments at Syracuse were amazing and then he went on to an outstanding career in the National Football League, including playing for the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. Larry will now be remembered forever as we honor him as one of Syracuse's finest. We salute Larry for his legacy as we welcome him back to Syracuse."
A two-time All-American, Csonka played for the Orange from 1965 through 1967. As a senior captain he earned consensus All-America honors. He had two 200-yard rushing performances in his career, galloping for 216 yards against West Virginia and 204 yards versus California in his senior season. Csonka still ranks third on SU's career rushing record list (2,934 yards) and is second all-time with 15 career 100-yard rushing games.
"I go back to the College All-Star Game at Soldier Field," said Orange head coach Greg Robinson of Csonka. "The college all-stars used to play the NFL Championship team in a preseason game. The college team was beating the Green Bay Packers and I remember Larry Csonka, this big, burly running back from Syracuse, coming around the left side and here’s Herb Adderley, an all-pro cornerback, coming up to tackle him. Csonka delivers a forearm so hard that he flips Herb Adderley over and he (Csonka) gets a 15-yard penalty while running with the football. I enjoyed watching him play more than anybody I had ever watched."
Csonka is enshrined in both the Professional Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame and is still considered to be the prototype for all NFL fullbacks. He and Jimmy Kiick combined to form one of the most lethal backfield duos of the 1970s and the pair led the Dolphins to the perfect season and the Super Bowl title in 1972.
Csonka hosts and produces TV shows about the outdoors, including NAPA's North to Alaska. NAPA AUTO PARTS joins Syracuse University in honoring Larry's extraordinary career with the retirement of his #39 jersey. NAPA has been a longtime sponsor of Larry and his outdoor TV shows. NAPA AUTO PARTS distributes parts, accessories, tools and equipment to 6,000 NAPA AUTO PARTS stores and more than 12,000 NAPA AutoCare Centers nationwide. For more information, visit www.NAPAOnline.com.
The Syracuse series against South Florida began in 2005 when the Bulls joined the BIG EAST Conference. In the first meeting in the Dome in 2005, USF beat Syracuse, 27-0. During that game the historical #44 was retired. In 2006, the Orange lost to USF, 27-10, in Tampa.
