Legends Of The Pen: 1970 Squad Had Great Turnaround
10/21/2010 10:02:33 AM | Football
Sept. 9 Legends of the Pen: College Football Time At SU
Oct. 1 Legends of the Pen: The 1984 Team Was Special
Ok, so Syracuse hit a few pot holes this past Saturday as it went in quest of its fifth win of the season.
And also to once again move up closer to rejoining the elite ranks of the big boys of college football, a place where the Orange spent considerable time in the late 80s, most of the 90s and early into the new century.
Well, actually, the Orange ran into some pretty big pot holes in losing to Pittsburgh in a homecoming contest in the Carrier Dome. Now it is time to pause, regroup, rethink and take dead aim at the next six games of the 2010 campaign. There has been progress and the overall game plan appears to be in place for Doug Marrone and Co. And if they need any special inspiration to accomplish this, they can take a look at the 1970 SU team.
There is an intangible factor in sports that teams fall back to on occasion when things aren't going too well on the field of battle. It is simply this--knowing how to win. Most times, the team with the better talent will win but there are those times when even this isn't enough and knowing how to win may save the day.
The 1970 team discovered this after a terrible start. Syracuse opened at Houston and took a pasting, a 42-15. One play turned this game around quickly. Trailing 14-7, the Orange got stopped on a fourth down on the Houston 1. One play, a 99-yard pass-run, quickly made the score 21-7 instead of a posssible tie. A week later, in Archbold, Kansas admministered a 3l-14 loss. This was followed by a 27-0 loss at Illinois.
Three games, outscored by 100-29 and, upcoming were Maryland and dear old Penn State. Marty Januszkiewicz, an old fashioned fullback type, scored three times and victory No. 1 was taken care of.
Now it was off to State College, Pa. Penn State had finished 11-0 in '69, including a 15-14 "win" over Syracuse in a game that Orange faithful still recall with unhappy thoughts of the calls that went against them in the final quarter and SU on top, 14-0.
Joe Paterno was in his fifth season and had a pretty good pair of runners in Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell. The Lions were ranked 15th. The Orange, meanwhile hit the road with starting QB Randy Zur in sick bay so the job went to Paul Paolisso. Januszkiewicz powered his way for two TDs in the first half and Ben Schwartzwalder's club was well on its way to a 24-7 win. Tommy Myers, one of the best defensive backs ever to wear Orange, had three interceptions.
Wins over Navy, Pittsburgh and Army followed and SU cracked the Top 20. Ray White, a defensive lineman with a sprinter's speed, was switched to wingback for the Army game and scored three touchdowns but was injured and missed the next game, at West Virginia.
Syracuse fell behind, 21-0 battled back to get within two, 21-19, but couldn't score again.
The amazing five-game win streak ended but in the season finale at home, SU walloped Miami, 56-14. From 0-3 to 6 -4, an outstanding turn around for a great bunch of Orangemen. Myers, OT Stan Walters, and DT Joe Ehrmann all went on to fine careers in the NFL while OT Dan Yochum TE Tony Gabriel were standouts in the Canadian Football League.
Fine athletes help, but combine that with great desire and knowing how to win for a powerful combination.
John Wildhack Interview
Wednesday, February 11
Calvin Russell Interview
Tuesday, January 13
Fran Brown Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, December 03
Syracuse Football - Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, December 03
