Coach Mac Honored at College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival
7/19/2010 8:27:59 AM | Football
Former Syracuse University head football coach Dick MacPherson and the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 were honored over the weekend at the Enshrinement Festival in South Bend, Ind. Thousands of college football fans from across the country paid tribute to the storied careers of 24 of the game's greatest stars.
Fans had a variety of opportunities to meet and mingle with the enshrinees during this spectacular event. The jam-packed weekend included a celebrity golf tournament, a fan festival, a grand parade, a youth football clinic, a fireworks spectacular with the celebration culminating with the Enshrinement Dinner & Show on Saturday evening.
With a coaching career spanning of over two decades, coach Dick MacPherson has had his fair share of achievements. Named head coach at Massachusetts in 1971, MacPherson led the Minutemen to four Yankee Conference Titles in seven years, earning the title of New England Football Coach of the Year twice. Breaking numerous records throughout his 10 years at Massachusetts, his 45 victories rank him as the third all-time winning coach in school history. MacPherson's 28-8-1 record in Yankee Conference games places him fifth in league history. During his time at Massachusetts, he also tied the school record for single-season victories with his nine-game winning season in 1972. In 1981, MacPherson was given the head coaching job at Syracuse. He led the Orange to five bowl games while posting a 3-1-1 record in post-season play. In 1987, MacPherson was named the NCAA National Coach of the Year, leading the Orange to an 11-0-1 record and the fourth spot in the final AP ranking. While at Syracuse, he coached two College Football Hall of Fame players, Tim Greene and Don McPherson, eight All-Americas and two NFF National Scholar-Athletes. After 10 years at Syracuse, Coach Mac ranked third for all-time wins (66) and most seasons coached (10). MacPherson finished his college-coaching career with a record of 111-72-5.
MacPherson later went on to coach the New England Patriots. When reflecting on his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame he said, “It's the epitome of coaching, there's no where to go from here.” MacPherson now works as a color commentator for Syracuse Football radiobroadcasts.
