Floyd
Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder
Head Coach
All-Time Record at SU: 153-91-3 (.626)
1959 National Coach of the Year
College Football Hall of Fame Class of 1982
Floyd "Ben" Schwartzwalder is Syracuse's all-time winningest coach, having led Syracuse to 153 victories, including the 1959 National Championship. Schwartzwalder is the longest-tenured coach in the history of the Syracuse program, with 25 seasons spent on the Orange sidelines. His tremendous coaching ability helped mold the careers of many notable players, including Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Larry Csonka, Tom Coughlin, James Ringo, Jim Nance, John Mackey, Jim Ridlon and Walt Sweeney.
Though best known for leading SU to the 1960 Cotton Bowl, where the team clinched its only national championship, Schwartzwalder's Syracuse teams had success prior to the title run. The team's appearance in the 1953 Orange Bowl was the school's first bowl berth and the first of seven under Schwartzwalder's watch.
The Orange's 1959 National Championship team played stifling defense, allowing only 193 yards rushing and 59 points on the year. On offense, SU averaged 451 yards and 39 points per game. The title team included three All-Americans: guard Roger Davis, end Fred Mautino and tackle Robert Yates. Davis was the seventh overall selection of the 1960 NFL Draft. Schwartzwalder garnered Coach of the Year honors for his efforts that season.
The 1959 team was a key cog to many winning streaks for Syracuse that stand to this day. They include the longest winning streak including bowls (16 games), longest regular season winning streak (22 games), longest longest road winning streak including bowls (11 games) and not including bowls (nine games). Its 23-14 win against Texas in the Cotton Bowl was also the school's first bowl win.
Schwartzwalder enjoyed several successful years following the national championship run. The 1961 team claimed victory over Miami in the Liberty Bowl and in 1962, Schwartzwalder was selected for the East coaching staff in the annual Coaches All-American game. The East-West matchup featured two of Schwartzwalder's players, Ernie Davis and John Brown. In 1963, SU finished the season 12th in the coaches poll after an 8-2 campaign.
Prior to coaching at Syracuse, Schwartzwalder played center for the West Virginia Mountaineers and every year, West Virginia and Syracuse square off for the Schwartzwalder Trophy. Schwartzwalder retired from coaching in 1973 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
Season
Wins
Losses
Ties
Notes
1949
4
5
0
1950
5
5
0
1951
5
4
0
1952
7
3
0
Orange Bowl (6-21 vs. Alabama)
1953
5
3
1
1954
4
4
0
1955
5
3
0
Defense allowed just 35 completions
1956
7
2
0
Cotton Bowl (27-28 vs. TCU); ranked 8th in both final polls
1957
5
3
1
1958
8
2
0
Orange Bowl (6-21 vs. Oklahoma); ranked 9th in final AP Poll/10th in Coaches Poll
1959
11
0
0
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS; Ranked 1st in both final polls
1960
7
2
0
Ranked 19th in final AP Poll
1961
8
3
0
Beat Miami, 15-14 in the Liberty Bowl; ranked 14th in final AP Poll/16th in Coaches
1962
5
5
0
1963
8
2
0
Ranked 12th in final Coaches Poll
1964
7
4
0
Sugar Bowl (10-13 vs. LSU); ranked 12th in final Coaches Poll
1965
7
3
0
Three All-Americans led SU to the Sugar Bowl
1966
8
3
0
Gator Bowl; ranked 16th in final Coaches Poll
1967
8
2
0
Ranked 12th in final Coaches Poll
1968
6
4
0
1969
5
5
0
1970
6
4
0
1971
5
5
1
SU won its 450th game, topping West Virginia
1972
5
6
0
1973
2
9
0
Career
153
91
3
.626 winning percentage; longest coaching tenure in SU football history
