Dick MacPherson, 1981-1990
Head Coach
Record at SU: 66-46-4 (.586)
When Frank Maloney left Syracuse after the 1980 season, Athletic Director Jake Crouthamel began looking for someone who could return the Orange to the glory days of the 1950's and 60's. Jake found his man in Cleveland Browns linebackers coach Dick MacPherson, and though SU would take its lumps in the beginning, the hire would pay tremendous dividends by the end of the decade.
The Early Stages
The Dick MacPherson era didn't begin in a way that most Syracuse fans planned. Despite just one win in the team's first seven games, the Orange ended the season with a flourish, taking three of its last four. SU scored an average of 31 points in each of those contests, highlighted by a 27-24 upset of the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Carrier Dome on November 11th. Much brighter days lay ahead for MacPherson and Orange.
Improved 'D' and the Ascent to East Dominance
The Orange defense would become as stingy a crew as any in the country for the next several years. SU allowed 200 points or less in four of five seasons, beginning in 1983. The lowest of these marks came in 1984, when Syracuse surrendered just 151 points all season. Anchored by defensive tackle Tim Green, SU went 6-5 in 1984, upending #1 Nebraska in the process on September 29th. The next year, "Coach Mac" and the Orange recorded three shutouts and held three other opponents to 14 points or less en route to a 7-5 record and a Cherry Bowl appearance. Beginning in 1985, SU clinched seven bowl berths in eight years.
SU's Second Undefeated Season
After establishing its defense as the hallmark of the Orange football program, MacPherson showed the critics that Syracuse's offense was nothing to sneeze at, either. In 1987, the high-powered Orange offense piled on the points, averaging 33 per contest. Coupled with a defense that allowed just under 14 points per game, SU cruised through its schedule, winning every game by an average of 19 points. The only nail-biter came in the regular season finale against West Virginia. Trailing the Mountaineers 31-24 with just 15 seconds left in the game, quarterback Don McPherson found tight end Pat Kelly in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Rather than kick a PAT to tie the game, Coach Mac went for the two-point conversion and a victory. The gamble paid off, as McPherson pitched the ball to running back Michael Owens, who ran it past the goal line for the win. McPherson led the nation in passing efficiency that season with a mark of 164.3 and also set Syracuse single-season records for passing yards per game (212.8), touchdown passes (22), and most consecutive games with a touchdown pass (10). McPherson gathered several post-season accolades, including Heisman Trophy runner-up, as the team finished the season undefeated and tied Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. SU's fourth-place finish in both the AP and Coaches polls solidified its legacy as the best SU team since the 1959 National Champions. MacPherson racked up several National Coach of the Year awards for his team's superb performance. Nose guard Ted Gregory joined McPherson as All-Americans, starting a string of six consecutive seasons with SU represented in the elite group.
Finishing the Decade in Style and Bringing SU Into the 90's
Starting with the 1987 season, Syracuse accumulated more than 300 points in three of MacPherson's last four seasons, the mark of a spectacular offense. In 1988, the defense did not let up, either, and linebacker Markus Paul was selected as an All-American after recording four interceptions, forcing one fumble and recovering another. The team went undefeated at home and finished at 10-2 to mark the first consecutive 10-win seasons in program history. The 1989 team has the honorable distinction of being the first SU squad to play overseas, beating Louisville, 24-13, in front of 50,000 fans at Tokyo Stadium. Syracuse football also celebrated its 100th birthday that year with a last-minute field goal by John Biskup to top Georgia, 19-18, in the Peach Bowl. The next season, SU rode a 7-4-2 regular season record all the way to Honolulu, where it beat Arizona, 28-0, in the Aloha Bowl. Cornerback Rob Thomson and linebacker Dan Conley combined for 17 tackles to assure the Wildcats of their first shutout loss in 20 years. At the end of the season, center John Flannery was named an All-American for the second year in a row.
MacPherson left the Orange after the 1990 season to become the head coach of the New England Patriots. MacPherson produced ten All-America selections, 38 NFL Draft picks and 12 members of Syracuse's All-Century Team. After coaching the Patriots for two seasons, MacPherson eventually returned to The Salt City, where he is currently a radio analyst during the SU football season.
| Year | Won | Loss | Tied | Notes |
| 1981 | 4 | 6 | 1 | Won three of last four games |
| 1982 | 2 | 9 | 0 | |
| 1983 | 6 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1984 | 6 | 5 | 0 | Upset #1 Nebraska, 17-9 |
| 1985 | 7 | 5 | 0 | Lost to Maryland in Cherry Bowl |
| 1986 | 5 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1987 | 11 | 0 | 1 | Undefeated; finished 4th in final AP and Coaches polls |
| 1988 | 10 | 2 | 0 | Beat LSU in Hall of Fame Bowl; Finished 13th in final AP Poll, 12th in Coaches Poll |
| 1989 | 8 | 4 | 0 | Beat Louisville in first SU game played in Japan (W 24-13) |
| 1990 | 7 | 4 | 2 | Beat Arizona 28-0 in Aloha Bowl; finished 21st in final Coaches Poll |
| Career | 66 | 46 | 4 |
