Football Complex Renovations - Syracuse University Athletics

In order to compete and be successful at a conference and national level, we must immediately launch the next phase of capital improvements and enhancements.

NECESSITY TO ENHANCE SYRACUSE FOOTBALL

Throughout the history of college football, there has always been a direct correlation between resources and success. It’s true at Penn State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Nebraska and Syracuse. In the early 1900’s, John D. Archbold donated $600,000 to build what became Archbold Stadium, which opened in 1907. Coaches Frank O’Neill and John Meehan reaped the rewards of this new edifice, building programs that compiled a combined record of 89-26-10 between 1913 and 1925. Syracuse’s football fortunes began to slide in the 1940’s.

Ben Schwartzwalder took the reins in 1949 and thanks to major financial contributions, the stadium was subsequently expanded to bring the seating capacity to 40,000. The expansion began to pay dividends in the 1950's and Schwartzwalder’s teams embarked on an envious run of success. The achievements are legendary… National Champions in 1959, five bowl games in nine years, a Heisman Trophy winner in 1961, a dozen All-Americans and a record of 83-30 between 1958 and 1968. In the 1970’s, fire codes mandated that the capacity of Archbold be reduced to just 26,000, which was the beginning of the end of this once grand stadium. It was razed following the 1978 season, making way for a state-of-the-art, 50,000 seat domed stadium. Once again, in spite of state funding, individual contributions made the project a reality. The Carrier Dome opened in 1980 and Dick MacPherson was hired the following year. It took Coach Mac five seasons to reach a bowl game, and then in 1987, the Orange achieved an undefeated regular season… spoiled only by a 16-16 tie with Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. Over the next 15 seasons, MacPherson, and his successor, Paul Pasqualoni, led Syracuse to 12 bowl appearances, a record of 127-49-4 and three BIG EAST championships.

Now Syracuse is again at a crossroads. In order to compete and be successful at a conference and national level, we must immediately launch the next phase of capital improvements and enhancements.