Syracuse 5-0 for First Time Since 1987
The last time Syracuse was this good, life looked a lot different…
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall”,
~ President Ronald Reagan 1987
If you’re a college football fan and you remember Ronald Reagan’s famous Berlin Wall speech, that was the last time the Orange started off their season 5-0. Yes, it was 35 years ago, in 1987…
For perspective, TV shows like “The Simpsons” and “Full House” made their debuts on national television that year. Beverly Hills Cop 2 had just hit the box office. Michael J Fox was the “teenage heartthrob” of Hollywood. “Walk Like an Egyptian” was one of the hottest songs on the radio. Gas was 89 cents a gallon…
I’m only 23, but even I feel old hearing some of this stuff. To think that it took less time to build the Great Wall of China (24 years) than for Syracuse football to become relevant again baffles me. Thankfully I didn’t have to wait that long, but for the Syracuse fans that did, this article is dedicated to you. Cheers to you Otto’s Army, it’s been a long time coming.
The Last Time Syracuse was this Good…
For reference, Syracuse football has gone 5-0 only two other times in history. The first came in 1959, when the then “Orangemen” went 11-0 and won the national championship against Texas. Led by their Heisman Trophy-Winning running back Ernie Davis, Syracuse would easily win every game by nearly double digits. That team was by far, the most dominant Syracuse had ever had on the gridiron.
The second 5-0 start came in 1987, with quarterback Don McPherson at the helm. As a matter of fact, McPherson would finish as the runner up to the Heisman Trophy that year, in one of the biggest snubs in college football history. Regardless, he was the top signal caller in the country, evident by his 1987 Davey O’Brien trophy. Having won some tough games that year (many of which were come from behind), McPherson and Syracuse would finish their season with another perfect 11-0 regular season. Now Syracuse would finish undefeated that year, but they wouldn’t win all their games, either. Let me explain.
Way back before overtime was even a thing in college football, Syracuse led Auburn 16-13 late in the final seconds of the Sugar Bowl. Kicking a field goal to go up late, the Orangemen felt confident in their chances of stopping Auburn from scoring a touchdown. Doing so would preserve their perfect season, but more importantly, the win itself. Evidently, that’s not how Auburn’s head coach Pat Dye saw it playing out. After getting in field goal range, the Tigers would elect to play for the tie and kick a field goal, ending the game at 16 a piece.
The Future of the Program
But controversy aside, it didn’t change what Syracuse had done that season. Sure the tie might’ve cheated them out of a shot at the national title, but they were still undefeated. They shocked the world, and who’s to say that the Orange won’t do the same this season? I’m not saying that they’ll win a championship or even finish as a ranked team. But as of right now, it certainly looks like the Orange have a bright future ahead of them. Here’s an interesting takeaway. When it all boils down, every time Syracuse starts off the season at 5-0, they finish the regular season undefeated.
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