As I sit here...

[rrlbees]

My first game was at Archbold in 1964 against Kansas, led by Gayle Sayers. It was Floyd Little's first home game for Syracuse. He scored five touchdowns as the Orange smashed the Jayhawks. As a five year old boy (but already a well-trained football fan by my Dad and Grandpa), I remember how some of the Jayhawks did "dive rolls" as they ran out onto the field at the beginning of the game. I also remember how Floyd Little seemed like every time he touched the ball, he might score a touchdown. And of course we had Jim Nance, who blasted through the middle of the defense, while Little scampered, bowlegged and pigeon toed all over the field. My second game was the home game against UCLA a couple weeks later. Another lopsided win. I really like UCLA's cool looking uniforms, but I don't believe UCLA ever got the ball past midfield against us that day. My day was saying that over and over, I still remember to this day. I grew up thinking that Syracuse always won (or almost always, anyway). I also got to see the Csonka - Little teams, and watch SU play Pitt the day before Halloween (and their uniforms seemed to fit the holiday) - another huge win. A couple weeks later, I finally saw Syracuse lose their first home game while I was there, to Miami. My mom attended Miami for a couple years back in the '50s, but she had to withdraw from school when her grandmother (who she was living with) died, forcing her to miss all her midterms one semester. She used to play in their marching band, and played in the Orange Bowl and the Orange Bowl parade, but said the football players were all spoiled jerks, so she no longer was a fan of the Hurricanes and pulled for the Orange. I remember my dad telling me about Miami's QB George Mira, who had played against Syracuse in a bowl game a couple years earlier, when they beat us by a point in the Liberty Bowl. My dad said that Mira threw the ball so hard that he would make his receivers' hands bleed. That sounded scary as hell, like a real "He Man" to a little kid. I probably cried when they beat us that day a few years later at Archbold.

I too was at those games. But I don't remember seeing you there.

 

[OburgOrange]

I too was at those games. But I don't remember seeing you there.

You were in diapers. Oh wait... You have come full circle.



See u tomorrow am at the tailgate. Bringing OburgOrange Jr., and the Mrs.

 

[IthacaMatt]

So, what you're saying is that you were born in 1959, the National Championship year!

And I turned 44 the year we won our basketball national championship!!

 

[rrlbees]

You were in diapers. Oh wait... You have come full circle. See u tomorrow am at the tailgate. Bringing OburgOrange Jr., and the Mrs.

I'm older than IM. I was 9. Cya in the morning.

 

[OburgOrange]

I'm older than IM. I was 9. Cya in the morning.

Of course you know I jest

 

[BKCuse]

My first game as a freshman with season tickets was vs Maryland in 1987

Cuse won 35-11

Got a feeling we'll win a little easier than expected

 

[cto]

My SECOND Syracuse game was against Maryland in 1959... the second game of our National Championship season. First game was against KU and John Hadl. All I remember about the MD game is that we won.

 

[Rocco]

It's amazing that some of you can recollect so clearly from so long ago. Especially you, IthacaMatt...

 

[IthacaMatt]

My SECOND Syracuse game was against Maryland in 1959... the second game of our National Championship season. First game was against KU and John Hadl. All I remember about the MD game is that we won.

Well, that's because you have to rely on only your own memories. My dad and I talked about those games for years afterwards, cementing the impressions and memories of a young boy.

Another thing I remember about those games (my own memories, not father-reinforced ones ...) is that they were building the overhead portion of I-81 back then, and we were going to the game from the Near West Side. The area where the overhead viaduct was located was the biggest construction site you've ever seen, a huge swath of dirt and rock and heavy equipment that looked like it could have been the surface of the moon.

 

[IthacaMatt]

It's amazing that some of you can recollect so clearly from so long ago. Especially you, IthacaMatt...

That's because my dad and I talked about those old games for years afterwards - and as for the scores, well, that's what the Internet is for, to go look them up.

 

[Chip]

My SECOND Syracuse game was against Maryland in 1959... the second game of our National Championship season. First game was against KU and John Hadl. All I remember about the MD game is that we won.

So they sold beer (or wine) at the games even back then? I love SU.