Craziest SU game you ever saw in person?

[crzdsufan]

No mentions of the 2010 Pinstripe Bowl yet - an extremely exciting and high scoring back-and-forth game.

Different answer to a similar question I pose, Which is the most memorable game one was ever at. I would have to say the 2012 Pinstripe Bowl game when we laid West Virginia out to rest. Fabulous game plan, great NY Steak before the game with all my closest lifelong SU friends and a game atmosphere that when you looked up into the lights seeing the snow falling made you feel like you were in heaven.

 

[crzdsufan]

You've all done a great job listing the best ones.

One of my absolute favorite experiences as an SU football fan was during the 2012 Pinstripe Bowl win vs WFVU in the rain/sleet/snow at Yankee Stadium. I just became a father for the first time about 10 weeks prior and convinced my wife into going to the game. Along with my brother, we watched that game while holding a beer that was actually warming my hands it was so cold outside.

To see us absolutely destroy Geno, Dana & Co was simply amazing. Our team was relentless on defense, stellar on offense and had a certain swag about them that made you think Syracuse football was back.

To this day, I loathe WFVU and loved seeing all of the bath salt-laden fans there crying like little pansy asses. They assumed they were going to steamroll us, but Syracuse had different plans that day!

And that's a fumble in the end zone there GENO...

Couldn't agree more. Still gives me goose bumps to think back to that game. So SO SO SO glad I was ther with 12 of my bestest friends, all SU fans to teh bone.

 

[crzdsufan]

That might be a tad of an exaggeration.

Maybe a exaggeration but I will tell you this being there. No one left that gamefeeling like we lost. We gained more respect with the guts and performance that team gave. It was left on the field an to tell the truth it really was a long time before anyone left.

 

[Hoov50]

Nunes posted an article about the 5 SU football games that would have broken social media, had it existed at the time, and the one that immediately came to mind for me was one that did not make his list.

http://www.nunesmagician.com/2015/6...all-games-broken-social-media-auburn-nebraska

For me, the game that immediately came to mind was the 2002 win over Virginia Tech in the Dome. We had a lousy year but still, Tech was ranked #8 in the nation coming in, with an 8-1 record entering that game, and we won 50-42 in 3OT on a Damian Rhodes run when he reversed fields completely, and scored from 25 yards out. There were more than 1,100 yards of total offense in the game, with over 900 passing yards between the two teams. Wilford had something like 280 yards receiving for Tech, and Tyree had 229 for SU, and Walter Reyes ran for more than 100 yards and three TDs.

I've never been to a game as crazy as that one. So since there's nothing else going on at this point...what's the CRAZIEST Syracuse game you've been to? I have a feeling a lot of people will wind up going with a different VA Tech game...

This game was the fall after I graduated. A buddy of mine and my sister decided the morning of the game that we wanted to go. We knew the game wouldn't be a sell out and planned to just go the box office before the game to buy tickets. We were able to get lower-level corner, end zone tickets that ended up being front row seats.

The seats were in a good spot between the Va. Tech bench and their cheerleaders, I assume they were allocated to Tech, but not enough Hokie fans came so they were simply returned to the box office. It was a great game to see from the front row and made our jump onto the field take a lot less time when Rhodes scored in OT to win the game.

One thing I still can't get over was how big Ernest Wilford was. I purposely hunted him and Tyree (whom I was acquainted with through classes and pick up basketball games) to congratulate them on well-played games. Wilford was a beast a legit 6-4 and built like a tight end.

Some of the games I remember most from my time at SU:
98 Tennessee
98 Virginia Tech
98 Miami
00 Virginia Tech
01 Auburn

 

[Pyle]

Good : VT '02, BC '13
Bad: Iowa '06, Akron '08

 

[ThruWayWest]

Here's a game I'm sure no one would mention, and honestly it's not near as high as SU-VPI in '98 for me. Tulane-SU in '97 at the dome. SU was coming off three losses in a row. Tulane was supposed to be an easy win, but they had Shaun King at quarterback, and late in the game down 24-19, he led them on a drive down to the SU goal line. It looked like four straight losses in McNabb's junior year. Lo and behold, Tebucky Jones jumps the route, and takes it back like 95 yards for a touchdown, essentially saving the season. That started a string of 8 wins in a row on the way to a Fiesta Bowl berth.

Tebucky ran all the way across the field after the pick near the endzone. I thought he might fall down. That game was so scary. Awesome call!

 

[MSOrange]

Here's a game I'm sure no one would mention, and honestly it's not near as high as SU-VPI in '98 for me. Tulane-SU in '97 at the dome. SU was coming off three losses in a row. Tulane was supposed to be an easy win, but they had Shaun King at quarterback, and late in the game down 24-19, he led them on a drive down to the SU goal line. It looked like four straight losses in McNabb's junior year. Lo and behold, Tebucky Jones jumps the route, and takes it back like 95 yards for a touchdown, essentially saving the season. That started a string of 8 wins in a row on the way to a Fiesta Bowl berth.

I can't even explain how frustrated I was watching that drive after three straight losses. I was in serious meltdown mode. Tebucky probably saved me from a heart attack.

 

[Faegan]

Florida 91 - Win
Miami 92 - Loss
Both - LOUD

 

[Millhouse]

I can't even explain how frustrated I was watching that drive after three straight losses. I was in serious meltdown mode. Tebucky probably saved me from a heart attack.

1997 was a frustrating year. They ended up 36th in SRS (simple rating system - ranking of point margin weighted by strength of schedule). yet their scoring offense was 16th and their scoring defense was 14th

Their schedule was 66th hardest, shouldn't have had 4 losses with that team against that schedule. that teams should've been 11-2

The team right behind us in SRS that year was Alabama who finished 4-7 oddly enough. we've gotten so used to bama being at the top, it's hard to believe that they were that bad 18 yrs ago

 

[Millhouse]

1 win, 5 losses during McNabb era in games decided by 3 or less. east carolina, minnesota, nc st, oklahoma, tennessee losses. brominski game was the only win

35-14 record. Could've been 40-9 easy

 

[GoSU96]

1997 was a frustrating year. They ended up 36th in SRS (simple rating system - ranking of point margin weighted by strength of schedule). yet their scoring offense was 16th and their scoring defense was 14th

Their schedule was 66th hardest, shouldn't have had 4 losses with that team against that schedule. that teams should've been 11-2

The team right behind us in SRS that year was Alabama who finished 4-7 oddly enough. we've gotten so used to bama being at the top, it's hard to believe that they were that bad 18 yrs ago

That doesn't take into account SU losing all three FB's, McNabb's slight separation to both shoulders by the time the VT game rolled around, and some off field issues with a key player before the NCst game or getting three punts blocked in the OU game in a two point road loss.

 

[Millhouse]

That doesn't take into account SU losing all three FB's, McNabb's slight separation to both shoulders by the time the VT game rolled around, and some off field issues with a key player before the NCst game or getting three punts blocked in the OU game in a two point road loss.

a bunch of fumbles and blocked punts are taken into account in SRS. i was just pointing out the offense and defense were good at scoring and preventing scoring. all that weird stuff that shouldn't happen is what made it so frustrating.

 

[Stevenson]

WVU1987
Nebraska 1984
Penn State 1987
Georgetown 1985
Miami 1992
Oklahoma 1994
at BC 2004
vs. OU at Albany in NCAA 2003
Cornell 2009. LAX NC

 

[Scooch]

Just from my time as a student...

Obvious:

'91 vs. Florida. Playing the #5 team in the country, homecoming, Spurrier... it was my 2nd game ever at the Dome and the place was bonkers a half hour before kickoff.
'92 vs. Miami. We didn't lose, we just ran out of time. (We also moved UP in the polls two spots after a loss, that's how much respect SU earned from that game).

Obscure:

'92 vs. Temple. SU beat the Owls 38-7 in Philly. I was in the SUMB and we played at the game. SU dominated so badly that Coach P pulled most of the starters for the entire 4th quarter. At some point Qadry Ismail wandered over to the band and conducted the fight song...in uniform...while the game was going on. The coaches were furious, but it certainly meets the definition of "crazy".

 

[OrangeXtreme]

'92 vs. Temple. SU beat the Owls 38-7 in Philly. I was in the SUMB and we played at the game. SU dominated so badly that Coach P pulled most of the starters for the entire 4th quarter. At some point Qadry Ismail wandered over to the band and conducted the fight song...in uniform...while the game was going on. The coaches were furious, but it certainly meets the definition of "crazy".

My uncle in Philly was an Eagles season ticket holder at the time, so he called up the Vet box office and got me 50 yard line seats ... on the Temple side of the field.

When the Vet ushers saw my tickets (and saw that I was an SU fan), they told me that I could sit in my ticketed seats if I wanted to, but if I wanted to walk around to the other side and sit with all the other SU fans, it wouldn't be a big deal.

 

[Scooch]

My uncle in Philly was an Eagles season ticket holder at the time, so he called up the Vet box office and got me 50 yard line seats ... on the Temple side of the field.

When the Vet ushers saw my tickets (and saw that I was an SU fan), they told me that I could sit in my ticketed seats if I wanted to, but if I wanted to walk around to the other side and sit with all the other SU fans, it wouldn't be a big deal.

I believe it. There were probably 10K fans total in the Vet, and most were SU fans.

Aside from the easy road trip, there is nothing I miss about being in the same conference as Temple.

 

[OburgOrange]

I've been to about 90% of the games everyone is talking about here. Love this thread. Brings back so many great memories, and a lot of things I forgot. Well done

 

[orange79]

My uncle in Philly was an Eagles season ticket holder at the time, so he called up the Vet box office and got me 50 yard line seats ... on the Temple side of the field.

When the Vet ushers saw my tickets (and saw that I was an SU fan), they told me that I could sit in my ticketed seats if I wanted to, but if I wanted to walk around to the other side and sit with all the other SU fans, it wouldn't be a big deal.

I believe it. There were probably 10K fans total in the Vet, and most were SU fans.

Aside from the easy road trip, there is nothing I miss about being in the same conference as Temple.

I used to love the Philly Temple games. You could literally drive up 10 minutes before game time and buy tickets (lower level) between the 40's. And they were all de facto home games for SU. It was a sad day when they were booted out of the BE.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

I used to love the Philly Temple games. You could literally drive up 10 minutes before game time and buy tickets (lower level) between the 40's. And they were all de facto home games for SU. It was a sad day when they were booted out of the BE.

Pat's Cheesesteaks, Atlantic City, and SU Football. Now that's a full weekend.

 

[Moontan]

Since I missed most of the 90s due to being across the pond, and gave up my season tix a few years before that due to a work related move... my craziest in-person football game was the '84 Nebraska game. Still my favorite in-person SU experience. Norley to Siano...

 

[Chip]

My uncle in Philly was an Eagles season ticket holder at the time, so he called up the Vet box office and got me 50 yard line seats ... on the Temple side of the field.

When the Vet ushers saw my tickets (and saw that I was an SU fan), they told me that I could sit in my ticketed seats if I wanted to, but if I wanted to walk around to the other side and sit with all the other SU fans, it wouldn't be a big deal.

That happened to me at our most recent game there, 2012. Bought the tickets online (want to say thru Ticketmaster) which listed one side as the away sideline. Turned out that wasn't the case. Show up on the 50, and all the orange is on the other side. I asked the usher if it was pick your own seat day. He said yes, just like every game.

 

[KaiserUEO]

I believe it. There were probably 10K fans total in the Vet, and most were SU fans.

Aside from the easy road trip, there is nothing I miss about being in the same conference as Temple.

i was 1. pretty sure they sold beer too.

ohh, to be young...that was a double dip weekend. drove from there to the Giants on sunday, where i believe the infamous Tommy Kane caught a TD*.

*just looked it up, he did.

Giants won though, ray handley & hoss...not good.