Mt. Rushmore of Dome games

[PeteCalvin]

I remember this game well. Thanks for posting. I must say, I found myself getting pissed all over again at Nunes as if the game was live. And my my how things never seem to change! Of course we had the typical key injury (Reyes), dumb passes, missed kicks, brain dead penalties, and blown coverages. But, we also had heroes (Tyree and Rhodes), amazing defensive plays, and pulled out a nail biter. Everything SU football encompassed in one very thrilling game. Man, I’m emotionally exhausted.

And did I mention the uniforms?

 

[adk(roc)CUSE]

I'd offer that in a vacuum, this VT/2002 game was the best singular game in the history of the Dome.
So many ups and downs. It was not the biggest game consequentially, although beating No. 7 VT is nothing to sneeze at. For those too young, do yourself a favor and watch these extensive highlights:

I think that was either the last year or second to last year my dad and I had season tickets. We were like 3-7 or something heading into that game and it made the whole season. Man we had some crazy games with Virginia Tech in the dome. Everyone remembers McNabb to Brominski but that game was just about as zany getting to the final play.

In both cases the 2 hour ride back north was a lot of fun listening to the post game and listening to the other exhausted and elated fans calling in.

 

[tep624]

If Miami 92 and Nebraska 84 aren’t on there then you might as well not build the thing. And I wouldn’t commingle sports. Too many good games to do that.

 

[OrangePA]

Mt. Rushmore is 4 and I'll limit myself to close games: 1) Going 11-0 vs. West Virginia in 1987; 2) Three OT win over Villanova in the 1981 Big East Final; 3) Bye Bye John Thompson game; 4) McNabb to Brominski.

1. Penn State - 1987 - It's not even close for me; (2) Florida - 1991 - The Gators were outcoached, and outclassed - Dar Dar!; (3) Miami - 1991 - Heartbreaking, but what a game; (4) WVU 1987 - Wow.

Honorable Mention - 1998 Va Tech. So much fun! Edit- 1984 - Nebraska - How could I forget that game - the beginning of the MacPherson/Pasqualoni era.

Obscure - But Memorable - Never really discussed or mentioned. Notre Dame - 2003 - The season considered a bust - Pasqualoni and DeLeone on the hot seat - National TV - the Orange blows out the Irish and Walter Reyes has a game for the ages.

 

[SWC75]

1. Penn State - 1987 - It's not even close for me; (2) Florida - 1991 - The Gators were outcoached, and outclassed - Dar Dar!; (3) Miami - 1991 - Heartbreaking, but what a game; (4) WVU 1987 - Wow.

Honorable Mention - 1998 Va Tech. So much fun!

Obscure - But Memorable - Never really discussed or mentioned. Notre Dame - 2003 - The season considered a bust - Pasqualoni and DeLeone on the hot seat - National TV - the Orange blows out the Irish and Walter Reyes has a game for the ages.

We didn't play U of Miami in 1991. I'm sure you meant the 1992 game - and you are right about it!

Syracuse Historical Scores

 

[tbonezone]

WVU was 1987, but you ain't wrong. That one and McNabb to Brominski (The Vomit Bowl I call it) are definitely two for me.

i've been to a lot of games but i don't ever remember the fans exiting the turnstiles happier than that game.

 

[SUFan44]

That damn nc state game still haunts me. McNabb threw an 80 yd td first play from scrimmage. Coming off the Ron Great Dayne beatdown the week before. Ugh.

I still remember the gut punch feeling of watching the 2-pt. conversion. Sucked the life out of me.

 

[SWC75]

i've been to a lot of games but i don't ever remember the fans exiting the turnstiles happier than that game.

I don't remember turnstiles but I remember a lot of happy exits from the Dome.

I remember being a good Samaritan and directing Nebraska fans in '84 around telephone polls so they didn't walk into them on the way back to Manley.

 

[elimunelson]

I still remember the gut punch feeling of watching the 2-pt. conversion. Sucked the life out of me.

The Ron Dayne game was the happiest Syracuse moment. Was back on campus for my senior year, weather was great…opening weekend on campus

If you could make that into a scented candle
….

 

[SkyTopBus44]

The Ron Dayne game was the happiest Syracuse moment. Was back on campus for my senior year, weather was great…opening weekend on campus

If you could make that into a scented candle
….

Kevin Johnson’s kickoff return was electric!

 

[OrangePA]

I still remember the gut punch feeling of watching the 2-pt. conversion. Sucked the life out of me.

Me too.

Brutal loss.

 

[GoSU96]

Me too.

Brutal loss.

Think about how McNabb felt, a horrible loss and a massive hangover.

 

[OrangePA]

Think about how McNabb felt, a horrible loss and a massive hangover.

Dee Brown fumbled at the goal line - right in front of me.

Ugh.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

The Phi Slamma Jamma game. The epic NIT comeback vs Manhattan(?)
(Lockerbie game, for how quiet it was.)

 

[elimunelson]

Kevin Johnson’s kickoff return was electric!

Had a group of friends who went to the meadowlands. I recall them saying it was deliriously hot that day

 

[Brian Orange]

A couple more recent soul crushers I would add:

2009 Minnesota: Marrone's first game. We played very well, but Paulus threw a terrible INT on our first OT possession which sealed the loss.

2012 Northwestern: We were down 35-13 mid-third quarter, went on a furious rally to take the lead late. Keon Lyn's late hit personal foul (which was questionable) killed us. Prior to that game, the school record for completions in a game was 29. Nassib threw 44 completions.

That Minnesota game is a good one. Foreshadowing of the improvement under Marrone as well. Eric Decker killed us.

 

[orangenauburn]

I think 3 phase domination of top end opponents should be Rushmore games,

PSU ‘87, UF ‘91, VT ‘96, UM ‘98, WVU ‘11, Lville ‘12.

No Rutgers '98?

 

[orangenauburn]

That Minnesota game is a good one. Foreshadowing of the improvement under Marrone as well. Eric Decker killed us.

The botched opening snap killed us

 

[Brian Orange]

I think that was either the last year or second to last year my dad and I had season tickets. We were like 3-7 or something heading into that game and it made the whole season. Man we had some crazy games with Virginia Tech in the dome. Everyone remembers McNabb to Brominski but that game was just about as zany getting to the final play.

In both cases the 2 hour ride back north was a lot of fun listening to the post game and listening to the other exhausted and elated fans calling in.

This was probably my most memorable in person dome game. Parents Weekend too!

 

[Brian Orange]

These threads come up frequently but I don't care. They are always great trips down memory lane.

2001 vs Auburn - first post 9/11 game - is another good one. And then the very next year we randomly played them really well at Auburn. I think we lead most of the game and lost in OT (Cadillac Williams had like 53 carries I think).

 

[Eric15]

That Minnesota game is a good one. Foreshadowing of the improvement under Marrone as well. Eric Decker killed us.

My biggest memory from that game were the insane bottle necking lines outside the Dome to get in. We didn’t get to our seats until it was 14-3. I was ready to break in through a vent shaft like a Colombian soccer fan.

 

[OburgOrange]

1. Penn State - 1987 - It's not even close for me; (2) Florida - 1991 - The Gators were outcoached, and outclassed - Dar Dar!; (3) Miami - 1991 - Heartbreaking, but what a game; (4) WVU 1987 - Wow.

Honorable Mention - 1998 Va Tech. So much fun! Edit- 1984 - Nebraska - How could I forget that game - the beginning of the MacPherson/Pasqualoni era.

Obscure - But Memorable - Never really discussed or mentioned. Notre Dame - 2003 - The season considered a bust - Pasqualoni and DeLeone on the hot seat - National TV - the Orange blows out the Irish and Walter Reyes has a game for the ages.

I concur. And proud to say I witnessed them all

 

[Eric15]

2001 vs Auburn - first post 9/11 game - is another good one.

There are so many old SU games on YouTube, but I have never been able to track down highlights from that 2001 Auburn game.

 

[FloridaCuse]

There is only ONE Dome Mount Rushmore game. The rest are nice but only honorable mention in comparison. It is:

1984 beating #1 Nebraska.

MAJOR Upset! Put Syracuse football back on the map for the first since the late 1960s when Floyd Little & Larry Csonka were on the team. I was there! Just Un-freaking-Believable!

SU was a 25-point underdog.

A report on the game:

Time Machine: Syracuse knocks off No.1 Nebraska in 1984 for only upset of top-ranked team in SU program history

On Sept. 29, 1984, Syracuse knocked off No. 1 Nebraska, 17-9, in the Carrier Dome. The upset stands as the only instance the Orange has defeated a top-ranked opponent in program history.

dailyorange.com

 

[GoSU96]

There is only ONE Dome Mount Rushmore game. The rest are nice but only honorable mention in comparison. It is:

1984 beating #1 Nebraska.

MAJOR Upset! Put Syracuse football back on the map for the first since the late 1960s when Floyd Little & Larry Csonka were on the team. I was there! Just Un-freaking-Believable!

SU was a 25-point underdog.

A report on the game:

Time Machine: Syracuse knocks off No.1 Nebraska in 1984 for only upset of top-ranked team in SU program history

On Sept. 29, 1984, Syracuse knocked off No. 1 Nebraska, 17-9, in the Carrier Dome. The upset stands as the only instance the Orange has defeated a top-ranked opponent in program history.

dailyorange.com

I don’t agree that big upsets as an underdog in a losing season is a Mount Rushmore game.

It was a great upset, but they scored on a Hail Mary and white knuckled a rock fight.

there have been more important games with real stakes where the team put the hammer down.