The event marked one of the most memorable moments in Central New York sports history.
Fans of Syracuse University athletics have witnessed many memorable moments across multiple sports programs over the past 50 years. In just the last 25 years, Syracuse men's basketball and soccer have won national championships, and the Syracuse women's basketball program has played in a national title game.
If you were alive in 1984, you may remember a moment inside the Carrier Dome (JMA Wireless Dome) that rivals that elite company of memorable Orange athletics moments.
Forty-two years later, the finish of this particular game still has had an impact on the Syracuse football program.
What happened involving Syracuse football on Sept. 29, 1984?
In 1983, Syracuse lost by 56 points to the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
But on Sept. 29, 1984, Syracuse beat the No. 1-ranked Cornhuskers 17-9. The Cornhuskers entered the Carrier Dome carrying a 23-game regular-season win streak. The Orange defense held Nebraska's offense to under 225 total yards. Syracuse entered the September match up as more than three touchdown underdog.
The victory was the first time in program history Syracuse defeated the No. 1 ranked team in the country.
Over 47,000 fans were in attendance for the game and thousands of Orange fans found their way onto the Carrier Dome field following the final whistle to celebrate the win with the players, coaches and fellow fans.
The 1984 Syracuse team would go on to finish the season at 6-5, but that win served as a sparkplug.
How did that win impact Syracuse football's future?
The win over Nebraska propelled Syracuse football into a national spotlight. Three years following the upset, Syracuse finished 11-0-1 and tied in the Sugar Bowl, finishing as the No. 4 team in the country to close out the season. Dick MacPherson left Syracuse to become the head coach of the NFL's New England Patriots in 1991. Paul Pasqualoni, an assistant under MacPherson took over the reins as the program's head coach and continued to find success.
Three of the next five seasons all included double-digit wins, bowl game victories and top 15 finishes in the country for the Orange.
Syracuse, over the next 25 years, won multiple Big East conference titles, produced NFL players and continued to viewed in favorable light nationally.
How about the current Orange?
After a 15-day break, Syracuse (1-2) will return to action this Saturday against the UConn Huskies (2-2). Kickoff on Saturday is set for noon ET in East Hartford, Conn. Roundtable will have coverage leading up to the matchup all week long.
The Huskies are coming off a loss to Miami (Ohio).
