Syracuse Football: Eric Dungey’s Legacy Solidified

Syracuse Football behind stellar play from quarterback Eric Dungey gave the Orange a win over Clemson. Inside the Loud House examines Dungey’s legacy going forward.

Syracuse Football played a heck of a game Friday night. The result was 27-24 win over Clemson that folks around Syracuse will remember and talk about forever. It was a victory of monumental proportions. Lost among all the hoopla is the conductor, quarterback Eric Dungey was the true star of the show for the Orange.

Sure, we can talk all day about how Coach Dino Babers out-coached Dabo Swinney on that day. However, we’d be remiss to not mention that without Dungey this game doesn’t end up a W for Syracuse Football.

Dungey was amazing on Friday night and that’s not an understatement. Against the Tigers he completed 64% of his passes, had no turnovers, threw for almost three hundred yards, had three passing touchdowns, and also had 91 yards on the ground to lead the Orange. In addition, he was cool, collected, poised, and fearless against what many consider the best defense in college football this year.

All things considered, Dungey arguably played one of the best games ever by a quarterback in an Orange Uniform. Don’t get me wrong The Orange have have some pretty great ones in the past like Donovan Mcnabb and Don Mcpherson, among others. None of them though beat the number two team in the nation, let alone the reigning national title holders who were undefeated coming in. If that doesn’t solidify his legacy I don’t know what does.

Coming into this game we already knew Dungey was a special quarterback and was one of the best in the nation. The rest of college football hadn’t heard of him, but we had. We’ve known for years we have had a heck of a football player on our hands. He just hasn’t been able to stay healthy. His ability to avoid injury has been the only thing that has held him back.

Now, in 2017, and healthy through seven games, let alone coming off defeating the #2 team in the nation, he has finally been able to solidify his place not only as one of the best in the country this year, but as one of the best all time for Syracuse Football. Let’s take a look at how he compares (already) to what Syracuse.com calls the greatest Syracuse Quarterback of All-Time: Donovan McNabb.

Eric Dungey vs Donovan McNabb 

(Through Junior Year- 7 games- Note: Dungey has played 24, McNabb had played 29)

Passing Yards: Dungey-6057, McNabb-5284 Advantage: Dungey

Passing Touchdowns: Dungey-38; McNabb- 44 Advantage: McNabb 

Rushing Yards: Dungey-1030; McNabb-993  Advantage: Dungey

Rushing Touchdowns: Dungey-19 ; McNabb- 10 Advantage: Dungey

Interceptions: Dungey-16; McNabb-20  Advantage: Dungey

Regular Season Wins/Losses: Dungey- 11 Wins, 13 Losses; McNabb- 22 Wins, 6 Losses Advantage: McNabb

Bowl Games: Dungey-0; McNabb- 2 (2-0) Advantage: McNabb 

Statistical Score Through these Seven categories: 4-3 Dungey

Dungey vs McNabb: Career Stats

(Note: Projections are only if Dungey plays all 17 regular season games of his career to finish with 41 career games. McNabb played 45 games in his career)

Career Passing Yards: Dungey- Projected: 10,341 yards. McNabb- 8,389 yards Advantage: Dungey

Career Passing Touchdowns: Dungey- Projected: 65 , McNabb-77 Advantage: McNabb

Career Rushing Yards: Dungey- Projected: 1,761 yards, McNabb-1561 yards Advantage: Dungey

Career Rushing Touchdowns: Dungey- Projected: 32, McNabb-19 Advantage: Dungey

Career Interceptions: Dungey-Projected: 20 to 23 McNabb- 26 Advantage: Dungey

Career Regular Season Wins/Losses: Dungey- Projected: 19 Wins, 22 Losses; McNabb 34 Wins, 14 Losses Advantage: McNabb

Bowl Games: Dungey- Projected: 0 to 2; McNabb- 4 (2-2) Advantage: McNabb

Statistical Score Through these Seven categories: 4-3 Dungey

Syracuse Ranks: Dungey-McNabb Comparison

Dungey

• 1st all-time in career 300-yard passing games- 9
• 1st all-time in Passing yards Per Game (252)
• 2nd all-time in Completion Percentage- 63%
• 4th all-time with 7,346 yards of Total offense
• 4th all-time in Passing Yards (6,057)
• 4th all-time in Completions (523)
• 5th all-time in Passing Touchdowns (38)
• Tied for 15th all-time with McNabb for Rushing Touchdowns (19)

McNabb

• 1st all-time in Passing Touchdowns (77)
• 3rd all-time in Completions (548)
• 3rd all-time in Passing Yards (8,389)
• 4th all-time in Passing yards Per Game (186)
• 8th all-time in Completion Percentage (58.4%)

Now these ranks are only head-to-head comparison, and Syracuse Football had a ton of other talented quarterbacks, but it just gives you a statistical glimpse of how these two stack up on paper head to head.

Though Dungey statistically seems the better of the two in many categories, only time will tell if his legacy will make him the greatest. There’s no denying either way though that Dungey’s legacy is solidified. What Dungey did to Clemson to lead Syracuse Football to a victory is something even McNabb never did. He never beat the defending national champion or the #2 team in the nation. It is for that reason he should most definitely be considered among the All-time Greats if not the greatest when his college career is finished.

Next: Syracuse Football Report Card: Here’s how SU performed vs Clemson

Considering the statistics and ranks above, casting pro statistics aside, and acknowledging the huge win Dungey led the Orange to this past Friday, where does that leave Dungey All-time at Syracuse? Do wins and bowl games make McNabb and other Syracuse QB’s better than Dungey? We leave it to you Orange fans!