Inside the Loud House
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Syracuse Football: Top 10 players that should have their jerseys retired

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 28: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white) Dwight Freeney #93 of the San Diego Chargers looks on from the sidelines during his team's 33-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in their NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium on September 28, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 28: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white) Dwight Freeney #93 of the San Diego Chargers looks on from the sidelines during his team's 33-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in their NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium on September 28, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /
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  • Played at Syracuse from 1924-27.
  • A product of Watertown, N.Y.
  • Consensus All-American in 1926.
  • The only man in both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
  • Elected to Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame.

Same situation here with Vic Hanson, even though jersey numbers weren’t a thing yet, a blank jersey with his name on the back of it or another honor of that level is a must.

Speaking with Central New York Icon Bud Poliquin he called Vic Hanson, “SU’s very own Jim Thorpe.” Thorpe was considered one of the most versatile modern athletes in history.

The definition of versatility is the ability to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities, per Dictionary.com.

For those who didn’t get the chance to know or see Vic Hanson play, here’s a taste:

  • Hanson was the captain of all three teams at Syracuse (football, baseball, and basketball):
    • His Syracuse football teams went 23-5-3, including shutting out Penn State twice. Outscoring opponents 581-144 over those three seasons.
    • Vic won a national title in 1926 with the Syracuse basketball squad going 49-7 during his career.
    • Vic was named to both of Syracuse’s All-Century teams in football and basketball.
    • Also, he eventually signed with the New York Yankees to play baseball and played one season of minor-league ball in their system.

To get an understanding of how the times have changed, Hanson accomplished all of this at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds soaking wet.

Not only was Vic a dynamic athlete, but he was also a talented coach. Specifically, he was Syracuse’s football head coach for seven seasons going 33-21-5 at the ripe age of 27.

Syracuse honors Vic annually by handing out its’ Vic Hanson Medal of Excellence Award for contribution to Orange and college basketball.

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