Syracuse Football: My top 5 favorite Orange plays since 1980

As a 49-year-old approaching 50 in 2022, I sometimes find myself looking back on my life at its “halfway point,” and I’m going to do something similar with my beloved Syracuse football program.

And as a new year approaches and football season has ended for Orange fans, I wanted to look back at my memories of Syracuse football in the past. Much like the rest of my life, some are good and some are not.

Today though I’m choosing to focus on my top five favorite Orange football plays since about 1980, which is about as far back as I can recall. These are moments I recall occasionally to help remind myself why I’m a fan even during the struggles of fandom. They’re especially fun to think about to get myself hyped for the first game of a season.

I present my top 5 Syracuse football plays!

5: Trill Williams Strips the Ball, Scores Overtime Touchdown

This is a more recent play but it’s one my son and I still talk about. If you watched it and you’re a Syracuse football fan, you likely jumped to your feet and screamed as it happened as I did.

It’s November 2019 and Syracuse is facing the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The game is tied at 30 and goes into overtime. Syracuse scores a field goal and is up 33-30 and now it’s Wake’s turn. Wake completes a pass to a receiver and it looks like he can score or at least give them a goal-line chance.

Suddenly Trill Williams approaches the receiver and instead of tackling him, he decides to rip the ball away and it worked. Trill then ran the ball 95 yards back for a touchdown securing the victory in the final game of the season.

4: Riley Dixon Fakes a Field Goal, Hurdles LSU Player for 1st Down

Riley Dixon was so well-liked as an Orange player that Twitter started a Heisman campaign in his honor. Riley was a local kid from Camden, NY who played for CBA and became possibly the biggest fan-favorite player to ever play special teams.

Many will point to when Riley once threw a game-winning touchdown or took a fake punt about 40 something yards against Notre Dame I believe. But for me, it will always be the fake field goal against LSU that I’ll remember.

Riley lined up and ran the ball for a first down. In order to get it, he had to hurdle an LSU cornerback named Kevin Toliver. After getting the first, Riley did an exciting fist pump that got the crowd’s attention and even Toliver’s as he tried to flop and make it look like Riley swung at him. Sadly the results after were not as exciting as Syracuse was unable to capitalize and not only led to a missed field goal by Cole Murphy but Syracuse also eventually lost as well but the play is still exciting to think about.

3: Nassib to Sales 52-yard Flea Flicker Touchdown in Pinstripe Bowl

It’s quite possible Ryan Nassib could go down as one of the most underrated quarterbacks in Syracuse history. It’s also possible unfortunately that Marcus Sales will be remembered more for off-field mistakes than for how productive he could be on the field.

In 2010, a Doug Marrone-coached Syracuse Orange football team made it to the Pinstripe Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats. Syracuse won in what some deemed a controversial finish despite great efforts from many including Ryan Nassib who threw for 239 yards, with 172 of those yards and all three touchdowns going to receiver Marcus Sales.

My initial response would be to choose the 44-yard reception since you know, Syracuse and 44 but it’s hard to deny the excitement in another play. Quarterback Ryan Nassib handed the ball off to Syracuse running back Antwon Bailey (loved that guy) who faked rushing it, pitched it back to Nassib who hit Sales for 52 yards and an early touchdown.

2: McNabb to Brominski!

It’s might be one of the most talked-about plays in Syracuse football history. It’s also quite possibly how the legend of quarterback Donovan McNabb was made.

Syracuse is playing Virginia Tech. It’s November 15, 1998, and the Orange has a chance at being Big East champion if they can win this one and two more.

One problem though, with over 4 minutes left, it looks like the Hokies are going to pull out the victory. Syracuse is driving but at times it looks shaky and other times exciting. Fans are on the edge of their seats as the clock winds down to the final play with 5 seconds left.

McNabb feels the pressure, rolls to his right and throws across the field to tight end Steve Brominski and Brominski makes an amazing catch. Brominski has two defenders in the area and McNabb makes a throw many experts would tell a quarterback never to throw but the result is a Syracuse victory.

1: Norley to Siano and Down Goes Top-ranked Nebraska

If McNabb to Brominski is one of the most talked-about plays, one of the least talked about plays might have taken place in 1984. Many of us older fans will likely remember beating #1 ranked Nebraska but most will, and rightfully so, credit the Tim Green-led Syracuse football defense for the big win. However, there was also an amazing play on offense in the third quarter that helped lead the team to victory as well.

Quarterback Todd Norley didn’t light up the stat sheets but on a 2nd and 21, he lofted up a “rainbow throw” to wide receiver Mike Siano who outjumped two defenders at the goal line and came down with the battle. Norley never even saw it as he was laid out on the field injured (later revealed to be a sprained knee) after being hit from behind on the play. On that day, the Syracuse Orange football team and head coach Dick MacPherson earned national respect.

So those are my top 5 plays…what are yours?