The 45th season of Syracuse Orange Football in the iconic JMA Wireless Dome kicked off last Saturday with a heart-attack inducing overtime win over the UConn Huskies.

It was good of the players to give this author and their stadium such a nice birthday gift.

After five years of studies, planning, haggling, demolition and construction, the Carrier Dome opened on September 20, 1980, with 50,564 Syracuse Orange football fans witnessing a 36-24 victory over Miami (OH) University.

The Orange’s junior running back, Joe Morris, ran all over the new Astroturf and the Miami defense, bringing back a second quarter kickoff for 94-yard touchdown. Morris ended the day with 170 yards rushing with three more rushing touchdowns.

“The Dome” replaced the decrepit and crumbling, but beloved, Archbold S

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