Former Syracuse coach MacPherson dies at 86

Aug 8, 2017 - 10:00 PM Former Syracuse coach Dick MacPherson, who revived the program and led the Orange to an undefeated season in 1987, died Tuesday in Syracuse, N.Y. He was 86.

MacPherson reportedly died of natural causes.

MacPherson's 1987 team went 11-0-1, tying Auburn 16-16 in the Sugar Bowl, and finishing with a No. 4 ranking. He went 66-46-4 at Syracuse from 1981-90 before leaving to coach the New England Patriots. He went 8-24 in two seasons before giving way to Bill Parcells.

MacPherson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2009.

Syracuse men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim remembered MacPherson fondly Tuesday in a phone interview with Syracuse.com.

"He was just the greatest guy," Boeheim said. "He was just one of those rare guys that everybody loved. He was one-of-a-kind, a special human being. He obviously did a great job coaching football. And he was just a unique individual."






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