1959 National Champs: Gerhard Schwedes captains Syracuse football - syracuse.com

There will not be a bowl game in Syracuse football fans’ Christmas stocking this year. The Orange, despite high expectations this summer, struggled to a 5-7 record and a disappointing sixth-place finish in the ACC Atlantic division. To fill the void, we are looking back at Syracuse’s greatest football triumph, the 1959 national championship, on what would be the 60th anniversary of that team. Over the next 11 days, you can read about the the players, games and the head coach who directed what is considered by some one of the most dominant teams in college football history.

Today, it’s Gerhard Schwedes, the captain.

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The 1959 Syracuse University football team began its season with a gaping hole at the game’s most important position -- quarterback.

Head coach Ben Schwartzwalder looked at his two QB candidates -- sophomores Dave Sarette or Dick Easterly – and he did want either running the show.

So, just three weeks before the season opener against Kansas, he turned to his captain, halfback Gerhard Schwedes, and informed him he was now the starting quarterback.

“He is our best returning back and a Dean’s List student,” the coach said, “and I don’t see anything wrong with trying your best at a team’s toughest position.”

Schwedes, who had led the team in rushing and receiving the year before, was not exactly thrilled.

"Ben called me during the summer and said to start getting my arm in shape, that I was going to be the quarterback," he said in 2000. "I told him I didn't want to be the quarterback.”

While the move seemed unorthodox, Syracuse fans and media had the utmost confidence in both Schwartzwalder and Schwedes.

“If anyone can do it, Schwedes probably can,” Post-Standard sports columnist Bill Reddy wrote. “The German-born youngster is a natural athlete, with a degree of intelligence.”

While the offense moved the ball with Schwedes at the command during the first half of the season opener on Sept. 26 at Archbold Stadium, they could not score.

Schwedes completed five of six passes for only 40 yards in the first half, and while Orange had 19 first down to Kansas’ one, the Jayhawks led at halftime, 7-6.

In the second half, the captain returned to his favored halfback role, joining the formidable duo of Art Baker and Ernie Davis in Schwartzwalder’s T-formation.

"They put Dave Sarette in at quarterback. I lost out to Sarette and was never happier."

Syracuse rolled in the second half, winning 35-21.

The opening day experience for Schwedes paid dividends in Cotton Bowl with the National Championship on the line.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Orange lost a yard on a running play and then a down on an incomplete pass. On third down, a holding penalty backed the Orange to their own 13-yard line.

Then Syracuse struck for the longest play of their season.

QB Sarette pitched the ball backward to Schwedes, who threw long to Ernie Davis, who caught the ball between to Texas defenders at midfield. Davis turned on the speed and simply outran the “desperate Texas pursuers” for an 87-yard touchdown reception. It was the longest play of the season for SU and a bowl record to boot.

SU never trailed after that.

Schwedes finished the 1959 championship season with 567 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns scored. He was voted SU’s athlete of the year by the Herald-American.

And shortly after the Cotton Bowl ended, he signed a pro contract with the Boston Patriots.

The Series

Remembering the 1959 Syracuse football national champions, the greatest team in school history

Syracuse beats Navy and college football world pays attention

Art Baker, ‘a tough son of a gun’ for SU football

The leader of SU football, Coach Ben

SU beats Penn State in a thriller

SU football fields the ‘perfect’ offense

SU football’s immovable defense

Syracuse win at UCLA secures undefeated regular season

Syracuse football fans celebrate undefeated season

Race an undercurrent at the Cotton Bowl

Syracuse wins the Cotton Bowl!

This feature is a part of CNY Nostalgia, a section on syracuse.com. Send your ideas and curiosities to Johnathan Croyle at jcroyle@syracuse.com or call 315-427-3958.

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