SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Twenty-five years ago today, word broke that Dick MacPherson, Syracuse University's third-winningest football coach and number one in the hearts of many, was leaving for the NFL.

Coach Mac, who famously led the team to an undefeated 1987 season, a tie with Auburn in the 1988 Sugar Bowl and finished the year ranked No. 4 in the country, left Syracuse for a new challenge: The New England Patriots.

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Back then, the Patriots were far from the perennial playoff powerhouse they are today. The struggling NFL franchise lost the last 14 games of the 1990 season to finish 1-15, the worst record in franchise history.

A day after being named head coach of the Patriots, MacPherson returned to Syracuse to say goodbye, a challenge, perhaps, even tougher than the Patriots job.

"It's a good time and a sad time, and quite honestly, I didn't dream up this press conference, and it's going to be hard," he said during the emotional meeting.

The Post-Standard's Donnie Webb reported at the time that the news conference felt like a wake and that MacPherson, who broke down in tears several times, was there to deliver his own eulogy.

The man of 1,000 sayings--known to former players as Macisms--shared some of his wisdom to those in attendance that day in what the Post-Standard called "MacNuggets":

Related: Syracuse football greats share their favorite Coach Mac stories

During that hour, MacPherson thanked so many people that he tried to stop himself, only to thank just a few more. He asked for acceptance and support for leaving Syracuse with regrets over not finishing the job he was hired to do.

The news conference ended with a blessing sung by Monsignor Charles Borgognoni, Syracuse University's Catholic Chaplain.

Names of possible replacements began to surface. Then-secondary coach Randy Edsall and offensive coordinator George DeLeone were top targets, as was former Syracuse assistant George O'Leary, who also served as head coach at Liverpool High School in the 70s.

Linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni wasn't one of those names. That is, until athletic director Jake Crouthamel called him to his New Orleans hotel room--where the coaching staff was attending the American Football Coaches Association's annual convention-- and offered him the job.

Pasqualoni told the Post-Standard that he was going to do things differently than his predecessor.

"I probably won't drink as much coffee," Pasqualoni said. "I'm going to be me."

The day after Coach Mac said goodbye, Pasqualoni was announced as the next head coach. Over the next 14 years, Pasqualoni won 104 games, second most in school history.

In 2009, prior to his induction in the College Football Hall of Fame, MacPherson echoed his hesitations, saying that New England was not the right fit.

"I think I made a huge mistake in going because, see, the thing you ought to make sure is, who the hell are you working for," he said. "I don't think it was a good marriage. I've never gotten a divorce before, you know."

After finishing 8-24 in two seasons with the Patriots, MacPherson was ordered to replace many of his assistant coaches in New England, some of whom he brought with him from Syracuse.

MacPherson refused and two years and one day after he was hired, Coach Mac was fired.

The 16-minute press conference announcing MacPherson's firing was "unemotional," the Chicago Tribune reported at the time. The words that tugged on the heartstrings of all that filled the Manley Field House two years before were nowhere to be seen.

Coach Mac never coached again.

This feature is a part of CNY Nostalgia, a new section on syracuse.com. Send your ideas and curiosities to Jacob Pucci: Email, | Twitter | 315-766-6747

Coach Mac leaves SU, Coach P hired