Syracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse University announced a $25 million gift commitment to its athletic department from former football player John Lally during the second quarter of its game against Western Michigan on Saturday.

Lally and his wife, Laura, were presented with a commemorative football by Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack and chancellor Kent Syverud in recognition of the commitment.

Syracuse did not announce what the gift would be used for but said that details would be provided this fall at events surrounding the school’s 150th anniversary. In a statement released by the school, Lally referenced the football program’s need for “first-class facilities, operations and support.”

“For Syracuse University Athletics to become even more competitive in both the ACC and on the national stage, the program needs to have first-class facilities, operations and support," Lally said in a statement from the university. "Laura and I are committed to Syracuse University Athletics, and in particular positioning the university to attract, recruit and retain high-performing student-athletes who succeed on and off the field, inside and outside the classroom and in their communities.”

Under Syracuse football coach Dino Babers and Wildhack, Syracuse has tried to spend strategically in order to compete with other ACC programs, a group headed by Clemson. That has included adding positions that help with recruiting and social media. The school opened its indoor practice facility, the Ensley Athletic Center, in 2015.

The gift commitment is at least the second one that the school has offered Lally public recognition for. He also contributed $1 million in 2017, helping the school replace its turf field and helping with other renovations within the football building.

Lally was an offensive guard who played for Syracuse from 1977 to 1981, earning three letters. His time included an Independence Bowl win in 1979. Lally graduated in 1982 and earned dual degrees in marketing and transportation and distribution management.

According to The Buffalo News, Lally was also integral in pushing the school to honor his former teammate Joe Morris last year. The Syracuse running back and all-time leading rusher had his jersey hung near the Carrier Dome roof last year.

In addition to the gift to the athletic department, Lally also established a scholarship in Syracuse’s Whitman School in his mother’s honor.

Lally grew up in Clarence and went on to become president and owner of PCB Piezotronics Inc., which is headquartered in Depew.

According to the PCB Piezotronics company website, the company was created in August of 1967 by Robert Lally and James Lally. At its founding the company specialized in “manufacturing piezoelectric quartz sensors, accelerometers and associated electronics for the measurement of dynamic pressure, force and vibration.”

“There are certain values that John and I live our lives by and one of those is giving back to others and helping make a difference," Laura Lally said in the statement. "We hope this commitment enhances the lives of current and future student-athletes; provides coaches and staff with the tools necessary to develop their players as individuals and as athletes; and generates new energy in the Orange community in Central and Western New York and beyond.”

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