Video by Scott Trimble
Syracuse, N.Y. -- They packed into Hendricks Chapel on campus here Friday afternoon to say goodbye to the husband, father, grandfather and football coach who will forever be part of this city he called home.
For close to 90 minutes, family, former players, coaches and many others in the SU community remembered Dick MacPherson as all of those things and more in a moving funeral service just steps away from the building in which he revitalized a program.
MacPherson's maple casket sat in the front of the sanctuary with bouquets of flowers and three pictures serving as a backdrop, including a silhouette of the Hall of Fame coach overlooking the practice field high atop his tower and one with his arms raised to the heavens in celebration on the Carrier Dome sideline.
Each speaker made their way right to the lectern, many taking a cue from MacSpeak and vowing that "short speeches make for long friendships."
In truth, you could've listened to them for hours share stories about Coach Mac.
Here are the best moments from the service.
Video: Scott Trimble
MAC 'SAVED MY LIFE'
ESPN broadcaster Sean McDonough was the only non-family member to eulogize the coach, but if you listened to his words, you'd think he was part of the family.
McDonough worked under MacPherson in the Syracuse football office when he was a student in the early '80s. They met at Mac's first press conference, where McDonough introduced himself as the son of Boston sportswriter.
In time, Mac treated him like a son, and McDonough shared the story of how the coach helped fund his college education -- even if he would never admit it -- and set him up for a successful professional career.
"I couldn't get it done financially," said McDonough, who was about $3,600 short in schooling costs around Christmas in between semesters.
He called Mac.
" 'I appreciate all you've done for me, but I wasn't going to be able to come back to Syracuse,' " he told the coach. He figured he could attend an in-state school in Massachusettes that was cheaper than SU.
"I knew in my heart and my mind," McDonough told the assembled audience at Friday's service, "that my days on this spectacular hill were likely over."
He said MacPherson wished him well and would keep in touch.
"God stuck to his plan, and once again Dick MacPherson was at the center of it," McDonough said.
Within a couple days, he received a call from the university informing him he was receiving an academic scholarship for about $4,000.
The timing and amount seemed conspicuous.
"It was also surprising," McDonough said, "given my 2.2 GPA. That part wasn't totally true. It was a 1.8.
"I knew the only reason my stay in Syracuse was being extended was because Coach Mac made it happen.
"Friends, it's not an overstatement to say to you that Coach's intervention completely changed my life. It saved the arc and the path of my life."
McDonough paid his way through the remainder of his four years at Syracuse. By the time he turned 19, he became the voice of the Syracuse Chiefs, a job that would help him later become the voice of the Boston Red Sox.
"Everything in my professional life I am certain would not have happened had I not known Coach Mac, had he not cared so much about me, had he not just put down the phone when i said goodbye and done nothing.
"He truly changed my life, saved my life and continued to influence my life."
A STANDING OVATION
The room was moved to its feet on several occassions to give a few speakers a standing ovation for their touching tributes.
But Doug Logan, the former play-by-play voice for Syracuse football requested the group to rise and give Mac one last round of applause for all the thrills he provided the community.
Logan was tasked with reading Psalm 23, but he couldn't resist reliving the magical unbeaten 1987 season with everyone, from the dominating victory against Penn State to the nail-biting 11th win against West Virginia.
Logan also referenced the upset of No. 1 Nebraska in 1984, when he recalled SU knocking a Nebraska return man out cold early in the game.
His broadcast partner, Jim Ridlon, turned to him and said what everyone in the Dome was thinking from that moment.
"Doug," he said, "we're in for a ballgame here today."
Later in the service, McDonough poked fun at Logan.
"I did not know the recitation of the 1987 season was a part of Psalm 23," McDonough quipped.
Photo: Michael Greenlar
REDECORATING THE IRISH INN
Everyone, even Father James O'Brien, had a terrific Mac story.
O'Brien recounted the time he, and MacPherson and a small group of friends traveled to Ireland for a golf trip.
After a round, the group stopped at a local inn in Scarriff for some "refreshment."
"There was no dissent from the others," O'Brien said.
It did not take long for Mac to captivate the place, engaging a pub full of strangers and making sure their glass was always full.
MacPherson then left to go out to the van, only to return carrying every Syracuse item he could find: hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts.
He presented it all to the owners, and by the time they departed a couple of hours later, the items were displayed high above the bar.
Photo: Michael Greenlar
JAKE'S TO-DO LIST
MacPherson's oldest daughter, Maureen, spoke first and found the right mix of emotion and humor to describe her father.
One such example came when she described one of the Mac's weekly meetings with then-athletic director Jake Crouthamel.
Mac would have a list titled "items to be addressed." On it would include requests to bring every football staffer, including the janitor and assistant equipment manager, on bowl trips.
Crouthamel would warn Mac there were budgetary reasons to consider.
"Whenever Jake said no to any of my father's requests," Maureen said, "they would re-appear on the list the next week under the heading 'items yet to be resolved.'
"So I'm pretty sure the key to my father's success was to persevere."
Photo: Michael Greenlar
THE FAMILY MAN
Mac's devotion to his family was never questioned.
Take, for example, Papa duties.
When he was out of football, MacPherson would drive his granddaughters to nursery school.
Molly would jet out of the car, plow into the school and play with friends.
Suzy did the opposite.
"She would scream if she was left," Maureen said, "and she would continue to scream until someone came back and got her."
So, Mac and Suzy devised a plan. He would stay there in the room, leaning against the door. When Suzy was ready for him to leave, she would give him a thumbs up behind her back, signaling to Mac to return to the car, where he read newspapers and magazines.
Suzy would look out the window to make sure he was still there. When she was ready for him to drive off, she'd wave to him out the window.
"Only then could he leave," Maureen said.
"He did that every morning."
File photo: Stephen D. Cannerelli
PATERNO'S CANDLE
Maureen recounted a familar story of how MacPherson wound up in the same church as former Penn State coach Joe Paterno the morning before a football game in State College, Pa.
MacPherson, a deeply religious man, attended Mass the morning of the game and noticed Paterno there as well.
Paterno said his prayers and lit a candle.
Mac did the same.
But when Paterno left the church, MacPherson blew out Paterno's candle.
Photo: Michael Greenlar
TRESSEL'S PLAY-CALLING
Before he won national titles at FCS Youngstown State and Ohio State, Jim Tressel served as Syracuse's quarterbacks coach under MacPherson from 1981-82.
It overlapped with McDonough's time working in the football office, and the ESPN broadcaster shared a memorable story about a then-28-year-old Tressel's notoriously conservative playcalling.
It was Tressel's first year calling plays, and in the third game of the season, a Sept. 19 contest at Illinois, Tressel called to repeatedly run the ball offtackle with Joe Morris.
MacPherson soon got on the headset to speak with Tressel.
"Jimmy," MacPherson said, "do we have any other plays?"
"Yes we do, Coach," Tressel responded. "And as soon as they stop us once we'll get on with the next one."
Photo: Michael Greenlar
MACKY: 'REST EASY'
MacPherson's grandsons, Macky and Cameron, grew up around the Syracuse football program, running around Paul Pasqualoni's practices and playing catch with Donovan McNabb.
Both played football at Syracuse: Macky a center, Cameron a tight end, and Macky is now a graduate assistant under coach Dino Babers.
But they wanted everyone to know football was not the only connection to their grandfather.
They would give anything for one more 12-hour ride to Maine, where Mac was raised. They'll never forget being wheeled around Disney World in a wagon.
The defining feature of their grandfather, Macky said, was his selflessness, a trait they wish to impart for the rest of their lives.
"Nothing sums up this feeling more than his tried and true question whenever anyone would go over and visit him: 'Now, tell me. Is there anything I can do for you?'
"Well, Papa. I finally have something you can do for me. Please rest easy, knowing that so many of us still here on Earth love you so much.
"While you are up there in heaven, always remember to drink the first, sip the second and refuse the third."
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