SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Eight courageous men, collectively known as the Syracuse Eight, revisit Syracuse, marking a significant chapter in the university’s athletics history.
At the Legend Athletics event in the New York State Fair, John Lobon and Greg Allen, pivotal figures of the Syracuse Eight, reflect on their bold stance against racism within the university’s football program. Back in 1970, they boycotted the program, demanding equality and justice.
Their demands, outlined in a letter to Chancellor John Corbally, included the hiring of a Black assistant coach, improved medical and academic support, and fair playing time. Despite facing backlash from teammates and the university, Lobon and Allen remained steadfast in their mission.
“We decided that we didn’t have to make a sacrifice,” said Allen. “We gave Syracuse a gift. We gifted them our dreams, our talent, our athletic careers to make Syracuse a better place.”
Years later, their persistence paid off when Syracuse appointed its first Black head football coach, Dino Babers, in 2015. Syracuse historian Rick Wright, a classmate of the Eight, remembers the moment as a vindication of their struggle.
“I called them all up. Greg, Rick, Syracuse … guess what … we just hired our first African American football coach. You guys have been vindicated,” Wright recalled.
Their legacy lives on, inspiring hope and resilience for generations to come.
NCC News Reporter Kalia Butler: JOHN LOBON AND GREG ALLEN ARE BACK IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE FOR THE LEGEND ATHLETICS EVENT HOSTED AT THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR.
THEY ARE TWO PLAYERS WHO MAKE UP THE SYRACUSE EIGHT. A GROUP OF BLACK PLAYERS WHO CHOSE TO BOYCOTT THE SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PROGRAM UNTIL IT ADDRESSED THEIR ALLEGATIONS OF RACISM.
ON APRIL 17, 1970, THE PLAYERS SENT CHANCELLOR JOHN CORBALLY A LETTER ASKING THAT HE ADDRESS THEIR GRIEVANCES WITHIN TWO DAYS.
THE PLAYERS HAD FOUR DEMANDS … HIRE AN ASSISTANT BLACK COACH, BETTER MEDICAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT, AND PLAYING TIME.
THOUGH THEIR NEEDS WENT UNMET, LOBON AND ALLEN KNEW THEY WOULD BE PAYING IT FORWARD.
Syracuse 8 member Greg Allen:We decided that we didn’t have a sacrifice. We gave Syracuse a gift. We gifted them our dreams, our talent, our athletic careers to make Syracuse a better place.
Kalia Butler: A PLACE HE AND LOBON DID NOT ALWAYS FEEL WELCOMED BY AS THEY WERE MET WITH RESENTMENT FROM BOTH THEIR TEAM AND THE UNIVERSITY OR THEIR DECISION.
Syracuse 8 member John Lobon:”They were mad we didn’t do what they told us to do.”
Kalia Butler: ALLEN AND LOBON NEVER KNEW IF THEIR SACRIFICES WOULD COME FULL CIRCLE. AT LEAST NOT IN THEIR LIFETIME.
BUT THAT DAY CAME WHEN SYRACUSE HIRED ITS FIRST EVER BLACK HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, DINO BABERS IN 2015.
SYRACUSE HISTORIAN, RICK WRIGHT, A CLASSMATE OF THE EIGHT, AND PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY RECALLED THE DAY IT HAPPENED.
SU historian Rick Wright: I called them all up. Greg, Rick, Syracuse … guess what … we just hired our first African American football coach. You guys have been vindicated.
Kalia Butler: ALLEN SAYS HIS GIFT TO THE UNIVERSITY MAY NOT BE THE BIGGEST FINANCIALLY, BUT THE IMPACT THE SYRACUSE 8 MADE FOR BLACK ATHLETES, WILL CARRY ON FOREVER.
