Syracuse football receives $1 million donation from former player for new turf practice field

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University football letterwinner John Lally and his wife, Laura, are donating $1 million to the school’s football program.

Syracuse will use the money for the “reconditioning the turf athletic practice field, renovations to the football complex and other improvements,” according to a university news release.

The decision to support funding the program and complex came after a meeting with head football coach Dino Babers, who had “noted the need to refurbish the turf,” Syracuse said.

“The success of the football team has always been important to the players who have gone through the program,” Lally said in the release. “This was my opportunity to support the student-athletes, the football program and the Athletics Department.”

Lally, a 1982 graduate of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, earned a dual degree in marketing and transportation and distribution management. Lally, who played offensive guard for the Orange from 1979 to 1981, earned three letters during his playing days.

 “The program did a lot for me and the development of my character, discipline, competitive advantage and work ethic — all the things that I subsequently carried into my professional career that allowed me to become a success,” said Lally. “I chose the program to recognize the positive things it did for me and as a way to give back to the program.”

Originally from the Buffalo suburb of Clarence, Lally is the former president of PCB Inc., which is headquartered in Depew, another Buffalo suburb. Laura Lally, who is also from the Buffalo area, graduated from SUNY Cortland.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com