Syracuse Football: What The Hell Is A Wagner Seahawks?

In theory, the Syracuse Orange are supposed to earn their first victory when they host something called the Wagner Seahawks in the Carrier Dome. But how can we be expected to care if we have no idea what a Wagner Seahawks is or what makes a Wagner Seahawks different than a Seattle one? We don't even know what to make fun of them for.

Let's find out.

School: Wagner College

Location: Staten Island, NY

Enrollment: 2,400

History: Wagner might be in Staten Island now but it was originally located in Rochester. I bet you didn't even know schools could do that. But in 1883, the school opened as Rochester Lutheran Proseminary to train ministers. In 1886, it became the Wagner Memorial Lutheran College and then the entire school up and moved to SI in 1913. From there it became less #AllLutheranEverything and more, you know, normal school.

Alumni To Be Proud Of: TV & Cinema badass Robert Loggia, MSU head coach Dan Mullen

Alumni To Be Ashamed Of: Former NY Jets head coach Rich Kotite

Nickname: Seahawks (haven't really found a specific reason as to why they chose it)

Logo: You could draw their old logo yourself. Their current one is fine.

First Football Season: 1927 (1-3)

All-Time Record: 379–325–19 (.537)

Best Season: 1987 (13-1, DIII National Champions)

Worst Season: 1955 (0-8)

Football Stadium: Wagner College Stadium (3,300)

Head Coach: Walt Hameline is Wagner's version of Jim Boeheim. The head coach, who is also Wagner's AD, has been at the job since 1981 and has compiled a record of 213–127–2. Under Hameline, Wagner has finished with a winning record 23 times and he's among the 25 winningest college football coaches all-time. The field at Wagner College Stadium is named for him and he was named FCS Coach of the Year last season.

Last Season: The Seahawks got off to a rough start, losing their first three games to FAU, Georgetown and Monmouth. From there, they rattled off eight-straight wins to win the NEC conference and make the FCS Playoffs. They defeated Colgate in the first round but lost to Eastern Michigan in the second round to finish 9-4.

So Far This Season: Wagner made a friend in Syracuse fans by beating Georgetown to start their season. The 28-21 victory was notable considering they were down 21-7 at the half. In their second game, however, they were on the other hand of a comeback, losing to D-II school Merrimack 42-41.

Syracuse Connection: Torian Phillips, the first Doug Marrone recruit, left SU to play at Wagner. He got embroiled in some shady business last year.

Fun Fact: Wagner is a football National Champion. It was the Division III title that they won in 1987, but, it's more than we did in 1987 (barely).

Fun Fact 2: Syracuse and Wagner have met three times...on the hardwood. The Orange are 3-0 all-time against them.

Now you know. And knowing is half the battle.