The new coach, replacing twenty-five year Syracuse mentor Ben Schwartzwalder was Frank Maloney, fresh off of the Michigan staff and he brought the Michigan system with him. Installing the I-Formation and a 5-2 Monster Defense, he also implemented a comprehensive weight training program and a roomful of brand new Nautilus equipment. Maloney's enthusiastic approach was positive and well-accepted by the players but manpower was lacking. The change to a white helmet with a one-inch orange center stripe, flanked by three-quarter-inch navy blue stripes with a new navy blue "SU" oval logo made it clear that there truly was a new regime. The new uniforms could not overcome the shortfall in talent and the Orange limped home with a 2-9 record that matched that of 1973. Ray Preston was an impressive LB and Ken Clarke eventually developed into a fourteen-year NFL player but the defense yielded double-digits in all but one game while the offense was shutout in three contests. '75 gave indication that the Orangemen were "getting it" from Maloney and his staff, and the 6-5 record was the first winning slate since 1970. Bob Avery was a solid tailback as Jim Donaghue and Bob Mitch shared QB duties. Preston, Clarke, and DB Keith Moody who intercepted six passes and then had a productive four-year career with Buffalo and a year in Oakland led the defense and a frosh LB from Thomas Jefferson H.S. in Brooklyn Otis Wilson, showed promise but would transfer at the end of the season, later to make his mark at Louisville and then with the Super Bowl Bears.

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