Syracuse, N.Y. -- A former Syracuse University football player who donned the famous No. 44 jersey in between two of the great running backs in program history died last week at the age of 82.
Thomas Stephens devoted much of his life to the game, playing for the Boston Patriots from 1960-64 and later coaching at Harvard and Curry College, where he served as athletic director and was inducted into the school's hall of fame.
Born in Texas, Stephens moved to Herkimer County when he was 16 and attended Mohawk Central High School.
He stayed in Upstate New York after accepting a football scholarship to Syracuse, where he overlapped with legendary running backs Jim Brown and Ernie Davis during his time at Syracuse and wore the famed No.