If you’re a Syracuse University alumnus, you probably haven’t heard of John and Jerry Dellas, but chances are good that you’ve been inside one of their restaurants before. John and Jerry co-own the Varsity, which has occupied the same location at the corner of Marshall St. and Crouse since its founding in 1926, when John and Jerry’s grandfather, Jerry Dellas, built the Varsity. From its humble beginnings, the Varsity has evolved into a staple for Syracuse University Alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the Orange for nearly 100 years. John Dellas '77 discusses how the Varsity came to play such a prominent role, how former head football coach Dick MacPherson came up with its most famous tradition of flipping over the opposing football team's banner whenever Syracuse gets a win, and the lessons he learned from his days as a Syracuse student.
