How Syracuse football became forever intertwined with a galaxy far, far away
A long time ago, in a city far, far upstate … Syracuse introduced the Carrier Dome as the new home for its football, basketball, and lacrosse programs. It instantly became the largest on-campus domed stadium in the country, but a quirky architectural feature also vaulted the Carrier Dome into Star Wars lore.
When the dome opened in 1980, students quickly discovered that standing between the concrete pillars wrapping the stadium’s exterior and stomping your feet created a unique, almost otherworldly echoing sound. As word spread, it became a student tradition known as “Dome Stomping” or, to many upperclassmen, “The Freshman Stomp.”
Enter Ben Burtt Jr., one of the most accomplished sound designers in Hollywood history. He created the soundscapes for blockbusters like E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, and — yes — that renowned galaxy far, far away. Burtt also happens to be a native of upstate New York, born and raised in Jamesville, a small hamlet in Onondaga County mere minutes from Syracuse University.
When tasked by George Lucas to create an entire universe of sound for a fictional space saga, Burtt relied on everyday but often unnoticed sounds to create the audio texture of lightsabers, vehicle noises, and even Darth Vader’s breathing. Often times, these sounds came from experiences familiar to Burtt. For example, to better capture the sound of Luke Skywalker falling in snow on the planet Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, Burtt recorded the sound of his dad repeatedly falling in Onondaga County snow during a winter trip back home.
Through these trials and errors, Burtt stumbled across several unique sounds from the Greater Syracuse area that fit the context he was hoping to create for the Star Wars universe. Those sounds included Syracuse’s Dome Stomp, which was well-known locally by the time Burtt was working on Return of the Jedi and the prequel movies.
Burtt has returned to Syracuse numerous times to host talks about his work in sound design and has been honored for his achievements by numerous local institutions, including the Onondaga Historical Association. Now it’s time that he earn the recognition he deserves from the college football community for permanently linking a vaunted Syracuse tradition with one of film history’s most beloved and iconic franchises.
CFB Travel Guy 