Former Syracuse offensive lineman John Lally and his wife, Laura, gifted the Orange football program $1 million, Syracuse athletics announced Thursday morning.

The grant is expected to be used to aid in reconditioning the practice field turf and renovations to the football complex along with other renovations.

Lally, who played guard for SU from 1979-81, was a three-year letter winner in his time with the Orange and in 2011 was honored by the Syracuse football club with the Mike Zunic award. Zunic, who was a Syracuse football alumnus and close friend of Lally, died in a plane crash in 1989. The award is given annually in memory of him and his wife, who also died in the crash.