Syracuse Orange#Football histor

{{short description|Collegiate athletic teams that represent Syracuse University}}

{{Infobox school athletics

| name = Syracuse Orange

| logo = Syracuse Orange logo.svg

| logo_width = 100

| university = Syracuse University

| association = NCAA

| conference = ACC (primary)
AHA (women's ice hockey)
EARC (men's rowing)

| division = Division I (FBS)

| director = John Wildhack

| location = Syracuse, New York

| teams = 20

| stadium = JMA Wireless Dome

| baseballfield =

| basketballarena = JMA Wireless Dome
Melo Center

| golfcourse = Drumlins Country Club

| icehockeyarena = Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion
J.S. Coyne Stadium (Field Hockey)

| lacrossestadium = JMA Wireless Dome

| natatorium = The Arch

| rowingvenue = Ten Eyck boathouse

| sailingvenue = Willow Bank Yacht Club

| soccerstadium = SU Soccer Stadium

| softballstadium = Skytop Softball Stadium

| tenniscourt = Skytop Tennis Complex

| trackvenue = Coyne Field

| arena2 = Manley Field House
Hookway Fields Complex
Women's Building

| mascot = Otto the Orange

| nickname = Orange

| fightsong = Down the Field

| pageurl = https://cuse.com/

| altlogo = 150px

}}

File:ACC logo in Syracuse colors.svg

The Syracuse Orange are the athletic teams that represent Syracuse University. The school is a member of NCAA Division I and the Atlantic Coast Conference. Until 2013, Syracuse was a member of the Big East Conference.

The school's mascot is Otto the Orange. Until 2004, the teams were known as the Orangemen and Orangewomen. The men's basketball, football, wrestling, men's lacrosse, and women's basketball teams play in the JMA Wireless Dome, referred to as the JMA Dome. Other sports facilities include the nearby Manley Field House complex, the Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion, and Drumlins Country Club.

Important firsts

  • Baseball team established: 1870
  • Rowing team founded: 1874
  • First recorded football game: 1884 vs. Medical College of Syracuse{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
  • First intercollegiate football game: 1889 vs. University of Rochester{{cite news |last1=Alandt |first1=Anthony |title=The storied history of Syracuse football began well before its 1889 loss to Rochester |url=https://dailyorange.com/2022/11/the-storied-history-of-syracuse-football-began-well-before-its-1889-loss-to-rochester/ |access-date=18 December 2022 |work=The Daily Orange |date=2 November 2022}}
  • First recorded basketball game: 1899 vs. Christian Association of Hamilton (Ontario)
  • Lacrosse team founded: 1916
  • First United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association championship: 1920
  • First National Championship: Football, 1959 vs. Texas
  • First ACC Championship: Men's Cross Country, 2013
  • First Women's National Championship: Field Hockey, 2015

Sports sponsored

class="wikitable" style=" "

! width= 170px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Syracuse Orange|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Men's sports

! width= 170px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Syracuse Orange|border=1|color=#ffffff}}"| Women's sports

BasketballBasketball
Cross countryCross country
FootballField hockey
LacrosseIce hockey
RowingLacrosse
SoccerRowing
Track and fieldSoccer
Softball
Tennis
Track and field
Volleyball
colspan="2" style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Syracuse Orange}}" | {{small|† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor}}

Syracuse is the only ACC school and one of only four Power 5 schools that do not sponsor baseball, the other three being Colorado, Iowa State, and Wisconsin.

= Football =

{{main|Syracuse Orange football}}

File:Syracuse Orange football against Buffalo Bulls in Carrier Dome on 10 September 2005.jpg

The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that currently represents Syracuse University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Syracuse University football program is also renowned for producing many All-Americans and Professionals as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers. Among them are Ernie Davis, Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, Joe Morris, Art Monk, Jim Ringo, John Mackey, Doc Alexander, and Floyd Little. Among the current NFL players are Chandler Jones, Alton Robinson, Zaire Franklin, Andre Cisco, Ifeatu Melifonwu, and Riley Dixon.

= Men's basketball =

{{main|Syracuse Orange men's basketball}}

File:Dion Waiters.jpg)]]

The Syracuse Orange men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball program of Syracuse University. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Orange won the National Championship in the 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball tournament. During the 2008–09, they played in, and won, a six-overtime thriller against a rival UConn team.

The game was during the Big East Championship Tournament, and is the second-longest NCAA Division I basketball game of all time. Their recent success has included a trip to the 2013 Final Four and the 2016 Final Four. In the 2013–14 season they broke a record set two years prior by starting the season 25–0. The previous record was 20–0 set during the 2011–12 season. The 1917–18 and 1925–26 Syracuse teams were retroactively named the national champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation and the Premo-Porretta Power Poll.{{cite web| title =NCAA Division I Men's Basketball – NCAA Division I Champions|publisher =Rauzulu's Street|year=2004 |url=http://www.rauzulusstreet.com/basketball/college/helmscollegechampionship.htm| access-date =May 14, 2014}}{{cite book |title=ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game|editor-last=ESPN|publisher=ESPN Books|location=New York, NY|year=2009|pages=534–38|isbn=978-0-345-51392-2}}

= Women's basketball =

{{main|Syracuse Orange women's basketball}}

The Syracuse Orange women's basketball program is the intercollegiate women's basketball of Syracuse University. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The head coach of the team is Felisha Legette-Jack. The team began playing in the 1971–72 season.

= Women's ice hockey =

{{main|Syracuse Orange women's ice hockey}}

In 2008, Syracuse University announced that it would sanction a women's ice hockey team and become a member of the women-only College Hockey America (CHA). The team started playing in 2008.

After the 2023–24 season, CHA merged with the men-only Atlantic Hockey Association to form Atlantic Hockey America. All members of both predecessor conferences were brought into the new league.{{cite press release |url=https://atlantichockeyonline.com/news/2024/4/29/mens-ice-hockey-atlantic-hockey-and-college-hockey-america-join-to-form-atlantic-hockey-america.aspx |title=Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America Join to Form Atlantic Hockey America |publisher=Atlantic Hockey America |date=April 30, 2024 |access-date=May 2, 2024}}

= Cross Country =

== Men's Cross Country ==

{{main|Syracuse Orange men's cross country}}

Syracuse won the NCAA Men's Cross Country team title in 1951.

At the 2015 NCAA Division I cross country championships Syracuse won its second NCAA team title with a score of 82 points, beating out Colorado (91) and Stanford (151). Syracuse was led by Justin Knight (4th), Colin Bennie (8th), and Martin Hehir (9th), and an All-American performance from Philo Germano (39th) secured the victory. Joel Hubbard (47th) rounded out the scoring for the Orange. The coaching staff included Brien Bell, Adam Smith and Head Coach Chris Fox, who was subsequently named USTFCCCA National Men's Coach of the Year. {{cite web | url=https://www.flotrack.org/articles/5047504-results-d1-ncaa-mens-cross-country-championships | title=RESULTS: D1 NCAA Men's Cross Country Championships | date=21 November 2015 }}

At the ACC Championships, The Syracuse men's cross country team has finished first or second at this meet in 10 of their 11 seasons in the league, including six league titles (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019).{{cite web | url=https://cuse.com/news/2024/10/31/cross-country-orange-set-for-acc-xc-championships-on-friday | title=Orange Set for ACC XC Championships on Friday }} They joined the league in 2013 and won their first 5 ACC titles. Before then, they won the 2012 Big East Cross Country Championship. {{cite web | url=https://big-east-cross-country-championships.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?do=info&event_id=1511&year=2012 | title=2012 Big East Cross Country Championships - info/Results - 10/26/12 }}

= Men's lacrosse =

{{main|Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse}}

File:Army-Syracuse lacrosse 2010.jpg

Syracuse fields a Division I NCAA college lacrosse team. Syracuse played its first intercollegiate lacrosse game in 1916, and captured its first USILL division championship in 1920. It would go on to win USILL championships in 1922, 1924, and 1925 and the USILA Division II co-national championship (Laurie Cox Trophy) in 1954. In the modern NCAA era, Syracuse has won ten national championships, with one additional championship (1990) vacated due to rules infractions. The Orange's ten national championship titles are the most of any team in NCAA Division I history. Most recently, Syracuse won the 2009 National Championship in a come-from-behind 10–9 overtime victory against Cornell University. Prior to that year, they won in 2008.

=Softball=

{{main|Syracuse Orange softball}}

The Orange softball team began play in 2000. The team has made three NCAA Tournament appearances in 2010, 2011, 2012. The current head coach is Shannon Doepking.

=Soccer=

==Men's soccer==

{{main|Syracuse Orange men's soccer}}

Syracuse Orange men's soccer team are a Division I team in the Atlantic Coast Conference and play their games at the Syracuse Soccer Stadium. Syracuse is currently coached by Ian McIntyre who has brought the team to three NCAA tournament appearances and two ACC Conference Titles in 2015 and 2022. McIntyre was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2022.{{cite news |last1=Bambini |first1=Cole |title=ACC names Syracuse's Ian McIntyre coach of the year |url=https://dailyorange.com/2022/11/acc-names-syracuse-ian-mcintyre-coach-of-the-year/ |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=The Daily Orange |date=9 November 2022}}

The Orange won the National Championship in the 2022 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament under coach Ian McIntyre.{{cite news |last1=Camargo |first1=Alberto |title=Syracuse wins the 2022 Men's College Cup on PKs after dramatic 2-2 draw |url=https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/soccer-men/d1/syracuse-wins-2022-mens-college-cup-pks-after-dramatic-2-2-draw |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=NCAA |date=13 December 2022 |language=en}}

==Women's soccer==

{{main|Syracuse Orange women's soccer}}

Syracuse Orange is the NCAA Division I women's college soccer team for Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. They play in the Atlantic Coast Conference and play their games at the Syracuse Soccer Stadium. The team was founded in 1996.

Notable non-varsity sports

= Baseball =

{{main|Syracuse Orange baseball}}

File:SU-baseball-1888.jpg

Syracuse's club baseball team was established in 1979 and has been successful in tournaments. The sport is currently played at the club level and the team is part of the National Club Baseball Association (NCBA).

Many students, alumni, citizens and other baseball enthusiasts in the area are in favor of an NCAA varsity team being formed on campus, but the athletic budget is a difficult barrier.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} In a September 12, 2006, story in The Daily Orange, Michael Wasylenko, chairman of the Athletic Policy Board, said Title IX and Syracuse's athletic budget is still a major crutch.

= Men's ice hockey =

Men's ice hockey competes at the ACHA Division I level in the ESCHL league. The team has been on campus for over 60 years. They play out of the on-campus ice rink, The Tennity Ice Pavilion.

= Rugby =

Founded in 1969, Syracuse University Rugby Football Club plays in Division 1 in the Empire Conference. Syracuse has enjoyed success, including a trip to the Division 1 sweet 16 national playoffs in 2010.Rugby Mag, Empire Conference Play Starts, Sep. 9, 2011, http://www.rugbymag.com/men's-di-college/1893-empire-conference-play-starts-saturday.html Syracuse has participated in international tours to Europe, Argentina and Australia.{{Cite web|title=About Syracuse University Rugby Football Club|url=http://www.cuserugby.com/about|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831031206/http://www.cuserugby.com/about|archive-date=August 31, 2013|access-date=2022-12-13|website=www.cuserugby.com}} Syracuse are led by program director Colin O'Hare.{{cite web |url=https://www.surugby.com/coaches|title=Coaches |website=Syracuse Rugby}}

Facilities

= JMA Wireless Dome =

{{Main|JMA Wireless Dome}}

File:Carrier Dome - New Roof 2021 (Jimhoward03).jpg

Built in 1980, the JMA Wireless Dome is a 49,250-seat domed sports stadium located on the campus of Syracuse University. It is both the largest domed stadium on a college campus and the largest domed stadium in the Northeast. It is home to the Syracuse Orange football, basketball, and lacrosse teams. With regard to basketball, it holds another title, being the largest on-campus basketball arena, with a listed capacity of 33,000. This limit has been exceeded several times. The Dome sold an on-campus NCAA record of 35,446 tickets for a game against the Duke Blue Devils on February 1, 2014. The previous record was set on February 23, 2013, against the Georgetown Hoyas, with 35,012 in the stands.

= Manley Field House =

{{Main|Manley Field House}}

File:Manley Field House, Syracuse University.JPG

Built in 1962, this complex houses many of the offices of SU Athletics including the Equipment Room. It also contains academic rooms and two weight rooms strictly for Syracuse athletes only. Adjacent to the complex there are a variety of fields used for softball, soccer, field hockey, as well as a track for the track and field team. Manley was initially used as an indoor training facility for the football team, as well as a home court for men's basketball. Its seating capacity, 9,500, for basketball, at the time among the largest campus facilities in the Northeast, supported the rise to national prominence of the men's basketball program. The team shifted to the JMA Wireless Dome after the 1980 season. In the final men's basketball game played at Manley, Georgetown snapped the Orangemen's 57 game home winning streak.

= Carmelo Anthony Basketball Center =

{{Main|Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center}}

The name comes from Syracuse basketball star, Carmelo Anthony, who donated $3 million to the project. Anthony played one year with the Orange, the 2002–2003 season, in which he helped the program win its only NCAA Championship. It's a college basketball practice facility located in Syracuse, New York. The facility opened September 24, 2009. Both the men's and women's basketball teams for Syracuse University use the center. The facility houses two practice courts, locker rooms and office facilities for the men's and women's basketball programs at Syracuse. It is located on the north side of Manley Field House, in between the Roy Simmons Sr. Coaches Wing and the Comstock Art Facility.

= Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion =

{{Main|Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion}}

File:Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion, Syracuse University.JPG

Home of the NCAA Division I Syracuse University ice hockey programs playing in the College Hockey America conference. Named for donors Marilyn and Bill Tennity, the Pavilion opened in October 2000.

= Drumlins Country Club =

File:Drumlins clubhouse.jpg

Owned by Syracuse University, the Drumlins Country Club, 800 Nottingham Road, DeWitt, New York, operates a private, 18-hole golf course; a public, 18-hole golf course; indoor tennis courts; and other facilities. The tennis courts are home of the Syracuse University's women's tennis team.{{Cite web|title=Syracuse University Tennis: 2013 Quick Facts|url=https://cuse.com/documents/2013/1/11/2013_Quick_Facts.pdf|access-date=2025-02-17|website=Syracuse University Athletics|language=en}}[http://www.drumlins.com/pdf/history.pdf "Drumlins: 'A Syracuse tradition since 1926,'"] Drumlins.com. Accessed: December 24, 2013.

= SU Soccer Stadium =

{{Main|SU Soccer Stadium}}

The SU Soccer Stadium is a 1,500 seat soccer-specific stadium that is home to the Syracuse Orange men's and women's soccer programs. The stadium opened in 1996 and is located behind the Manley Field House.{{cite web|url=http://cuse.com/facilities/soccer.aspx|title=SU Soccer Stadium|publisher=Syracuse University Athletics - cuse.com|accessdate=August 9, 2017}} The Hookway Fields Complex is a large practice facility with seven grass practice fields for training. The complex was completed in 2004 and is located near the soccer stadium.{{cite web |title=Men's Soccer Facilities: HOOKWAY FIELDS |url=https://cuse.com/sports/2010/9/14/MSOC_0914104638 |website=Syracuse University Athletics |access-date=28 May 2023 |language=en}}

= Historic =

== Archbold Stadium ==

{{Main|Archbold Stadium}}

File:Syracuse-university Archbold.jpg

Thanks to a $600,000 gift by Syracuse University trustee and Standard Oil President, John D. Archbold, what was publicized as the "Greatest Athletic Arena in America" opened in 1907. Designed to resemble the Roman Colosseum and to never become outdated, Archbold Stadium became a trademark of Syracuse football. The stadium formed a massive concrete oval, 670 feet (204 m) long and 475 feet (145 m) wide. It was 100 feet (30 m) longer and only 22 feet (7 m) thinner than the JMA Wireless Dome, and more than 6 million Orangemen football fans passed through its gates.

From 1907 until 1978, Archbold Stadium was the home of SU football. Archbold opened up with a bang when the Orange defeated Hobart 28–0. It went out in style 71 years later, with an improbable victory over second-ranked Navy 20–17. Syracuse posted a record of 265–112–50 at Archbold, and it housed many great teams. It was home of the 1915 squad, which was invited to play in the prestigious Rose Bowl and outscored its opponents 331 to 16. The 1959 team also called Archbold home en route to SU's only National Championship.

In 1978, SU fans said good-bye forever to the historic stadium. Archbold was demolished to make way for the new on-campus facility, the JMA Wireless Dome, which opened in 1980.(Source: SU Athletics)

Championships

= NCAA team championships =

Syracuse University has won 16 NCAA team national championships.{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/champs_records_book/Overall.pdf |title=Championships summary through Jan. 1, 2022 |date= |website=National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) |access-date=2015-02-25 |archive-date=2014-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320185655/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/champs_records_book/Overall.pdf |url-status=live}}

  • Men's (15)

File:Syracuse Orange Rowing - Wallace 1905.jpg

  • Basketball (1): 2003
  • Boxing (1): 1936
  • Cross Country (2): 1951, 2015{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/cross-country-men/article/2015-11-21/syracuse-wins-first-cross-country-title-64-years|title=Syracuse wins first Cross Country title in 64 years|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association|access-date=2015-11-22}}{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Connor |last2=Shay |first2=Nolan |title='ZERO TO HERO': An oral history of Syracuse cross country's 2015 national title |url=http://dailyorange.com/2020/11/oral-history-syracuse-cross-country-2015-national-title/ |access-date=22 November 2020 |work=The Daily Orange |date=21 November 2020}}
  • Lacrosse* (10): 1983, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009
  • Soccer (1): 2022
  • Women's (1)
  • Field Hockey (1): 2015{{cite web |url=https://www.ncaa.com/game/fieldhockey/d1/2015/11/22/north-carolina-syracuse|title=Syracuse tops UNC, claims national title |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association|access-date=2015-11-22}}
  • see also:
  • ACC NCAA team championships
  • List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships

= Other national team championships =

Below are 17 national team titles that were not bestowed by the NCAA:

  • Men's
  • Basketball (2): 1918, 1926
  • Cross-country (4): 1919, 1922, 1923, 1925
  • Football (1): 1959
  • Lacrosse (4): 1920#, 1922, 1924, 1925{{cite book | url= http://www.sidearmdmg.com/syracuse/mlax/?path=mlacrosse | title= 2014 Syracuse Orange Lacrosse Media Guide | publisher= Syracuse University | year= 2014 | pages= 110–111 | access-date= 2014-10-20 | archive-date= 2014-12-08 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141208024832/http://www.sidearmdmg.com/syracuse/mlax/?path=mlacrosse | url-status= dead }}
  • Rowing (6): 1904, 1908, 1913, 1916, 1920, 1978

* After the 1990 championship, the NCAA Committee on Infractions determined that Paul Gait had played in the 1990 championship while ineligible. Under NCAA rules, Syracuse and Paul Gait's records for that championship were vacated. The NCAA does not recognize Syracuse and Coach Roy Simmons Jr.'s 3–0 record, and Paul Gait's 7 goals, 7 assists and his participation in that championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.ncaasports.com/lacrosse/mens/history |title=NCAA.com – The Official Website of NCAA Championships |publisher=Ncaasports.com |access-date=2013-08-30}}

No title games or contemporary selections made. Retroactive selections by Helms and Premo-Porretta.

# Syracuse and Lehigh claim 1920 title based on winning their USILL divisions. No title game played. Syracuse-Lehigh game won by Lehigh.

Notable coaches, past and present

Notable athletes

File:1961 Kahn's Wieners Jim Brown (cropped).jpg]]

File:Larry Csonka 1972.jpg]]

File:Gary gait crop (head).jpg]]{{See also|List of Syracuse University people}}

Nicknames, mascots and colors

Orange is the official school color, adopted as such in 1890. Prior to that time, the school's colors were rose pink and pea green. In 1898, a proposition to add secondary blue color was vehemently opposed by students and alumni.{{cite news |last1=Croyle |first1=Johnathan |title=SU blues? How Syracuse University students, alumni pushed to keep school orange only |url=https://www.syracuse.com/living/2023/03/su-blues-how-syracuse-university-students-alumni-pushed-to-keep-school-orange-only.html |access-date=17 March 2023 |work=syracuse.com |date=16 March 2023 |language=en}} {{subscription required}} Orange, blue, and white are traditionally used for athletic uniforms.{{cite web|title=THE SYRACUSE ORANGE|url=https://cuse.com/sports/2006/3/10/theorange.aspx|publisher=Syracuse Orange Athletics Department|date=March 10, 2006|access-date=April 19, 2019}} According to an 1890 newspaper article uncovered by the Syracuse Post Standard, the orange was originally a reference to the Netherlands, which first colonized New York State.{{Cite web |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangesports/2004/05/origins_of_orange_colors_nicknames_and_mascots_of_syracuse_sports_over_the_years.html |title=Origins of Orange: Colors, nicknames and mascots of Syracuse sports over the years (from the archive) |date=May 31, 2004|website=syracuse}} It's common in upstate New York for place names to make reference to the Dutch heritage. In a similar way, the original settlement that became Albany was called Fort Orange.

The athletic nickname derives from the official color. Prior to 2004, the official nicknames of the athletic teams were the "Orangemen" and "Orangewomen." These former nicknames are still affectionately used by some fans. However, beginning with the 2004–2005 school year, the official nickname was changed to the "Orange." This revision is gender-neutral, concise, and reflects the basis of the nickname as being the school color.

Other nicknames over the years have included the "Hilltoppers," for the school's location on a hill, and the "Saltine Warriors," for a former mascot.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

=Mascot=

== The Saltine Warrior ==

{{Main|The Saltine Warrior}}

In 1931, a Native American warrior known as Nathan March aka: "Saltine Warrior" became the athletic mascot. The name derived from an article describing an archaeological dig on campus allegedly uncovering the artifacts of a Native American warrior.{{Cite web |title=History of Syracuse University |website=Syracuse.edu |url=https://www.syracuse.edu/about/history/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211051311/http://www.syracuse.edu/aboutsu/chronology/1931.html|url-status=dead |archivedate=February 11, 2009}} The warrior was called the "Saltine Warrior" because of the abundant salt deposits in the Syracuse, New York area. The article was later revealed to be a hoax, but the mascot remained for next four decades.

In the mid-1950s, the father of a Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brother owned a cheerleading camp. He made a Saltine Warrior costume for his son to wear at Syracuse football games.{{Cite web |title=Campus Traditions |website=Syracuse.edu |url=https://www.syracuse.edu/about/history/traditions/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081107025236/http://www.syracuse.edu/aboutsu/memorabilia/mascot.html|url-status=dead |archivedate=November 7, 2008}} Thus began a nearly forty-year tradition of Lambda Chi brothers serving as the university's mascot.

In 1978, the Saltine Warrior was banned by the university as part of the national movement to eliminate Native American motifs, becoming one of the first colleges to do so. The mascot briefly morphed into a Roman warrior, but was eventually replaced unofficially in 1982 by a giant, cartoon-style Orange.

==Otto the Orange==

{{main|Otto the Orange}}

The cheerleaders and mascots were at a UCA Cheerleading Camp in Tennessee that summer, and narrowed the field down to two potential names—"Opie" and "Otto." Figuring the name "Opie" would lead to the inevitable rhyme with "dopey," they settled on "Otto." Later that fall, word got out that the cheerleaders were calling the latest mascot costume Otto, and the name stuck.{{cite web |url=http://www.suathletics.com/Sports/gen/2001/mascot.asp |title=Syracuse University Athletics - SU's Mascot |publisher=Suathletics.com |access-date=2013-08-30}}{{cite web |url=http://media.www.dailyorange.com/media/storage/paper522/news/2007/04/02/Opinion/Letter.To.The.Editor.otto.The.Orange.Coined.In.1992-2816913.shtml |access-date=April 8, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203071819/http://media.www.dailyorange.com/media/storage/paper522/news/2007/04/02/Opinion/Letter.To.The.Editor.otto.The.Orange.Coined.In.1992-2816913.shtml |title=Letter to the editor: 'Otto the Orange' coined in 1992 |archive-date=December 3, 2007 }}

Otto the Orange was adopted by the university in 1995 as the university's official mascot, selected over a wolf and a lion also under consideration.

{{Clear}}

References

{{Reflist}}