The Syracuse Clown Mascot? (stolen from r/cfb)

[CousCuse]

I didn't mean to trigger people by using a friendly nickname which were common before the onset of hostile SJWdom. Like Red Autry or Buddy Boeheim.

 

[Cusefan95]

My three year old son loves Otto. For some reason he insisted on wearing a Syracuse hoodie with Otto on it this morning, and was pointing out his shirt to everyone we saw saying “Otto! Otto! Otto!”

Otto’s friggin’ awesome.

 

[Orangello]

Just think, we could be rocking Insane Clown Posse at every halftime in the Dome like Whiskey rocks "Jump Around". We could all have adopted our own personal juggaloo costumes. The tailgates would have been epic. Oh what might have been.

 

[Orangello]

I wasn't a fan of the gladiator. It was a decent costume but it wasn't Syracuse.

We have been the Orangemen, Orangewomen and the Orange forever. It makes sense to have a mascot that is an orange. Otto is unique, distinctive and the goofiness is kind of endearing.
In one of the articles I posted, there is a note that Nike wanted to redesign Otto as part of the infamous butcher job they did to try and destroy the Syracuse athletic program. Thank God it didn't happen. Can you imagine what they would have done?

 

[RF2044]

The only Otto that ever comes to mind when I hear that name is Otto Von Bismark. A real warm humanitarian.

Right. Because the first thing anyone thinks of upon hearing the name "Otto" is to recollect someone from the 19th century.

 

[Nahson]

"In the early 1980s, after the retirement of the Saltine Warrior mascot, Syracuse University 'auditioned' a variety of new mascots before settling on the iconic Otto The Orange."

God, could you imagine the ridicule if this Clown stuck?

 

[CousCuse]

Right. Because the first thing anyone thinks of upon hearing the name "Otto" is to recollect someone from the 19th century.

Otto Preminger , the film maker? I forgot, people aren't taught history anymore.

 

[UnknownOrange]

Just think, we could be rocking Insane Clown Posse at every halftime in the Dome like Whiskey rocks "Jump Around". We could all have adopted our own personal juggaloo costumes. The tailgates would have been epic. Oh what might have been.

View attachment 149197

So good to see Guy Fieri come so far

 

[elimunelson]

That wolf debacle is what led to Otto finally becoming the official mascot. Jake C hated Otto (and our teams being called Orangemen) and had a group suggest replacements. I believe a name change to “Orange Pack” was suggested with a wolf as a mascot, along with “Orange Pride” with a lion mascot. They also suggested “Chargers” as a name too I believe. They all sucked, hard. The students launched a Save Otto campaign and Buzz Shaw ultimately relented.

Otto is awesome. He’s recognizable and ours. There are dozens of wildcats, eagles and tigers, but just one Otto.

This is 100% accurate. I was the Orange in 95-96 and we staged a protest during the WVU homecoming game where i dressed as a wolf and the Orange beat me up and tossed me into a body bag. We pulled it off, it was fantastic, the crowd went nuts. I ran off the field and into the lockerroom and removed the wolf costume.The police came to arrest me and banged on the door. A certain omerta prevented it from happening that day because everyone was clueless to who was the perpetrator. I was also VERY hungover that day and was probably legally drunk. A double whammy if I get arrested and I smell like Goldschlager from 44s.

A day later, I got a call from Linda Bell, cheerleading HC, who indicated I would be meeting with Jake and the GM of the Dome about the stunt we pulled. Omerta was no longer.

During that meeting, I came thisclose to getting expelled because I made a mockery of the school, trespassed (not really) and created a chaotic situation. I pleaded to Jake and Doug? (GM of the Dome) that we were just passionate about this ridiculous decision and the school wants the Orange forever. It seems like a scene from a movie but it was really me talking in circles and Jake grumbling the whole time. He was a real beaut.

Long story short, i didn't get expelled, the Orange reigned and I went back to being the worst Mascot in Syracuse history. I do relish my .1% impact on the decision and REALLY relish the fact that every autograph that I signed at Rutgers in 1995 was my real name and not Otto the Orange. Always P*ssed off the Rutgers fans. LGO!

Tough guy Otto: A rollover no more

 

[JeremyCuse]

That wolf debacle is what led to Otto finally becoming the official mascot. Jake C hated Otto (and our teams being called Orangemen) and had a group suggest replacements. I believe a name change to “Orange Pack” was suggested with a wolf as a mascot, along with “Orange Pride” with a lion mascot. They also suggested “Chargers” as a name too I believe. They all sucked, hard. The students launched a Save Otto campaign and Buzz Shaw ultimately relented.

Otto is awesome. He’s recognizable and ours. There are dozens of wildcats, eagles and tigers, but just one Otto.

If I remember correctly there was a pretty big outrage from the local fanbase as well that anyone but our AD and President could have predicted. I think Buzz got the picture pretty quickly when the Wolf thing was rejected loudly

 

[RF2044]

This is 100% accurate. I was the Orange in 95-96 and we staged a protest during the WVU homecoming game where i dressed as a wolf and the Orange beat me up and tossed me into a body bag. We pulled it off, it was fantastic, the crowd went nuts. I ran off the field and into the lockerroom and removed the wolf costume.The police came to arrest me and banged on the door. A certain omerta prevented it from happening that day because everyone was clueless to who was the perpetrator. I was also VERY hungover that day and was probably legally drunk. A double whammy if I get arrested and I smell like Goldschlager from 44s.

A day later, I got a call from Linda Bell, cheerleading HC, who indicated I would be meeting with Jake and the GM of the Dome about the stunt we pulled. Omerta was no longer.

During that meeting, I came thisclose to getting expelled because I made a mockery of the school, trespassed (not really) and created a chaotic situation. I pleaded to Jake and Doug? (GM of the Dome) that we were just passionate about this ridiculous decision and the school wants the Orange forever. It seems like a scene from a movie but it was really me talking in circles and Jake grumbling the whole time. He was a real beaut.

Long story short, i didn't get expelled, the Orange reigned and I went back to being the worst Mascot in Syracuse history. I do relish my .1% impact on the decision and REALLY relish the fact that every autograph that I signed at Rutgers in 1995 was my real name and not Otto the Orange. Always P*ssed off the Rutgers fans. LGO!

That.
Was.
Awesome.

 

[DoubleDee]

I don't recall the clown being a SU Student. All the Saltine warriors and other sorta official mascots were lambda chi's. We had the gladiator outfit and we would throw it on. The year I split duties as Otto (1990) I wore the gladiator suite in the pregame against Michigan State. I had otto come out and clothesline me. That went over pretty well especially since he hit my damn adams apple...

Wait, you’re saying there’s a person in that orange costume? JHC!

 

[corpjet]

That clown is downright scary, I don't know who will give me more nightmares that thing or GRob?

 

[DoubleDee]

It was also the team poster that year

 

[All4SU]

I vividly remember the “gladiator” at the Domes opening night.

Does anyone else wish they had stuck with that theme in lieu of the “Indian” Saltine Warrior? Liverpool did it and seems to have worked.

Otto works, but I’ve never been a fan. I know it won’t change, but wish it had never been.

I can tell you who was in the Gladiator costume. DcCuse, can as well, I think. When the saltine warrior was eliminated, the gladiator did a short stint through Lambda Chi Alpha, the same fraternity that historically provided the saltine warrior. It was an elected position in the fraternity, and a high honor. After the gladiator, there was no “official”
Mascot, just fans who wore outfits, and a few costumes that were unofficially auditioned through the cheerleading squad - like Otto. The mascot duties were taken away from Lambda Chi.

 

[texascpa]

View attachment 149199

Ok, we really need a thumbs down or unlike button. That thing is hideous. Almost looks like it's smiling. Who's intimidated by a smiling wolf?

 

[OttoMets]

Before Otto was Otto, the big orange mascot was called Ollie. Maybe only for a season? I guess that wasn't popular and they found him a new name.

 

[All4SU]

After Otto the Orange, this is the only Otto anyone should think of:
Otto Zilch

 

[All4SU]

View attachment 149199

That poster hangs framed in my office.

 

[orangecuse]

This is 100% accurate. I was the Orange in 95-96 and we staged a protest during the WVU homecoming game where i dressed as a wolf and the Orange beat me up and tossed me into a body bag. We pulled it off, it was fantastic, the crowd went nuts. I ran off the field and into the lockerroom and removed the wolf costume.The police came to arrest me and banged on the door. A certain omerta prevented it from happening that day because everyone was clueless to who was the perpetrator. I was also VERY hungover that day and was probably legally drunk. A double whammy if I get arrested and I smell like Goldschlager from 44s.

A day later, I got a call from Linda Bell, cheerleading HC, who indicated I would be meeting with Jake and the GM of the Dome about the stunt we pulled. Omerta was no longer.

During that meeting, I came thisclose to getting expelled because I made a mockery of the school, trespassed (not really) and created a chaotic situation. I pleaded to Jake and Doug? (GM of the Dome) that we were just passionate about this ridiculous decision and the school wants the Orange forever. It seems like a scene from a movie but it was really me talking in circles and Jake grumbling the whole time. He was a real beaut.

Long story short, i didn't get expelled, the Orange reigned and I went back to being the worst Mascot in Syracuse history. I do relish my .1% impact on the decision and REALLY relish the fact that every autograph that I signed at Rutgers in 1995 was my real name and not Otto the Orange. Always P*ssed off the Rutgers fans. LGO!

Tough guy Otto: A rollover no more

Wow! What a great story...up there with the stolen Michigan banner on this site.

 

[Orangello]

View attachment 149199

That thing looks like a fox or a brown Pomeranian.

 

[OttoMets]

This is 100% accurate. I was the Orange in 95-96 and we staged a protest during the WVU homecoming game where i dressed as a wolf and the Orange beat me up and tossed me into a body bag. We pulled it off, it was fantastic, the crowd went nuts. I ran off the field and into the lockerroom and removed the wolf costume.The police came to arrest me and banged on the door. A certain omerta prevented it from happening that day because everyone was clueless to who was the perpetrator. I was also VERY hungover that day and was probably legally drunk. A double whammy if I get arrested and I smell like Goldschlager from 44s.

A day later, I got a call from Linda Bell, cheerleading HC, who indicated I would be meeting with Jake and the GM of the Dome about the stunt we pulled. Omerta was no longer.

During that meeting, I came thisclose to getting expelled because I made a mockery of the school, trespassed (not really) and created a chaotic situation. I pleaded to Jake and Doug? (GM of the Dome) that we were just passionate about this ridiculous decision and the school wants the Orange forever. It seems like a scene from a movie but it was really me talking in circles and Jake grumbling the whole time. He was a real beaut.

Long story short, i didn't get expelled, the Orange reigned and I went back to being the worst Mascot in Syracuse history. I do relish my .1% impact on the decision and REALLY relish the fact that every autograph that I signed at Rutgers in 1995 was my real name and not Otto the Orange. Always P*ssed off the Rutgers fans. LGO!

Tough guy Otto: A rollover no more

That's awesome, great story. I remember the event clearly. Dome manager then was Pat Campbell, I think. OK guy, way more reasonable than Jake. Continuing with my quasi-informed opinions about things, I forget why Linda Bell got canned - from where I sit, cheerleaders in that era did a way better job than what's currently going on.

 

[Orangello]

That clown is downright scary, I don't know who will give me more nightmares that thing or GRob?

I'm pretty sure that is Gump.

 

[orangecuse]

That thing looks like a fox or a brown Pomeranian.

Ha, could even pass as Lassie.

 

[orangecuse]

That.
Was.
Awesome.

Perfect response!