College Football Tradition/Ritual

[SUFaninNJ]

When SU did the mascot review back in 1995(?) I wish they would've changed the official nickname to Syracuse Orange Pride (I.e., a pride of lions) and selected an orange lion as our mascot. You would still have the option to keep Otto - along with Orange Pride/Lion - for our kids' club and as a touchpoint to meet/greet fans at games.

This approach would help tie our somewhat-fragmented mascot/nickname history together with a vision toward the future by clearly defining who and what we are to all fans and potential fans.

Just my opinion. I'm sure many will disagree cuz that's what we do.

Then we could have an Orange Pride Parade! Not that there's anything wrong with it.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

And while you're at it, bring back the TRAIN.

As you wish, soul sister.

 

[orange79]

Nike was behind the change from Orangemen/women to Orange. Came with the SJ looking logo.

And I am Bill Orange!

Oh Lord

 

[StanCuse44]

Maybe we could honor the school's Methodist Heritage by using a WASP?

Sooooooo is that your stinger or are you just happy to see me?

 

[Scooch]

This thread is hysterical.

I'll make a deal with everyone... the next time any of you can get an SU crowd to do a Syracuse-specific chant that isn't "Let's Go Orange" then we can talk about all the other traditions we need to reinstate.

We have the worst fan base for anything having to do with tradition than practically any other D-1A school that I've ever come in contact with. Honestly, the fans from Wichita freakin' State had significantly more traditional chants and song when we played at the Final Four in Atlanta than we did.

Hell, there are a number of NFL franchises who's fans do more than SU fans when it comes to chants and songs.

Sadly, I'm over it.

 

[NJCuse97]

Love the idea of just "Warriors" complete with the movie clips for the intro video. I have always wanted to use the Mad Max Thunderdome clips, especially "Two men enter, one man leaves" I guess that would have to be changed to, "two persons enter, one person leaves" or "two teams enter". This is the kind of atmosphere that I have always dreamed of. Can you imagine creating that panic in the opposition if the entire dome echoed a chant of "come out to playyyeeeeeaayy!"

 

[OrangePA]

And while you're at it, bring back the TRAIN.

Absolutely!

Great idea!

 

[OrangePA]

This thread is hysterical.

I'll make a deal with everyone... the next time any of you can get an SU crowd to do a Syracuse-specific chant that isn't "Let's Go Orange" then we can talk about all the other traditions we need to reinstate.

We have the worst fan base for anything having to do with tradition than practically any other D-1A school that I've ever come in contact with. Honestly, the fans from Wichita freakin' State had significantly more traditional chants and song when we played at the Final Four in Atlanta than we did.

Hell, there are a number of NFL franchises who's fans do more than SU fans when it comes to chants and songs.

Sadly, I'm over it.

And, as you have pointed out in the past, you're not even a cynical observer.

You are correct though that our fans do not truly participate in the game rituals.

And that's because there really aren't any game rituals anymore. They have all been taken away from the fans.

A feeble attempt by the cheerleaders once in awhile hardly constitutes a full throttle effort to get the fans involved.

Maybe, by re-instituting some fun traditions - and by winning a bit more - the fans in the Dome will feel more willing to participate.

 

[Scooch]

And, as you have pointed out in the past, you're not even a cynical observer.

You are correct though that our fans do not truly participate in the game rituals.

And that's because there really aren't any game rituals anymore. They have all been taken away from the fans.

A feeble attempt by the cheerleaders once in awhile hardly constitutes a full throttle effort to get the fans involved.

Maybe, by re-instituting some fun traditions - and by winning a bit more - the fans in the Dome will feel more willing to participate.

Unfortunately I'd say that most of our traditions weren't taken away, they were willingly given up by ourselves.

I was a member of the POTO, and the fight song is played multiple times a game with the lyrics on the video boards, and I'd hazard a guess that maybe 10% of the fan base knows the song. That's probably generous. When I was in school, which was 20 years ago, the Saltine Warrior song and Bill Orange were played every game. No one knew what they were.

The only song SU fans do anything to is "Rock and Roll, Part 2". We are the most generic fan base imaginable.

Our fans are too cool for school. Unfortunate, but it's their choice.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

What's POTO?

 

[NJCuse97]

Unfortunately I'd say that most of our traditions weren't taken away, they were willingly given up by ourselves.

I was a member of the POTO, and the fight song is played multiple times a game with the lyrics on the video boards, and I'd hazard a guess that maybe 10% of the fan base knows the song. That's probably generous. When I was in school, which was 20 years ago, the Saltine Warrior song and Bill Orange were played every game. No one knew what they were.

The only song SU fans do anything to is "Rock and Roll, Part 2". We are the most generic fan base imaginable.

Our fans are too cool for school. Unfortunate, but it's their choice.

Agree with most of your assesment, but that only means its time to make new or restore some old ones. I think some of it shoudl be on Otto's Army, not because they have done a bad job of trying to create an environ, but because they are the defacto leaders. The thing is that at other schools, like A&M there is actually cheer practice. It is an honor to lead the practice. I think there needs to be better communication with the band and the PA and the student section. I think the POTO didn't do itself many favors in the past (probably when you were there) by playing renditions of Jesus Christ Superstar or Magical Mystery Tour. That was in the mid 90's. Other schools like Wisconsin were at least creating new traditions with contemporary music the fans could get behind like "Jump Around". The thing is, the intimidation effort and the party atmospohere was quelled by the "fans" telling people to sit down, stop yelling, or just not showing up because it was too loud. The problem is shared by all the fans, because there is no concensus for what is appropriate.

 

[NJCuse97]

You've gotta admit, this is pretty cool.

 

[Orangejet]

Here's the gladiator:

The SU gladiator use to stand in the Archbold tunnel and run on the field with the team and some of us would say...What! This mascot was a total embarrassment...

 

[DoubleDee]

The SU gladiator use to stand in the Archbold tunnel and run on the field with the team and some of us would say...What! This mascot was a total embarrassment...

Now put him in the tunnel next to Otto on a motorcycle, or a surfboard. Who you pick then??? It's all relative.

 

[sutomcat]

What's POTO?

Pride
of
the
Orange

 

[Bayside44]

Unfortunately I'd say that most of our traditions weren't taken away, they were willingly given up by ourselves.

I was a member of the POTO, and the fight song is played multiple times a game with the lyrics on the video boards, and I'd hazard a guess that maybe 10% of the fan base knows the song. That's probably generous. When I was in school, which was 20 years ago, the Saltine Warrior song and Bill Orange were played every game. No one knew what they were.

The only song SU fans do anything to is "Rock and Roll, Part 2". We are the most generic fan base imaginable.

Our fans are too cool for school. Unfortunate, but it's their choice.

I remember watching Syracuse games when the hoop team was about to win the band would strike up Amen. Was looking forward to that when I got there - it was killed when I got there.

 

[OrangePA]

Unfortunately I'd say that most of our traditions weren't taken away, they were willingly given up by ourselves.

I was a member of the POTO, and the fight song is played multiple times a game with the lyrics on the video boards, and I'd hazard a guess that maybe 10% of the fan base knows the song. That's probably generous. When I was in school, which was 20 years ago, the Saltine Warrior song and Bill Orange were played every game. No one knew what they were.

The only song SU fans do anything to is "Rock and Roll, Part 2". We are the most generic fan base imaginable.

Our fans are too cool for school. Unfortunate, but it's their choice.

You may be right.

But, they do stand and clap for the BB team at the beginning of every game.

And, they do the "Lets Go Orange" cheer during BB games.

Establish some fun traditions - or bring back some fun old traditions - and win a few games and the fans will probably be more likely to participate.

And, in my opinion "Down the Field" is an awful fight song.

The Saltine Warrior is a great fight song.

 

[DoubleDee]

I remember watching Syracuse games when the hoop team was about to win the band would strike up Amen. Was looking forward to that when I got there - it was killed when I got there.

That's a good question too. What the hell happened to "Amen"? Some atheist throw a fit?

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Pride
of
the
Orange

Oh, so the marching band. Isn't playing that Hey Baby song and the I Love NY medley traditions too? What about a brass quintet wandering aimlessly through unclaimed seats in the upper deck after halftime. That's a tradition too, right?

 

[Cheriehoop]

Was surprised that the Saltine Warrior fight song doesn't even mention "Syracuse" though. Was written just a year before (1913) Down the Field.

http://archives.syr.edu/history/songs.html

All the SU "fight songs" including the alma mater in this video including a rowing fight song.

 

[Stern]

What about a brass quintet wandering aimlessly through unclaimed seats in the upper deck after halftime. That's a tradition too, right?

A bad tradition!

 

[Scooch]

I remember watching Syracuse games when the hoop team was about to win the band would strike up Amen. Was looking forward to that when I got there - it was killed when I got there.

We played Amen when I was a freshman. The problem there was that the band played it during play, and the NCAA put the kibosh on that.

And Sitrus continues to play the theme from Jesus Christ Superstar after a win. That's gone on for decades.

Sitrus also does signs for the opposing team intros that have been done since the Manley Zoo days. But the fans don't pay any attention.

You can lead a horse to water...

 

[elimunelson]

Unfortunately I'd say that most of our traditions weren't taken away, they were willingly given up by ourselves.

I was a member of the POTO, and the fight song is played multiple times a game with the lyrics on the video boards, and I'd hazard a guess that maybe 10% of the fan base knows the song. That's probably generous. When I was in school, which was 20 years ago, the Saltine Warrior song and Bill Orange were played every game. No one knew what they were.

The only song SU fans do anything to is "Rock and Roll, Part 2". We are the most generic fan base imaginable.

Our fans are too cool for school. Unfortunate, but it's their choice.

Rock and Roll Part 2 is still played even after Gary Glitter's affinity for young boys? I guess with our current history, it's prob apropos! i kid i kid.

I think the traditions will come and go and that's just natural. It's a natural order of things. Syracuse is a school where people go there for 4 years and then leave (the students that is). They I assume would be the ones who would keep these traditions alive vs the local yocals who support the teams and may have not gone to the school.

I still think the school can reverse course on the uniforms, the name, the 44 tradition. Those are things that fans like and don't involve Duke like clapping choreography.

 

[OttoMets]

http://dailyorange.com/2004/06/syracuse-changes-nickname-logo/

I fondly recall watching basketball games in the 70s when the chant "Let's Go Orange" could be loudly heard. It's not new as a nickname altogether.

Interesting line in that article: "Syracuse will not change the design of its football helmets or pants, though, citing tradition as an overruling factor."

 

[OttoMets]

We played Amen when I was a freshman. The problem there was that the band played it during play, and the NCAA put the kibosh on that.

And Sitrus continues to play the theme from Jesus Christ Superstar after a win. That's gone on for decades.

Sitrus also does signs for the opposing team intros that have been done since the Manley Zoo days. But the fans don't pay any attention.

You can lead a horse to water...

It doesn't help that SU plays canned music during introductions.