Otto redesign | Page 5 | Syracusefan.com

Otto redesign

I like the version of Otto used in the Simpsons episode about upstate NY. Made me laugh

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Not disputing this, but I simply don't ever remember seeing it. Just the happy one.
It was a staple for a few years on our ESPN broadcasts. No announcement about it, just was. Then it wasn’t.
 
cto can correct me on this but a few of the board admins got together a long time ago to brainstorm a logo for the board for something people on the board wanted to buy. I think it was t-shirts but I could be wrong on that.

We were doing War Damn Otto at the end of our posts a lot at the time. Maybe not we. Maybe just me. That was inspired by visits to the site from Auburn fans, who all seemed to end their posts here with

'Damn Damn Eagle!'

Anyway, 'War Damn Otto' got me thinking about what Otto would look like if he went to war. We talked about that and ended up with a version of Otto with a Viking helmet, a big axe in one hand and a beer stein in the other.

cto knew a guy on the Boneyard who would draw up the concept and make a proper graphic, which was needed to create the merchandise we will going to brand with this. His name was Tom something. Maybe Tom Dwyer. He created the graphic for us then and it lives to this day.

I believe this was the first time anyone designed an angry version of Otto.

As to when it happened...we played a home and home with Auburn in the early 2000s. The game at Syracuse was played on September 22, 2001 and the game at Auburn was played on September 28, 2002.

The Auburn game at Syracuse was the first game played at the dome post 9/11 and it was a very emotional time for for Syracuse fans and the entire country.

Anyway, the logo was designed in this time frame, which means it is well over 20 years old. That is pretty scary.
My friend Tom Hamilton designed the War Otto logo and produced the shirts for us. I still have my "War Otto" shirt. Tom's also the guy who designed and produced the "Big 12 Champions" shirts after we beat five Big 12 teams in 2003, including four in the NCAAT.
 
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My friend Tom Hamilton designed the War Otto logo. I still have my "War Otto" shirt. He's also the guy who designed the "Big 12 Champions" shirts after we beat five Big 12 teams in 2003, including four in the NCAAT.
I still have that shirt, and wear it occasionally for big games.
 
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I would love to see an Otto helmet and I agree it needs an angrier Otto. But I envision an oversized helmet design like this.

I don’t think we need an across the board redesign of Otto. It’s fine to have a cuddly guy in costume and an angrier version on helmets.
This is on the right track. Great call with an oversized logo option. Also great call with a -not across the board logo. I've thought about this for years. And the answer I came up with is to have an ever changing Otto that can look different on any given game day.

Envision.
- Classic Otto with an S ball cap on.
- Angry Otto with bloodshot eyes.
- Oversized Otto like pictured above.
- Devil horns Otto for Halloween.
- Scruffy, angry Otto with a cigar and army hard hat for military holidays.

These are just off the top of my head. Many more possible Ottos. He's almost like an emoji. And every game doesn't have to feature Otto on the helmet. It'd would very cool to see an "O" logo introduced. Something similar to the Oregon "O" they have on their helmets on occasion.

It would be the most fun logo/mascot in the country. Every week, there would be something to look forward to. Which Otto is going to come out? Just a small thing for fans to talk about and have fun with. JMHO on the topic.
 
I still have that shirt, and wear it occasionally for big games.
I wore it for the Boca Bowl.

Unfortunately the players had “Cuddly Otto” on their minds.

War Otto will be back, just needs to go on the shelf for a while to break the bad mojo.
 
I still have that shirt, and wear it occasionally for big games.

Let’s bring these back to the SyraCruz tailgate in 2024! I’m betting record sales!

#WarOtto
 
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For those who question how sweet “classic Otto” can look on uniforms, take a look at these beauties along with the script. The football team could have some tremendous alternates.

SUOrange44
 
This is on the right track. Great call with an oversized logo option. Also great call with a -not across the board logo. I've thought about this for years. And the answer I came up with is to have an ever changing Otto that can look different on any given game day.

Envision.
- Classic Otto with an S ball cap on.
- Angry Otto with bloodshot eyes.
- Oversized Otto like pictured above.
- Devil horns Otto for Halloween.
- Scruffy, angry Otto with a cigar and army hard hat for military holidays.

These are just off the top of my head. Many more possible Ottos. He's almost like an emoji. And every game doesn't have to feature Otto on the helmet. It'd would very cool to see an "O" logo introduced. Something similar to the Oregon "O" they have on their helmets on occasion.

It would be the most fun logo/mascot in the country. Every week, there would be something to look forward to. Which Otto is going to come out? Just a small thing for fans to talk about and have fun with. JMHO on the topic.
Love it.
 
Gerhard Schwedes, a star running back on the 57-59 teams was born in Germany and initiated the idea of awarding Iron Cross stickers on the helmets for various in-game accomplishments. Michigan, Florida State, Clemson and Ohio State and others current award decals, Why not an angry Otto sticker.
 
Sometimes bizarre is good. It all makes no sense. Orange? In upstate ny? Huh? Yeah I get it but sometimes the bizarre is better. I would love some alternate helmets with an intense Otto for like a big time game as a one off though. Like for the Tennessee game next year in ATL how cool would that be?
 
Have the shirt and 2 pins, although the shirt has seen better days and is strictly a ‘house’ shirt now for game watching.

Anyway, I also bought a ‘Saltine Warrior’ hat from one of those illegal websites. Flash forward to a ‘Syracuse Day’ at Yankee Stadium, Coughlin is throwing out the 1st pitch etc, I have the Saltine Warrior hat on, with the War Otto pin on it and an unbuttoned Yankee pinstripe jersey (#15 of course) with the War Otto shirt on. I walked into the private party the alumni club was throwing to get a beer or 8 and the SU brass basically had a heart attack!!

The fear is some people’s eyes was a nice counter balance to evil death stares I was getting. Bill Orange was there and he says to me…’yeah, I don’t think your attire is winning over many folks here’. Someone affiliated with Cuse knew Bill Orange so he comes over and says to me…”good lord, your a walking Marketing nightmare!! Any chance you can give me the websites where you bought all that so I can shut them down?” I just laughed, finished a beer or 3 and went out to the hot sun to see TC fire a strike and that was it.

Good times, good times.

FWIW: Go back to this logo…

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I remember having a huge Syracuse banner with the Saltine Warrior on it in our basement growing up. The only way an Indian mascot would be remotely feasible is if you had the Onondaga Nation buy into it. But that will not happen in this day and age, Otto has been a great replacement. I do wish they would bring back the Orangemen and Orangewomen names. But we know that will never happen either.
 
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I’ve probably told this story once before but I don’t always remember what I’ve told to who lol.

Back in 1978 my fraternity dressed up one of our members as an orange and snuck him into Archbold stadium in an ambulance (another brother was a driver).

He ran around the stadium for several minutes until he was accosted by the mascot of that era (forget who/what it was) and they eventually escorted him off the field.

To this day we like to think that we may have played a small role in the Otto legacy!
 
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IDK if it's already happened but SU should seek a close working relationship with Borkowski. The guy is elite.
 
IDK if it's already happened but SU should seek a close working relationship with Borkowski. The guy is elite.
He has clearly been involved in the past. He was a fanfest one year signing and doing custom drawings of otto. Did one for my son.
And he's designed at least one Orange Out shirt for them.
 
this kid's mom was my wedding photographer - she is very fun and nice

Anyone who agrees to take pictures of you marrying an imaginary guy named Todd has to be nice and have a great sense of humor.
 

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