Saltine Warrior Fight Song | Syracusefan.com

Saltine Warrior Fight Song

OrangePA

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Heard something yesterday that I have not heard in over thirty years.

During its Quad concert on the steps of Hendricks Chapel the SU Marching Band played the Saltine Warrior Fight Song.

Wow.

A great fight song that blows away Down The Field.
 
Dr. Diem brought the song back last year. As a band alumnus ('68) , it made me misty-eyed when I heard it played on the steps of Hendricks Chapel. I was able to speak to him and he goes through the band music history to bring back some of the old stuff. He's a great director and will continue to improve the music and the marching. They actually sound like a band again and not like the drum and bugle corps of the previous director.
 
Dr. Diem brought the song back last year. As a band alumnus ('68) , it made me misty-eyed when I heard it played on the steps of Hendricks Chapel. I was able to speak to him and he goes through the band music history to bring back some of the old stuff. He's a great director and will continue to improve the music and the marching. They actually sound like a band again and not like the drum and bugle corps of the previous director.

Can't you get him to use that as the primary fight song?

Or, at least play regularly during games?

It's a great college fight song.
 
We try to get to the Quad to see the band prior to every game. This is the best band I’ve heard/seen.
 
Wow that goes back to my band days 62-66. I play taps at sunset off my condo balcony over looking Bemus Bay on Chautauqua Lake. I warm up in my closet, so my neighbors are not disturbed. What do I play? You got it all those old SU numbers and that is one of them.
Dr. Greg Jones “66”
 
I like both Down Down the Field and The saltine Warrior. TSW was the tune i heard the msot growing up in the 1960's, usually over an SU highlight film, (the team was rarely on TV in those days so they showed highlights once a week)>

The Irony is that TSW's lryics have no reference to Native Americans but Down, Down the Field does.

The Saltine Warrior
In the days of old, when knights were bold
Every city had its warrior man
.

In the days of new, when fights are few
You will view them from a big grandstand.
In our college town one has great renown
If the game of football he should play.
With his pig-skin ball he is cheered by all,
He's the Saltine Warrior of today.
Chorus: The Saltine Warrior is a bold, bad man,
And his weapon is a pigskin ball,
When on the field he takes a good, firm stand,
He's the hero of large and small.
He will rush toward the goal with might and main
His opponents all fight, but they fight in vain,
Because the Saltine Warrior is a bold, bad man,
And victorious over all.

Down, Down the Field
Out upon the gridiron stand old Syracuse,
Warriors clad in orange and in blue,
Fighting for the fame of Alma Mater.
Soon those Crouse chimes will be ringing,
Soon you'll hear those fellows singing.
Onondaga's braves are out to win today,
The sons of Syracuse are ready for the fray,
The line holds like a wall and now the Orange has the ball,
So ready for that old long yell. Rah! Rah! Rah!
Chorus: Down, Down the field goes old Syracuse,
Just see those backs hit the line and go thro';
Down, down the field they go marching,
Fighting for the Orange staunch and true.
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Vict'y's in sight for old Syr-a-cuse,
Each loyal son knows she ne'er more will lose,
For we'll fight, yes, we'll fight, and with all our might
For the glory of old Syracuse.

 
I like both Down Down the Field and The saltine Warrior. TSW was the tune i heard the msot growing up in the 1960's, usually over an SU highlight film, (the team was rarely on TV in those days so they showed highlights once a week)>

The Irony is that TSW's lryics have no reference to Native Americans but Down, Down the Field does.

The Saltine Warrior
In the days of old, when knights were bold
Every city had its warrior man
.

In the days of new, when fights are few
You will view them from a big grandstand.
In our college town one has great renown
If the game of football he should play.
With his pig-skin ball he is cheered by all,
He's the Saltine Warrior of today.
Chorus: The Saltine Warrior is a bold, bad man,
And his weapon is a pigskin ball,
When on the field he takes a good, firm stand,
He's the hero of large and small.
He will rush toward the goal with might and main
His opponents all fight, but they fight in vain,
Because the Saltine Warrior is a bold, bad man,
And victorious over all.

Down, Down the Field
Out upon the gridiron stand old Syracuse,
Warriors clad in orange and in blue,
Fighting for the fame of Alma Mater.
Soon those Crouse chimes will be ringing,
Soon you'll hear those fellows singing.
Onondaga's braves are out to win today,
The sons of Syracuse are ready for the fray,
The line holds like a wall and now the Orange has the ball,
So ready for that old long yell. Rah! Rah! Rah!
Chorus: Down, Down the field goes old Syracuse,
Just see those backs hit the line and go thro';
Down, down the field they go marching,
Fighting for the Orange staunch and true.
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Vict'y's in sight for old Syr-a-cuse,
Each loyal son knows she ne'er more will lose,
For we'll fight, yes, we'll fight, and with all our might
For the glory of old Syracuse.



Ha!

Pretty ironic.

In my opinion the Saltine Warrior is by far the superior fight song.
 
The band played the Saltine Warrior during every pregame show for a long time. Not sure when/if it fell out of that rotation, but it was definitely played well into the early 2000s, if not later. It was part of a song called Syracuse Medley that also featured Bill Orange.
 
The band played the Saltine Warrior during every pregame show for a long time. Not sure when/if it fell out of that rotation, but it was definitely played well into the early 2000s, if not later. It was part of a song called Syracuse Medley that also featured Bill Orange.


Strange because when I questioned its absence in the early 2000s, I was told by the University that it was not being played because of its association - inaccurate - with the Saltine Warrior mascot.

I don't recall it being played after the 1987 season.
 
The band played the Saltine Warrior during every pregame show for a long time. Not sure when/if it fell out of that rotation, but it was definitely played well into the early 2000s, if not later. It was part of a song called Syracuse Medley that also featured Bill Orange.

It's back in the pregame rotation now.

At least it was for the 1st two home games.
 
Strange because when I questioned its absence in the early 2000s, I was told by the University that it was not being played because of its association - inaccurate - with the Saltine Warrior mascot.

I don't recall it being played after the 1987 season.

I played it from 1991-1995 when I was in the band, and I know it was played as part of "Syracuse medley" for several years after I graduated. Maybe it fell out in the early 2000s?
 
Saltine Warrior. Pride of the Orange. Down the Field.

All three should be in the rotation.

Nice catch, OrangePA.
They have also played Pride of the Orange but I didn't hear it this weekend.
 
Wow that goes back to my band days 62-66. I play taps at sunset off my condo balcony over looking Bemus Bay on Chautauqua Lake. I warm up in my closet, so my neighbors are not disturbed. What do I play? You got it all those old SU numbers and that is one of them.
Dr. Greg Jones “66”
Hope your leg is healing well, Greg. We missed you in 129.
 
Hope your leg is healing well, Greg. We missed you in 129.
Thanks, I think I can start trying to walk a bit in 5 more weeks. I do not highly recommended a quadriceps complete tendon tear!
 

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