The Syracuse Orange are the
athletic
Athletic may refer to:
* An athlete, a sportsperson
* Athletic director, a position at many American universities and schools
* Athletic type, a physical/psychological type in the classification of Ernst Kretschmer
* Athletic of Philadelphia, a ...
teams that represent
Syracuse University
Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...
. The school is a member of
NCAA Division I and the
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a collegiate athletic conference located in the eastern United States. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC's fifteen member universities compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Associa ...
. Until 2013, Syracuse was a member of the
Big East Conference.
The school's mascot is
Otto the Orange
Otto the Orange is the mascot for the Syracuse Orange, the athletic teams of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, USA. Otto is an anthropomorphism of the citrus fruit, wearing a large blue hat and blue pants. Otto can often be seen at Syracu ...
. 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
The Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion (The TIP) is an ice arena in Syracuse, New York. Named for donors Marilyn and Bill Tennity, the facility opened in October 2000 for the use of Syracuse University students. The facility is the home of Syracuse Un ...
, and Drumlins Country Club.
Important firsts
*Baseball team established: 1870
*Rowing team founded: 1874
*First recorded football game: 1884 vs. Medical College of Syracuse
*First intercollegiate football game: 1889 vs.
University of Rochester
*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
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
Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Iowa State University, Iowa State, or ISU) is a public land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa. Founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, Iowa State became one of the n ...
, and
Wisconsin.
Football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a
college football
College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States.
Unlike most ...
team that currently represents
Syracuse University
Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...
as a member of the
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a collegiate athletic conference located in the eastern United States. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC's fifteen member universities compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Associa ...
.
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
Ernest Davis (December 14, 1939 – May 18, 1963) was an American football player who won the Heisman Trophy in 1961 and was its first African-American recipient. Davis played college football for Syracuse University and was the first pick in the ...
,
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel Brown (born February 17, 1936) is a former American football player, sports analyst and actor. He played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be one ...
,
Larry Csonka,
Joe Morris,
Art Monk,
Jim Ringo,
John Mackey,
Doc Alexander, and
Floyd Little. Among the current NFL players are
Chandler Jones
Chandler James Jones (born February 27, 1990) is an American football defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Syracuse, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the firs ...
,
Alton Robinson
Alton Ledell Robinson (born June 2, 1998) is an American football outside linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Syracuse.
Early life and high school
Robinson was born in San Antonio, Texas and grew up in Converse, Texas. ...
,
Zaire Franklin
Zaire Franklin (born July 2, 1996) is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Syracuse Orange football, Syracuse.
College career
While at Syracause, Frankli ...
,
Andre Cisco
Andre J. Cisco (born March 23, 2000) is an American football safety for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Syracuse, and was drafted by the Jaguars in the third round of the 2021 NFL Dra ...
,
Ifeatu Melifonwu
Ifeatu Christian-David Melifonwu (born May 2, 1999) is an American football defensive back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Syracuse and was drafted by the Lions in the third round of th ...
, and
Riley Dixon.
Men's basketball
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 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a collegiate athletic conference located in the eastern United States. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC's fifteen member universities compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Associa ...
. The Orange won the National Championship in the
2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball tournament
The 2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championsh ...
. 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
The Helms Athletic Foundation, founded in 1936, was a Los Angeles-based organization dedicated to the promotion of athletics and sportsmanship. Paul H. Helms was the organization's founder and benefactor, funding the foundation via his ownership ...
and the
Premo-Porretta Power Poll.
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 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a collegiate athletic conference located in the eastern United States. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC's fifteen member universities compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Associa ...
. The head coach of the team is
Felisha Legette-Jack. The team began playing in the 1971–72 season.
Women's ice hockey
In 2008, Syracuse University announced that it would sanction a women's ice hockey team and become a member of
College Hockey America. The team started playing in 2008.
Men's lacrosse
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
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
Shannon Doepking is an American, former collegiate right-handed softball catcher and current head coach at Syracuse Orange softball, Syracuse. She played her college softball at Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball, Tennessee, helping them to a run ...
.
Soccer
Men's soccer
Syracuse Orange men's
soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
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
Ian McIntyre (9 December 1931 – 19 April 2014) was a British BBC Radio producer, journalist, broadcaster and author. who was Controller of BBC Radio 4 from 1976 to 1978 and then Controller of BBC Radio 3 between 1978 and 1987.
After joini ...
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.
The Orange won the
National Championship in the
2022 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament under coach
Ian McIntyre
Ian McIntyre (9 December 1931 – 19 April 2014) was a British BBC Radio producer, journalist, broadcaster and author. who was Controller of BBC Radio 4 from 1976 to 1978 and then Controller of BBC Radio 3 between 1978 and 1987.
After joini ...
.
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
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a collegiate athletic conference located in the eastern United States. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC's fifteen member universities compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Associa ...
and play their games at the
Syracuse Soccer Stadium. The team was founded in 1996.
Notable non-varsity sports
Baseball
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. 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 hockey competes at the
ACHA Division I level in the
ESCHL league.
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. Syracuse has participated in international tours to Europe, Argentina and Australia. Syracuse are led by head coach Bob Wilson.
Facilities
JMA Wireless Dome
Built in 1980, the JMA Wireless Dome is a 49,250-seat domed sports
stadium
A stadium ( : stadiums or stadia) is a place or venue for (mostly) outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand o ...
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
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...
. 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
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
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
,
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
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...
, 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
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
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
Owned by Syracuse University, the Drumlins Country Club, 800 Nottingham Road,
DeWitt, New York
DeWitt is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town's population was 26,074. The town is named after Major Moses DeWitt, a judge and soldier. An eastern suburb of Syracuse, DeWitt also is "the site of ...
, 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.
Historic
Archbold Stadium
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.
*Men's (15)
**
Basketball (1): 2003
**
Boxing (1): 1936
**
Cross Country (2): 1951, 2015
**
Lacrosse* (10): 1983, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009
**
Soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
(1): 2022
*Women's (1)
**
Field Hockey (1):
2015
File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...
*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
**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.
∆ No title games or contemporary selections made. Retroactive selections by
Helms
Helms is an English surname, English and Danish language, Danish Patronymic surname, Patronymic Surname and means son of Helm (given name), Helm, which derives from the Old Norse name ''Hjelm'' or ''Hjälm'' meaning 'helmet'. The name may als ...
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.
*see also:
**
List of NCAA schools with the most Division I national championships
Notable coaches, past and present
*
Lew Andreas – Men's Basketball (1924–1950), Football (1922–1929)
*
Jim Boeheim – Men's Basketball (1976–present)
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue in Springfield, Massachusetts. It serves as basketball's most complete library, in addition to promoting and pre ...
*
Lew Carr – Baseball (1910–1942)
Helms Foundation
The Helms Athletic Foundation, founded in 1936, was a Los Angeles-based organization dedicated to the promotion of athletics and sportsmanship. Paul H. Helms was the organization's founder and benefactor, funding the foundation via his ownership ...
College Baseball Hall of Fame
*
Laurie D. Cox
Laurie Davidson Cox (August 18, 1883 – October 1, 1968) was a leading American landscape architect and Hall of Fame coach and contributor to the sport of lacrosse. He was professor of Landscape Engineering at the New York State College of F ...
– Men's Lacrosse (1916–1930)
National Lacrosse Hall of Fame
*
Roy Danforth Roy Danforth, Jr. (born 12 Jan 1936), a native of Summitville, Indiana, was the head basketball coach at Syracuse from 1968 to 1976. During his tenure, he compiled a 148–71 (.676) record. In his final four years as a coach, his teams went to the ...
– Men's Basketball (1968–1976)
*
John Desko – Men's Lacrosse (1999–2021)
National Lacrosse Hall of Fame
* Gary Gait – Men's Lacrosse (2021–present)
National Lacrosse Hall of Fame,
National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame
*
Ted Kleinhans
Theodore Otto Kleinhans (born Traugott Otto Kleinhans, April 8, 1899 – July 24, 1985) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was born in Deer Park, Wisconsin. Kleinhans played 4 seasons in Major League Baseball, with the Philadelphia Phillies ...
– Baseball (1947–1966)
*
Dick MacPherson – Football (1981–1991)
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...
*
Doug Marrone – Football (2009–2012)
*
Frank "Buck" O'Neill – Football (1906–07, 1913–15, and 1917–19)
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...
*
Paul Pasqualoni – Football (1991–2004)
*
Ben Schwartzwalder – Football (1949–1973)
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...
*
Roy Simmons Sr. – Men's Lacrosse (1931–1969)
National Lacrosse Hall of Fame
*
Roy Simmons Jr.
Roy D. Simmons Jr. (born August 6, 1935) is a former American lacrosse coach who was the head coach of the Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team from 1971 to 1998. Simmons' teams won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men's Lacross ...
– Men's Lacrosse (1970–1998)
National Lacrosse Hall of Fame
*
Edwin Sweetland – Men's Football (1900–1902),
Rowing (1901–1902)
*
James A. Ten Eyck
James A. Ten Eyck (October 16, 1851 – February 11, 1938) was a crew coach at United States Naval Academy and Syracuse University. He was born in Tompkins Cove, New York (state), New York and is the father of Edward Ten Eyck, Edward H. "Ned" T ...
–
Rowing (1903–1938)
Notable athletes
*
Doc Alexander (1916–1920) –
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...
, 2-time
All American
The designation All American often refers to the hyphenated term All-American, a noun or adjective denoting players selected for an All-America sports team. Of an individual, all-American may mean that the person (often male) expresses the qualiti ...
, 2-time
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major ...
All-Pro selection
*
Gary Anderson (1978–1981) – All American kicker, second all-time in NFL scoring, 2-time NFL All-Pro selection
*
Carmelo Anthony (2002–2003) –
NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player,
Olympic Gold Medalist
This article lists the individuals who have won at least four gold medals at the Olympic Games or at least three gold medals in individual events.
List of most Olympic gold medals over career
This is a partial list of multiple Olympic gold medalis ...
, most points scored in Olympic play
*
John Barsha (born Abraham Barshofsky; 1898–1976), professional football player
*
Dave Bing
David Bing (born November 24, 1943) is an American former professional basketball player, businessman, and politician who served as the 74th mayor of Detroit, Michigan from 2009 to 2013. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
After starring at ...
(1963–1966) –
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue in Springfield, Massachusetts. It serves as basketball's most complete library, in addition to promoting and pre ...
, Mayor of
Detroit
*
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel Brown (born February 17, 1936) is a former American football player, sports analyst and actor. He played as a fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be one ...
(1954–1957) –
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...
,
National Lacrosse Hall of Fame,
Pro Football Hall of Fame
*
Keith Bulluck (1996–1999) – 3-time NFL All-Pro selection linebacker
*
Michael Carter-Williams (2011–2013) –
NBA Rookie of the Year
*
Derrick Coleman (1986–1990) – Silver Anniversary
Big East Basketball Team, All-time
Big East rebounding leader,
NBA Rookie of the Year
*
Tom Coughlin (1964–1967) – Head Coach,
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
*
Larry Csonka (1965–1967) –
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...
,
Pro Football Hall of Fame
*
Ernie Davis
Ernest Davis (December 14, 1939 – May 18, 1963) was an American football player who won the Heisman Trophy in 1961 and was its first African-American recipient. Davis played college football for Syracuse University and was the first pick in the ...
(1959–1961) –
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...
winner,
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...
*
Sherman Douglas (1986–1989) – Two-time basketball All American, All-time
Big East assists leader,
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
Star
*
Dennis DuVal (1970–1974) – Former NBA player and All-American basketball player
*
Jonny Flynn (2007–2009) –
Minnesota Timberwolves 2009 First Round selection, 2009
Big East tournament MVP
*
Dwight Freeney (1998–2001) – 6-time NFL
Pro Bowl selection, 3-time NFL All-Pro selection,
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the annual final playoff game of the National Football League (NFL) to determine the league champion. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966, replacing the NFL Championship Game. Since 2022, the game ...
Champion,
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...
all-time sacks leader
*
Gary Gait (1986–1989) – 2-time
National Player of the Year
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, ce ...
, 2-time
McLaughlin Award (Midfielder of the Year) winner,
National Lacrosse Hall of Fame,
National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame
*
Paul Gait (1986–1989) –
National Lacrosse Hall of Fame,
National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame
*
Dave Giusti (1959–1961) –
Major League Baseball All Star,
Sporting News Reliever of the Year
*
Marty Glickman (1936–1939) – Football All American, Olympic sprinter
*
Marvin Graves
Marvin Graves (born February 7, 1971) is a former quarterback in the Canadian Football League as well as one of the top signal-callers in the history of Syracuse University.
High school
Graves was a standout quarterback at Archbishop Carroll Hi ...
(1990–1993) – All-time school passing yards leader
*
Donté Greene (2007–2008) –
Brooklyn Nets, player
*
Tim Green (1982–1985) –
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...
*
Vic Hanson (1924–1927) –
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue in Springfield, Massachusetts. It serves as basketball's most complete library, in addition to promoting and pre ...
,
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...
*
Marvin Harrison (1992–1995) – All American, Six-time All Pro wide receiver
*
Jason Hart (1997–2000) – All Big East First Team
*
Wesley Johnson (2008–2010) – First Team All American, Big East Player of the Year, Naismith Award Finalist, Los Angeles Lakers, player
*
Daryl Johnston (1985–1988) – Two-time All Pro fullback
*
Mark Kerr – 1992 All-American and NCAA Division I 190 lbs champion wrestler, two-time
UFC tournament champion
*
Jim Konstanty (1937–1939) – 1950
National League MVP,
Saves leader
*
Brad Kotz (1982–1985) –
National Lacrosse Hall of Fame
*
Floyd Little (1964–1966) –
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...
,
Pro Football Hall of Fame
*
Ron Luciano
Ronald Michael Luciano (June 28, 1937 – January 18, 1995) was an American professional baseball umpire who worked in Major League Baseball's American League from 1969 to 1979. He was known for his flamboyant style, clever aphorisms, and a serie ...
(1957–1960) – lineman, played professionally for the Detroit Lions, and Major League Baseball umpire
*
John Mackey (1960–1962) –
Pro Football Hall of Fame
*
Julie McBride
Julie Anne McBride (born September 24, 1982 in Troy, New York) is an American-Polish professional basketball coach for the Albany Patroons.
College
McBride graduated Syracuse as the school’s all-time leader in points (1,605), scoring average ...
(2000–2004) – All-time Syracuse women's basketball scoring and assist leader
*
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb (born November 25, 1976) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. Before his NFL career, he played football and b ...
(1995–1998) –
Big East Offensive Player of the Decade (football)
*
Gerry McNamara (2002–2006) – Two-time All
Big East Basketball Team and NCAA National Champion
*
Don McPherson (1985–1988) –
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...
runner-up,
Maxwell Award winner (
College Football
College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States.
Unlike most ...
Player of the Year), College Football Hall of Fame
*
Dave Meggyesy
David Michael Meggyesy (born November 1, 1941) is a former American football player, author, and union organizer. Meggyesy played college football at Syracuse University, and for the St Louis Cardinals in the National Football League (NFL).
Meg ...
(1959–1963) – NFL linebacker for seven seasons; author of ''Out of Their League'' in 1970; retired
NFLPA Western Regional Director
*
Art Monk (1976–1979) – All American wide receiver, 3-time All Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame
*
Joe Morris (1978–1981) – All-time Syracuse rushing leader, 2-time
Pro Bowl selection
*
Lawrence Moten (1991–1995) – 3-time All
Big East Basketball Team, All-time
Big East scoring leader
*
Jim Nance 1962–1965 All America wrestling, AFL All star
*
Demetris Nichols (2003–2007) – Unanimous selection to All Big East Basketball Team
*
Billy Owens
Billy Eugene Owens (born May 1, 1969) is an American former professional basketball player who played for several teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Syracuse, where he was an All-American and th ...
(1988–1991) –
Big East Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Big East Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year award is given to the men's basketball player in the Big East Conference voted as the top performer by the conference coaches. It was first awarded at the end of the league's inaugural sea ...
, All American,
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
star
*
Casey Powell (1995–1998) – 4-time All American, 2-time
National Player of the Year
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, ce ...
(1997, 1998),
Jack Turnbull Award (Attackmen of the Year) winner (1998),
McLaughlin Award (Midfielder of the Year) winner (1996)
*
Mikey Powell
Michael Powell (born October 29, 1982) is a former American professional lacrosse player who was a four-time First Team All-American at Syracuse University, played professional lacrosse for the Baltimore Bayhawks and Boston Cannons, and played o ...
(2001–2004) – 4-time All American, 2-time
Tewaaraton Trophy winner (2002, 2004),
National Player of the Year
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, ce ...
(2004), 4-time
Jack Turnbull Award (Attackmen of the Year) winner
*
Ryan Powell (1997–2000) – 4-time All American,
National Player of the Year
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, ce ...
(2000),
Jack Turnbull Award (Attackmen of the Year) winner (2000)
*
Leo Rautins
Leo Rytis Rautins (born March 20, 1960) is a Canadian broadcaster, former professional basketball player and the former head coach of the Canada men's national basketball team, Canadian men's national basketball team. Rautins played in the Nationa ...
(1980–1983)
*
Andy Rautins
Andrew Jay Rautins (born November 2, 1986) is an American-born Canadian professional basketball player who last played for AEK Athens of the Greek Basket League. He played for Syracuse University and was drafted by the NBA's New York Knicks in ...
(2005–2010) – Big East Second Team All American, Honorable All American Mention, Team Canada Basketball Player, 2nd All-Time in 3-point Field Goals Made in SU Basketball History, New York Knicks, player
*
Jim Ringo (1950–1952) –
Pro Football Hall of Fame
*
Danny Schayes
Daniel Leslie Schayes (born May 10, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player who played for Syracuse University and played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), from 1981 until 1999. At 6' 11" and 235 pounds, h ...
(1978–1981) – Academic All American, 18-season
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
star
*
Rony Seikaly (1984–1988) – All American, Gold Medalist 1986
Basketball World Championships,
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
star, first ever draft pick of the
Miami Heat
*
Wilmeth Sidat-Singh
Wilmeth Sidat-Singh (February 13, 1918 – May 9, 1943) was a U.S. Army Air Corps officer with the Tuskegee Airmen, and an American basketball and football player who was subject to segregation in college and professional sports in the 1930s.
Ear ...
(1935–1939) – Football and Basketball star, Pioneer of civil rights in college athletics
*
Preston Shumpert (1998–2002) – Two-time All-Big East First Team selection
*
Walt Sweeney
Walter Francis Sweeney (April 18, 1941 – February 2, 2013) was an American professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football ...
(1960-1962) – 9-time
Pro Bowl selection, 2-time First Team
All-Pro, 4-time Second Team
All-Pro
*
Etan Thomas
Dedrick Etan Thomas (born April 1, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is also a published po ...
(1997–2000) – Twice
Big East Defensive Player of the Year,
Washington Wizards player
*
David Tyree (1998–2002) – NFL
Pro Bowl selection, Super Bowl Champion
*
Hakim Warrick (2001–2005) –
Big East Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Big East Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year award is given to the men's basketball player in the Big East Conference voted as the top performer by the conference coaches. It was first awarded at the end of the league's inaugural sea ...
,
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Suns are the only team in t ...
player
*
Dwayne "Pearl" Washington (1983–1986) – Silver Anniversary
Big East Basketball Team
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. Orange, blue, and white are traditionally used for athletic uniforms.
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.
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. 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.
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.
Mascot
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. The warrior was called the "Saltine Warrior" because of the abundant salt deposits in the
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffa ...
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.
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
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.
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.
References
External links
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Rugby union teams in New York (state)