what is syracuse mascot

The Syracuse mascot is Otto the Orange, an anthropomorphism of an orange fruit. The character was born out of a hoax in which it was claimed that a 16th-century Onondaga chief was unearthed while digging the foundation for the womens gymnasium in 1928. The Syracuse mascot was originally a Native American character named "The Saltine Warrior" and "Big Chief Bill Orange". In the 1980s, a new Syracuse University mascot emerged and was described by Sports Illustrated in 1984 as a "juiced-up, bumbling citrus fruit from which two legs protrude", and quickly became popular on campus. Then, the mascot was simply known as "the Orange", and was designed and crafted by Eric Heath, an SU cheerleader, according to the SU Archives. For 17 years the university did not settle on an "official" mascot until the chancellor appointed a group of students and faculty to create a mascot and logo. University administration considered introducing a new mascot (a wolf or lion were likely candidates), but the student body supported Otto, and he became the official mascot in 1995. Otto is known for being exuberant, happy-go-lucky, and kind, and always spreads sunshine and Syracuse spirit, from the sidelines at Syracuse University games to community events.