The Syracuse mascot was originally a Native American character named " The Saltine Warrior " (Syracuse's unofficial nickname is the Salt City) and "Big Chief Bill Orange". [ 2 ][ 3 ] The character was born out of a hoax from a report by student humor magazine Orange Peel, in which it was claimed that a 16th-century Onondaga chief was unearthed while digging the foundation for the women's gymnasium in 1928.

In 1931, based on a campus connection with the Onondaga Nation, Syracuse University adopted the Orangemen nickname and Saltine Warrior logo. In the 1950s the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity added a human Indian mascot to the mix.

The first orange mascot made his debut in 1980. The brown leggings were not the only major difference to the mascot of today. The original Otto was originally named Clyde, the name chosen by brothers of the Lambda Chi Alpha, who had portrayed Syracuse’s mascot for over 40 years.

Otto’s journey to the summit of mascot superstardom began more than four decades ago. Here are some fun facts and highlights of the spirited orange’s illustrious career. 1: The Orange's Origin Story Starts in the ’80s Otto first appeared on the Syracuse sidelines in the early ’80s and became the Orange’s official mascot in 1995.

In 1931, an article published in The Syracuse Orange Peel, told of finding the remains of a 16th century Onondaga Indian chief in the excavations for a campus building. Soon, the Saltine Warrior, named for the salt deposits in the area and nicknamed Big Chief Bill Orange, became the mascot.