They jump from their seats, stomping on the bleachers before the whistle blows. They hurl catcalls and heckle opponents before the buzzer even gets a chance to blare out. And although still young, Otto’s Army makes sure supporters and rivals alike recognize the group as the new wave of the Syracuse University student section at sporting events.

‘Otto’s Army was founded on the basis that many of the traditions common to Syracuse students had been diluted over the years,’ said Trenton Gaucher, a recent SU graduate and last year’s president of the organization.

Founded in 2006, Otto’s Army carries the torch passed down by student cheering sections in the past. The group brands itself as its own entity to step out of the shadows of other nationally recognized student sections.

‘People don’t talk about Duke University without mentioning the Cameron Crazies,’ said Louis Milman, a recent SU graduate and last year’s promotions officer for the organization. ‘Otto’s Army is just as integral or impactful as they are.’

One of SU’s first nicknamed student sections was the ‘Saltine Supporters,’ named after the official mascot at the time, the Saltine Warrior, according to the 1946 Onondogan yearbook.

Brad Slavin, communications officer of Otto’s Army and sophomore television, radio and film and information management and technology dual major, said the group upholds some of SU’s longstanding traditions, including singing the alma mater and football fight song ‘Down the Field.’

‘There are a ton of traditions that we follow at games,’ Slavin said, ‘But we’ve also created some awesome traditions that will hopefully continue for years to come.’

Some new additions to the list of traditional staples include a point system used to reward the biggest SU sports fans and kick-starting the basketball pep rally.

During his time as an Otto’s Army officer, Milman recognized a growing trend in students actively participating in the student section.

‘As more people have learned about Otto’s Army and became a part of it, the organization has become ingrained in the university,’ Milman said.

The growth of Otto’s Army spawned offshoots of past traditions, including unofficial team mascots.

In the 1980s, a local insurance agent named Dennis Brogan became a Carrier Dome legend by donning a bright blue Zorro-esque mask and orange cowboy garb. The mysterious ‘Dome Ranger’ rallied crowds and patrolled the sidelines at basketball games. During the throes of a February home game in 2010, the Ranger made a triumphant return to form, leading a hollering chorus of ‘Let’s go Orange’ from courtside.

Brogan’s antics paved the way for more SU superfans to emerge at home games. Michael Collins, a sophomore history and secondary education major, has never missed a home football game or basketball game as his ‘Orange Man’ persona.

Collins attends every home game wearing an orange bodysuit, blue running shorts and a navy-and-orange striped tie. Although Orange Man has yet to achieve the same level of mystique as the Dome Ranger or other cult figures in the Dome’s history, Collins hopes to keep the character alive once he leaves school.

‘I would love Orange Man to become an SU tradition,’ Collins said, ‘I’d like to be able to pass down the suit and the rest of the outfit to an underclassman once I graduate. It would have to go to someone who will be as committed as I have been.’

But the Orange Man getup works as stand-alone costume, and Otto’s Army unites the student body for one cause: to cheer the Orange to victory, no matter the sport, Collins said. Gaucher echoed this sentiment.

‘It’s a way for students to connect with their university and show pride in their alma mater, just by being loud and wearing orange,’ Gaucher said.

At 5 years old, the Otto’s Army student section is still gaining momentum and becoming a key institution of SU athletic programs. Milman predicts that Otto’s Army will not only grow as a Syracuse tradition, but also as one that will resonate in the entire college sports nation.

Said Milman: ‘In the not-so-distant future, Otto’s Army will surpass all other student section organizations in terms of notoriety, passion and tradition.’

ervanrhe@syr.edu

Published on November 9, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Erik: ervanrhe@syr.edu | @therealvandyman