Dear Dr. Daryl Gross,

As former Syracuse University mascot team members, we are extremely happy to see a new, bright and clean Otto the Orange strolling through the sidelines. We know firsthand there isn’t enough Febreze in Onondaga County to make an old costume smell fresh. However, we are extremely disappointed by the addition of a new feature to the suit: the Nike swoosh. As proud alumni of SU and ongoing fans of our good buddy Otto, we are asking you to remove the Nike logo from the costume.

We understand the financial partnership the SU Athletic Department has with Nike and the company’s importance to funding our beloved teams. We are grateful for the road trips, warm-ups and other gear that made our experience in costume possible and unforgettable. We recognize the business side of college athletics and the need to maintain positive relationships with your biggest sponsors.

But a school mascot costume should be regarded as more sacred ground. A mascot is the face of any university. Otto, in particular, is the emblem and logo emblazoned on paraphernalia worn by every fan that bleeds orange. It is as sad to see a corporate logo displayed on Otto as it would be to see one plastered on the Hall of Languages or the Kissing Bench. Otto is SU. Otto is not Nike.

Wearing Nike shoes or participating in Nike events is understandable. But it is absolutely unprecedented in the mascot community, collegiate or professional, to have a corporate logo so prominently and permanently affixed to a costume.

Speaking on behalf of our voiceless furry friend Otto, we expect you to do the right thing and remove the giant Nike logo. Please restore Otto to a symbol that only represents SU, our great alma mater.

Thank you for your time and attention. GO ORANGE!

Sincerely,

Ben Youngerman, Class of 2009

Nick Natario, Class of 2008

Published on February 26, 2012 at 12:00 pm