They called it the Orange Out.
Many fans cooperated, my dear wife Karen and I knew as we were walking up the hill Saturday in preparation to watch Syracuse tangle with Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference football opener for both squads.
Up a different hill.
We planned a separate route from the opening Friday night, choosing the stairs that passed the castle-like Crouse College, home of the University’s music school.
Back toward the bars and restaurants.
Even though this was a 12:30 p.m. start, the overcast day was a good 20º F cooler than the week prior. This brightened our mood, walking in the 70s.
Hover over any gallery photo for a description. Click on the bottom right photo of any gallery for an enlarged slide show.
Yes, the Syracuse squad is known proudly as the Orange.
Where they all want to go.
And so many of the fans in the announced crowd of 26,670 — the smallest home gathering since Sept. 24, 1983, or one month, nine days after I moved to Syracuse from Maryland, by the way — answered the call and wore the team color.
Anybody home?
And, for the first time in too many seasons for most fans, so did the team. Three seasons ago, under the leadership of former athletic director Dr. Daryl Gross and stewardship of college uniform-maker and money-shaker Nike, Syracuse showed up in new-style blue jerseys. And gray jerseys. White jerseys, even. All which could be worn with pants of those colors. No orange jerseys, though. Nobody in charge really had a good answer as to why.
Let’s go Orange!
For game two of 2015, though, they followed the cannon-shot of smoke and ran from the dressing room tunnel all decked out in their orange jerseys, looking sharp and sweet.
Orange you glad?
All of which made me realize all over again how many shades of Orange really exist around our parts, even in the Carrier Dome.
Bright squad.
There’s the vibrant hue taken to the field on the backs of the players.
Different shirts.
There are the different brands of T’s and jerseys and pullovers found in the stands.
Halftime tint.
But, wait. Under the concourse lighting at halftime, even those take on a different perspective.
Bowling for Orange.
Not even the Syracuse bowl banners hanging from the top of the Carrier Dome completely match.
There was a certain appeal to this team regardless. Freshman quarterback Eric Dungey led a second-half surge for a 30-17 victory over the Deamon Deacons for a 2-0 record and 1-0 start in the ACC.
Which shade of orange do you prefer here? Would you wear orange anything? Which is your favorite photo, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
I would, and do, wear orange. I’ve come to appreciate orange a little later in life. Now, I can’t get enough of it. Don’t know why. Including one fully orange bike, one bike with orange rims and trim. ANd orange jerseys. 😉 I’m orange for your team MBM!
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Orange crush you have now, MBC! I like it. 😉
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Hahahahahahaha! I do indeed MBM!
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glad the orange is restored once again. i wear burnt orange, pumpkin orange, rust – not really traditional orange, but i think it’s a happy color no matter where i see it.
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And it goes well with a certain ginger, I must say, Beth. ❤
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I get chills when the Fighting Irish take the field in their green jerseys. I used to have one, but it mysteriously disappeared after my divorce. For the record, the ex-wife is also a Notre Dame fan. Hmmm…
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Now I know what to buy you as a next-movie-made gift, Austin!
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Right!
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I think the orange uniforms are great; they should stick with them. It’s a great color. I’m just sad to see so few fans in attendance.
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The fan base is aging, Scott, and the Carrier Dome is not the most comfortable place to watch a game. I think that has something to do with the low attendance. It needs to be a winner’s scene, such as Jimmy B has build for basketball, for it to feel full and special. Remember, though, that tops out at 36,000 … Football games feel empty at that number.
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Well, they could always petition the BIG 10. We can probably squeeze in one or two more teams.
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I think le Orange is quite happy with the ACC, Scott.
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I couldn’t believe that you actually got 26,000 out for a college ball game. Wow.Quite the difference from here. And what color was the team? Blue? Ha!
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The big squads here draw near 100,000, Paul, and the Carrier Dome can hold 50,000. So folks are quite disappointed wiht the 26,000 total. It’s all relative, as we know. Ha!
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I know – it is relative and mind blowing. Even in Toronto,. our largest city with 2 million pop and a draw of about 5 million (within 5 hours drive) the stadium only holds 54,000 and that is huge for here. We seldom fill that for a pro game. A college game may draw a few thousand. I have never seen and cannot fathom 100,000 people all in one place at one time for a game.
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I have been with 60,000, Paul, and that was LOUD.
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As a redhead, orange is never a color that I was allowed to wear as a child (or pink). I don’t think even now I own anything that is the color of orange.
Do the people not wearing orange, feel out of place? I think I would.
I bet you are enjoying the cooler days. I love the cloudy skies!!!!
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I didn’t know you are a redhead, SD! Orange you ever going to share a photo? 😉
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Never, ever. I haven’t taken a photo in eons because I scare myself when I look at it. Besides as I have aged, my hair went lighter and lighter and now I have some kind of creepy, platinum blonde hair. My dad says my hair now finally fits my personality. What could he possibly mean by that, I wonder!?
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Yeah, SD, what could he mean, that dad of yours?
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Hmm, let me think. I do not know, I really really don’t.
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I love the color orange, Mark, because my son has orange hair and orange has been his favorite color since he was really young. Orange you glad I commented?
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Aaron’s bright hair is a delight, for sure, any way you shade it, Ann! Orange you glad I agree?
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Yep…orange is a challenge for a lot of us, Mark. It is so much easier when PSU does their “white out”. Everyone has something white, even a simple T shirt. Kudos on those who are loyal to the Syracuse colors, and congrats on the win. ☺
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Thanks, Van. Yes, the Nittany Lions blue is more consistent as well. Even the Orange T’s in the stores are different shades from year to year and brand to brand!
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I don’t wear orange. I mostly wear black and white with an occasional trip into red. I love the first photo. That’s a great view of a marvelous building and steps. I could make up a good story just about that. I find architecture very inspiring, don’t you?
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I do find architecture stirring, Rose. Notice that it’s one of my categories. I’m glad you like the shot. Thank you!
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