Hey national media - Syracuse is the real Orange. Not Tennessee or any other school.

I'm just having fun with this column. So I'll start with that.

At the same time, I see it all the time. Posts on X or elsewhere where national media outlets discuss orange-clad schools, and Syracuse isn't at the top of the list. What?

The latest "gaffe" comes from On3. The outlet had a post on X with the headline, "Which College team has the BEST emoji?" And listed there was Tennessee directly above an orange emoji.

Naturally, that evoked a somewhat strong reaction from me and many other 'Cuse fans out there in social media land. That being said, to reiterate, I'm not bashing On3 here. I'm a huge fan of that outlet. Huge fan.

But this goes to a larger theme, trend, issue - whatever you want to call it. Why do folks not associate orange with Syracuse, and only Syracuse?

I'd love to know. Maybe part of it is that there are other orange-clad schools out there that have mightier athletics programs. I dunno.

I mean, Syracuse's mascot is a freaking Orange.

Ironically, Syracuse football will open its 2025 season by battling Southeastern Conference powerhouse Tennessee in late August during a neutral-site affair in Atlanta. Oh, and I have nothing against the Volunteers.

In fact, I dig the Vols. My 9-year-old son, who primarily lives in the Nashville area, loves Tennessee. His dad's alma mater, SU, is in his top five, but the Volunteers are in his top two. So I root for Tennessee, although I won't be in late August.

Late last month, ABC/ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy named the Volunteers-Syracuse late August encounter as one of his top "under the radar" non-conference games for the upcoming 2025 season.

Plus, Syracuse basketball in early December will host Tennessee at the JMA Wireless Dome as part of the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge. It will be the third straight campaign that these two programs will meet on the hardwood.

Sort of a mini-rivalry between two Orange schools, which is fun.

Let's be clear, though. College squads such as Tennessee, Clemson, Florida, Texas, Auburn and Miami, among others, may have orange as part of their team colors. That's cool. But Syracuse is THE Orange.

Our mascot, Otto, is literally an Orange. Lol.