first ever draft pick of the Miami Heat Wilmeth Sidat-Singh (1935–1939) – Football and Basketball star, Pioneer of civil rights in college athletics Preston Shumpert (1998–2002) – Two-time All-Big East First Team selection Walt Sweeney (1960-1962) – 9-time Pro Bowl selection, 2-time First Team All-Pro, 4-time Second Team All-Pro Etan Thomas (1997–2000) – Twice Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Washington Wizards player David Tyree (1998–2002) – NFL Pro Bowl selection, Super Bowl Champion Hakim Warrick (2001–2005) – Big East Men's Basketball Player of the Year, Phoenix Suns player Dwayne "Pearl" Washington (1983–1986) – Silver Anniversary Big East Basketball Team Nicknames, mascots and colors Orange is the official school color, adopted as such in 1890. Prior to that time, the school's colors were rose pink and pea green. Orange, blue, and white are traditionally used for athletic uniforms. The athletic nickname derives from the official color. Prior to 2004, the official nicknames of the athletic teams were the "Orangemen" and "Orangewomen." These former nicknames are still affectionately used by some fans. However, beginning with the 2004–2005 school year, the official nickname was changed to the "Orange." This revision is gender-neutral, concise, and reflects the basis of the nickname as being the school color. According to an 1890 newspaper article uncovered by the Syracuse Post Standard, the orange was originally a reference to the Netherlands, which first colonized New York State. It's common in upstate New York for place names to make reference to the Dutch heritage. In a similar way, the original settlement that became Albany was called Fort Orange. Other nicknames over the years have included the "Hilltoppers," for the school's location on a hill, and the "Saltine Warriors," for a former mascot. Mascot In 1931, a Native American warrior known as Nathan March aka: "Saltine Warrior" became the athletic mascot. The name derived from an article describing an archaeological dig on campus allegedly uncovering the artifacts of a Native American warrior. The warrior was called the "Saltine Warrior" because of the abundant salt deposits in the Syracuse, New York area. The article was later revealed to be a hoax, but the mascot remained for next four decades. In the mid-1950s, the father of a Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brother owned a cheerleading camp. He made a Saltine Warrior costume for his son to wear at Syracuse football games. Thus began a nearly forty-year tradition of Lambda Chi