[3] "Oh, Syracuse", composed by Harry S. Lee ('99) in 1898 became popular among students and alumni and was first sung at the Athletic Benefit at the Wieting Opera House on 19 February 1898.

It was sung for the first time at the first annual banquet of the Central New York Alumni Association held at the Yates Hotel in Syracuse on 21 January 1904.

[15][16] In a letter written to a Syracuse University staff member in 1939, author Junius W. Stevens recalled "while I was walking home across the city ...  an idea for the song came to me.

I had often noticed how the setting sun lighted up the walls of Crouse College long after dusk had fallen over the city and the valley.

"[17][18][19] Multiple university Greek-life reports from early 1910s describe a practice of singing the alma mater after chapel, athletic events, and football games.

[18] In 2009, the Syracuse Orange football team head coach Doug Marrone began a similar tradition and it was continued under Scott Shafer.

[24] In the spring of 1986, Syracuse University amendeded the lyrics to the alma mater to promote inclusivity and to honor the institution's coeducational roots.