It is one of the largest student organizations at Syracuse University, and one of the oldest collegiate bands in the United States.

[4] The 23 members performed at the Syracuse Orangemen football game appearance against Lafayette College on October 12, 1901, at the Old Oval.

[11] The university began supporting the band financially in 1924, but noted it as a loss making activity.

[10] In 1947, a fire destroyed much of Archbold Gymnasium and with it the band lost all their uniforms, but the administration was supportive, and the group had new clothes, director, and equipment.

While the football team lost their first ever bowl game 61–6, the band achieved celebrity status – especially the baton twirler Dottie Grover – and was billed One hundred men and a girl by the media.

[13][16] Learbury Clothier of Syracuse had donated new uniforms of white straw hats, blue blazers, and slacks as the band went to the bowl in the humid south.

[18] For a brief period of time (1943–1947) during World War II, university had temporarily allowed women on the band to fill positions due to shortage of men.

[14] They were welcomed back with much fanfare and when during the 1970 football opener game the announcer called them "The Pride of the Orange", the nickname stuck.

[25] The college met its goal and the revamped uniforms were utilized in time for Syracuse's inaugural 2013 ACC football season.

[30][31][32] They put on a New York/ New Jersey themed show alongside the Rutgers University Marching Scarlet Knights.

[34] The band has been a consistent presence at the annual Heisman Memorial Trophy Dinner Gala in New York City.

[41][20]: 7 The band is fall semester non-audition, one-credit course in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

[5] The band performs a show before every home game on the steps of Hendricks Chapel in the Shaw Quadrangle.

The band sings the words to the fight song, as well as performs the Syracuse University Alma Mater both instrumentally, and vocally in four-part harmony.

[49] After each football win, the band heads to Varsity Pizza on Marshall Street to flip the flag upside down.

[50] The band plays a few tunes and the banners of each Orange opponent hung along the back wall of the restaurant are flipped at the end if Syracuse wins.