Surprise! Newhouse NYC Students Join Mike Tirico ’88 on “Today” Show

Newhouse NYC students and Otto the Orange greeted “Today” show guest host and NBC sportscaster Mike Tirico ’88 with a surprise visit Friday as the morning show returned from a commercial break.

NBC correspondent Brian Cheung ’15 (left) meets Newhouse NYC students and Otto the Orange on the “Today” show set in midtown Manhattan. (Photo by Lilia Ward)

Tirico couldn’t stop smiling as a crowd filled with visitors wearing blue and orange cheered while Syracuse University’s effervescent mascot danced around the plaza outside the program’s studio in midtown Manhattan.

At one point, Tirico spoke briefly with Margaret Brown, a public relations major, and Diamonte Giacovelli, an advertising major. The Newhouse juniors are studying for the semester in New York City.

“They are part of the communications school. They come to New York for the semester … and you’re going to take our jobs at some point, right?” Tirico said in a deadpan voice to Brown and Giacovelli. “Yes, they are.”

It was the perfect end to the weeklong hosting stint on “Today” for Tirico, who regularly referred to his alma mater. Tirico sits on the University’s Board of Trustees.

“Don’t tell lies about Otto, because it is … pulp fiction,” Tirico said wryly after introducing the mascot.

Syracuse University students and staff visit the Today Show set, where they surprised Newhouse alum and guest host Mike Tirico '88 — Syracuse University students and staff visit the “Today” show Friday as they surprise Newhouse alum and guest host Mike Tirico ’88 during an on-air segment. (Photo by Pam Mulligan)