Fran Brown talks Collins’ debut, SMU at weekly press conference
After a 35-point loss to Duke in the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday, Syracuse head coach Fran Brown discussed how he plans to bounce back versus SMU. Aaron Hammer | Staff Photographer
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Fran Brown formed the letter “T” with his arms, the universal sign for allowing a kick to go into the end zone for a touchback. He demonstrated what he wants his kick and punt return units to do going forward after a horrid display against Duke.
The special teams, however, was the least of Brown’s worries. Syracuse’s offense failed to score a touchdown for the first time since Brown took over the program. Its defense allowed 503 total yards of offense. The Blue Devils prevailed for a 38-3 blowout.
“The coaches had them prepared. They were prepared, and we weren’t,” Brown said of Duke. “I didn’t prepare us the way that we should have been prepared. There’s really no excuses for what happened in that football game. It’s not acceptable.”
In reference to the kick returners, and SU’s performance overall, Brown pointed to Murphy’s Law: anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. It’s a point he hopes the Orange can use as fuel. Their first try at retribution will come in Texas against SMU Saturday.
Here are some takeaways from Brown’s press conference ahead of Syracuse’s matchup with the Mustangs:
Analyzing Collins’ debut
Rickie Collins wasted no time breaking down the film following his first college start. Brown revealed Monday that Collins asked to meet to watch the film after the contest Saturday, where Brown said he was at Syracuse’s football facility until near midnight.
Collins went 24-for-37 with 229 passing yards and an interception on his opening drive. The production was a far cry from Steve Angeli’s gaudy numbers to open the 2025 season before going down with a torn Achilles.
As Collins was deciphering the film, Brown asked him what he was thinking on nearly every drop back. Brown saw Collins as poised and unafraid, he said, while also taking on much of the blame for the poor offensive efficiency.
“He had a couple mistakes, but I don’t think he struggled,” Brown said.
Brown said the rest of the program had to be on its A game to help Collins navigate his first start. He admitted it wasn’t. The fall out complied from there. If Collins were to go down, Brown said freshman Luke Carney is “probably No. 2” with Jakhari Williams and Rich Belin fighting for the third spot.
“They’re doing a good job, but it’s the Rickie show right now,” Brown said.
SMU preview
Just a week ago, the Orange were riding high after knocking off the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champions on the road. Syracuse dismantled Clemson and was riding high entering its matchup with Duke. Fast forward to Week 6 and SU will take on the Mustangs, who Clemson defeated in the conference championship.
SMU is 2-2 to begin 2025 and enters Saturday’s game off a bye week. Head coach Rhett Lashlee led the Mustangs to the College Football Playoff in their first year in the ACC. They’ll be Syracuse’s third opponent to have played in last year’s playoff.
After last week’s poor rushing defense emerged, Brown said the goal is to tackle and “hope they don’t go crazy.” That is in reference to SMU’s running back duo of T.J. Harden and Chris Johnson Jr., who’ve combined for 439 rushing yards. Despite not having a close relationship with Lashlee, Brown notices the success he’s had thus far.
“I don’t know him well enough, or know that program, to really tell you this is what I want. But I wouldn’t mind being in the playoffs and being in the conference championship. So he’s done that, and I admire that, and I like it,” Brown said.
Development continues
Syracuse’s team is young. With Angeli down and Collins in, it’s even younger. Brown keeps tabs on everything his players are doing down to the hour. He used to sort their schedules by an entire week but has since changed to daily schedules. Brown said he is focusing on the process to develop his players, going one day at a time.
“There’s a lot that’s going on, but we’re still building a program,” Brown said. “How many games we played last year? Thirteen and five this year. So I’ve only been there for 18 games, so it just takes time.”
In playing some of his underclassmen, Brown compared the experience to when a mother tells their child to not touch a hot stove: until you go through the consequences, you don’t want to listen. While winning is the most important, Brown sees opportunity for lessons to be learned through the rest of their lives.
“Although we may have lost a couple of football games, there’s a lot of gains going on in life,” Brown said. “And there’s different things that they’re learning from those games that they’ll be able to use as fathers and husbands. So to me, sometimes if it’s a loss, (it’s one) you have to take to develop seven more kids. You might have to take that loss because that’s a part of the game.”
