Fran Brown talks sticking with Rickie Collins, SU’s losing streak in press conference
Ahead of Syracuse's matchup against Georgia Tech, Fran Brown expressed confidence in Rickie Collins as SU's starting quarterback. Aaron Hammer | Staff Photographer
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Amid Syracuse’s three-game losing streak, Fran Brown is in a position he never found himself in during 2024. The Orange’s current skid is their longest under Brown — they didn’t have back-to-back defeats in 2024 — and they have fallen below .500.
SU is 0-3 with three uncompetitive defeats since Rickie Collins took over for Steve Angeli. Its 30-13 loss to Pittsburgh Saturday continued that trend. Collins has struggled, leading the Atlantic Coast Conference with eight interceptions. The defense hasn’t helped Collins out either, allowing 30+ points in each of its losses.
The adversity Syracuse has faced so far is unlike anything it faced last season, exemplified by Steve Angeli’s torn Achilles.
“They’re still coming to practice and working their butts off daily,” Brown said Monday. “They’re getting the chance to face adversity all together … coaching staff, players and everything. When you get to do that together, and pinpoint different things out that we’ll learn together and be able to grow from, that’s a blessing right there alone.”
The task doesn’t get any easier for Syracuse, as it travels south to face the only remaining unbeaten ACC team in Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are the odds-on favorite for the conference title.
Here are some observations from Brown’s press conference ahead of Syracuse’s (3-4, 1-3 ACC) matchup with No. 7 Georgia Tech (7-0, 4-0 ACC):
Trusting Collins
Brown is always going to put the player in the football game who gives Syracuse the best chance at winning. For him, that’s Collins, despite his struggles over SU’s recent stretch.
“It isn’t that I’m doing this because I want to make sure it’s Rickie. It could be Joe Filardi,” Brown said. “At the moment, Rickie’s our quarterback. I just hope that it continues to get better. I hope that he learns more from this weekend and watching himself play.”
After Collins had two interceptions and Syracuse punted three times across two quarters against Pittsburgh, Brown went with freshman quarterback Luke Carney. Three unsuccessful drives later, Collins returned, throwing another interception and also connecting with Emanuel Ross for a fourth-quarter touchdown.
Since becoming the starter, Brown said Collins has grown as a leader and has improved at “seeing things a little bit more.” The head coach explained SU’s offense has to do a better job of putting points on the board. That starts with Collins. The Orange have averaged just 11.3 points per game since Sept. 27, scoring just 13 total in the first half.
“(Collins has to) continue to grow and keep the ball in our hands. Just try to make smart decisions all the time,” Brown said. “(He’s) got to be a little bit more consistent. It can’t be not doing well, not doing well. It can’t be that we got a really good drive, and then it goes backwards. Work on consistency, being able to play confidently from start to finish.”
Brown added that Collins needs to recognize the defense faster, a recurring issue with him under center. The important thing is getting the ball to SU’s playmakers like Johntay Cook and Darrell Gill Jr. Brown noted that Collins has the arm talent, but it’s about relaxing and making the throws that are there for him.
Collins has a tough task ahead of him. The Yellow Jackets only allow 20.6 points and 215 passing yards per game, marks which rank fourth and sixth in the ACC. Last week, GT held an explosive Duke offense to only 18 points. Still, Brown remains faithful in his starting quarterback.
“He’ll play his heart out. It’ll be one of the better games that you’ve seen around there from a quarterback in a long time,” Brown said. “That’s what I prayed on. And I’m hoping, and I’m wishing for him, most importantly.”
Breaking the skid
Brown wants his players to follow his guidance. He revealed that last night, someone told him to be the conductor of an orchestra. While recalling the story, Brown moved his arms, with his index fingers pointed out, mimicking a conductor’s instructions.
Under his leadership, he wants his players to stay on the same page like an orchestra, with each instrument hitting the right notes at the right time. Brown said, as long as they follow him, they’ll be fine.
“It’ll all come together. It’ll be right, that’s all on me,” Brown said. “I’m the leader of the program. I’m good. I know what we need to do. I’ll continue to keep my chin up, and make sure I walk around and show them what it’s like to follow someone who has the faith.”
During the three-game losing streak, Brown has taught his players about life. He talked about needing players to believe in themselves, and even though the answers might not have been there in recent weeks, they still need to keep pushing.
The second-year coach even invoked an age-old adage, saying, “It’s not how many times you get knocked down, it’s about how many you get up.”
Syracuse has been knocked down three times in a row. Brown wants to know whether his team has what it takes to get up a fourth occasion.
“We’re gonna fight to the end,” Brown said. “This is when you find out who’s a real football coach and who isn’t and how the team responds, how the team continues to play.”
Brown did admit that SU’s injuries to veteran presences like Angeli and Derek McDonald hurt. Last season, the Orange’s core — outside of Marlowe Wax — was intact for a large portion of the season. This year’s been a little different.
“As long as we keep swinging away, we keep coming to practice daily, we keep believing in each other, and we don’t point the finger, and we just stay connected the way that we are, everything will work itself out,” Brown said.
Injury updates
Brown revealed Syracuse offensive lineman Byron Washington missed Saturday’s game with a concussion, but hinted at him returning for this week. Austin Collins — SU’s highest-graded offensive lineman this season — was labeled as “day-to-day” by Brown. Starting left tackle Trevion Mack was pulled from the Pitt game, but not due to injury, as he and Naquil Betrand have been splitting time all season.
