Fran Brown is focused on Syracuse football continuing to get closer, mental toughness

Syracuse football kicks off its 2024 season under first-year head coach Fran Brown in 10 days, and excitement keeps on building for the Orange's prospects in the upcoming term.

Regardless of what the national and Atlantic Coast Conference pundits think, as far as projecting how many wins the 'Cuse will have in 2024, the current buzz surrounding the Syracuse football program hasn't been felt on the Hill and among the team's fan base in many years, from my perspective.

Brown and his top-flight staff continue to work with the team amid the Orange's preseason camp, and the 'Cuse will officially commence its 2024 campaign on Saturday, Aug. 31, when Syracuse football will host Ohio in an non-conference encounter at the JMA Wireless Dome.

While some ACC commentators, ahead of this upcoming season, view the Orange as a middle-of-the-pack squad in the league's pecking order, make no mistake about it. This 2024 'Cuse roster is filled with talent at all its position groups, and I believe that the Orange has more depth across the board than in other recent terms.

As preseason camp soon winds down for Syracuse football, Fran Brown has some things he's focused on at this juncture.

Earlier this week, Brown discussed where the 'Cuse is and what he wants to improve upon. Some of his thoughts were relayed in a piece by top writer Chance Chamberlain of SyracuseOn247.

For this week of preseason camp, and as the Orange gets set next week to prepare for its opening game of the 2024 campaign, Brown says that he's focused on the Syracuse football program continuing "to get closer" and also to "get mentally tougher."

This off-season, like its peers around the country, the 'Cuse saw a sizable makeover of its roster. Numerous players on both sides of the field returned for 2024, while the Orange also brought in a talented cadre of high school seniors and college transfers.

Additionally, beyond Brown replacing Dino Babers as the team's head coach, Syracuse football has new coordinators, a bunch of new assistant coaches, and new schemes to perfect.

Ross Douglas, who most recently was with the NFL's New England Patriots before joining the Orange as its passing-game coordinator and wide receivers coach, said: "We've got to fall in love with the process and fall in love with doing it right," according to Chamberlain's story.

Douglas added, "We stay in the moment and stay present because every day we can't count days when we have to make them count."

Undeniably, 'Cuse coaches are laser-focused on mental toughness, playing as a cohesive unit, and trusting the process they're building.

While Syracuse football coaches are teaching their players on a daily basis, Brown acknowledged that he, too, is learning from his roster and his assistants.

"Learning to be more patient and listen to a lot of people because everyone can teach, it doesn't matter who they are," Brown said.