Syracuse football is going to hit hard and be a tough, SEC-like team, Fran Brown says

The Fran Brown era as the head coach of Syracuse football begins on Saturday afternoon, when the Orange will host non-conference foe Ohio at the JMA Wireless Dome.

The 'Cuse fan base, undeniably, is excited to see what Brown, his top-flight staff and their remade roster can do in the upcoming 2024 season. The Orange has made two straight bowl games, although Syracuse football fans are hoping that the team can put together a more consistent season than in other recent years, when the program started fast but then faded down the stretch, in part due to injuries and depth issues.

This off-season, Brown and his assistants retained numerous key players on both offense and defense. Then, 'Cuse coaches hit a home run in the transfer portal, landing several four-star prospects while bulking up on the offensive and defensive lines.

Add in a solid 2024 recruiting class at the high school level, and Syracuse football is looking to make some noise in the upcoming campaign within the Atlantic Coast Conference and on a national scale.

Fran Brown says he's thankful for the opportunity to serve as the Syracuse football head coach.

Not too long ago, Brown conducted an insightful and interesting interview with the Gramlich and Mac Lain Podcast, which is hosted by two excellent ACC Network/ESPN analysts, Kelly Gramlich and Eric Mac Lain.

Brown discussed how he came to be the Orange's head coach after most recently serving as the defensive backs coach at Georgia. He chatted about various position groups, what the 'Cuse did with its transfer-portal recruiting, and what he expects of his players.

One of the biggest takeaways, from my perspective, is as follows. When he was asked what he wants people to come away with when watching Syracuse football play this season, Brown responded: "They hit hard. Those dudes are tough."

Love that. Brown also noted the importance of the Orange being a detailed football team, while both 'Cuse coaches and players hold each other accountable. He said rather emphatically: "Big people beat little people up."

This is a critical facet, from my perspective. While the 'Cuse adding depth across the board for the 2024 season was paramount, because injuries happen in this sport, Brown made it crystal clear that a key emphasis for him was getting bigger and stronger on the offensive and defensive lines.

I couldn't agree more with Coach.

He delved into the coaching staff's strategy with its recruiting via the transfer portal this off-season. Undeniably, securing a top-tier quarterback was huge, and the Orange did that, landing Ohio State four-star transfer Kyle McCord.

Once the 'Cuse secured McCord for his senior season, Brown says it was vital to get some "big bodies" on both lines. He cited Texas A&M four-star transfer Fadil Diggs and other strong linemen. "We just had to get bigger on both lines," Brown said, adding that he wanted to create an SEC (Southeastern Conference) offensive and defensive line, with more depth, where players would have to thoroughly compete for their spots.

That, the Orange head coach believes, will help Syracuse football to prevail in close games down the line. So from a portal standpoint, it was building from the quarterback, to the body, and then speed on the outside, Brown says. And the 'Cuse achieved this, adding several talented wide receivers and tight ends through the portal and at the high school level.

Brown says the chance to lead Syracuse football was a massive opportunity for him. He's from New Jersey, and the Orange is a Northeast school. In his interview with Gramlich and Mac Lain, he cited the tradition on the Hill, players who over the years went on to Hall of Fame careers in the NFL.

Brown also gave a wonderful shout-out to his assistant coaching staff. While several coaches from the Dino Babers tenure remained with the 'Cuse, Brown hired a lot of new assistants as well. While he's the head coach, Brown says that he's not just making decisions on his own, but rather, relying on the advice and guidance from his assistants, "guys who I believe are smarter than I am."

This kind of statement is at the core of who I think Fran Brown is as a person. He's confident, for sure. He's demanding and tough, absolutely. But he's also a realist, he's honest and upfront, and he's humble.

Gramlich and Mac Lain, by the way, both said that they're excited to see what Syracuse football can do on the field in 2024 and beyond. They're both eyeing around seven regular-season victories for the 'Cuse, and they said that a bowl-game triumph, to go 8-5, would be a great first season for Brown and his program.

Mac Lain said that he appreciates that Brown "is so real. So transparent. Just himself. Not trying to put on a facade."

The college football analyst added that he believes Syracuse football will "have some success early and continue to get players in" as it pertains to recruiting at a high level.