A Syracuse football vs. Tennessee preview will show the Orange as a nearly two-touchdown underdog to the #18 Vols, so it would be understandable if Fran Brown was concerned about the score getting out of hand. But we also know Syracuse’s head coach is a savvy motivator and is always thinking a few steps ahead. That’s why his declaration about his secondary getting beaten by the Vols downfield passing is at least intriguing.
“We’re just trying not to get beat deep,” Fran Brown said this week when asked about his secondary. “That’s the goal – don’t get beat deep. Play with good eyes and come up and tackle.”
Enter Vols offensive coordinator Joey Halzle for Syracuse football in Week 1 of 2025, who said earlier this summer that attacking soft coverages has been the “entire focus of the offseason” for Tennessee’s offense. Halzle went on to say, “We’re never going to lose sight of who we are, which is to be extremely aggressive with how we call it, and to push the tempo, to make people play in space. But what are the one or two different little things we can do that help free people up. And when people are playing really soft and saying, ‘Ok, you’re not going over the top today’, what are we doing to do to attack that and not let them set the directive of the game.”
Sure, maybe Fran Brown knows that Tennessee is going to take shots downfield, and he has his secondary on high alert. But when Halzle specifically cites not allowing defenses to “set the directive,” he makes it clear no matter how far back the SU defense is playing, he wants to keep challenging it. And a Fran Brown defensive scheme will include some experience in that SU secondary.
In steps Joey Aguilar as Tennessee’s starting QB. He takes over after Nico Iamaleava controversially transferred to UCLA. Aguilar won the summer competition primarily because of his experience. But in the two years starting at Appalachian State he threw 24 interceptions, including 14 last season. It is distinctly possible Fran Brown is playing some Jedi mind tricks.
Brown sees a QB who is getting his first taste of Power 4 football. He’s listening to an offensive coordinator defiantly state the Vols will take chances downfield no matter what. And he’s publicly warning his guys to make sure they don’t get beat deep. Brown may be baiting the Vols into taking shots downfield, throwing some juicy red meat out there for the lions.
Brown knows the only way Syracuse pulls the upset is by winning the turnover margin. He knows SU has to force some mistakes by the Vols. And who is the best candidate to do so? A new starting QB who has played at a lower level the previous two years. Syracuse will have some experienced defenders back there including defensive back Duce Chestnut. We’ll see if it works, but give Fran Brown credit. He’s already in mid-season form with motivation.
