Since stepping foot on campus last year, Orange nation has grown to love Fran Brown for his distinct coaching style, work ethic, and most of all, his outspoken nature.
Therefore, it was telling when Brown stood silent at the podium following the 38-3 Duke loss, only to issue a heartfelt apology for the team’s struggles: “I want to apologize to Syracuse, the fan base, just everyone who follows this football program.”
From kickoff, Syracuse looked lifeless despite returning home a week after beating Clemson. It seemed as if the Orange just…gave up after falling behind 17-3 in the second quarter. The Blue Devils went on to score 21 unanswered points.
This lopsided defeat to Duke was not just any other “loss” to Brown. Rather, it was a 60 minute showing which, in every aspect, went against his culture and D.A.R.T philosophy (detailed, accountable, relentless, & tough). Something he had worked to build in his short time on the hill.
For this performance to come against a subpar Duke squad was beyond surprising. One can’t help to wonder how different the score would have been if Steve Angeli, not Rickie Collins, was under center. This is not to discredit Collins, but rather come to the realization that Angeli was the glue keeping Syracuse together.
Remember that Angeli won the starting role over Collins, not because of his eye-popping talent and athleticism, but rather his unique leadership quality. After the departure of Kyle McCord, Fran Brown wanted a quarterback with experience. Angeli filled that role perfectly after his time in South Bend.
In Syracuse’s first game without Angeli, it was clear the Orange, especially on offense, were missing his veteran authority. Syracuse, despite facing a struggling Duke defense, totaled 3 turnovers after just 4 turnovers in their first four games. The Orange also rushed for a season low of just 85 total yards while accounting for very few big plays.
While the ‘Cuse collapse cannot totally be blamed on the absence of Angeli, it’s fair to wonder the scale of his impact, not just with his arm, but his voice and experience. For the Orange to move forward without him, season veterans like Duce Chestnut and Dion Wilson must step forward.
