Fran Brown knows that success and culture don’t automatically transfer from one season to the next.
The Syracuse coach hopes to see his team take another step forward Friday when the Orange host FCS foe Colgate in nonconference action.
After absorbing a 45-26 loss at the hands of No. 24 Tennessee in its season opener, Syracuse (1-1) appeared destined for another defeat Saturday against UConn. However, the Orange scored two touchdowns in the final six minutes of regulation and another one in overtime to escape with a 27-20 victory.
Following the win, Brown had his players run sprints on the field in front of the home fans. He later noted his displeasure with his team’s effort during the contest.
“This year, we don’t have all the same people,” said Brown, whose squad is coming off a 10-3 campaign in 2024. “There’s a lot of people coming in and playing for the first time. We’ve got a lot of freshmen. We’ve got a lot of sophomores. The culture is getting stronger daily — I am demanding that — and I am seeing it grow.”
Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli threw for 417 yards and two touchdowns — both to Justus Ross-Simmons — while Yasin Willis ran for 48 yards and a score.
“We had too many mistakes and got lucky and beat a good football team with a lot of missed assignments,” Brown said.
Colgate (0-2) hung tough in its first two games despite falling to Monmouth (42-39) and Villanova (24-17). Zach Osborne threw for 239 yards against the Wildcats on Saturday while Treyvhon Sanders finished with 10 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown.
“This will sting, but we’ll get back to work,” said first-year Colgate coach Curt Fitzpatrick. “That’s the only choice we have.”
Syracuse is 22-0 against FCS opponents since the divisions split in 1978. The Orange lead the all-time series with the Raiders 32-31-5, which includes 17 consecutive wins heading into Friday’s matchup.
