2024 Syracuse Orange Spring Football Game

we welcome you to Syracuse New York where the Fran Brown era Begins for Syracuse football and with a new coach comes New Traditions as the football team does the quadw walk for the first time going past the Ernie Davis statue on the way to the Dome tonight the annual Su spring game serves as our first look at how the orange will look come the fall hi everyone thank you so much for joining us alongside Orlando Franklin I'm Jay alter will'll be joined by Paul carera down on the field in just a moment Orlando a lot of buzz back for the Syracuse football program and for good reason because Fran Brown has brought a lot of Talent with him for his first season yeah looking at the Syracuse team it is absolutely loaded Jay you talked about New Traditions also a new scheme excited to see what these this offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator is going to implement for this football team moving forward this year but all eyes are on K mord this young man could throw the football up and down the field and would not make Syracuse a one-dimensional team as we've seen the last couple years he's going to keep you in every single game and he has the it from the neck up as well excited to see mcord in the 2024 Syracuse football team a little sneak peek at what's to come this fall and let's hear from the first year head coach Fran Brown who's with our Paul [Applause] carera coach your first time running out of that tunnel what excites you do you want to know about this of the there's zier Franklin Indianapolis Colts linebacker played for Syracuse from 2014 to 2017 he is an honorary coach tonight along with John L on the opposite sideline for the ore that's a big thing that Fran Brown has done since he's taken the job for Syracuse is bring the alums back and make them feel a part of this program yeah and as a former player Jay you just love when you're able to see a guy like John L that played couple decades ago but zier Franklin as well being in the NFL right now playing and going out there on Sundays and have finding success these guys know what it takes and as a young guy that's trying to be mentored as you look at this young football team that Fran Brown has everybody on that roster are excited about these guys being back today our spring game format the teams were split evenly into orange and blue teams first half will be 2 15minute quarters within the second half a 30 minute running clock in years past this was more of a spring practice tonight with FR Brown you are truly getting a game these guys are going to hit they're going to play hard you heard him tell Paul carera you're going to see them compete this is a real dress rehearsal today this is a real dress rehearsal today for this football team when you look at a guy like Fran Brown this is his first time being a head coach so he wants to be able to get all the little kinks out the way so I love the fact that he's doing it like a real game today and getting his players prepared for what to look forward to this year and mcord committed to Syracuse a lot of heads turned because that is a caliber of player that just you're not accustomed to seeing come to Syracuse in recent years at Ohio State he was in a race for a national champion I ship more than 3,000 yard took care of the ball too only six interceptions last year in Columbus yeah starting 12 games out there leads that team to 11-1 record and then all of a sudden enters his name in the transfer portal but Ram Brown as soon as he saw K McCord's name up there that they became locked in and just dialed in and made sure that he went and found the quarterback of the future for Syracuse and what a weapon to give new offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon who comes over from the NFL he was the running back's coach for the Giants but spent three years as the offensive coordinator at Baylor when they were really rolling under Matt rule so he comes back to the college game with a great pedigree unbelievable resume if I am a player on the offensive side of the ball for Syracuse I am just trying to get as much information as possible and Elijah Robinson Texas A&M's interim head coach after Jimbo Fischer was dismissed last year wanted him to stay in College Station but Fran Brown brought him to Syracuse so a loaded coaching staff a loaded new roster as we get our first look at what Syracuse football will look like in the fall under first year head coach Fran Brown and we've talked a lot about him but now we get to see him Kyle McCord actually they're going to go with the blue team to receive it first so people are going to have to wait to see mcord this will be more of your second team offense to get us started looking at this looking at this offense this year they're going to have to find success running the football k mcc's a exceptional football player but you're going to have to find success by being able to Pound The Rock So Carlos Del Rio the backup quarterback leads The Blue Team Jaden Hart early in rolly freshman running back at of Michigan City Indiana rushed for 4,000 yards in high school 30 touchdowns comes in with a great high school resume and now trying to bring it to the Collegiate level yeah great body frame right 511 205 lbs he's only going to be able to put on muscle over the next couple years teron hail trying to turn the corner another freshman you're going to see a lot of new faces over the course of this game whether they're transfers or freshman the one thing that they all have in common is it feels like that talent pool is up a Level under Fran Brown yeah it definitely kicked up a notch when you look at some of the transfers that he was able to attract here at Syracuse it was unbelievable you're seeing guys come over from Alabama LSU Big Time programs that are competing for National Championship so Syracuse if you're a fan of this community of this football team there are better days to come because you're going to get a lot better Talent moving forward Del Rio on a third and seven puts it a little high sails incomplete through the hands of Amari Hatcher returning wide receiver for the orange I've always said if you touch it you got to be able to catch itari Hatcher I know he wants that one back right there to be able to move the chains on third down crucial drop right there number two so the defense certainly wins the opening drive here forcing a three and out and after a 50yd punt we finally get our first look at Kyle McCord they teased us on that opening drive and some of the weapons that come in with mcord look at the teams that these transfers are coming from Georgia Alabama Ohio State Texas A&M LSU yeah these are guys that committ into those big time programs coming out of high school and it for whatever reason it didn't work out and entering the transfer portal ran Brown was able to go and get these guys so that's step number one now step number two is being able to dominate out there on the football field and McCord gets an ovation from the Syracuse faithful before he even throws a ball I think those that follow this program closely know what they are getting in mcord one of the top quarterbacks in the entire country You could argue he was the biggest get in the portal when you looked at all the quarterbacks that were out there someone with his experience who's played in the biggest games imaginable the Quint Allen's back and a big burst from the running back went over a th000 yards a year ago what a weapon in the back field that goes for 16 yeah the Quin Allen just un believable with his patience gets a little bit of a hole and and burses through it for a huge explosive run but I love what this offense is doing you first play the game you let Kyle McCord go out there and throw the football second play now you lean on your other guy that's been there for this team for the last couple years in the Quint Allen nice one-w combination right there play action mcord gets rid of it quickly his accuracy is one of the best parts about him as he hits Hayes right in the hands just looks super comfortable back there like nothing phases him right like hey I've done this before I'm going to go out here it's like throwing the football around in the backyard that nice common presence that that goes a long way for a football team that one hauled in by Trevor Peña New Jersey native and that's a theme you're going to sense throughout the game as well you know Fram Brown a proud New Jersey native and he wants to bring that Northeast recruiting back to Syracuse when they really had it rolling in to the '90s early 2000s it was because they were keeping the best Northeast Talent home yeah that's how you win you got to find guys in your own backyard guys that been growing up looking at the program and have seen the success are willing to put it all on the line for that school mcord floats it up little over the head of Zed Haynes the Georgia transfer he's going to be really good for this football team just looking at him body type he's electric long lanky and he's able to beat guys just with his skill set off the line of scrimmage I know they want to have that one back but that's why we have spring games right that's why we get spring practice well you got to give the defense some credit there on third down put some pressure on mcord Fidel Diggs a transfer from Texas A&M number 10 in blue is one to keep an eye on Fourth and two pressure comes again mcord over the middle moves the chains on a fourth down hits Peña to move the sticks on a gain of six that's where we see the difference this year where G mord stays and he's patient he has that first hitch nope I don't want to throw it then he finally finds his guy and lets it go to Pena for a first down but not once did he try to use his legs so that's very encouraging for this offense to know that the whole entire playbooks up there and your quarterback's going to go out there and run it to the best of his ability keeps the drive alive mcord going to the Deep ball has Haynes and just misses him they went right back to that same out I love mccort's eyes right here he looks right down the middle to keep that safety on the hash and Jim tries to fit it out there to Haynes but they got to be able to create that connection got to find it some way maybe third time to charm Jay well they have to the fall to work it all out right H them now in the spring yeah but you got to give the get the fan base excited for things to come right and they're anxious right this fan base has been desperate starving for a football team that they can really go all out for and they feel like they've got the coach and the quarterback to do it for this coming fall yeah they got to find a way just to finish M Quint Allen unbelievable job Derek McDonald makes the a sensational tackle out there in the open field if he doesn't make that tackle the white would have scored six right there third down test for both the offense and the defense here in the early going of the Syracuse spring game Allen trying to push that pile he is swarm tackled Marlo wax the senior leader in that linebacker core had 110 tackles a year ago he's the defensive leader for sure yeah backto back plays by this linebacking group unbelievable Tackle by Marlo wax just comes up and shows what he has been doing for the last couple years being tough physical and a leader of this defense and a leader of the whole entire football team being a captain out there fourth and three defense trying to get off the field mcord floats it up in double coverage and he threads the needle what a grab darl Gil Jr calls it in for a gain of 27 I I like it just the patience it's so calm two big fourth down conversions for mord on this drive but he's able to find Gil Jr in between that double coverage like you just said that's trusting your receiver is going to go up there and making a play for you you have to put it in that perfect spot in double coverage where only the receiver Gil could go and get it Allen rumbles into the end zone and Kyle cord's first drive at a Syracuse uniform results in a touchdown laquint Allen finishes a great Drive which featured two fourth down conversions just a nice inside Zone lead mcquin Allen does a great job pressing the front front side first but using that backside those are NFL style runs when yes I know coach it's supposed to go to the right but do I have the patience to be able to go to the backside and a great vision right there by L Quin Allen in 11 play 75 yd Drive results in a touchdown for Kyle McCord and laquinn Allen this is why the Syracuse football fan base is fired up for the fall they got a lot of Talent on offense well Kyle McCord L Quint Allen looked pretty good in their first drive of the Syracuse Spring Game 7 nothing for team orange and before the game first year head coach Fran Brown was with our Paul carera coach your first time running out of that tunnel what excites you the most about this opportunity tonight just the fans getting an opportunity to see our players go out and compete in front of the crowd you know we've been practicing against each other so it's good to have them go out there and get out each other and understand just see how they perform in front of a crowd you know just to see if they can handle it what do you want these fans to know about this version of the orange we're going to compete dark detailed accountable Relentless and tough we got your back I hope you got ours love it coach be safe man what's that like Orlando when you've been practicing behind closed doors going against each other every single day and now you get to do it in front of the fans for the first time in a long time well you hate it behind the scenes you just want to hit somebody else cuz your guys are learning your moves but getting out here in front of the fan base it gives you a little bit more pep in your step for sure because now you know that you're going to hear the cheer and everybody's going to know your name you're going to start making a name for yourself and writing a little bit of of your history or or trying to leave some of of your history in the history books here at Syracuse now it's the third Drive of this spring game and the third quarterback we've seen it's started with Carlos Del Rio then the starter Kyle McCord and now it's Braden Davis red shirt sophomore from Middletown Delaware Jaden Hart the early enrol Le freshman running back stays in they've got Hart and Willis as part of this recruiting class Fran Browns first two really strong weapons that'll join L Quin Allen in the back field yeah both these guys could play right now for Fran brown but they're going to have to back up the Quint Allen it's going to be exciting to see how those guys develop over the year but can they also carve out certain packages in this offense for the Syracuse team this year Davis ball deflected [Music] for [Music] J now this orange team when they've been on defense they've forced backto back three and outs they've come dialed into the spring game taking care of PES so far you got to practice the Special Teams too so we've talked a lot about the new faces for Syracuse football including their head coach the The Freshman that have early enrolled in the transfers here are the notable returners Orlando yeah it's a completely different day and age in college football right when you become a head coach you got to recruit the guys that were there before laquin Allen we've talked so much about him but rande Gadson that's going to be the guy for this offense this year are they playing him at tight end are they playing him at wide receiver he is a weapon that can create mismatches each and every day for an oppos the team's defense so unbelievable job by Fran Brown retaining these guys and keeping them here and even though Rand Gatson is not going to play today we're going to hear from him he's here in the dome and Paul carera is going to talk to him coming out of the next break I agree with you that will be McCord's number one weapon for sure and he's got a lot of them yeah K mcord just another great throw showing a great sense of football IQ waiting for the safeties to move and now putting the ball right out in front of Pena to get him right in stride so he could turn it up the field McCord great pocket pres steps up delivers a deep ball it hit the hands of Daryl Gil he just couldn't quite haul it in Duce Chestnut was in coverage K mord feels the pressure steps up in the pocket and and delivers a great football Gil has to be able to come through down with that it goes right through his hands should have been a touchdown should have been a touchdown for sure those are the type of passes that even though it was incomplete has the Syracuse fans bought into this program again they haven't had a quarterb quarterback to make throws like that in a long time big big hit Jaden Bellamy shut down Corner Jaden Bellamy does a a sensational job of of shooting through the the lead blocker just trying to get that nice little slip wide receiver screen out there but you don't fool Bellamy because he's able to go with his pads low and get underneath the block and make a tackle for a loss well remember Fran Brown comes in from Georgia as a defensive backs coach and this secondary is loaded d Chestnut coming back from LSU Bellamy a transfer from Notre Dame Elijah Clark number five is a go-to guy in the secondary as well third down mcord a deep ball right on the money Kyle mcord a beautiful ball dropped it right into zen Haynes for a 38 yd [Music] touchdown and Jay didn't I tell you that the third time was the charge right there that is the third pass to zed Haynes great job didn't work the first two times but let's continue to get this fan base pump beautiful football by Kyle McCord and Zen Hayes is finally able to get it down and score a touchdown Kyle McCord two drives two touchdowns and if Syracuse was a publicly traded stock you would want to buy a pro on the rise with a new head coach in Fram Brown and a new quarterback dropping dimes in Kyle mccor now the Syracuse first team offense looks really good two drives two touchdowns and they are missing Rand Gaton who's not playing today but moments ago he was with our Paul carera arand I know you missed most of last season I got to first ask you how is the foot it's doing good right now I just got surgery two weeks ago and uh we back on track coming back May 3rd I'll be clear you've been such an incredible weapon playing as a tight end flexing you out wide but when you watch Kyle McCord in this offense what excites you the most about next season how explosive it is I mean you see the new weapons we just got one just scored a touchdown I mean a running back to he just scored a touchdown two we got another one that's that's currently not in right now but he's a dog too we got him all over even on the blue team when you think about you and your Evolution as a player what would you like to add on in terms of your repertoire uh I think the biggest emphasis for me is just blocking and and and being more aggressive on that side you know mentally but uh other than that I just got to keep putting in the hard work keep getting get back to where I was two years ago just keep keep adding on that we're excited to watch you play good luck thank you well I know Kyle McCord to this Syracuse offense can't wait to get Gadson back good to hear he'll be cleared in early May so as good as the offense has been for the orange team the blue team has run seven plays forg -3 yards total yeah got to get a hat on a hat know that's why I love the game of football Jay it's the the ultimate team sport if 10 guys are doing their job and winning and one guy messes up that play could be a disaster the blue team has to figure out a way for all 11 guys to be on the same page to finally F start finding some success in moving the football our first flag of the spring game holding offense number 76 penalties decline third down you see Fran Brown trying to motivate this blue team they have struggled in this first quarter that's a tough thing as a head coach when you got your guys going against your guys even when someone makes a great play you're you're thinking well offense could have been a little better there you who am I looking at right now who do I praise why why should I be happy or why should I be upset right in these spring games but this blue team has to get going offensively and you're not going to do that with penalties like we just saw in that last well Del Rio is going to run out of bounds for the first down positive yardage for the first time for The Blue Team I think that might be the first first down of the game for the blue team right there with uh Del Rio using his legs but that also could be the problem with this blue team as far as why they have stalled with the rotation at the quarterback position that we've seen so far and Davis and Del Rio fighting for the right to back up Kyle McCord come the [Music] fall so far what I'm seeing out of this defense of Syracuse this year is that they're going to be very aggressive they're going to try to keep a lot of their safeties in the box or as close to the line of scrimmage as possible that's going to be a nice new change especially with what they have ran over the last couple years being that 335 defense where they would Blitz a lot but it would come from the linebacker position now we're seeing a lot of safety blitzes today Del Rio taking a shot it's incomplete but a flag comes in Hatcher had his hands on it couldn't quite come up with the grab [Music] and we're going to get a pi on the offense right here on Hatcher just kind of extending the hand offense number five penalties declined third down created that separation with a push off just creating a little extra separation Carlos Del beautiful ball right there Hatcher needs to just continue to run the route or try to go up use your hands make the defender make a mistake not you we in a situation like that often times I wish that wide receivers and tight ends guys that catch the football in a situation that we just saw Hatcher in just go at the Target go at the football you might be able to make them commit a penalty and not [Applause] you miscommunication from the sideline trying to get the third and 10 play into the offense all eyes on Fran Brown first year head coach for the orange leading them in to 2024 there's a lot of expectations that buzz is back around this program and in 2023 they made a bowl game but it feels like same old story where you have a really good non-conference 4-0 and then you struggle in AC play just two and six yeah and that started at the start of the year for this football team last year they came out the gates winging and winning a lot of football games but then all of a sudden in the middle of the season they hit a brick wall and started dropping games now with bran Brown coming here and getting these different players in the transfer portal and having a guy like Kyle McCord now you have a every opportunity to win each and every game that you play this year it says are you going to be detailed enough and are you going to make the least amount of mistakes on that football field that day and now not only the players that brown has brought in but the coaching staff there's defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson Mike Elco first year head coach of Texas A&M he was desperate to keep Robinson in College Station thought that he would be perfect for the defensive coordinator role and even though there was a coaching change they wanted Robinson to stay put but he decided that his future was in Syracuse New York with his former high school teammate Fran Brown those two from Camden New Jersey they've known each other for decades and now getting to coach [Applause] together that sail's incomplete and for those that don't know Fran Brown first time head coach coming over from Georgia where he won a national championship with Kirby Smart and how about the praise from know in my money the best coach in college football right now it's the words right trustworthy smart right really works hard during the two seasons that he was there what I was most impressed about ran Brown was that he used that as a learning opportunity while he was at Georgia he didn't go in there and say that I know everything about DBS and I've been coaching there all my life no he really went out there and soaked up all the knowledge that he could while being a part of that staff at ug the last couple years he said he kept a notebook and wrote down seven pages a day of Kirby Smart notes and he's got now on his iPad Smart notes that he just goes through being a first time head coach and learning from one of if not the best coach in college football right now yeah that's really cool because I'll tell you this Jay I walked into college at the University of Miami a couple decades ago and the first thing I was told I don't care what you know and what you've been coached you're going to do it my way so coaches tend to have a little bit of ego but you could tell that Fran Brown does not have a ego oh that would have been a pick six Kyle McCord's first mistake Devin Grant the transfer from Buffalo should have take this to the house yeah and Devon Grant shows you why he was all conference player last year playing at Buffalo unbelievable eyes great instincts able to transfer and try to make a move on that football just got to get at a little bit better hands right there but that might be why he's in that defensive back room def DBS have always been wide receivers that just can't catch oh come on don't do Devin Grant like that that's what that's what I've been told I'm sure you you played football for a long time you could probably think of some DBS you played with that said ah you would have been a wide receiver if if just a big if right um but yes you look at some of these DBS some some great wide receivers have turned into defensive backs and and have had great careers right Richard Sherman is a guy that did that when I was at University of miam we have Sam Shields played wide receiver his whole entire life and them played deeply in the NFL so we see it all the time happen and after McCord was tearing up this defense you know Grant wanted to get some Revenge there just couldn't hold on mcord right down the middle paa wide open all the way to the 20 yd line a monster gain of 51 and this is what you have to be excited about for this Q's offense this year it is Kyle mcord all the way pre- snap it's a two high shell two safeties in the middle of the field paa does a great job of getting behind the linebackers but throttling down in the middle of the field field and comic cour delivers a beautiful strike for in a monster game peña's fifth reception 82 yds of this first quarter running right through the middle youen Willis The Freshman from Newark New Jersey gain of 12 and this coach's staff is very high on you Willis he's going to be in line for a big time year he's going to keep on carving out a little bit more and more each and every week more plays out of this Playbook he's going to steal some plays by the end of the season he could be a guy getting 20 runs a game for the Syracuse offense right back to Willis so Shifty musling his way in pushing that pile for a touchdown backto back runs for Willis and that one goes for six yac yards after contact yassen Willis he's dead to rights right there at the five and keeps on turning those legs the big boys get involved as well you love to get up in that pile and just get that running back across that goal line great job great team effort by this whole entire white offense right there then you got to love to Celebration too right well it's got to feel cool for Willis he's a kid who few months ago a senior in high school early en rolls 15 practices in now doing it at the next level should be getting ready for his high school promt right we're in April right should be getting ready for that but no he's right here just finished up Spring practice and and you know got the spring game in front of the fans right now so great job by that young man so three Kyle mcord drives three touchdowns that just took a minute 58 five plays 75 yards John L's got to be happy with how his team looks honorary coach for the orange team if you're the honorary coach do you get to go to like a couple spring practices you know this is said a couple months ago that you're going to be the honorary coach so you get to coach up some of the practices as well or is it just today well if you're John L you get to go anywhere anytime you want cuz his name's on the building yes that they uh practice it so I think that would be cool though right good the practice the mat drill seeing these guys like the first day the and the the progression where they're at a week into it two weeks in and right before the spring game as well and on the other sideline zier Franklin one of the best linebackers in the NFL right now he can't be happy with with his blue team performance they're getting out yarded 210- 13 Del Rio Wilson right on the money Amari hatchers there and that's the burst that blue team has been looking for gain of 51 hatchers a returner with a lot of speed great protection Del Rio able to keep his eyes down the field the whole entire time and Hatcher runs right underneath that foot ball beautiful connection right there all hands that we see with Hatcher beautiful adjustment to catch that ball and pull it off of his back shoulder pad right [Applause] there not much Running Room for Jaden Hart 32 great the play second down y Laney just does an unbelievable job of making that stop right there when you look at the cornerback positions and the safeties those guys if you could find a way to be as aggressive as possible every opportunity that you get that's when your team is going to be rolling really good one quarter in the books of the Syracuse spring game getting a preview of how the orange will look come the fall Kyle McCord's led the team down for three touchdowns in the first quarter a lot of football left I hear you coaching him up what are you telling him uh just technique play with your Technique go back to practice sometimes when you get beat I want to see being a Freshman can he do what we taught him in practice can he rely on his training or is he going to get off frantic and just start doing anything so how would you assess the offense under Kyle McCord uh he's a good he's a leader it's a couple things that I see that I would like for him to react to a little bit faster do a few things on certain things but uh I think he's doing a good job the guys play for him they enjoy being around him like I mean he's just a leader he a born leader you know his mom and dad did a great job raising him so we get a leader you're a leader coach you're doing amazing work in the community where does that motivation come from in terms of your conne connection with the community I'm from Camden New Jersey you know I mean it's you know my community they took care of me so it's no re I got to make sure that I do the same thing no matter where I'm at but Camden did that you know my city raised me taught me to be like humble and make sure that you take care of everybody around I was in a community where they all helped raise me and help me be the man that I am today so that's the reason I got to do that Camden did a great job with you thank you appreciate that be safe A great insight there from first year head coach Fran brown with our Paul caretera Orlando Franklin Jay alter up in the booth blue team looking for their first points stuffed on the goal line This orange team just swarms to the ball the competitive juice you see coming from those white jerseys has been impressive all night long when you get down to the goal line can you do your job can you stay in your Gap as a defensive player every person on that defense has a gap and now can you fire off and not give up any ground that was a great win for this defense on that on first down Del Rio kept it that was a mistake blown up in the back field [Music] got her again he's been active all night long in that red area and the goal line it gets the field gets more condensed so guys get a little bit closer to the line of scrimmage G does a great job triggering getting downfield and being a short tackler and knowing that I have the quarterback in this situation [Music] [Applause] play clock was winding down Fran Brown not happy with his quarterback Carlos Del R play game offense 5yd penalty third down and this ball was marked at the one yd line to start the second quarter so you'd think blue team would cash that in for points now they're backed up all the way to the 11 and those are the type of penalties that are going to keep this coaching staff up late at night play clock starts you know that there's a play clock you're playing in your own stadium so you have to be able to look and check out where you're at to snap that ball in time Del Rio trying to buy himself some time escapes the sack and takes it in for a [Applause] touchdown the improvisation from Carlos Del Rio 11 yd rushing touchdown gets the snap he's trying to elot the pressure but then finally just pulls it down and says you know what I could get to the end zone I could use my legs marvelous job by Del Rio right there going through his progression trying to throw the ball but also just saying the heck with it I could get this done right now the blue team is on the board we've already seen four touchdowns tonight the offense definitely getting the better of the defense this drive goes five plays 75 yds for the first blue team touchdown of the night a blue team finally on the board and let's hear from their honorary head coach zier Franklin Who's down with K zier you did some Ser graduated in 2017 now at the Indianapolis coats today you're a coach what's your takeaway so far uh you know they got the one off I think they plays necessarily on the script uh you know L L's got the uh he's got got he got that ear so but look we we started off we got to finally got a touchdown get a stop here you know make some plays in the second half get this win what are you drawing up defensively uh you know right now uh look man we just need the boys to play Fast obviously they've been going hard all uh spring uh competing against each other um you know spring game they always try to set it up for the offense man they always try to us can't blit can't move uh we just got to stand here and let them throw the ball all over they haven't called sacks I don't know what he supposed to do when you think back to your memories playing in the dome what are your ones uh I mean you know obviously at the Top's got to be that uh Clemson win um you know just getting that for the Syracuse faithful um was great man but just a ton of battles and man just all the memories I spent with my brothers out here man I wouldn't trade it for anything when you watch this team defensively because I know that's where you make your money in the NFL who who excites you I mean I think it all starts with Marlo uh Marlo wax man he's a he's a hell of a player man he's a leader um he's plays fast he's a playmaker you know Justin Baron I mean he's a great player and and obviously it's great to have dece back as well too so they got players at all three levels um that's playing fast that have experience I think they'll definitely be able to make some noise in ACC this year what are your takeaways when you spend some time with Fran Brown oh man just a genuine dude um dude's about winning about accountability um about holding the whole program to a standard and listen from all the different levels and different coaches I've been around that's that's the key you know you want a guy that's going to hold everybody to the same same level of accountability and you know instill everybody to be the best version of themselves in every asset of life and I think Fran is doing a great job of instilling that this spring what can we expect from you and the Colts this year oh big big big big big big big big big uh uh turnar around this year obviously last year um week 18 loss um but getting Anthony back um obviously draft coming up got the whole Squad back myself Kenny uh big Grove just defo just got he look we got a lot of guys got money now we got to get some wins now so we going to hang some banners this year for sure we love watching you play man keep it upate zier Franklin one of the best in recent years to wear a Syracuse uniform now killing it in the NFL and you hear him call out all the guys that they've got on defense that he's excited about he would know right he knows what it takes at that next level oh absolutely three-time Captain when he was back here at Syracuse starting his last 30 n games for the qes but just talking about this defense and all the different players man this team Jay is is loaded you look at the linebacker room multiple guys on on guys that you're saying that guy's going to have a big year that guy's going to have a big year the the DB room is is the exact same thing but just looking at zier Franklin's career it's been unbelievable for a seven round pick led the NFL and tackles twice in 22 and 23 and you said he he promised to of big things in Indianapolis this year three-time Captain when he was here in Syracuse he also told KK they they're not calling sacks well they must have heard him because they called one on that last drive and that was the first stop by the first team defense against McCord Marlo wax Fidel Diggs and Company showing up with some pressure there you know waack probably the headliner for who's coming back Elijah Clark they really like a lot Justin Baron as well yeah but you mix wax with McDonald and and and Sparro that linebacking Court the fact that they're coming back for another year together it's just going to make that room that much better historically we've seen this team run a 335 defense that means the defensive line and linebackers have to be interchangeable they have to be able to drop back in coverage or Rush the quarterback it's going to look a lot different with more defined roles for this defense this year what's that transition like for for the defensive guys going from a 335 to four down it's extremely hard if you're a linebacker now it's more I'm in coverage all the time before it was 5050 and a 335 we're now moving forward it's probably going to be about 70% of the time that you're dropping back so that first step is back rather than moving forward as it's been before in the past year do you think that fits the Personnel a little better though absolutely you look at just how big these guys are on defense and who they've went up and got like a guy like Dion Wilson Jr he's a big cat that could clog up holes but he's super talented as well when you look at Fel Diggs coming and transferring in from Texas A&M he's not a guy that would have been here a couple years ago with Syracuse with that defense that they played so even switching the scheme helps the talent that you're able to recruit and it it gives you different body types that you're going to bring into the program Del Rio gets rid of it quickly finds Hatcher blue team starting to get into a rhythm offensively after a slow start I always like to see what the wide receiver does after he has the ball in his hands Hatcher great drop step trying to get up fi right away I know it's a it brings up a second and short but that is a good habit to build upon when you're doing things like that it becomes contagious of a football team and now you can break a tackle in the open field and take it to the house Chandler out of the back field absorbs a big hit Josh kubala Syracuse native played right down the road at CNS ciso North Syracuse High School Fran Brown wanted to see his teams compete at a high level in front of fans for the first time third and two like this game situations that can prepare you for the fall The Blue Team finds a way to keep the drive alive gain of six I love the call right there it's very simple very easy we're going to run inside Zone do you want it more than the person that's lined up against you and right there Chandler goes and gets the first down for The Blue Team great call right there trusting your your offensive line that you're going to be able to get it done up front Del Rio on the Run just threw it behind hail you know Orlando we've talked a lot about how the fans have bought back into this program and that there's a buzz around Syracuse football Under first year Co head coach Fram Brown was it what does it do for the players in that locker room when you have a new coach come in especially one like Coach Brown who brings a lot of energy and excitement it brings hope you know as a player when you're in a locker room and things are not going well you want a change of scenery you want something to happen FR Brown being from around this area he he's going to be a guy that gives this program hope whether it's in the classroom on the football field in the community he's going to give these guys energy and hope moving forward and I get the feeling that he's a player's coach that guys want to play for him everybody that I've spoke to or heard that's what I heard from them so that's a great job as well because not a lot of coaches guys necessarily want to play for in this day and age you know they've yet to play a game so it's tough to judge how he'll do in his first season but the one thing you can definitely say is the talent pool of players on this roster has certainly been raised through the Freshman early in Roes through the transfer portal and it's not just at the quarterback position Kyle McCord McCord he's the one that's turned a lot of heads when McCord committed to Syracuse but this depth and this Talent goes well beyond the quarterback position yeah you look at the linebacker room they're loaded the wide receivers the DB room it it's a good time to be a fan of Syracuse football 41 yd field goal attempt for Jaden o the ret sh freshman from Alexandria Virginia and he squeezes it [Applause] through now blue team scored 10 straight after Kyle McCord and the orange team started off with three touchdowns McCord back on the field when we come back getting a preview of what's to come in the fall for Syracuse football 2024 has certainly brought a lot of changes for Syracuse football but also a lot of changes for the ACC you take a look at the new scheduling model as the conference welcomes in Cal SMU and Stanford schools will play every other school twice over the next two seasons and those 16 total annually protected matchups to keep rivalries in place but I really like it Orlando I think the ACC has a lot of depth to it top to bottom and you're going to see these teams playing each other all over it's not like you'll only play the same schools over and over again yeah with adding three teams I think you're going to get three tiers in the ACC you're going to get that top tier and then you're going to get that middle of the pack you know a couple guys away from chasing a national championship or a big time bowl game and then you'll have your teams that are are down this year or down for two years or trying to build a program so I love the changes I love the fact that you're going to see more Talent as well watching Syracuse right now I'm seeing more Talent right now on this football field what what tier do you put the orange in right now I would say the Orange is right in that middle tier right where hey we could win some football games we do it the right way and we might be able to say hey you know what next year it might be our year we might be able to to go battle the whole season and try to squeak our way into the playoffs to see what happens once you get to the postseason and to have that hope and that belief back in the program because for the last handful of years dangerous pass there by McCord you couldn't have said at the beginning of the year okay they're going to be in the mix they're going to have a chance to win 10 games and now you feel like with Kyle mord and Fran Brown and all the talent that we've been talking about and seeing during this spring game I I I agree I would put the middle tier with upside potential to even crack into that top tier yeah and I think all of that is because of k mord y he brings that with him I remember back in 2012 when I was a part of the Denver Broncos J and we got Payton Manning he brought that hope he brought that experience he was a guy that had won a lot of football games and he knew how to win those games and I think that's what Kyle mcord brings big hit Marlo wax laying the lumber Marlo wax shows you why he's so important to this team and always in the right place that's just him anticipating that Willis is getting the ball he's coming downhill and he knows Willis is a big boy as well so he cannot give any ground he has to go out there and make that tackle great open field tackle right there to bring up third and four I love the way wax plays the heart the hustle he leaves on the field every single game LED this team in tackles with 110 a year ago and he will anchor this defense once again in the fall mcord fitting it into a tight window to find Haynes and extend this drive mcord is see shown flashes of what makes him a special quarterback yeah this is a NFL type throw I don't judge a quarterback on throwing a deep ball or a post route throw throw a 10 10 yard out can you throw it on time can you make sure your wide receiver gets his feet down to keep it in Balance that's NFL Talent right there that we just saw by Kyle mccort and how long did you play in the league seven years so you know an NFL throw when you see one yes I do sir played with Tim TBO pton Manning Philip Rivers all different types of quarterbacks out there but I can tell you this Kyle mcord has has thoroughly impressed me today with his composure and just his ball placement as well what was playing with Payton Manning like stressful very stressful Payton man you walk in they give you this Playbook it's about about 600 pages each and every week though it gets condensed down cuz you make a game plan for each team but with pton you're responsible for those 600 Pages at any given time because he could be out there and call a play that you haven't ran in a year and say omahas Hut and you better know what's do laquinn Allen steps on the gas and he's gone 40 yd TouchDown for one of the best returning backs in the ACC 75 y oh the Quint Allen and Kyle McCord what a one-w punch that'll be for the orange offense come to fall it's going to look very different but watching this play L Quin Allen shows the patience allows his guard to get out there and trap the defensive end and when that hole opens up he shows you that oh I got that track track speed as well you're not going to be able to catch me so great vision but an even better run using his speed out there to get to the end zone well Orlando there was a lot of Buzz walking around campus and talking to the people in the community before this game after this game Buzz is going to reach a fever pitch for the fall I I I can't think of a year where there was more anticipation or excitement in recent history for Syracuse football yeah and there should be excitement there should be that buzz if I am looking at this team there's no more fo making us onedimensional in the second half or taking something away from us what I've seen so far out of this football team with Syracuse and bringing in all the transfers and creating this new team for the 2024 season is that this team is going to be able to have their cake and eat it too they will be able to run the football effectively and then Kyle McCord and receivers and tight ends and wide and running backs coming out the back field are also going to be able to take care of the passing game they're no longer going to get into a situation where they're backed up into a corner and oh we have to use our quarterback's legs in order to be successful they will have their whole entire Playbook up for the whole entire game every single game this year [Music] and one thing we haven't talked about but the college football playoff expansion gives so much hope to programs like Syracuse when you only could have four teams make the playoffs Syracuse was never in that conversation now with 12 if you get hot there's hope there's a chance that a team like Syracuse could find their way into those conversations and when you find your way to the postseason anything can happen at that point right it is any given Saturday at that point because we're talking about college football but yes Jay when you look at this Syracuse football team if they could find a way to create that chemistry offensively they should score a lot of points and have opportunities to win a lot of football games and I think the schedule is pretty favorable for again a firste head coach you start with a Ohio Georgia Tech Stanford Holy Cross all at home four straight home games to start the season and all four are winnable football games 100% agree with you then and then you go to UNLV at NC State at Pittsburgh and I think that stretch of of away games are winnable as well for this football team if they are rolling in the right direction it really could be the perfect storm of talent and excitement all getting bottled up for first year head coach Fran Brown getting this community behind this program that was really important to him when he came in and took the job sure you need to bring in top end Talent sure you need to win football games but he wants to win in the community it means a lot to him I love that about Coach Fran Brown because it also teaches these young men to be accountable to this community this is where you're getting your education let's be honest not everybody's going to play in the NFL but you go to college for an experience erience and you got a great education here at Syracuse you should be able to do something and give back to that community so I love the fact that cran Brown has these players out there each and every week doing something risky pass broken up braheem long Jr another Camp to New Jersey native which is the hometown of Fram Brown and he talks about being raised in Camden a lot and how that shaped him as a young man and how important it is to give back to the community that's a Salvation Army in the off seon that the team came and volunteered at Toys for Tots they gone and volunteered at the rescue mission as well that has been equally important to Fran Brown is you know the practices that they've had on the football field throughout the the spring I've been I've had an opportunity to coach I coached in San Francisco with the 49ers four years ago in the 2020 season when you're a coach when you're a football player that's great and all and and but are you a good person when you're in the community now that's more about your character and Fran Brown understands that getting these guys out in the community could be a nice springboard for life for these guys and molden them with their decisions that they make and how they go about their life and give them back to their different communities that they're from as well mcord goes under Center for one of the first times tonight and it's a trick play I think the center might have just taken that one himself Mark Petry we got to see a replay where did Petri come from he comes from the right guard position he pulls he's at the right guard position he pulls and then he's able to like get the ball and get a run out of it I love that that's a former offensive lineman I love that I want that in every Playbook moving forward nobody wanted to see you run the football I I would have I would have been able to get that first down right there maybe now you would have but you're down one 110 lb 110 lb yeah a lot more equipped to run the football now than your playing weight that's for sure would have never been able to get up though after the hit I would have been done one one tackle I'm done for the day I got to ice up so this is a good opportunity again situational football in front of the fans for the first time bit of a two-minute drill for Kyle McCord in his first team offense yeah and he's done that many times before coming for out of Ohio State so I like the the thought process right now I like calling the timeout and getting our our thought process in line where hey can we find a way to put seven on the board before halftime but also can we find a way to leave as little amount of time as possible so this is a nice dress rehearsal for things to come during the season cuz you're going to face this situation a couple times this season where you have have to have it whether it's at the middle a game or at the end of a game how would you assess Kyle McCord's first half in an orange uniform I think it's been good had an opportunity to be great not not many mistakes you know there is no turnovers there but he has made some throws where oh that could have ended up in the defensive hands but he's been great for this offense he's been calm and and he's LED this team the right way in my opinion car you're going to want to keep your eyes on number 23 youve seen Willis come the fall this is a hard running freshman tough to bring down very Shifty earlier in the week I was talking to one of my really good friends who's a part of this coaching staff nron St as a defensive analyst and he talked about yine Willis and he sung High Praises of this young man he said that he is a baller he is a playmaker he's going to have a package at some point this year for him and as we see today just tough run after Tough Run very Shifty in the open field mcord right on the money again he delivers a very catchable ball I would think he'd be very quarterback friendly for a wide receiver yeah it looks like he has the touch right he knows when he has to gun it in there and put a lot of force behind it but then he knows when he has to pull a little bit off it's been nice to see the different types of balls that he's thrown this this first half so far now he's over 200 yards in this first half Hayne seems to be a top Target for mcord number eight transfer from Georgia coming over from the Bulldogs with Fran Brown yeah just watching Hayes so far today Jay I think he's going to be probably in the top two or three when this when the year is over and that's talking about Gatson in this offense the Quin Allen you're talking about uh mcord as well and I still think that Haynes is going to find a way to be electric week in week out for this offense and he's going to probably end up with a th000 yards if he's able to stay healthy wow he's got 54 yards tonight and a touch down in his Syracuse debut of the spring football game is supposed to give you a preview of The Fall there is a lot to like for this Syracuse Orange team something that hasn't happened for this Syracuse team over the last couple years Jay is it's the the the so much talent like like where you want to have two footballs out there on the field because now it's how do we get these guys the touches this year they're going to fall into that problem where it's hey we we got to get around to some more balls hey we got to get L Quinn Allen some more car carries hey we got to get Haynes some more balls as well so it's a good problem to have with the talent that you have on this roster [Music] now McCord floats it over the pressure room to run tiptoeing down the sideline is Willis 23 Willis a great gain right there nice explosive but you want Willis to be able to get out of that back field a little cleaner it gets a little held up and you want to be able to maybe make a cut back as well when you take the sideline you kind of just got to ride that sideline and you end up getting pushed out of bounds where you get pushed out of bounds but if you could cut back into the middle of the field and I'm sure Willis just is going to get coached up on that being that he's supposed to be in high school still but that is something that he could build upon moving forward mcord dials up the Deep ball almost dropped it into Gil great coverage by Jaden Bellamy how good is it for this Syracuse secondary to be going against a quarterback like Kyle McCord every single day in practice really great a guy like Jaden Bellamy is going to be able to take great steps forward or massive steps forward in his game going against a quarterback that's constantly surveying the field and in a situation like this he shows that he's able to lock it down on an island out there by itself McCord fires another Dart to the far sideline Haynes there to make the easy grab another NFL throw that 10yd out can you put it where it has to be Haynes does a great job pushing up the fielding and creating his own separation with just his release off the line of scrimmage very interested to see what they're going to do with this third and one right here five receptions 6 to3 yards for hannes right now in the first in the first half Willis hard running he's going to be a fan favorite quickly and it's almost like there's a little bit of hesitation where it's like okay where's the hole where's there it is and now I'm going to burst through it so great job by that young man finding the hole and moving the sticks you know there's something different when Syracuse gets a running back that's really special mcord incomplete trying to pick out Haynes in the end zone and you think of the lineage in the history that the orange has at that position Jim Brown Davis Floyd little y some great yeah right if you if you are a guy like Willis now you you walk in and I got to live up to that these are the guys that were here but it's nice to be able to see the guys that have came through this program and now go out there and represent mcord finds Willis couldn't quite spin his way free Marlo wax nice open field tackle 19 seconds left remaining in this first half Mr reliable Marlo wax outstanding job by Marlo right there understanding the situation knowing that will is not going to take the sideline right there he has to be physical with that tackle and make sure that he makes that open field tackle and not allow him to cut back up in the middle of the field this is what Spring ball is all about putting your guys in situations like this 19 seconds left in the half third and eight what a great test for both your offense and your defense got to get it a first down move the chains and work the sidelines right now working on the right hatch love the formation call trips to the left to the to the field side right now mcord surveys throws right in the hands Dan valari his first catch of the game sets up first and goal inside the five well you naturally create a trips formation now the picks happen because the there's multiple guys over there so guys could run their routes but knowing that you have so much space a great job by mcord surveying the feel and finding his guide to move the chains so now a real test here for both offense and defense you can basically run one play at the end of this half who's going to finish on a strong note will it be Marlo wax of the defense or Kyle McCord and this offense and what a first half it's been for McCord eight of 28 242 yards at a touchdown oh Fran Brown's going to send out the field goal unit McCord is not happy he wanted to try and punch another touchdown in O very interesting decision right here I guess bran brown right now is just thinking hey if this was a game this is what I would be doing in this situation being up by 18 points three scores right right so let's not risk it a 20yd chip shot right down the middle for Brady Denberg and that will finish the first half of the Syracuse Spring football game a lot to like so far Matthew birds are on the alums are back signing some autographs first half of the books Let's go down to Paul carera who's standing by with first year head coach Fran Brown to see what he has to think about the first half he's all right Fidel coach what do you think of the Dome after a half I actually like it I can't wait till it's complet completely pack every day I walk past the uh Carmelo Anthony and when they play in 03 and I see how many people they had where it's say record sold out and I look at that and I be like dang I can't wait to get it like that you know and just being able to see it it's like you know what I can't wait to that you I just watch it see where was reconciled so hopefully with our fans and everything we got here I think uh as they see that we love football and we going to keep competing we should be able to get the same same turnout the white team 31 points where's the offense been at its best uh just being able to run the football I think when you can run the football it opens up the pass right do this to the left do this to your left side do that when you be able to run the ball it's a uh opens up a lot of things you know so that's like important of us running the football being at his best and then when ky's in Rhythm him being able to hit guys you know and get rid of the ball quick and I main thing I want to do is just don't be afraid to throw the check down you know I'm saying sometimes you throw a three it might go for 33 so just throw the three yard throw the five yard check down sometimes and it helps out instead of the big play you're always able to challenge your players how will you challenge them at half to finish this spring game out see what they made of cuz I I've challenged them to be able to finish out cuz that's what we worked on the whole year and then also there's something called half gassers that if you don't finish the game the right way that we will do have gassers out here after the game so we'll be all right I think they going to they know to compete gassers aren't fun thanks coach I appreciate it gassers unbelievable bran Brown I would think that bran would be excited this offense has been rolling it's been taking care of business but there is that threat of half GS if you don't come out in the second half and get it [Music] done we're back in the JMA Wireless Dome and we have a a special guest here very busy man the last few days Pete Salah who's the director of the JMA Wireless Dome Pete when you think of the last few days I got to ask you you had Bruce Springstein here on Thursday lacrosse was here today with 10,000 and and now the spring game so what have the last few days been like for you they've been uh busy to say the least no sleep um but I got a great staff so we're really good at turning this place around uh promoters love us for the the way we get things done and uh we like those challenges it's great to use the building in like 3 or 4 days for this many different type of events the building has gone through some transformational changes the last few years to keep everyone up to speed how can you assess those projects over the last couple years um well I I I told the chancellor the other day the recating projects bigger than when we put the roof on the Dome there's so much involved in it with not only the the seat numbers and going down a little bit the capacity but what's going on behind the scenes we've been working on it for a year but people don't even see we've widened the aisles we've had had to cut the rail put all new railings in Smoke evacuation system bring the building totally up to code when you touch the seats it totally changes the renovation of what you need to do codewise to operate the facility the Ada improvements that we will do will bring the building totally up to code I'm really happy about where we are at this point to get it done by August um I think that with myin Victory Court we'll have that open sometime in November we're going to have a really special event there for that that's going to transform the building into another another level when you think of the reaing progress and and everything that goes into it what do fans need to know in terms of their seating moving forward well I mean there's going to be less seats in the row so the aisles are going to be wider the seats are going to be wider they're really really comfortable um the the first level seats are different from the third level seats because code didn't allow us to put that same bigger seat in upstairs in the third level there'll be about an inch inch and a half narrower and the back won't be as high because code didn't allow us because those aisles up there are narrower so all the things we needed to do to fit the seats in the building they'll see that they'll see some orange seats in some locations that are going to be tied to some VIP areas like that c game day lounge with a 50 yard linish for football and then at 108 right at Mid basketball court you'll have some access to Club 44 tied into those seats so those things are going those areas are going to be very nice they're going to be a padded seat so just bring that up to a little bit more bigger better standard than the regular seat how can fans secure these new seats well they're going to go through the process as we speak it's it's happening um Legends will start contacting people to assign seats in May um and then you'll start seeing things happen I think it's going to be awesome it's such a great change listen when we interview the season ticket holders before we touch the Dome um back when the chancellor first got here and we were talking about the Dome renovation in 2016 when we did the survey they asked for two things they asked for air conditioning and seats so we that we got them both and a lot of other things you've done an amazing job with this building every time I walk in I see something new I see something different the future is so bright from the roof to the new seating progress and and everything that you've done you've you've had your hands full and you've delivered in more Pete great job thank you very much I appreciate it second half action of the Syracuse spring game still to come a lot to like so far should be a fun fall for Syracuse football well so many names will hear their name called during the NFL draft coming up next week Orlando Franklin you played in the league for seven years take a look at the orange in the NFL zier Franklin who's in the dome tonight as has a terrific career going right now for the Indianapolis Colts and I think you're going to see even more names over the years added to that orange in the NFL list yeah just a great job that this program has done over the couple years being able to get drafted in NFL such an unbelievable accomplishment but yes with the talent that we're watching today I anticipate that this L is going to double over the next four or five years if FR Brown is still the head coach for the Syracuse or incredible High Praise from Orlando Franklin second half still to play from the Dome Syracuse spring game rolls along behold the DQ freezer holding all the Blizzard flavors of the past the DQ freezer is closed it's actually opening we're opening the DQ freezer and bringing back frosted animal Cookie and brownie batter hurry before they're gone COC deserve [Music] the pasta taste you love with the energy you want verilla Protein Plus phone call from the boss sorry outdoor time it's me time ah I hear that that's why we protect all your vehicles here but hey nothing wrong with sticking it to the boss oh Flo you going to take that why would that concern me because you're and theather well what a debut it has been for Kyle McCord the new cour quarterback for the Syracuse Orange and he's with Paul carera down on the field Kyle I think fans zooming in for the first time watching this orange football team the first question they have for you is why Syracuse I think the people I think the people the situation was right and coming here and just being here for for four months and I can already say I made the right decision so I'm happy where I am and I'm excited for the season what excites you the most about this offense putting up 31 points in the first half I think the most exciting thing about that is we could have put up even more um I think the old line has been playing great been run the ball efficiently and then the receivers been making plays and and to think we've only been together for 4 months and and we still have a lot of work to go it's exciting what's it like playing for Fran Brown he's awesome he's awesome he's a little quiet spoken off the field but then you you put the pads on you get out there for practice and he's going 100% And he's bringing the best out of all the guys and so couldn't ask for anything other other than him thank you Kyle yes sir thank you brown first year head coach and he's brought in a new quarterback and Kyle McCord who has turned a lot of heads to look at this Syracuse football program and for good reason Orlando he looked pretty good in that first half yeah he was able to get it done he showed a lot of composure back there in the field whether it was the quick passing game or some other things that took longer to develop he was able to keep his eyes down the field the whole entire time survey the field and understand what his wide receiver or who he's throwing to is going to do in that situation and like he just said Jay they've only been together for 4 months this is only he's been able to have so much success today after just a couple plays in in during spring ball during training camp that's when a real team gets put together because of those dog days that you go through every single day and Kyle McCord ran 40 plays in that first half for 342 total yards 242 of them came through the air right for a spring football game Syracuse has already run 70 plays it's incredible yeah they've been able to get after it but long driveing plays when Kyle McCord has been out there with his offense being able to run it effectively and not just hey we got to go dump the ball down the field or go three and out and give the ball back to the other team so it's been very encouraging to see them Implement their offense out there and find success doing it Orlando though think about this in years past under the previous coaching staff the Syracuse Spring football game was a glorified practice now these guys are out here competing taking it full game speed putting it all on display for the fall that's a a small difference of a lot of differences you're going to see come to fall under first year head coach Fran Brown he wants these guys competing each and every day yeah small difference but it's going to be major for this team moving forward knowing that I got to go to practice each and every day and I got to work my butt off to go out there and get it done because there's somebody behind me that is go waiting to try to take my job or there's somebody right beside me that wants me to be accountable to them so that good friendly competition and making it about competing each and every day only makes your whole entire football team better because now everybody has to get better each and every day and during halftime Carlos Delio handed in his blue uniform and pulled out a white one they're getting some reps with the first team offense here love that move by head coach Fran Brown saying hey Carlos let let's get you in a white jersey let's get you rolling with the guys that in the first half that mcord was rolling with and now can we see you continue to find success like they were finding success when McCord was out there or is his offense going to stall the best thing that Carlos Del Rio could do right now is to go out there and understand that it's not about him it's about the 10 guys that are around him let those guys work for him in order to find success here in the second half hard hit that's exactly what Fran Brown wants to see Elijah Clark great coverage in Pursuit Clark a great stick right there but in the first half J we were talking about those NFL St throws that deep out route got to get it there faster to akre because that's the big hit right you're going to Elijah Clark is going to get that opportunity every single time if you don't don't put some zip on that football and get it to where the receiver could turn around right away those were the throws McCord was making in the first half of it Del Rio Wilson missed there here's Willis breaks a tackle gine Willis into enemy territory he has shown some flashes keep an eye on number 23 come the fall the more and more Yim gets the ball the more and more I get excited for him unbelievable job of breaking the tackles using his stiff arm and then shows his speed but he's showing you the patience that is necessary to play at this level and it's showing a lot of maturity out there while doing it seemed like Fran Brown and his conversation with our Paul carera at halftime was very happy with the offensive line in the running game want to see Carlos Del Rio make a quicker decision in that situation he's taking too long to let the play develop he's got to be able to anticipate the guys now I know it could be a little hard playing on the blue team in the first half and you know understanding those guys timing or trying to get your your mind wrapped around those guys timing and now switching in the second half but he's got to get rid of the football and in order to find success right back to Willis he just creates his own hole takes it for another first down gain of 13 great read right here it's inside Zone to the right with the possibility of a backside whenever you run Zone you can either Bounce It Outside run it in the hole that it's supposed to go or use that cutback lane youen Willis use chooses to use that cutback for a nice explosive right up the middle lims off you really hope he's okay because he has been outstanding tonight in the spring game his first time playing football at a Syracuse uniform and he has given the fans a lot to be excited about as has Z Haynes another reception for the transfer from Georgia right now you're seeing Zed haes have his cake and Eden too he has explosive playmaking ability but he has the speed to match it and these defensive backs for the orange are scared and terrified of them you can see they're giving him all that underneath a great throw by CIS Del Rio right there taking what the defense is giving you and not trying to force something right there Chandler tackled by Marlo wax who is all over the field always around the football and with Willis out it's funny Chandler didn't even change jerseys on that play So now they got to throw a white one on him yeah Tyler Chandler running the ball in a in a blue uniform but that's right there I I don't like to see the change at the Jersey because it might be a little bit more serious with ien Willis and hopefully that young man is going to be okay Del Rio Wilson hit as he throws ball in the air Falls [Music] incomplete you like to see the quarterback you know have to go out there and compete and protect himself but right there Justin Baron comes in he's able to take on CH the lead blocker and he's almost runs him over to get to Del Rio right there pressure coming again Del Rio Wilson in trouble down he goes fumble caused and The Blue Team first team defense creates the first turnover of the today King Joseph Edwards The Freshman out of Georgia prided free yeah King just runs the big loop runs around the big offensive tackle and just keeps going and every time as a defensive lineman or a defensive player whenever you're tackling you want to come down with the hands and swipe at that football unbelievable job right there just incredible that King is a freshman and he's able to create such a great play for this for defense well he comes in with a great pedigree under arour allaman fourstar ESPN 300 defensive end and you just saw why big motor right there and that's what Fran Brown also brings changing the scheme defensively now you're getting the big defensive ends there are 64 230 lbs that could rush the passer so a great job by King Joseph Edwards Wilson rolling right that falls incomplete next you that's Braden Davis out there for the blue team as Del Rio Wilson just had the last drive with the orange team Bren Davis wow 65 yeah really good frame yeah big body frame right there it's interesting I used to do the high school football game of the week on Friday nights and we went to Delaware to check out Braden Davis at the time he was to South Carolina one of the top quarterbacks in that class now he's transferred to Syracuse getting an opportunity to be in the mix to back up Kyle McCord and maybe be a quarterback of the future but he's got the the size the Gatorade Delaware Player of the Year also an under arour All-American so he he has a big pedigree just seeing if he can reach that full potential yeah and today is going to be the perfect opportunity now in the second have for Bren Davis because now he knows that he's the guy for this blue team can you get better and better each and every drive that you go out there can you make sure that you run the offense where they don't stall and not create any mistakes on your behalf that hurts this offense Davis escapes the pressure tuck and runs makes a man miss for the first down showing what he can do with his feet that's a big body Target out there when you run and use your legs to being 65 but a great feeli love the vision surveying the field then pulls it down so he's got getting Happy Feet back there he's taking what the defense gives him and that was a nice job being able to go pick up the first down with your legs Syracuse sticky with the run here bottled up this time Tyler chanler on the last drive we got runs on the white team with a blue jersey then switchs to a white jersey and was getting runs and now he's back on the blue team getting some runs as well Chandler continuing to try and weave his way through there's a flag down face Defense number 95 15yd penalty first down you know when you're when you're those defensive linemen you try to keep clean up the pile and run as much as possible and when you come you're trying to bring every pound of your body to hit those running backs but you got to be pay attention to where you're putting your hands as well that time just getting your hands a little bit too high around the face mask area and as we get later into this second half of the Syracuse spring game it was all starters for the first half but you're seeing some of the depth that Fran Brown is trying to build here in his first year as head coach for the orange Nick armento registered freshman from Westport Connecticut out of Staples High School spent a year also at IMG in Florida nice seam route by Nick armento understanding what the defense was playing as well being in that cover to so you're going to have the hashes all day able to put turn around and hook up with Bren Davis for a nice first down right back to Chandler he falls forward to the 5 yd Line This Is Where Braden Davis takes the next step right when you're in that tight red area where now it's not about seeing the play develop you have to anticipate that your wide receiver is going to break free or your tight end is going to break free can you get it done when this is the most critical part of the football field and there's tighter Windows this is how he takes the the next step in his development Davis floats it up swatted incomplete great coverage Amari Hatcher denied by Greg delain I love the anticipation that that brayen Davis has but Delan just does an unbelievable job of of squeezing Hatcher to the sideline and recogniz him where he's at on the football field third and goal test here second team offense working against the second team defense and it's the defense who delivers again enir Sparrow the junior makes a stop to set up fourth and goal Sparrow coming down from that W position he has to go right now he cannot allow Chandler to get the edge if he gets the edge he he scores six points so great great job by Sparrow not hesitating and seeing the football the whole entire play right [Music] there so the blue team has to settle for 22 yd field goal [Applause] attempt jayen o missed it now that's what Spring football is for working out the Kinks whether you're in special teams offense defense just trying to get it straight for the fall under first year head coach Fran brown white Jers I'm with a very special guest here John L who's coaching the blue team right the orange team I'm sorry I I tried I tried to give you a little bit of extra 31 points that's why I tried to tell you I'm we got this you've been an amazing supporter of the university and in such a a strong foundational piece of of what's happening in the facilities in athletics why do you have so much love for this place well much of My Success generated from this place when I was here in in in the late '70s early 80s the base that I developed here at Syracuse was the success in my career so I can can really attribute the success that I had in in Industry back to my football days class of 82 you an offensive lineman offensive guard offensive guard what do you remember most about those days being a Syracuse football player well the the the uh the highlight of those days was a running back called Joe Morris he was pretty good yeah not too shabby getting an opportunity to block for Joe was an absolute pleasure you know we we had an opening night of the Carrier Dome that you know that's one night I'll never forget although it was about 100° in here and I did lose a lot of weight that night when you think of the football program now why is Fran Brown the right person to lead this program well it's almost a no-brainer his attention to detail is absolutely incredible he's a a phenomenal recruiter I was uh talking to some of his offensive line recruits and when I talk to people I don't actually look up a lot and today I'm sitting there like this talking to these young kids that are 66 68 320 lbs and lean and can run I'm like going man that's going to be a heck of an offensive line that Fran's going to get in the next couple years and then with the transfer portal getting guys like Kyle to come here I mean quarterback was going to be a big issue for us and in one Fell Swoop it's it's now not even a problem the third piece of it I'm sorry to be a little bit longwind I love this keep going his offensive coordinators are the best so there was a little bit of criticism that he didn't have the offensive coordinator background but the two coordinators we brought him and Jeff Nixon and Elijah Robinson are the absolute best nothing but respect for those guys what can you tell me about these new facilities that are popping oh yeah that's it's going to be awesome yeah we we're still careful we're still in the offensive line you'll you'll shed me so no that they're in they're in the second phase of the development we were down there today looking at the steel going up for the football op Center and it's it's just really really impressive that's just the first phase of a three-phase program which will ultimately expand through all the Olympic sports and redo that whole complex down the L complex you've been amazingly generous and you've also been generous Des zire Franklin you didn't run it up on him today thanks John no well Co that's going to be coach Nixon I'm not taking the heat for running up on Zer thank thank you ah that was a lot of fun with John L great insight and we've still got a fourth quarter to play of the Syracuse spring game well with a new head coach comes New Traditions and we saw before the game The quadw Walk well here's a new one that's been taking place throughout the spring game and that's the spring Awards and this is something that Fran Brown brought up to us in our conversation with him because he said that these guys put in so much work all spring long a lot of it in years past have gone unrecognized he wanted to recognize them so these are the brown Awards most valuable and improved players this spring couple of transfers in Hanes and Diggs the dart award that's the acronym that means so much to coach Fran Brown community service another key piece of this program now strength and conditioning and then the two honorary coaches get their own award the zier Franklin award awarded to Marlo wax and Mark Petry bringing home the John L award to Derek McDonald getting it done in the classroom yeah when you play the game of football everybody thinks that you just go out there and you beat your head and and that's what we're going to do get into these little mini car crashes Coach Brown found a way to make it a little bit more fun for this football team giving out these Awards where now you can improve on something and get be recognized for it after you know going through Spring football and and learning your new teammates and learning a new scheme balls loose and blue team says they have it there's a flag down as well [Applause] it's Willis who's been the stud running back all night The Freshman yeah it's going to be very close you hope that Yim Willis was able to to hold on to that football cuz the young man has had an excellent night so far would you say he's popped more than any freshman tonight I think he's popped I think there's only one person that I would put before him that has popped more and that's Kyle mccort wow cuz there's a lot of about this 2024 recruiting class and Willis is one of those [Music] guys big hole there for Chandler he's upended after a gain of nine take a look at the class of 2024 42nd ranked class by ESPN I expect Fran Brown to get into that top 25 this time a year from now again he didn't have a lot of time to work with the guys he has been able to bring in though a lot of talent King Joseph Edwards under arour All-American DN had a great play strip for a fumble earlier as well yeah different guys from different schools as well big-time power five schools got guys coming from Georgia Alabama LSU Syracuse football is going to be exciting to watch moving forward because a lot of different guys now are saying I want to go play for Coach Fran BR I want to go play with the K mord I want to go play at a school where if you're a freshman and you go in and do the right things you're going to play immediately there is no bias so there's a lot of good things happening right now for this program and that's because of Fran Brown well his resume obviously includes the national championship with Georgia but last year the class of 2024 he had the number one recruiting class in the country he was the number one recruiter in the country for Georgia so he built that class throughout the year then had to leave them and start working on Syracuse's class worked them all the way up to 42 but you talk to Kirby Smart and the folks down in Georgia there is no recruiter in the country like Fran Brown and that's what you should be really excited about for this program knowing that you have a head coach like Fran Brown that's going to walk into these kids' living room and you're going to have an opportunity of changing that kid's mind and saying I want to go play for the orange I want to go play with Kyle mcord or I want to go just play in a place where I could go watch some good basketball college hoops as well right yeah you got it all there's a lot to sell and particularly Fran Brown has put an emphasis on trying to keep the top end Talent from the Northeast New York New Jersey Pennsylvania and keep them home with how college football is structured too nowadays Jay you have to be able to not only recruit these young kids that are coming out of high school you got to be able to recruit your guys as well bran Brown gets here about 5 months ago and he has to recruit the studs that he already has in this program so it's been a nice mixture that we've seen and get guys out of the transfer portal recruit guys out of high school but also keep guys here that have been in the Syracuse uniform previously up up up Fran Brown's not the only new head coach in the ACC bunch of new faces you got Manny Diaz coming in from Penn State to take over as the head coach of Duke and then Bill O'Brien taking over at Boston College of those three who do you think has the most success year one of the three oo put you on the I got I got to say f Brown cuz he's figured out the quarterback back position he was able to retain his guys as well and I think the X Factor is his his offensive defensive coordinator the experience that those guys bring I think this football team's going to be rolling so you are drinking the orange Kool-Aid of of those three yes of the I I can nothing against Manny Diaz but he was a head coach at one point for my hurricanes so I watched a lot of games with Manny Diaz and I just think you're going to have a problem figuring out the quarterback situation Syracuse has figured out the quarterback situ yes they have they got a guy that has played in big games that has ice in his veins has 11-1 record last year that's a nice starting point for this for this school I think they might have a top five quarterback in the country I really do yeah when you look at BC with Bill O'Brien Thomas celano know does he take the next step forward maybe this year and if he does he's going to be a heck of a football player as well he did some special things with his legs last year playing for the that BC football well all off seon you've heard the talk of I think this Syracuse team's going to be pretty good I think they've improved a lot under first year head coach Fran Brown and I think what the spring game serves is it's not just talk Kyle McCord seems to be special he's got some weapons around him put some really good things on tape today put the Deep ball on tape put being able to scan the field throwing the ball with guys in his face put some really good things on tape the energy and enthusiasm that Fran BR Brown has brought to Syracuse is real should be a fun watch in the fall fun to get a preview of it this spring the situation mik up with new offensive coordinator Jeff who comes over from the NFL who sport spent 14 of his last 17 football seasons in the National Football League Most notably with the Panthers where he was working with Christian mcaffrey and the Giants where he was working with saquin Barkley but he did spend those three valuable years as the offensive coordinator of Baylor yes big time resume under coach Nixon and being able to work with a guy like Christian mcaffrey that does so much more for all the offensive players that are here because you know that this coach has seen talent and he's been able to maintain talent and take it to the next level so just being able to get some of these coaches that have the unbelievable resumes does a lot for recruiting and helping your program continue to win and continue to take care of the ACC well they're trying to put the white Penny on Chandler there we go it's tough for for these guys that are constantly switching uniforms going from Blue to White and white to Blue I don't envy that job Jay being a former offensive lineman I used to have two guys have to help me get my shoulder pads on so I couldn't imagine having to switch jerseys in the middle of a game what are the highlights for you Orlando when you think about what the Syracuse football team will be come to fall I think they're going to be a tough physical team in the Run game I think it's going to be all about the Run going into games saying hey we this is our bread and butter this is our identity but now they have K mord that could put the ball anywhere that he needs to put the ball down the field so I'm I'm forecasting two, yard receivers this year for the Syracuse Orange team a lot to be excited about under first year head coach Fram Brown it's been great to give you a preview a taste of what's to come in the fall we'll wrap it up the final four minutes of the Syracuse spring game when we come back J alter with you and when you take a look at the fall we've talked a lot about the talent that first year head coach Fram Brown has brought in we were just saying that you look at the orange schedule and it sets up very favorable for a strong first campaign for Fran Brown and this team yeah it's going to be a very interesting year the thing that I'm going to watch the most is does do guys continue to develop week to week because you cannot just look at the schedule and say oh that's a win that's a win and even when you're getting those wins can you find ways to continue to get better as a whole entire football team for that end of the year and for that big finish [Music] it's funny Stanford and Cal two of the new teams in the ACC both on the Syracuse schedule I mean at NC State's going to be a really tough game that's a good Wolfpack team outside of that I mean you could be going into that miam Miami game 10 and one I can't even imagine what the Dome would sound and look like if that's the case it would be a packed house and be rocking right but yes Jay I I truly believe that that could happen for this Syracuse team we're not saying it will happen we're saying it's possible yeah now part of it you you got to get lucky with injuries right guys can't key players can't get hurt but the big part is you got to understand your identity and make sure that no team on your schedule ever takes away your identity and when you're able to do that that's when you're you're really cooking with gas KARK you've been on the sideline all night long you buying the uh the hype here under first year head coach Fran Brown next question yes come on man have you you been around the guy I mean the way that he has captivated obviously a fan base his team the recruiting world I think he is an amazing fit up here in central New York and I think the sky's the limit I mean look at the roster management over the last four or five months and his ability to bring in a guy like Kyle mcord and all the transfers in places like Georgia and Texas a I'm guys who were Big Time fixtures in these programs too so Fran Brown in the recruiting world is so well respected and it's all about players and he's got some great coordinators as well but it's been an amazing day in the dome watching Spring football we were here for lacrosse earlier an 1817 win with Gary Gates Arms beating Virginia and now that team has three top five wins under their belt heading into May in the NCA tournament and it's been a busy busy day for everyone in the truck Christ and her crew have done an incredible job and it didn't even start when I came to the Dome at noon uh prior to the 2:00 face off with Virginia your day and Kristen's day and everyone in the truck had started when you were you were doing a crew a crew race at what time Jay what time was that 8 in the morning on onandaga lake in Liverpool New York is when we started the day car and here we are 13 hours later in the dome to wrap up Spring football what a day by the Syracuse control room Kristen Hennessy Dave tasa and everybody behind the scenes just an unbeliev believable job by our our crew to put in a shift of 14 hours hopefully they sleep in tomorrow right sleep in well I they just said softball double header well I got out of bed today at no Jay you're driving back yeah tell tell every about your crazy 24 hours you did the three today you got something tomorrow don't you ACC women's lacrosse tournament starts at noon on acc Network we'll be we'll be having the coverage incredible incredible and that does it for the Syracuse spring game a lot to be excited about for Fran Brown to this Syracuse football program The Buzz is back for football in central New York we were so glad to bring you a sneak preview Paul carera Orlando Franklin our terrific crew saying so long from Syracuse where you got a taste of what is shaping up to be a fun fall on the football field for the Syracuse Orange [Music]