Bryan Blair is making it clear where he stands on Fran Brown.
The Syracuse athletic director went on ESPN Radio Syracuse’s “Orange Nation” on Thursday and offered a straightforward read on the Orange head coach, praising the progress he’s seen while also backing Brown as the right man in charge.
"... He has won a lot of close games since he has been here.
I know he sees a better version of himself continuing to evolve during his time at Syracuse and I think that's the goal for all of us. As an AD (athletic director) I need to be a better version of an AD than I was yesterday.
Same for the team. We want the same for Coach Brown.
So, I'm excited for him."
Blair also pushed back on some of the noise that followed a social media photo earlier this month showing Brown and Blair talking after Syracuse’s loss to Louisville. In Blair’s view, there’s nothing complicated about the relationship.
"Fran is Syracuse. He is Orange.
He is the head football coach. He is my guy.
So wash that away."
That “wash that away” line came after Blair was asked whether he needed to “hire his guy,” the kind of question that often shadows a new athletic director. Blair’s message was that he isn’t looking to stamp his own identity on the football program by replacing Brown.
Blair’s comments also fit into a first year that has already been busy across the department. In his first eight months, he has hired Gerry McNamara for men’s basketball, brought in a new women’s hockey coach, helped oversee a historic start for that team, launched a new NIL initiative, and helped reshape the gameday atmosphere for Syracuse football home games.
A former football player in college, Blair has also made himself visible around the program, showing up at practices and games this season.
His public backing of Brown matters, especially because Blair was not the athletic director who hired him. That job belonged to John Wildhack in 2024. Still, Blair’s comments suggest the partnership is on solid ground.
Syracuse gets back to work this Saturday with SMU coming to the JMA Wireless Dome. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. ET.
The rest of the Orange schedule:
Nov. 7 vs Clemson, 12:00 p.m. ET
Nov. 14 @ NC State, TBD
Nov. 21 @ Boston College, TBD
Nov. 28 vs Notre Dame, TBD
Syracuse is 3-4 and needs to win three of its final five games to become bowl eligible. If the Orange get to six wins, a bowl invitation would follow after the regular season.
In Other News...
Syracuse Turns To An Unconventional Kicking Fix Before Its Next ACC Test
Syracuse is trying something a little out of the ordinary as it gets ready for its next ACC test, adding mens soccer midfielder Quinn Olcott as a kicker, according to coach Fran Brown. The move comes after missed field goals from current options Shay Barker and Tripp Woody, a reminder that the Orange are still searching for more certainty on special teams.
Olcott is not a finished product at the position, but Syracuse is willing to take a look after he showed some range in practice, including a 55-yard field goal. For a team trying to steady itself before another conference game, the bigger question now is whether an unconventional crossover can give the Orange a more dependable answer when they need one most. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Kicking Woes Just Forced An Unexpected Roster Move
Syracuse has turned to an unusual solution to help steady a kicking game that has been too shaky for comfort. The Orange have added soccer player Quinn Olcott to the roster to provide depth at kicker, a move that speaks to how much the staff wants more options after missed field goals and extra points have become part of the conversation.
Olcott is expected to sit behind Shay Barker and Tripp Woody, with Woody also dealing with injuries, giving Syracuse another body at a spot that has suddenly become a concern. At 3-4 and with SMU next on the schedule, the Orange are trying to patch one of the most unforgiving parts of the game before it costs them again. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Just Got A Clear Warning About SMUs Biggest Threat
SMUs recent form has given Syracuse a useful scouting report, and it starts with the same thing that has been hanging over the Mustangs all season: turnovers. In a Q&A with Underdog Dynastys Steve Helwick, the conversation centered on how SMU has navigated those mistakes, what quarterback Kevin Jennings brings to the offense, and how playmaker Yamir Knight fits into the picture as the Orange prepare for a tougher test.
For Syracuse, the bigger concern is how SMU wants to attack. The Mustangs have enough speed and skill talent to stress a defense if the ball is protected, and Helwick walked through the offensive ideas that could put pressure on the Orange on both the perimeter and in space. Health is part of the equation too, but the main thread is clear: Syracuse is getting a warning about the one area where SMU can still swing a game if it cleans things up. [Read more 🡒]