Fran's Game 8 Press Conference | Va Tech

[swish7]

Let’s also not forget that the players could have EASILY given up in that game to Pitt and just not put effort into it.

We won the 2nd half of that game and if it wasn’t for some crazy fluky INTs we probably are right in it the whole time.

Give the guy credit for keeping these kids heads into the game in a very lopsided win. We also had a coach who didn’t give up the entire time

No. He doesn't get extra credit for falling so abysmally far behind that his 1st string got to play against their 3rd string. This line of argument dispels whatever pollyannish notions do surface in me from time to time.

 

[JRHEETER]

No. He doesn't get extra credit for falling so abysmally far behind that his 1st string got to play against their 3rd string. This line of argument dispels whatever pollyannish notions do surface in me from time to time.

Huh?

Pitt had starters in deep into the 4th quarter

That’s why Holstein got injured and is now questionable for this weekends game

 

[upperdeck]

We need a run game.

That will be the thing worked on first/second/third

Whether its new people, new positions, portal

we wont throw this well next yr, so we need to making throwing easier.

 

[David321]

I think it’s okay to have concerns but the way that other post was written, wasn’t what you were implying.


I think we all need to remember we are currently 5-2 with a first year head coach, a first ever head coach for that sake, and we have three home games in November.

We have a chance to be 8-4, 9-3 and get a very good bowl game in the first year of a brand new head coach.

Yes, some things absolutely need to be tweeked and cleaned up but at least give the man a full year. He’s literally learning as he goes.

He’s implemented some awesome things and has certainly got some big time recruits to at the very least strongly consider Syracuse. Something we haven’t seen in a really long time.

The cake takes time to bake

I actually agree with both of you even though you're both saying two different things.

 

[SmilinBob]

The sentiment you post is reasonable for sure. However, I wonder if Fran adds any caveat to his very own words he uttered just before the season commenced, specifically relative to the year's "success."

I'm going to show you what success is. See that on my [wall] up there? Do you see that [points his camera to two photos of Syracuse's only two undefeated teams in 1987 and 1959]? 1959. 1987. That's success. That's what [success] is for me because that's why I was hired. I wasn't hired here to be anything less than that. So when that doesn't happen, that's what I feel success is, I put a lot of pressure and weight on myself because I can handle it. To whom much is given, much is required."

"So that's success to me. I'm not going to sit in here, like I told you guys when we were on the show before, I think it was us and coach Robinson, I'm not going to tell you 8-4 is successful." ~ Fran Brown.

I like that. Themz fightin words.

I also see a sense of get better or get replaced...this season or next. NIL and portal will be strongly used this off season.

 

[swish7]

Huh?

Pitt had starters in deep into the 4th quarter

That’s why Holstein got injured and is now questionable for this weekends game

Oh boy. I'm done now. Full pollyanna mode engaging.

 

[FrancoPizza]

Oh boy. I'm done now. Full pollyanna mode engaging.

Polyannas cope in difficult times by ignoring the truth. Let them be.

 

[Chip]

Huh?

Pitt had starters in deep into the 4th quarter

That’s why Holstein got injured and is now questionable for this weekends game

I wouldn't say 'deep into the 4th quarter' for Holstein. They pulled him with 12:54 left in the game. I don't know enough about the rest of their roster, but Desmond Reid didn't touch the ball in the 4th quarter.

That said, I do think our defense played pretty well. Giving up 17 points and 200 yards to Pitt in 3+ quarters is still good. They played well enough for us to win.

 

[Scooch]

Yeah, I don't think "winning the second half" in a game we trailed 31-0 at the half is much to hang our hat on. Plus, Pitt still scored on 2 of their first four 2nd half drives, and probably would have scored on their 5th drive if the game hadn't ended (they had a 1st down on our 25 when the clock hit 0:00).

It's great that no one "quit", but players rarely "quit". That's largely a fan narrative.

 

[Chip]

Yeah, I don't think "winning the second half" in a game we trailed 31-0 at the half is much to hang our hat on. Plus, Pitt still scored on 2 of their first four 2nd half drives, and probably would have scored on their 5th drive if the game hadn't ended (they had a 1st down on our 25 when the clock hit 0:00).

It's great that no one "quit", but players rarely "quit". That's largely a fan narrative.

Actually it was 2 of their first 3 drives.

But one, we gave them ball on our 45 because giving them the ball was our move.

The other, they drove 29 yards, we stopped them at our 41, but their kicker is not a normal human.

I'm not into the whole "didn't quit" thing because it reminds me of the Chris Rock 'you're supposed to' bit.

I'm just trying to be optimistic because our defense has been doing a lot of good things the past 2 games. But they also have some mental mistakes that are typically only reserved for last night's 5th inning Yankees.

Convincing myself that I love sports when I should probably be wearing a straightjacket.

 

[CbusCuse]

That said, I do think our defense played pretty well. Giving up 17 points and 200 yards to Pitt in 3+ quarters is still good. They played well enough for us to win.

While this is true its not the entire story either as their offense barely ever had the ball. Looking at Pitts offensive efficiency, it wasn't great but not bad either. They rushed for 3.3 yds/carry, we rushed for 0.2 yds/carry for comparison. Obviously McCord brought that down because of sacks but our backs were still only 1.9 yds/carry. And their passing was more efficient than ours, even if you throw out the crazy passing TD/Int differential of (SU 0/5 and Pitt 2/0).

McCord 35/64, 55%, for 321 yds, 5.0 yds/att, 0 TD, 5 INT
Pitt 16/22, 73%, for 144 yds, 6.5 yds/att, 2 TD, 0 INT

Pittsburgh 41-13 Syracuse (Oct 24, 2024) Box Score - ESPN

 

[swish7]

Polyannas cope in difficult times by ignoring the truth. Let them be.

Pessimists cope in opposite ways . Agree. Let's all let each other be.

Just need to play well this weekend.

 

[Chip]

While this is true its not the entire story either as their offense barely ever had the ball. Looking at Pitts offensive efficiency, it wasn't great but not bad either. They rushed for 3.3 yds/carry, we rushed for 0.2 yds/carry for comparison. Obviously McCord brought that down because of sacks but our backs were still only 1.9 yds/carry. And their passing was more efficient than ours, even if you throw out the crazy passing TD/Int differential of (SU 0/5 and Pitt 2/0).

McCord 35/64, 55%, for 321 yds, 5.0 yds/att, 0 TD, 5 INT
Pitt 16/22, 73%, for 144 yds, 6.5 yds/att, 2 TD, 0 INT

Pittsburgh 41-13 Syracuse (Oct 24, 2024) Box Score - ESPN

I wouldn't really compare how they did to how we did. I'd compare how they did to how they usually do.

3.3 YPC for the defense isn't bad. Reid averaged 6.3 and Holstein 4.8 before our game.

6.5 YPA isn't bad either. Holstein averaged 8.5 before our game.

 

[CbusCuse]

I wouldn't really compare how they did to how we did. I'd compare how they did to how they usually do.

3.3 YPC for the defense isn't bad. Reid averaged 6.3 and Holstein 4.8 before our game.

6.5 YPA isn't bad either. Holstein averaged 8.5 before our game.

Yeah that makes sense. But they only needed to play it safe as there was no need to risk anything on their end. Don't turn the ball over and they have the game in the bag. Their offensive stats in this one only tell us so much.