Andrews: Time is now for Syracuse to rewrite its November narrative

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Fran Brown hates distractions. He repeatedly hammers home his value of taking a day-by-day approach to life. He lives hour by hour. Minute by minute. The past, while to be learned from, isn’t a concern. And he never looks too far ahead.

That mentality made it awfully interesting when Brown went against his own traditions — harping on Syracuse football’s historic November struggles before it took on Virginia Tech.

Other than transforming SU’s recruiting base, conquering November is among Brown’s most urgent priorities. Former head coach Dino Babers went 7-22 in the month, and was fired before the end of year eight. So, it makes sense why Brown would bring up the distracting narrative. Digesting the program’s failures is a necessary step to become a harbinger of change.

“It’s always been about the history here, right?” Brown said postgame against VT. “When I got here, something that made it a good deal was because I understood who Syracuse was. (With) the last coach, they didn’t always win a lot toward the second part of the year. What I wanted to do was show them that’s not who they are … It wasn’t about what (Babers) did on the field, it was about what we were doing as men off the field.”

It’s a stricter program under Brown. Grueling winter training sessions established a standard on the field, while the head coach’s demands of his players speak for themselves. The level of expectations compared to Babers is palpable. And in Brown’s first crack at November football, his team showed it may no longer be the same old Syracuse.

The Orange stormed back from an 18-point deficit to down the Hokies 38-31 in overtime, their largest come-from-behind victory since 2012. Pristine coaching adjustments, calming quarterback play and clutch defense — previously rare sights — led to SU outscoring VT 35-14 over the last 22:44 plus overtime.

The win was by far Syracuse’s most grandiose of Brown’s first year. It signified the program is heading in the right direction and that the Orange’s most damning annual indictment might come to a close.

But one victory isn’t enough. Now is the time for Syracuse to rid its November woes by delivering a stretch of consistent, winning football — which would make Brown’s debut season an undeniable success.

“To fight through adversity again with your teammates and everyone doubting us, and just overcoming (that), we got to pat each other on the back,” junior running back LeQuint Allen Jr., whose dominant performance steered SU to victory over Virginia Tech, said Tuesday.

Allen Jr.’s impact can’t be understated, dropping three touchdowns on 121 rushing yards and punching in the game-winning score in overtime. It’s been November outings like that which have been missing since the Paul Pasqualoni era from 1991 to 2004. Though what stood out most about last Saturday’s result was Syracuse’s resilience.

Responding to an embarrassing 41-13 blowout loss on the road to then-No. 19 Pittsburgh was never going to be easy. Especially after falling behind 21-3 by the 7:44 mark of the third quarter against VT. Still, quarterback Kyle McCord noted Syracuse’s confidence in the face of adversity.

“In years prior, maybe when the score was 21-3, they would start to quit,” McCord said of past SU teams after beating the Hokies. “But I feel like there’s no quit. There’s no sense of panic on the sideline.”

To get obliterated before playing another disappointing half of football, and then win said game? For Syracuse, that achievement was unprecedented.

Other than 2018, Babers’ best year, where he finished 10-3 and went 3-1 in November, SU won four games in November in the remaining seven seasons combined of his tenure. Even in 2018, the Orange were steamrolled 36-3 by No. 3 Notre Dame on Nov. 17, marking a failed chance to make a massive statement.

Though a season that’s more fair to judge is 2022, Babers’ second-best season as head coach. Syracuse started 6-0. It ended 7-5. Its November record was a measly 1-3. The losses weren’t just setbacks, they were humiliations. SU didn’t score a touchdown against Pitt to start the month with a 19-9 loss, then got crushed at home 38-3 by Florida State a week later. It finished by allowing Wake Forest to rack up 45 points to clinch three straight defeats.

After potential New Year’s Six bowl talks midway through the year, the Orange could only muster an invite to the Pinstripe Bowl.

Alex Levy | Design Editor

One game into November 2024, though, it’s clear this Syracuse team won’t roll over. Blowouts like the one it suffered to Pittsburgh on Oct. 24 are the kinds of losses that ruin seasons. But it only strengthened Brown’s squad.

From the get-go, this Orange bunch has had an edge to them. Transfer commits like McCord and defensive end Fadil Diggs fortified SU with studs at positions it normally doesn’t have stars at. Brown’s 2024 freshman class ranked as Syracuse’s best since 2001. The hiring of defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson and offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon brought necessary experience to the building. All moves have paid off.

McCord is on pace for 4,141 passing yards in a 12-game regular season, which would set a new single-season school record. His diverse group of weapons are among SU’s best in recent memory, with options like tight end Oronde Gadsden II and wide receiver Trebor Peña, who has burst onto the scene as Syracuse’s leading receiver.

Defensively, Diggs has packed a punch — earning National Defensive Player of the Week honors after a two-sack performance versus UNLV and tallying the game-winning fumble recovery against Virginia Tech. Robinson’s entire unit has also played progressively better as the year has gone on. The defense is spurred by veteran linebackers Justin Barron and Marlowe Wax who, despite playing just three games, already has two ACC Linebacker of the Week honors, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Syracuse has won games through both sides of the ball this year. Barron led the defense to forcing three turnovers against NC State to win an ugly battle 24-17. Wax forced the game-winning fumble on Hokies’ quarterback Collin Schlee to down VT. While on offense, McCord’s four-touchdown explosion to beat then-No. 23 Georgia Tech and Allen Jr.’s four-touchdown night to upset then-No. 25 UNLV stood out, too.

The Orange can carve opponents in numerous ways, and that’s why they’re more prepared for November this time around. Their losses to Stanford and Pittsburgh occurred via a one-dimensional offensive scheme and lack of timely defense. But they’ve proven that, at their highest potential, those are no longer issues.

The coaching adjustments Syracuse made against Virginia Tech is another telling sign for change. Nixon opened up a struggling vertical offense by implementing a heavier run game, while Robinson switched from a 3-3-5 defense to sporting a 4-2-5 set, playing contain on the edges, to suffocate the Hokies when it mattered most.

Under Babers, halftime adjustments were nothing but a fairy tale.

And sure, the Orange beat a VT team without its starting quarterback, Kyron Drones, and star running back, Bhayshul Tuten. But those elements are uncontrollable. SU took care of business in a manner that it hasn’t displayed in years, and its process en route to a comeback win will translate against future competition.

Back in late August, I argued that Syracuse’s talent in 2024 is too good for it not to take advantage of. That sentiment still rings true. Any season less than eight wins would be somewhat disastrous. For Brown to grow a program in the northeast region, he needs to win early and often. That starts with stacking wins this November.

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