Perception is reality as Syracuse football’s ACC losing streak has reached 11 straight defeats

It is clearly difficult to remain positive when after a tough week’s work of preparation completion objective of winning a football video game is not fulfilled, however Fran Brown is doing his finest swimming versus the existing tide of misery amongst Orange fans, as the program is nearing a school-record the 2026 team desires definitely no part of Syracuse lost 12 straight Big East video games at the nadir of the program’s run this century under Greg Robinson, throughout the very first 2 of his devastating 4 seasons in between 2005-08. Now at 11 straight ACC beats going back to the Clemson roadway video game September 20, 2025, and 12 straight losses versus Power Four (Notre Dame 70-7) groups, Brown wishes to prevent sharing unglamourous business. As the difficult ’26 schedule continues with a roadway video game Saturday night at revitalized North Carolina (7:30 p.m. ET/ ACC Network), the Tar Heels are coming off a competition video game slugfest beating Duke 24-20 to enhance to 4-2, 2-1 in Bill Belichick’s 2nd season. Brown’s relationship with Blair is taking shapeIt takes some time, with such percentages of it offered, for an athletic director that did not employ his/her football/basketball coaches at a significant conference school to develop their relationships.At SU, advertisement Bryan Blair got hectic early in his period with Gerry McNamara’s hiring in March, and he’s just been dealing with Brown for 7 months. The 2 hung around together dissecting the Louisville loss late after its conclusion. “It’s pretty good, we speak every week, have lunch together,” Brown stated when inquired about how the 2 are outlining a course to get the program out of the conference cellar. “I’m speaking with him, talking after the game. He knew it was a tough game, he is a good athletic director.

“(He) resembled, ‘come by and speak with me, are you alright, Fran? I am seeing the development and things of that nature.” (Which by the way, the comment “things of that nature” has turned into Coach Fran’s pet phrase.)

The unquestioned leader of this year’s team is…

According to the coach, it is the flamboyant freshman player who received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty is last week’s loss against the Cardinals for heaving the football into the west end zone lower deck after scoring his first collegiate touchdown.

That would be none other than WR Calvin Russell III, who seems to be making the leap from one game to next after his delayed entry onto the field several weeks back at Connecticut (Oct. 3). In three games, Russell has eight catches for 64 yards and the one score.

“In think Calvin Russell’s the leader, he’s a guy that wishes to see everyone on the group succeed simply as if he were a coach,” Brown said Monday, “If you saw when he scored, the whole group was thrilled about it due to the fact that he is constantly pleased about them, daily, from the tiniest things they carry out in practice.”

Solving second half woes before facing Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels

SU had halftime leads at Connecticut snd Virginia, trailed by just five to Louisville, but could not put games away or complete fourth quarter comebacks in two of the three contests.

Brown is frustrated as anyone over game details that have been rehearsed in practice, especially by his top offensive targets, and halftime changes in strategy among his coaching staff.

“We require our playmakers to make more plays, our coaches to make more of the ideal calls, and myself to make the right (time management) calls,” Brown explained. “It’s an organizational thing, all of us need to step up”.

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