Notes from Monday’s press conference
At Fran Brown’s regularly scheduled press conference on Monday (12/9), among the first questions asked was whether QB Kyle McCord would be available for the Syracuse Orange’s bowl game against Washington State.
“I think he [Kyle] will play,” Brown added. “We don’t opt out around here. We play football. We like the game. The more football you play, the more the NFL watches.”
OK, here’s exactly what Fran Brown said about Kyle McCord and any #Cuse players opting out of the Holiday Bowl. He thinks they are playing. pic.twitter.com/IjnUvYAK88
— Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) December 9, 2024
Brown referenced several names, he believed would play, during his rant about guys opting out of the Holiday Bowl, including DL Fadil Diggs. But, that said, nothing seems to be official.
The transfer portal was the next topic of discussion. Brown said some guys would be in the portal, ‘some by choice, some by a handshake’, including backup LB Anwar Sparrow and freshman CB Marcellus Barnes. But, Brown didn’t mince words about the ‘snakes’ in his program, who haven’t approached that conversation with him correctly.
“When you don’t do it the right way, and you start to spread that you are thinking about going into the portal, if I get wind of that, I’m putting you in the portal,” Brown added. “To me, you’re a snake, and I don’t want to be around a snake. And what do you do with a snake? You cut it off at the head.”
Brown backed up his message with a strong statement, ‘We have to do what’s best for the ‘S’.
Towards the near end of the press conference, undoubtedly, the back-and-forth between Brown and Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney was brought up. ICYMI:
Dabo Swinney: “I wanna go right back at Fran Brown and give Fran Brown a shoutout. We appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight.” pic.twitter.com/AWvTRIGHNS
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 8, 2024
“He’s a good dude, he’s also a faith driven man, like myself,” Brown said. “It’s good to be able to call a guy such as himself that’s won several national championships and nine in this conference [The ACC].”
At the end of Brown’s bit about Dabo, he shouted out Rhett Lashlee, the 2024 ACC Coach-of-the-year and Head Coach at SMU, referencing what Lashlee accomplished in his first year in the ACC — 11 wins (8 wins in conference), a trip to the ACC championship and a birth to the first-ever 12 team College Football Playoff.
After congratulating Clemson and SMU, Brown, who’s as authentic as it gets, just had to throw in a little bit extra in there.
“I’m happy for Dabo, I’m happy for his team.. I’m happy for SMU, and what they’ll be able to go out and do, but with said being said, GO DOGS.”