Brown Wins Second National Coaching Honor
1/15/2025 12:10:00 PM | Football
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown won his second national coaching honor of the season on Wednesday, being named the 2024 recipient of the Steve Spurrier Award, which honors a first-year head coach. He was previously named the Paul "Bear" Bryant Newcomer Coach of the Year.
Brown led the Orange to its first 10-win campaign since 2018 and just third double-digit win season since 2000. In the process, Syracuse defeated three AP Top-25 teams at the time of their meeting, which was the most in a single season for SU since 1998.Â
All-nine of 'Cuse's victories came against teams that reached a bowl game this season, including eight in the regular season, which tied Texas for the national lead of most wins over bowl-eligible opponents. Brown's squad also went 2-0 vs. teams ranked in the final College Football Playoff rankings.
The Orange saw a program-best 12 players earn All-ACC honors in 2024, despite the league now having 17 teams for the first time in conference history. Players shined under Brown's tutelage, including Quarterback Kyle McCord, who became the first Syracuse player to finish in the top-10 of Heisman Trophy voting since Dwight Freeney in 2001 after his record-breaking campaign. McCord set a new ACC record for passing yards and school bests for completions, yards, touchdown passes and total offense.
Tight end Oronde Gadsden II earned AP All-America honors, while being part of a receiving corps that was the only school in the country to have four players with 60+ catches. Trebor Pena, Jackson Meeks, Gadsden and LeQuint Allen Jr. all accomplished the feat. Meeks went over 1,000 yards on the season, while Allen was one-of-two players nationally to have over 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards. He led the nation in receptions by a running back.
Defensively, 10 different players came away with an interception on the season, freshman Maraad Watson was named a Freshman All-American by 247Sports, and Fadil Diggs, Justin Barron and Marlowe Wax earned All-ACC honors.
Season Tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now at Cuse.com/Tickets. Now is the time to renew your seats or become a new season ticket holder, as the Orange are coming off one of their best seasons in school history.
Â
Brown led the Orange to its first 10-win campaign since 2018 and just third double-digit win season since 2000. In the process, Syracuse defeated three AP Top-25 teams at the time of their meeting, which was the most in a single season for SU since 1998.Â
All-nine of 'Cuse's victories came against teams that reached a bowl game this season, including eight in the regular season, which tied Texas for the national lead of most wins over bowl-eligible opponents. Brown's squad also went 2-0 vs. teams ranked in the final College Football Playoff rankings.
The Orange saw a program-best 12 players earn All-ACC honors in 2024, despite the league now having 17 teams for the first time in conference history. Players shined under Brown's tutelage, including Quarterback Kyle McCord, who became the first Syracuse player to finish in the top-10 of Heisman Trophy voting since Dwight Freeney in 2001 after his record-breaking campaign. McCord set a new ACC record for passing yards and school bests for completions, yards, touchdown passes and total offense.
Tight end Oronde Gadsden II earned AP All-America honors, while being part of a receiving corps that was the only school in the country to have four players with 60+ catches. Trebor Pena, Jackson Meeks, Gadsden and LeQuint Allen Jr. all accomplished the feat. Meeks went over 1,000 yards on the season, while Allen was one-of-two players nationally to have over 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards. He led the nation in receptions by a running back.
Defensively, 10 different players came away with an interception on the season, freshman Maraad Watson was named a Freshman All-American by 247Sports, and Fadil Diggs, Justin Barron and Marlowe Wax earned All-ACC honors.
Season Tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now at Cuse.com/Tickets. Now is the time to renew your seats or become a new season ticket holder, as the Orange are coming off one of their best seasons in school history.
Â
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
TE
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
/ FootballFran Brown Postgame Interview at Clemson
Saturday, September 20
Highlights | Syracuse at Clemson
Saturday, September 20
Peanut Butter Angeli Time
Friday, September 19
Steve Angeli Interview | Clemson Week
Thursday, September 18
