SAN DIEGO, C.A. — For the first time since landing in San Diego, Syracuse Head Coach Fran Brown took questions from the media about the Orange’s upcoming appearance at the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl on Friday night.

“We are extremely thankful and happy to be here. This means a lot for us to have an opportunity of playing in such a prestigious ball game,” said Coach Brown.

What to watch for ahead of the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl

While the Orange and Washington State Cougars are headed to the same bowl game, both teams are headed in very different directions. The Cougars lost three straight games to finish their season and will be missing several key components of their team. Former Head Coach Jake Dickert took a job at Wake Forest, and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle has taken the same job at Oklahoma. QB John Mateer has transferred to the Oklahoma Sooners as well. Also lost to the transfer portal are other key plyers like RB Wayshawn Parker, WR Kris Hutson, CB Ethan O’Connor and DT Ansel Din-Mbuh.

Kyle McCord confirms he will play in DIRECTV Holiday Bowl

Coach Brown says ever since he heard several starters wouldn’t be playing, he’s been taking notes on their backups.

“I thought he did a really good job, the running back. I wrote my own notes down. I think he did a real good job throughout the year of just running the ball game. The opportunity of being able to be in there, run the football, he’s done well.”

Coach Brown also talked about interim Head Coach Pete Kaligis and his strategy going into the game.

“We know they’ll be a tough football team to play, especially when you have a, defensive line guy, a heart being a head coach right now. So we know, we got our hands full and we’re excited and thankful for the opportunity to play against these guys and also want to say, happy holidays to, all the Syracuse fans, Syracuse alum and just everyone in the country.”

Both Coach Brown and Coach Kaligis spoke about the transfer portal and how that has the ability to impact a team during the regular and post-season.

“We are who we are. We have what we have. I know that’s for both of us. The state of college football right now, the way it’s changed is with the portal,” said Kaligis.

“It’s a whole different game that we have to adapt to as coaches. And that’s where you really start to see that relationships are important. And when the staff leaves and guys get in the portals, it’s because of the relationships that they have. They have garnered with their position coaches. Before it used to be how can we put together and have some of the better looking buildings in the country? Because that’s what all the kids were trying to go to, where the buildings were. But now, you know, it becomes a different ballgame where, the kids are going to school now they’re getting NIL, right. So I think in it was really the forefront of everything. So as long as you have a good initial plan, you’re consistent, you continuously, like you stated, love the players. They understand and they know that you love them,” said Coach Brown.

“I don’t think you’ll have too many worries. You know, there will be a lot of places that are going to offer a whole bunch of money, but I think that there’s a lot of kids who are looking for relationships, and the relationships mean more because long term, they’ll make more,” said Coach Brown.

“My goal was to be playing Wednesday. And, we fell a little bit short of that. So we’re truly thankful that we got to be in such a prestigious bowl. But I want to play next Wednesday. And to be able to do that, we have to adapt and be able to compete in the in our era to keep guys out of the portal so they know we want to be there with us,” said Brown.

ABOUT THAT EGGNOG BATH:

This year marks the second annual celebratory “eggnog dump” on the winning coach. At Thursday’s press conference, Coach Fran Brown ducked the potential bath by letting us all in on a little secret:

“I’m allergic to eggs. So Dan Villari has taken an NIL deal or where he’ll get the NIL deal and they’ll do something. I think Meyers Creek already said they would love for him to be the guy to do it. So I’m allergic to eggs, so. But I definitely would love to be able to pour the eggnog on Dan if I could.”

Villari, one of the Orange’s Tight Ends, retweeted CNY Central’s Ashley Wenskoski to support his coach’s decision.

The Syracuse Orange (9-3) will face off against the Washington State Cougars (8-4) this Friday, December 27 at the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.