Fran Brown Throws Bill Belichick Under the Bus as Spring Game With Deion Sanders Bites the Dust Despite Big Promise

This offseason, one of the most intriguing storylines has been the battle over spring games. Yes, with teams ditching tradition due to the risk of poaching exposure, many assumed the concept would fade. But not Coach Prime; he saw a bigger vision. Rather than sticking to the same dull format, Deion Sanders wanted to revolutionize spring football. Here, Syracuse HC Fran Brown was on board immediately, working with Sanders to set up a joint spring game. But just as excitement built, the NCAA stepped in—and shut it down. What was the problem, then? The FBS monitoring committee cited academic concerns, competitive imbalance, and poor timing. So, in the end, the bold idea backfired, leaving fans and players wondering what could have been.

Here, on April 3rd, on The Rich Eisen Show, when Rich Eisen asked Fran Brown about the spring game controversy, Brown didn’t hold back and said, “Yeah, I thought it made sense on a lot of levels.” Adding, “Just for saving the game of football. Right after March Madness—what are we doing during that time? You could have something to build momentum, something to keep the excitement going. There was just so much you could do.” So, for Brown, the idea wasn’t just about a game—it was about growing the sport. But the NCAA had other plans.

However, Fran Brown didn’t hold back when addressing the NCAA’s rejection of his spring game idea. And in the process, he threw Bill Belichick under the bus. “You know, I took a lot of people saying stuff when I was stating that Bill O’Brien and if Bill Belichick said it, I was just stating, like, those dudes got big names, right?” explained Brown. “They played in the NFL, they won Super Bowls, and done all those things together. So if they come and say, ‘This is what we should do here,’ then it might have worked on this end,” according to the Syracuse HC. So, Brown made it clear—if he had Belichick’s level of fame, or if Belichick himself had pitched the idea, the NCAA might not have stood in the way.

Then, Fran Brown passionately defended his vision for a groundbreaking spring game, arguing that it could have changed the game for CFB. “But I just feel as though it—it would have saved the game,” stated Brown. “Just imagine Syracuse—historically, who this program is—and Colorado getting to go against each other and getting to go out and then being able to compete against each other. I mean, I just think the market money that we would have been able to make—just both schools—what you can do,” said the HC.

So, for Brown, this wasn’t just about football; it was about elevating programs, creating new opportunities, and tapping into a massive financial market the NCAA seemed unwilling to embrace. Here, Fran Brown highlighted the ongoing frustrations surrounding NIL and the financial aspects of CFB. Moreover, he proposed a bold solution, suggesting that the revenue from a spring game could be directly funneled into NIL deals.

“Everyone’s always complaining about NIL and different pieces. Maybe you can take this Spring ball and say, ‘Everything that you guys make, you’re allowed to take and put into the NIL.’ So then we don’t gotta worry about all the stuff like that. It helps,” said Brown. To be honest, for Brown, this approach could have eased financial concerns while also giving players more control over their earnings.

Look, Brown saw the bigger picture beyond just football. Where, he believed there was so much more they could have done to benefit the players. “I just think there’s a lot of things that we could do, and we would have been able to help out with it,” said Brown. Adding, “And we were doing financial literacy, too. So we was gonna teach the guys a little bit more. We had that Friday morning, we were making both teams—everybody—do two hours of study hall.” Let’s be real; for Brown, it wasn’t just about the game—it was about building smarter, more prepared athletes on and off the field.

You know, CU’s home stadium was set to host the highly anticipated joint spring game on April 19, showcasing its revamped setup. On top of that, the Buffs had everything in place—paperwork done, fans ready, and the stage set for a groundbreaking live scrimmage. As excitement built, the CFB world watched closely, eager to see Deion Sanders’ innovative vision in action. But the NCAA had other plans. However, despite the setback, Brown refuses to back down. He’s standing firm, fighting for the idea, and pushing for a future where spring games evolve into something bigger. You can say, for him, this is just the beginning.

The great promise of Fran Brown

Holding onto a glimmer of hope, Syracuse HC Fran Brown doubled down on his vision. Joining the Triple Option podcast, Brown shared his bold plan; he envisioned a home-and-away series, starting in Boulder before bringing the matchup to Syracuse. “For a home-and-away deal, I want to go there this year and then they come to us next year. I think that just being in all reality. Prime has a bigger venue, right? He’s an icon. So, like Boulder will be packed with them. Being able to go there, so, you know, that would help us. It will help me learn some things from him, just about some of the stuff that they do overall. Because he’s doing a lot of stuff outside of it while we’re looking to do that,” stated the Orange HC.

Honestly, for Brown, it wasn’t just about the game—it was about growth, exposure, and learning from one of the sport’s biggest names. However, since Sanders sparked the idea, he’s just as invested in making it happen. And his vision goes beyond a simple scrimmage—it’s about revolutionizing spring football. As of now, having his players face real competition aligns perfectly with his NFL-style philosophy.

So, neither coach is backing down; they see the potential, and they see the impact. Here, Coach Brown shed more light on the plan, saying, “He said, next year, he will come here, right? Then start to try to plan out other things and other people who we don’t have to play with that would benefit. It has to always benefit. It’s a lot involved in it that I want to do or why I want to go.”

Simply put, for Brown and Sanders, this is just the beginning.