To Fran Brown, being a parent and helping guide a family has a special meaning.

“I really kind of never do anything for me," Brown said. "It's more so my family, my children, my last name. But I never really celebrate for me.”

What You Need To Know

  • The Orange are truly embracing what it means to be a family

  • SU's offense features two father-son duos

  • It's brought out the best in them as they relish a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

It’s spilled over to the Syracuse football team as well, with Brown building a family culture with the Orange. But it’s something taken to heart, quite literally, on the offensive side. Two father and son duos highlight the team starting with offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon and tight ends coach Michael Johnson Sr. having the chance to coach their sons, Will and Michael Jr.

“We're both really excited to get this opportunity," Jeff said of his son, Will. "You know, it's a once in a lifetime a chance to coach one of your kids. And it's good because he's been away from me for four years, so now it's, you know, he's in town, and I get a chance to spend some quality time with him.”

“I knew he was capable and he's always been a good athlete," Michael Sr. said of his son, Michael Jr. "But I love him being here because of the environment that we have and the culture that we have. So, you know, whether he plays or not, he's going to be a better young man because of being here. So I'm I'm proud of that. And then he's got to find his way to the field and that's that's on him. So we've taught him a lot. And now he's a young man and he's got to find his way.”

It’s an opportunity not lost on either Will or Michael Jr.

“Once in a lifetime opportunity," Will said. "Get to play for your dad. And at this high level, he's been hard to me, but he's been like that my whole life since high school football. So I'm blessed to be able to play for my dad.”

“You don’t really realize how surreal it is when you're doing it," Michael Jr. added. "I think it's something that I'll look back on when I'm done playing with like, wow. Like there's not many people who really got the opportunity over here. It's really player/coach when I go home for a home cooked meal on the weekends or something like that. That's when we don't really talk about football and all that. So it's been awesome obviously, because my mom, as well as my family being here has been awesome. So I usually used to see him like once or twice a year and now I get to see him like whenever I want.”

While the Johnsons coach and play two different positions, it can be tough love at times for the Nixons, who share the running back room together.

“I ripped into him the first day, you know, the very first practice guys were like, Man, you talk to yourself like that," Jeff said. "He knows what the deal is going to be.”

But it’s all love at the end of the day.