Q and A with Brian Higgins
I caught up with Syracuse radio personality Brian Higgins on the amazing football season and what’s next, the state of SU men’s hoops and more. Enjoy.
ML: Fran Brown crushed it in year one. Is this sustainable?
BH: Yes, with several caveats. You need to have the right quarterback, and things couldn’t have gone any better with Kyle McCord this season. And if this level of success continues, Syracuse will need to hope Fran is committed to staying, because big name big money schools will come calling.
ML: Syracuse men’s basketball has had a rough year. It’s not just one thing. What does a successful season look like now, considering the current state, if that’s even possible?
BH: A successful season for Syracuse basketball always starts with making the NCAA Tournament. If you’re asking is that possible this season? No. If you’re asking if that’s still possible for Syracuse basketball going forward? Absolutely. Adrian Autry seems to have a good handle on high school recruiting, but the Orange will need to get better organized in NIL and the portal if they want to have consistent success in the current era.
ML: You have seen a lot covering SU sports. Give me a couple of your favorite Orange moments/memories.
BH: This football season ranks up there, it was a blast watching McCord play. But looking back I go to two places. One is women’s basketball’s run to the 2016 title game. Unfortunately, Breanna Stewart and one of the best teams ever was waiting, but that was an amazing month to be around that team. And the 2009 lacrosse title game will always stand out as the most improbable ending I’ve ever had a chance to call. There’s never been another lax moment quite like Abbott to Nims to force OT. Being a junior at the Cuse when Melo won the title, we may have had a little fun then too…
ML: Major influences or idols in the industry?
BH: Bob Costas was always the guy. He was probably the first reason I became interested in going to Newhouse. Sean McDonough is the best nuts and bolts technical play-by-play guy out there. And Mike Tirico is just good at everything. Always cool that they all went to Syracuse and that I’ve gotten the chance to know them all to some extent.
ML: What’s the future of sports radio look like to you?
BH: I think it’s healthy because games are the last thing that needs to be consumed live. What’s changing is what “radio” means. Being live on the radio remains important, but you also must be available digitally and on social media. Almost everything I do now is live on ESPN Radio Syracuse, but also available live on Cuse Sports Talk on YouTube and Twitch. On top of that, clips of everything I do are constantly uploaded onto YouTube, Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, etc. The other main change is interaction with your audience. It used to mostly be a one way street. But now between social media and live chats during shows there’s a chance to get to know and interact with your audience in a much more personal way than before.
ML: Quick lacrosse season things to know, men and women.
BH: They’re both good. The men are positioned to make their first Final Four since 2013. They’ll have a chance of winning it all, but the ACC remains a gauntlet. And the women will once again play the toughest schedule in the country and once again win a lot of games. The only remaining question is can they finally win the title, because they are by far the best women’s lacrosse program without one.
ML: Describe the Syracuse fan base in one word.
BH: Finicky
ML: Thanks Brian. Keep crushing.
BH: Thanks Mike, anytime.
Follow Brian Higgins on X @BrianHiggins315 and subscribe to Mike Lindsley on YouTube @mlsportsplatter.
