SYRACUSE, NY (607NewsNow) — Syracuse Head Football Coach Fran Brown is giving words of encouragement to his starting quarterback.

During a press conference after the Orange lost to Pittsburgh 30-13 on Saturday, Brown said quarterback Rickie Collins should keep his head up.

“My message to him, honestly, is ‘I love you and none of [the fans] know you,'” he said.

Brown’s comments came after the Syracuse crowd booed Collins during the game. Collins threw three interceptions in the loss.

Rickie Collins (Syracuse Athletics)

Brown said it’s “not right” to boo Collins.

“He’s a young kid who at the moment is the best quarterback that we have,” Brown said.

Collins has started three consecutive games for the Orange, after Steve Angeli tore his Achilles against Clemson on Sept. 20. Collins has thrown seven interceptions across those three games.

Prior to this season, Collins was the backup quarterback at LSU.