Hugh Freeze has proven himself a virtuoso in the excuse-making arts, but he shelved those abilities at SEC media days and welcomed expectations for Auburn.
Nussmeier, Williams and more stars in 2025 USA TODAY Network’s preseason All-SEC team
The 2025 USA TODAY Network’s 2025 preseason ALL-SEC football team is out! Find out who our reporters have selected for QB, RB and more.
What Hugh Freeze didn’t say became more notable than what he said. The Auburn coach didn’t call for patience. He didn’t become defensive when asked about the amount of golf he played this offseason. He didn’t blame his predecessor for Auburn’s 2024 record.
Freeze has proven himself a virtuoso in the excuse-making arts throughout his career, but he shelved those abilities Tuesday during his turn in the spotlight at SEC media days.
Good. There’s no stomach for a coach’s excuses in Year 3, anyway.
Auburn fans are starved for success after four consecutive losing seasons. So, Freeze might as well vow to deliver results, because that’s the only path forward for an embattled coach whose buyout is cheaper than most in the SEC.
“I love this team,” Freeze said from the stage in Atlanta.
Earlier this offseason, Freeze said on a Birmingham-based podcast that he’s “no fool” and he knows Auburn must make a bowl game. Excuse me? That comment made Freeze sound like a fool. A third-year coach with an 11-14 record at Auburn, with losses to New Mexico State, California and Vanderbilt, can’t think of the Gasparilla Bowl as a safe space.
Freeze changed his tune at SEC media days. He talked as if the College Football Playoff is within reach.
“I truly believe that, in the playoff run, we’re going to be in this discussion,” Freeze said. “That is what Auburn should be, in those talks, year in, year out.”
SEC POWER RANKINGS: Texas, Georgia…
Source link : https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2025/07/15/auburn-football-schedule-hugh-freeze-sec-media-days/85193198007/
Author :
Publish date : 2025-07-15 21:35:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
