HOOVER, Ala. – Thursday afternoon was not a slice of Hugh Freeze’s best life.
It may not have been the Ole Miss head coach’s worst day, but being asked about alleged NCAA infractions and having your integrity openly questioned by dozens of strangers armed with voice recorders and video cameras isn’t exactly a day at a Caribbean resort.
The time Freeze spent at the Hyatt Regency hotel during SEC Media Day was tense. That was to be expected. The ongoing NCAA investigation surrounding his program combined with the lingering embarrassment of former player Laremy Tunsil going on national TV to say he received impermissible benefits from coaches while at Ole Miss helped create this scene. Just how much Freeze contributed to the making of the bed in which he currently lies will be determined by an ongoing NCAA investigation.
Whatever the case, Freeze showed up to Hoover prepared. With his head down and eyes focused a paper on the podium behind which he stood, he read a statement during his opening address.
“We fully have cooperated with the NCAA throughout the entire process, which has been a long process,” Freeze said. “We discovered most of the fact that led to self-reports. That’s how a good compliance office works.
“As a head coach, I understand that I am held accountable for the things that happen within our building and even outside the walls of our building. Our compliance team is working extremely hard to seek a resolution to this case.”
The prepared statement did nothing to quell the curiosity. Neither did last year’s 10-win season. Tough questions came in near succession. A question about his mood since Tunsil’s words on draft night forced Freeze to expand on the subject, but also allowed him to downplay the focus of the investigation.
“If you look at the issues that we’re dealing with, the percentage of our team and the percentage of our staff is so small. … What about all these guys that have nothing to do with that? That is what motivates me every day.”
Most of the allegations levied against Freeze center on recruiting. And just how it will affect that aspect for the program going forward remains a question. A possible bowl ban and loss of scholarships will certainly hamstring the Rebels. The effects of anything short of that, however, will likely differ from recruit to recruit.
Four-star wide receiver Xavier Williams, a 2018 prospect with dozens of major offers, says prospects consider circumstances like the ones that currently surround Freeze. It’s hard to imagine his case is unique.
“I don't think I’d consider a school under investigation,” Williams said. “At first, I was thinking ‘It depends what they're getting investigated for,’ but I thought to myself, ‘Man, that's bad no matter what they're getting investigated for.’ It brings negative attention to the school. Plus, my parents would not like that at all.”
Freeze’s press conference was peppered with bible verses but void on absolutes. One of the few true stands the Rebels’ coach took on Thursday was to imply that he never intentionally or knowingly violated NCAA rules. And while he never said he was confident that his program would be cleared of the NCAA accusation currently levied against it, he had no problem saying that he’s always intended to play by the rules.
“I have zero interest in cutting corners to be successful,” he said.
And while there’s no timetable for an end to the investigation, the NCAA will eventually weigh in on whether or not it agrees.
“We’ll accept the ruling when it comes,” Freeze said shortly before departing the podium, with the low point of his week behind him.
