Lane Kiffin might have been Auburn’s first choice. But Hugh Freeze was the best choice - and now he’s going to be the next coach on The Plains.
Freeze is two things at once: Nearly a sure thing and a huge risk. It’s worth taking the chance.
Former coach Bryan Harsin’s tenure was mired in everything negative that could possibly be: Auburn’s brass didn’t really want him, after they tried to get rid of him following his first season he didn’t really want to be there but kept cashing the big checks, the recruiting department was a mess and the results on the field showed.
The best thing Freeze has going for him when he gets to Auburn is that he’s not Harsin - and anything from here is all gravy for the Tigers.
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What he’s bringing with him is significant. Listen to Freeze talk often and it’s like A Beautiful Mind with a strong Southern accent. He’s a genius offensive mastermind, playcaller, he has guts, he knows how to stress defenses, he knows how to take his personnel and maximize their abilities.
Freeze’s win totals went up for four of the five years he was at Ole Miss and then after the much-publicized scandals he was involved with, he got the Liberty job and had four winning seasons there including a 10-win season in 2020.
Over the years, Freeze has proven on the field and on the recruiting trail that he can get the job done at a high level as it’s certainly not easy to win big at Ole Miss and Liberty and yet he did it - convincingly.
That’s the sure thing part of this.
The other side is the uncomfortable part to discuss.
Freeze does have a history of recruiting violations and he did have a scandal at Ole Miss that led to his departure.
Were those significant missteps of a brash young coach trying to make it in the SEC, getting caught up in the crazy recruiting landscape we all know exists in college football but don’t talk about in public and the misgivings of someone young in life who doesn’t necessarily see the bigger picture?
Or is that Freeze for you?
I’m betting the former. Freeze has served his penance. Yes, he’s made mistakes but I’m not going to hold those against him from years ago. He got his second chance at Liberty and by all indications he’s been a choir boy.
Since Auburn played for the national title in Gus Malzahn’s first season, this is a team that has one 10-win season. Every season at Alabama has seen at least that many wins with three national titles as well.
Kiffin would have been an interesting choice but there have been rumors he’s not crazy about coaching in the South. We’ll see if that’s true and if he’s angling for another job. For now, he’s staying at Ole Miss.
Other candidates were interesting as well and brought certain things to the table. But to win at the highest clip again, to be nationally relevant, to recruit the heck out of in-state prospects and across the Southeast, Freeze has the bona fides. He’s done everything right since doing everything wrong.
Freeze was the best choice for Auburn. He’s worth the risk.
