A harrowing take on Hugh Freeze’s previous stops compared to Auburn

Hugh Freeze has never experienced anything like what his Auburn football head coaching tenure is about to be; given the era the sport is currently in and the massive overhaul he had to bring to the Tigers roster in the wake of Bryan Harsin’s failures. Rivals’ Bryan Matthews captured that sentiment in his lede on a report of Freeze’s mindset in the days leading up to the deb-Hugh.

“Whether it’s NAIA Lambuth, Arkansas State, Ole Miss or Liberty, Hugh Freeze has plenty of experience guiding a program through his first season as a head coach,” Matthews prefaced before saying, “But none of his previous stops completely prepared Freeze for what he’s faced at Auburn.” Matthews’ lede was followed by a message from Freeze himself confirming as much; the muse for such an uncomfortable but true statement from Matthews for Tiger fans.

“It’s been the most challenging and uncomfortable new position that I’ve ever had with just everything that is about college football now,” said Freeze. “Having so many new faces, some of which didn’t get here until summer, and trying to formulate a team and a culture that you want with a new staff.”

Hugh Freeze has never had a spotlight like Auburn football

Freeze has coached at the SEC level before, but the spotlight is undoubtedly brighter on the Plains than anywhere in Mississippi. Ole Miss may have a leg up on AU based on recent success, and I do mean the last two seasons-recent to be clear, but Freeze was the only Rebels coach to not be a two-year wonder this century. Liberty and Arkansas State certainly hold no candle to Auburn either.

Freeze is experiencing pressure he never has from boosters dying to field a winner and a fanbase who’s suffered watching their main rivals run laps around them. He’s done all the right things up until this point, but that has not made the days leading up to his debut any easier.