What does it mean to be an Auburn fan? It’s growing up as a kid and experiencing your first Tiger Walk. Meeting Aubie, seeing the 4 corners Pep Rally. Walking into Jordan-Hare Stadium to see the Tigers on Pat-Dye Field. It’s hearing the correct Jordan-Hare Stadium time. Yelling “Weagle Weagle War Damn Eagle” and proclaiming proudly that it’s great to be an Auburn Tiger. It’s 88,000 fans getting out of their seats feverishly waiving their shakers as the Eagle soars through the stadium and lands at midfield with a thunderous “WAR EAGLE, HEY”. It’s the Marching Band coming out of Tunnel electrifying the crowd even more. Roaring War (with many “A’s” and “R’s”) Eagle as the ball is kicked off and Swag Surfin with 88,000 of your closest friends in the fourth quarter. It’s Bo Over the Top, the Kick 6, The CamBack, and The Miracle at Jordan-Hare. It’s the Auburn Spirit that brings you back time and time again. It’s the moments that make you say “Holy Cow” and when the Tigers put the nail in the coffin you say “Night Night.” It’s walking towards Toomer’s Corner after a win as thousands upon thousands of Toilet Paper Rolls are rolled into the Oaks. It’s a love story. You develop that love for a place and it never leaves you. That’s the Auburn Spirit — and there are two people who have embraced the Auburn Spirit more than anyone else in recent memory: Bruce Pearl and Hugh Freeze.
Auburn gave Pearl a second chance at coaching and he embraced it from the moment his plane landed at the Auburn Municipal Airport. The ex-Vols head coach has been spotted at baseball games in Omaha and football games in California. He goes and rolls Toomers. He has embraced way more than his predecessor did.
We're in good hands.@CoachHughFreeze 🤝 @coachbrucepearl pic.twitter.com/tYYyIMnxJp
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) September 12, 2023
Freeze has done the exact same thing. The previous regime put a stain on Auburn football, though Coach Carnell “Cadillac” Williams brought back the Auburn spirit into the football program during his interim head coaching stint. Freeze embraced by participating in everything he could. The Oxford, Mississippi native went to basketball and baseball games and developed friendships with other head coaches on campus. He’s at local restaurants supporting small businesses in town. He does the Weekly Coaches show and rolls Toomers. The head coach has been supporting his players by watching them get baptized.
Hugh Freeze has loved Auburn, and in return, Auburn has loved him back
It’s clear that Freeze is grateful and thankful for the Auburn family and shares that appreciation with the fans every chance he gets.
Let's get used to this, @CoachHughFreeze 🧻 pic.twitter.com/4a835BGcRK
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) September 3, 2023
Auburn could’ve hired Coach Prime or Lane Kiffin but they wouldn’t have embraced the Auburn Spirit like Freeze has done.
That’s why Hugh Freeze was unquestionably the right hire.