Hugh Freeze reveals Ruthian message Auburn football star sent before Kentucky win

Hugh Freeze revealed a Ruthian shot Jarquez Hunter had before Auburn football's first SEC win of the season on October 26 in Kentucky. Following a 24-10 victory at Kroger Field, Freeze revealed what Hunter told him and the rest of the offensive coaching staff after the Mizzou loss.

And like the Bambino aiming his bat at center field, Hunter was spot-on and hit a home run prediction.

"Auburn HC Hugh Freeze said RB Jarquez Hunter sent a text to all the offensive coaches after the Missouri loss and apologized for 'not carrying the team,'" The Auburn Observer's Justin Ferguson reported from the Week 9 postgame presser.

Hunter had 278 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a performance that should have his NFL draft stock through the roof. It kept the Tigers' bowl hopes alive. Vanderbilt, ULM, and Alabama look like the most probable wins after Texas A&M laid a 38-23 beatdown on LSU.

Hugh Freeze overcomes illness during major victory for his Auburn football program

Freeze was a symbol of resiliency during the Tigers' dominant win in Lexington. He didn't travel with the team due to an illness, per ESPN's Pete Thamel.

"Sources: Auburn coach Hugh Freeze is battling an illness — potentially food poisoning — and didn’t travel with the team to Kentucky yesterday," Thamel prefaced before saying, "He’s flying up to Lexington this morning and is expected to coach."

Auburn Twitter had uncouth and perhaps inappropriate fun with the Freeze illness news -- especially juxtaposed with Alex McPherson's mostly successful return to the field following his own gastrointestinal issue in the offseason.

But the win at Kentucky was a much-needed reprieve during an otherwise miserable season for fans who had much higher expectations than needing a 3-1 finish to the season to qualify for a bowl game.