After seemingly every loss during the last two-plus seasons at Auburn, Hugh Freeze would mention how close the Tigers were to putting it all together.
In 34 games under Freeze, the Tigers played 15 games in which the winning score was 10 points or less. Unfortunately for Auburn, the Tigers went 2-13 in those games, with the only victories coming against Cal in 2023 and Texas A&M last season in four overtimes.
Saturday was more of the same, as Auburn's lack of offense squandered a tremendous defensive effort in a 10-3 loss to Kentucky. Freeze brought up the term once again after the defeat to the Wildcats.
"I wish I could ask for patience, but that’s not something people are willing to give in this day and age," he said. "I just know we’re so dang close."
Close wasn't good enough for Auburn athletic director John Cohen, who fired Freeze less than 24 hours later, as there was no coming back from the embarrassing loss to Kentucky, which entered the matchup winless in SEC play.
On Monday, speaking ahead of interim head coach DJ Durkin, Cohen might have thrown some shade at his former coach when mentioning that close wasn't getting it done.
"I know it’s been talked about how we’re close, right?" Cohen said. "I’m not going to say that we’re close. Close doesn’t matter. Getting it done matters."
As Cohen points out, the Tigers have come close, but that doesn't matter when close means ending games. Just this season, Auburn is 0-6 in games decided by 10 points or less. In six SEC games, the Tigers average 15 points, while their defense is one of three teams that have not allowed more than 24 points in a game. The other two? No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana.
Close is good, maybe in your first year, but as Freeze found out, it wasn't good enough to keep his job.