Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze is back in his comfort zone for year two
Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze is returning to familiarity and comfortability in his second year on the Plains
Head coach Hugh Freeze's first year with Auburn football was marked by many ups and downs. Massive recruiting wins and nearly beating rivals Alabama and Georgia were paired with a devastating loss to New Mexico State and an embarrassing performance in the Music City Bowl.
The goal is to be better than a losing record in year two, and Freeze has taken plenty of steps to address the problems of his first season, including swapping out quite a few members of his coaching staff. Perhaps the biggest change will be his approach to the Tigers' offense. Whereas last year Philip Montgomery led the charge and Freeze was somewhat in the dark, this year's offense is one that Freeze completely understands and will be involved with.
"I'm much more comfortable," Freeze said, per Auburn Undercover. "I think any time you take over a program like Auburn, which in my opinion is one of the Top 10 programs in the country, the expectations are to win and to win pretty fast. That's the only pressure that you really feel. But, in year two, our roster is better. I feel better in the building. I love the chemistry I feel. I love the culture being developed in our players and staff."
Freeze still insists that Auburn football fans should temper expectations and have patience, but notes that the Tigers are recruiting on a high level and that is clear in the 2024 class and the 2025 class so far. Still, it is not unfair that fans would like to see better than what Auburn football has done in the past several seasons. For three years the Tigers have struggled with close losses and a losing record, and it's time to see some progress.
"I feel really comfortable at Auburn," Freeze said. "I think we fit there. My family fits there. I'm excited about year two. I have no clue what that means in the win-loss column, I really don't. The reasonable expectation is for you to see a competitive football team. We plan to deliver on that."
Hopefully, Freeze means a competitive football team that will win more than just the games they are supposed to win. Though the Tigers will face a tough schedule this fall as usual, it's a bit of a break from the typical gauntlet thanks to the expanded SEC. The pressure is on, and the expectations will still be high for Hugh Freeze and Auburn football in 2024.