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The Bryan Harsin excuse isn't working anymore for Hugh Freeze's Auburn football program

By Andrew Hughes

No one wants to hear Hugh Freeze's failures with Auburn football get pinned on Bryan Harsin anymore
No one wants to hear Hugh Freeze's failures with Auburn football get pinned on Bryan Harsin anymore / John Reed-Imagn Images
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A popular excuse for why Hugh Freeze's Auburn football program is just 7-8 since he took over before the 2023 season is Bryan Harsin's year and a half running the Tigers -- and simultaneously running recruiting into the ground.

And while no Tiger fan will ever pass up the chance at cursing the Boise native for doing little to nothing while earning $10.5 million to coach and $15 million in October 2022 not to, many are sick of Harsin's name still being brought up during losses.

"Am I interested in hearing even the slightest, tiniest scintilla of a hint of 'it's the fault of the roster I inherited' after losing as a double-digit favorite at home in year 2? No, no I am not," former CBS Sports writer Jerry Hinnen wrote in response to Freeze saying AU isn't talented enough to play badly win and games on September 9. Hinnen, of course, was referring to the 21-14 Cal loss in Week 2.

Bringing up Harsin's name in 2023 made sense. Freeze still had many Harsin-era holdovers. But 77 of the 85 members of Auburn's roster were recruited by Freeze in 2024.

This losing is on the talent Freeze brought in not working with the coaches he hired.

Hugh Freeze shouldn't need many years to make Auburn football respectable again

There should've been a clear step forward for the Tigers in year two of Freeze's Plains tenure. Auburn losing to Cal in Week 2 as heavy favorites means it'll take a surprising run of wins to make that statement true at this point.

Winning six games in 2023 was right on par with what Tiger fans should expect. But doing so again, or worse, taking a step back against an SEC schedule that looks more competitive after Week 2 than it did in the offseason, would mean AU still isn't even respectable again since Gus Malzahn's exit.

What gets them there? Or better yet, who gets them there?

Freeze needs to win games so that fans have no doubts it will be him. Because doubts are creeping in as horrible excuses, like Harsin, are brought up to defend him.

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