Despite his brilliance during his first game, freshman Auburn football wideout Malcolm Simmons, the top performing member of the "Freeze Four" that dominated in the Tigers' 73-3 blowout win over Alabama A&M, was scolded by Hugh Freeze postgame.
As The War Rapport's Mike Gittens pointed out, Simmons nearly fumbled the ball on his 57-yard touchdown reception before crossing over the plane of the end zone.
In response to Gittens suggesting Freeze gave Simmons a stern talking-to, AU's head coach confirmed he did.
Yes he did!!!!!!
— Hugh Freeze (@CoachHughFreeze) September 1, 2024
Considering Auburn won a game after Missouri's Nathaniel Peat fumbled the ball inches before crossing the end zone's plane with Mizzou down by 3 in Week 4 of the 2022 season, Simmons' gaffe would've hit close to home. Of course, the stakes were far lower when Simmons nearly made his mistake, with Auburn up already up 59-3 at that point.
The point stands, though: don't be careless. Or else you'll hear it from Freeze, even in a 56-point game.
Hugh Freeze's proof of concept for Auburn football includes not being careless
Many high school recruits already have the right attitude to succeed. While some, for example, former Colorado and current Florida CB Cormani McClain, have had their lack of discipline go public, most others are looking for the program that will help them realize their NFL dreams.
The "Bama Standard" became that for a reason. It worked in bringing top talent to Tuscaloosa for years under Nick Saban because they knew the NFL was a stronger possibility at Alabama than elsewhere. Discipline was the primary attribute of the "Bama Standard."
As small as Simmons dropping the ball in the end zone would've been at that point in the game, it could've been a symptom of a team that, while talented, doesn't have the most discipline. Freeze clearly won't accept that narrative.
Eli Drinkwitz overcame that after the disastrous 2022 Jordan-Hare Stadium double-miracle -- don't forget Mizzou had the game won at the end of regulation but missed a game-winner from 26 yards out -- and has built something at Missouri, but it didn't happen overnight.
Freeze's team had a much less dramatic close call. It sounds like it'll be the last of its kind.