Payton Thorne shares embarrassing admission revealing Auburn football fans' disappointment in him

Payton Thorne is disappointing many Auburn football fans -- but the ones he's disappointed the most are those who trusted him enough to lead the Tigers to victory as a favorite against Cal and backed AU financially.

Thorne went on The Next Round Live on September 10 and revealed that Tiger fans are sending Venmo requests to the quarterback looking to be compensated for their lost wagers from Auburn's 21-14 loss to Cal.

“Obviously everyone says just don’t listen to it and all that," Thorne prefaced before saying, "Sometimes, that’s easier said than done because, in today’s world, they come at you from all different angles. You hear it verbally. That’s probably the least one. But, just walking down the street, you hear it sometimes. And then, obviously the social media, they hit you on Venmo, all types of stuff.

“You just have to block it out. You have to go back to where your foundation is in your life. And for me, that’s my faith and my family. So just doing that, but also just keeping the focus on what’s next. Like I said, there’s nothing we can do about Saturday, but I can handle today.”

Of course, any serious bettor understands that the responsibility solely is on the person wagering. No bet is guaranteed. Especially when two Power 4 football programs are playing each other.

But disappointment in Thorne may actually be misplaced.

Hugh Freeze is more to blame for Auburn football's woes than Payton Thorne

Thorne is a 23-year-old who shows up to work -- and this writer is comfortable calling it work since it pays a salary and requires more than anyone sitting at a desk clock-watching until the end of the day -- and does what is asked of him. You can be disappointed in his performance but being mad at him personally is a fool's errand.

It's Hugh Freeze who is stubbornly throwing Thorne out week after week despite lackluster results and calls to give Hank Brown a shot; since the redshirt freshman looked good when given a chance at the 2023 Music City Bowl against Maryland and in limited snaps against Alabama A&M.

Freeze needs to own this mess and be the one to get those Venmo requests. He's the one who recruited players he doesn't feel is listening to his coaching staff. He's the one who is slow to make adjustments mid-game and loses because of that.

This is not on Thorne. It's on Freeze. React accordingly, Tiger fans.