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Quotes of Note: Hugh Freeze on beneficial bye week for Auburn football

Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze talks about the importance of the bye week for the Tigers as they prepare to face Missouri.

By Mary Kate Hughes

Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze walks off the field after the game as Auburn Tigers take on Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Auburn Tigers 24-14.
Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze walks off the field after the game as Auburn Tigers take on Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Auburn Tigers 24-14. / Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze talks about the importance of the bye week for the Tigers as they prepare to face Missouri

It was a good week for a bye week. The Auburn football team was coming off of a four-game losing streak and was slightly banged up after three competitive SEC matchups. Sandwiched in between road trips to Athens and Columbia was the bye week, which allowed time for the Tigers to regroup, practice hard, and recover from the first six games of the season.

According to Auburn Rivals, head coach Hugh Freeze is hopeful that the benefits of the bye week will allow a better football team to show up in the second half of the season.

“Excited to get back into a game week. We had a much-needed off week last week, which was good for our physical bodies and our mental side,” said Freeze. “Obviously disappointing to be sitting where we are record-wise and determined that we must play more consistent football in all three phases. We've got to coach that better.

“We spent a lot of time last week looking at what we think needs to be done in order for us to do that because we've got obviously a very difficult schedule ahead. Two games on the road against two teams that are playing really, really good football.”

Auburn football will travel to Missouri and Kentucky before returning home to take on Vanderbilt, so things are not getting easier any time soon. While the record doesn't necessarily reflect success, Freeze acknowledges that the past few weeks have been beneficial for the young players.

"I think, coming after six games, that's about as good as you would want it to be," Freeze said of the bye week for his team and especially the young guys, per Auburn Undercover. "And, now — y'all correct me if I'm wrong — I believe it's three games now, then another (off week), and then the final three. I don't know if we could draw up, for a year that you have two open weeks, them falling at better times. It split the season pretty well for us, it looks like. I think the freshmen certainly benefited. Everybody was a little sore and beat up. We've had some physical games. Then the mental side of handling not being exactly where you'd hope to be, I think, was good timing for that, also."

Auburn will face Missouri this Saturday from Columbia at 11:00 a.m. central time.

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