Paul Finebaum applauds Hugh Freeze for handling SEC return well

Hugh Freeze‘s problematic past from his coaching tenure at Ole Miss was a topic of conversation when the Auburn Tigers named him their head coach on November 28, 2022. But with the football season kicking off just a couple of months away, those conversations have been silenced.

Freeze has been focused on recruiting, establishing a new culture, and making a splash in his return to the SEC this upcoming season, something that SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum has taken notice of.

“It happened flawlessly, all the hue and cry about what he did or didn’t do or why he got fired, it was over in five seconds,” Finebaum said. “He handled his introduction brilliantly, I’ve seen Hugh a couple of times at events and he’s just very cool, you know Hugh very well. And I give him an A-plus-plus for the way he’s handled it, and not only that, the Auburn fans are just enthusiastic.”

Freeze’s introductory press conference was a memorable one, highlighted by him detailing how he’s turned over a new leaf in his personal life and expressing a clear vision for the future of Auburn football.

He showed instant pride and enthusiasm for the Auburn program, which is something that Tiger fans bought into in short order.

“They are on board and it has as much to do with the person he replaced, Bryan Harsin, no debating here. He’s a good football coach, he was a terrible fit, not his fault he took the job,” Finebaum said. “But he neutered any level of enthusiasm, Freeze has said, ‘You know what? I’m I know this league. I’m not afraid of Big Bad Nick Saban. I’ve already beaten him twice. I can handle these guys.’”

Along with inheriting one of the most historic programs in the country, Freeze also inherited one of college football’s most storied rivalries with Alabama. An annual matchup with Nick Saban may be a daunting task for most coaches, but not for Freeze, who established early in his coaching tenure that he’s welcoming that challenge with open arms.

“And Auburn fans are just clapping, and screaming. and chanting, and think that they’re back. It won’t take much for Hugh Freeze to seal that deal and I think the’s got a good chance of doing it,” Finebaum said.

Freeze may end the offseason as a winner for the progress he’s made and the excitement surrounding the Auburn program. But it will definitely be interesting to see what the actual season itself looks when he makes his head coaching debut for the Tigers in September.