Hugh Freeze describes ‘peaceful’ relationship with Nick Saban since retirement

This upcoming football season Hugh Freeze will be the first Auburn head coach to face a non-Nick Saban led Alabama team since 2006. A relief for Tigers’ fans after Saban retired in January with a 12-5 record against Auburn as the Crimson Tide head coach.

Freeze and Saban have had a longstanding relationship dating back to Freeze’s coaching days at Ole Miss. But now that Saban has transitioned to retirement, their close friendship has changed a little bit according to Freeze, who spoke at the Regions Tradition Pro-Am in Birmingham on Wednesday.

“Nick and I were in Jupiter (FL) for spring break and played golf together, and we actually talk fairly regularly now and it’s peaceful,” Freeze said. “Everybody knows I love Nick and we’re really good friends away from the field and when we don’t play each other.”

Freeze has spoken in depth about his friendship with Saban over the years, from vacationing with the Saban family to them being there in times of need. But on the field, the two are fierce competitors. With Saban getting the better of Freeze with a 4-2 record head-to-head against his friend. Highlighted by a two year stretch where Freeze had Saban’s number as the Ole Miss head coach with two straight wins over the Crimson Tide in 2014 and 2015.

But now that Saban’s retired, the only time the two are able to compete now is on the golf course, as Freeze was asked who won in their latest matchup on the links over spring break.

“Coach Saban can get it in the hole,” Freeze admitted. “That was back in March when I hadn’t been playing any and I think he got the best of me. But I look forward to a rematch now that I’m playing some.”

Freeze and Saban only faced off once as the head men in one of college football’s most bitter rivalries, with Alabama pulling out an improbable 27-24 over Auburn in the Iron Bowl last season following a the game-winning touchdown catch on 4th-and-31 by Isaiah Bond with under a minute to play in Jordan-Hare Stadium. As Freeze will now gear up to play new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer who was also in attendance for at the Regions Tradition this week.

“Kalen I’ve known for a while, I think he’s a really good football coach and a good man. I can’t keep up with what all they’re doing right now, I’ve got my hands full with us, but I’m sure he’ll do a fine job,” Freeze said.

All eyes will be on DeBoer this season to see how he fills the big shoes left behind for him by Saban, with a spotlight also focusing on The Plains as Freeze looks to take a step in the right direction in year two at the helm following a 6-7 finish last year.