Hugh Freeze explains open media policy in practice

Since he arrived at Auburn, Hugh Freeze has had an open media policy when it comes to practice, allowing reporters to view small windows of the team’s sessions to get to know the players and the overall structure.

The first-year Auburn coach explained his thinking on the open media policy this week.

“When the season starts it will be quite different,” Freeze said. “I just think there’s too much going on and you guys are so aggressive with having your stories out there. Man, I can appreciate that. I can. You’re into what you do and you want to be good at it, and I get that.

“So there’s a fine line for me of how do I balance the respect I have for the job you guys do and protecting our kids and our team the most we can? I don’t know where that line is.”

For now, though, Auburn reporters have been treated pretty well and welcomed in behind closed doors to watch various aspects of practice.

It has allowed them to have a better idea what’s going on with the team than if they were completely shut out. But the open media policy hasn’t come completely without rules.

And occasionally someone has slipped up on the rules.

“Well I’m going to cut all of you off if you post videos of our team again, whoever that was,” Freeze said. “I don’t know who it was, don’t care, and I’m not mad at you. Just, man, no videos. Maybe that’s just crazy. Y’all can do pictures and stuff, just don’t shoot videos.

“I was going to actually tell y’all you could stay a little longer today if y’all want to, just no videos. Maybe we’re all just paranoid as coaches too much.”

Most programs that have an open media policy have similar restrictions on video, not wanting formations or personnel groupings to get out there where opponents might see it and be able to study it. Some teams restrict video entirely, others restrict it during select periods of practice.

In any case, the open viewing has been a nice benefit for Auburn reporters.

Freeze indicated, though, that his media plan can and will shift to meet changing circumstances, like the season beginning.

“I told (senior associate AD for communications) Kirk (Sampson) the other day, I think every week could be a little different for what we see media’s availability to be and all of that,” Freeze said. “I don’t know if I answered your question.”