Hugh Freeze evaluates the competitive advantage Jordan-Hare Stadium provides

One of the most interesting comments that came out of SEC Media Days this week was a revelation by Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold that Georgia quarterback Carson Beck had claimed Jordan-Hare Stadium was cursed.

Obviously Jordan-Hare is a tough place to play, but cursed? That raised more than a few eyebrows.

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze busted out a wry smile when asked about that and how intimidating a place his program’s home venue can be for the opposing team.

“Well Jordan-Hare, it is a special place,” Freeze said on the main stage at SEC Media Days. “I think opponents enjoy the atmosphere, and certainly we hope they don’t, but I think when you reflect on the memories you want to make in this conference, that’s what you want.”

With an official capacity of 88,043 fans and a 346-95-7 overall record within, Jordan-Hare Stadium has proven to be a rigorous venue.

Auburn hopes to keep it that way, but getting the program up to speed under Freeze will be key to making that a reality. Freeze admitted he feels a lot of pressure on that front.

“Again, I said it earlier, but we have the greatest fans and our fans are incredible, man,” Freeze said. “The student section is two hours before the game has it packed out and it’s just an incredible environment that gives us an advantage, I hope.

“We’ve got to be more consistent for them, particularly at home. There were some great moments this year, but the one thing it does is it makes me feel like, man, I want to deliver a product to them that they leave there saying, ‘Man, I enjoyed the heck out of watching our team compete because of their faithfulness.'”

Freeze also expressed one other reason he hopes Jordan-Hare becomes a house of horrors for opponents. The more set against the enemy Auburn fans are, the more united the Tigers faithful will be.

“I do think we live in a world right now that it’s a lot of stuff going on. And this is one place in the SEC, like at Jordan-Hare, where you come together with love and a common cause and the unity is there in Jordan-Hare,” Freeze said. “Heck it’s that way in this conference, even we go to a bowl game. I remember winning the Super Bowl and everybody’s yelling, ‘SEC, SEC!’ I’m certain that they come from different beliefs and backgrounds, but football in the south, it draws people together, which is probably something we all need right now.”