Paul Finebaum: Hugh Freeze is a name you have to watch with Auburn

Paul Finebaum is high on Hugh Freeze as a potential candidate to take over as head coach for Auburn if they let go of Bryan Harsin. Freeze is currently working as head coach of the Liberty Flames, and has continued to put forth an impressive on-field record — leading Finebaum to believe a return to the SEC ranks is in order.

Although Auburn hasn’t indicated that there are plans to fire Harsin, the Tigers’ recent bad 41-12 loss to Penn State has put Harsin’s job security as one of the biggest question marks in the nation.

Finebaum says to watch Hugh Freeze as Auburn’s next coach

“A couple of years ago I was in Oxford and I went to dinner with him and he is a very compelling individual,” said Finebaum during a podcast appearance with ESPN’s Matt Barrie. “And he went through all the things that brought him to the unemployment line briefly. And I’m gullible Matt. If you’d been there, you would have been nodding your head going — I’m voting for you Hugh, whatever you’re selling. That’s how good he is.

“And you think about that, I mean, I love the two-point conversion. You don’t want to go into overtime against mighty Wake Forest. He’s beaten a couple of ACC teams, he’s almost won every one of these games. That’s how… and that’s with Liberty talent. Can you imagine Auburn talent? And he knows that, he and [Gus] Malzahn were very close friends. He knows the terrain, I think his daughter even went there for a while so he knows the way at Auburn. He’s definitely a name you have to keep your eye on.”

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As Finebaum highlighted in his retelling of their meeting, Freeze resigned as the head coach of Ole Miss after a recruiting scandal that ultimately forced the Rebels to vacate 33 wins –27 of which were Freeze’s wins — as well as a two-year postseason ban for the program. His on-field record was 39-25 over his time with the Rebels, although it is now officially 12-25 due to the vacated seasons.

According to Finebaum, his ability to own up to the mistakes that cost him his job in the SEC is part of what makes him such an attractive candidate for the Auburn job. Additionally, his relationship with former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and familiarity with the program gives even more reason to consider him for the Auburn job if it becomes available.