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Paul Finebaum praises how Hugh Freeze has reinvigorated Auburn fan base

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•07/18/23
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Hugh Freeze (Photo by Auburn Athletics)

After a few years of tumult on The Plains, new Auburn coach Hugh Freeze has reinvigorated the fan base while seeming to simultaneously settle things down with his calm demeanor and laser-like vision for the program.

It’s been a stark change following the Bryan Harsin tenure, which began on rocky terms and devolved quickly into something resembling a bad soap opera. Freeze has invited no such drama so far.

And ESPN personality Paul Finebaum believes his hire was just what the doctor ordered.

“I believe it was. We all know the backstory on Hugh Freeze,” Finebaum said Tuesday on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “He accomplished a great deal at Ole Miss. He did something that very few have ever done: beat Nick Saban twice.

“But his program also got saddled with NCAA probation, which did not cost him his job. Personal indiscretion cost him his job. But he paid for it.”

Auburn obviously felt comfortable enough with the time and distance between the issues at Ole Miss that ultimately led to his departure.

A reinvigorated Hugh Freeze has since worked his way back into the good graces of the college football world at large with a stint at Liberty, where his tenure was mostly uneventful. Uneventful is just what Auburn is looking for.

Well, that and some high-level football success, which Freeze is certainly capable of producing.

“He never backed away from apologizing,” Finebaum said. “He went to Liberty and was, quite frankly, brilliant there in producing quarterback play and big wins. And Auburn said, you know what, we believe he has paid his dues.”

Hugh Freeze has reinvigorated the fan base and quite quickly become a fan favorite, with many Tigers fans envisioning the head coach doing the same kind of damage to the team across the state that he pulled off while at Ole Miss.

Beat Alabama and everything begins to get easier as the Auburn head coach.

“He is now immensely popular with the Auburn people,” Finebaum said. “I can’t give Hugh Freeze enough credit for the way he handled the offseason. He was authentic. He was sincere. And Auburn fans are believing again after two dismal seasons under Bryan Harsin.”