Eugene Asante, teammates exercising 'new standard' of 'accountability' under Freeze and co.

AUBURN -- Eugene Asante remembers last year when Auburn football endured a five-game losing streak in conference play that included the firing of Bryan Harsin and members of his coaching staff. He remembers a dejected locker room and the battle it was to keep their heads above water. Despite the current four-game losing streak in SEC play under first-year coach Hugh Freeze, Asante sees a different locker room this time around. "The biggest thing is people aren’t hanging their heads. We understand we have to play our best football to win games. I think last year, it was more of guys handing their hands and the blame game. I don’t think this locker room is doing that," Asante said. "It’s more reflective inward and talking about things they can do rather than this guy isn’t doing their job, this guy isn’t doing their job. That’s what you really need in a team sport. When people start pointing fingers, you lose that team chemistry. We’re trying not to lose team chemistry, we’re trying not to hang our head, we’re just trying to work on the things we need to improve on and get ready each week." He credits Freeze and the new coaching staff for the culture shift. "There’s a new standard the staff has implemented. That’s something Coach Freeze has emphasized, not hanging our head about our performance and working on the things we need to work on as players and him working on the things he needs to work on as coach," Asante said. "Everyone takes responsibility and everyone is accountable for their actions for what they bring to the table. It’s a great thing, despite losses. Everybody reflecting inward and understanding we have to do more collectively." More from Asante inside...