I watched Hugh Freeze’s pre-Ole Miss PC so you don’t have to. Here’s what he said about his former team.

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze served in the same position at Ole Miss from 2012-16.

He was inarguably one of the most successful modern-day coaches in Rebel history. His Rebels’ 2014 win over Alabama is still rightfully celebrated as an all-time great and program-defining game. He led Ole Miss to its first Sugar Bowl (in 2016) since the 70s.

However, the ending to his tenure was quite messy, to put it mildly, and time doesn’t heal all wounds, as evidenced by the still-visceral reaction a mention of Freeze draws in and around the Ole Miss online community.

So, of course, the Freeze Storyline is sure to dominate a number of local and national headlines this week. Ole Miss and Auburn face off on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.

But not here at the Ole Miss Spirit. 

See, I watched Freeze’s Monday press conference so you don’t have to. This could be the only Freeze story you read this week, if you so choose. No. 12-ranked Ole Miss is 5-1 (2-1 SEC) on the season, while Auburn is 3-3 (0-3). 

Freeze didn’t cover any new ground on Monday. If anything, he appeared intentionally devoid of much emotion when talking about his time as a Rebel, which also included a memorable stint on Ed Orgeron’s staff.

And it’s not like he hasn’t played his old school before, either. Ole Miss beat Freeze’s Liberty Flames 27-14 in Oxford nearly two years ago.

RELATED: Ole Miss first has ‘new challenge’ in Auburn, but Rebels now know when they’ll kick off against Vanderbilt

ON AUBURN’S BLOWOUT LOSS TO LSU OVER THE WEEKEND

“Obviously we’d like to put Saturday behind us as fast as possible. It was, really, a dominating performance by LSU in all facets. They were more physical (and) they played harder. They’re a very good football team. 

“We’ve got a lot to learn from that game. Certainly no time to hang our heads and feel sorry for ourselves. We’ve got another team that’s very much like them coming in. I think this is the third straight week we’ll be facing the Top 3 offense in the conference in Georgia, LSU and Ole Miss. It’s going to be a tremendous challenge. Really good football team coming in.”

ON LIBERTY’S TRIP TO OLE MISS HELPING WITH EMOTIONS THIS TIME AROUND FACING THE REBELS

“That’s a great question. It actually helps a lot. Jill (Freeze, his wife) and I actually talked a lot about that. That removes the, ‘Hey, this is your first time playing Ole Miss since your departure from there.’ I think it’s very helpful. That was an emotional day originally. But I have a lot of friends there and a lot of people that I think appreciate the good things that we did. Certainly wish that some things were different at the ending, just like I do. But we’re, what, seven or eight years removed now from my seasons there? I think most people … I don’t know. I’ve got a lot of friends there. But the trip back there absolutely helps with it now. This is not something that’s new.”

ON OLE MISS’ FAST-PACED, UP-TEMPO OFFENSE

“They’re similar, but they go faster than LSU. LSU’s not tempo all the time. Lane and Charlie (Weis, Jr., Ole Miss co-offensive coordinator) want to go fast all the time, and that’s hard to prepare for, for sure. They do a few more things in the run game than LSU, and probably in the pass game, too. Their quarterback (Jaxson Dart) is playing at a high level. Only turned it over, I don’t know, two times? Talented receivers, great running backs, offensive line’s really solid. I haven’t watched too much of their defense yet, but I know my guy said they’re playing extremely hard on defense, for sure, and obviously they’re stopping people for the most part. I think you’ve got a complete team. 

“Credit the job Lane’s done there when he took over. Built it back into a competitive, Top 25 program.”