The Auburn Tigers lost another game on Saturday night as they seemingly keep finding new ways to end up on the wrong side of SEC games under Hugh Freeze.
While the last straw for many came well before this point, Saturday night’s defeat against the Missouri Tigers felt different in it being widely accepted by most fans that the end is near for their head coach. Pundits, too, across the nation are forecasting candidates for a job that technically isn’t even open yet.
As the sharks start to circle and close in though, Freeze is clearly starting to feel the heat.
He was asked about it directly during his press conference on Monday afternoon. Revealing that he had not yet spoken to his boss John Cohen, it became obvious that Freeze is aware of the current state of affairs:
“It would be huge. That would make everyone feel a lot better, for sure,” Freeze said when asked about what it would mean to receive a statement of support from the AD like Florida State’s boss sent out over the weekend about Mike Norvell amidst struggles for the Seminoles.
“John has been so supportive since my hire. They have a job to do and he has people he has to answer to, but I know how close we are, I know I can get this fixed and we’re too dang close. We’ve gotta get a little bit better play and a little bit better coaching at a few spots, but I want a chance to fix this…I’ve trusted [Cohen] since I’ve been here to do the right things and he’s gotta do what he feels is best for this program of course. I think it’s us, I think we fit Auburn, the Auburn culture. The culture in the building has changed, the talent level has changed and unfortunately we just haven’t gotten over the hump in a very difficult stretch of games, but I believe that’s coming very soon.”
Freeze knows many are calling for his job, but it seems he is publicly making his case to keep it. Another loss this week to an Arkansas team which already fired Sam Pittman could be the final straw in a decision which might have already been made by Cohen.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
