Social media is taking aim at Hugh Freeze following Auburn’s loss to Georgia.
After Auburn’s Week 5 defeat to Oklahoma, head coach Hugh Freeze criticized quarterback Payton Thorne, who threw a crucial pick-six. Now, as the 2-3 Tigers struggle against Georgia, trailing 28-13, fans are shifting the blame onto Freeze instead of Thorne.
Freeze publicly called out Thorne for a decision during a key fourth-and-1 play, where Thorne kept the ball on a poorly defended zone read and was tackled for a loss. Meanwhile, running back Jarquez Hunter would have faced a similar fate had Thorne handed him the ball.
ESPN commentator Greg McIlroy suggested that Freeze might have allowed Thorne to change the play at the line, but Thorne opted to run it anyway, which sparked Freeze’s frustration. However, many online are not extending the same leniency to Freeze.
This wasn’t the first instance during the game where Freeze faced criticism. While Auburn had a solid start offensively, they faltered in the red zone. Thorne completed 13 of 20 passes for 155 yards with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, but running back Jarquez Hunter was the standout, racking up 91 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Despite this, Freeze continued to rely on Thorne, whom he has frequently criticized.
Auburn’s chances of a comeback are slim, and if Thorne can’t turn things around, Freeze’s team will drop to 2-4.