Hugh Freeze was brought in to revitalize the struggling Auburn Tigers program, but this season has been tough, with the team now sitting at 2-2 and facing a challenging SEC schedule.
In his postgame press conference following the 24-14 loss to Arkansas, Freeze emphasized the issues with quarterback play and the struggling running backs rather than accepting responsibility himself.
“I know there are open players, and we’re attempting to run the ball,” Freeze said. “We need to find a quarterback who won’t turn the ball over and running backs who can hold on to it.”
While the quarterbacks had a rough outing, broader issues are evident for Freeze’s team. The defense allowed Arkansas to convert 9 of 19 third downs and rack up 21 first downs.
Auburn clearly needs to address its quarterback situation. Payton Thorne has been inconsistent as the starter, completing 13 of 22 passes for 213 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 critical interception, while Hank Brown struggled with 7 of 13 for 72 yards and 3 interceptions before being benched.
However, the main concern lies in Freeze’s approach during the press conference. Rather than taking accountability as the head coach, he pointed fingers at specific struggling positions, which is frowned upon in the coaching community.
While Freeze is likely safe for this season, if he loses the support of the locker room and the fan base, the situation at Auburn could change rapidly.
