Finebaum delivers a powerful message regarding Freeze’s Auburn football program, affirming that JABA is unfolding in 2024.
He views Payton Thorne’s benching against New Mexico as a choice that Freeze felt obligated to make due to pressure from the school’s boosters.
“Let me introduce you to Auburn football. If you have a mind of your own, you’re probably not going to be there very long,” Finebaum said (h/t On3). “What I think happened, and this is an opinion, somebody told him, ‘Let’s move on from Payton Thorne,’ because that did not seem like the guy who had said everything that he said about the portal and Payton Thorne and backing him after the law.
“Somebody else was calling the shots. And by the way, whoever that somebody else is, I would like them to get out of the program because they’re not doing a very good job. This program really is is turmoil right now.”
Hugh Freeze under Auburn football brain trust’s thumb for giving him coaching opportunity
Hugh Freeze is operating under the influence of Auburn football’s brain trust after receiving a coaching opportunity that no other program in the SEC would have provided.
When he was hired in November 2022, the Tigers were in a state of desperation, as Bryan Harsin left the team with minimal talent for 2023 and beyond. The fanbase was eager for someone capable of quickly turning things around.
While Freeze has performed well in recruiting future classes, his work with the transfer portal has been markedly disappointing. He is recognized as a good coach, with notable victories over Nick Saban, though he feels he should have more wins in that regard. However, he has struggled to unify the team on the field.
In 2023, Freeze attributed the team’s failures to Philip Montgomery and has continued to blame coaches this season, now adding players to the list.
The real issue may lie with the individuals behind the scenes who are pressuring him to make decisions regarding hires and overall football strategy that he might not choose to make otherwise.
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