Hugh Freeze's introductory press conference begins at 10:00 a.m. CT.
It can be viewed here: https://fb.watch/h5UGl9mPso/
I will be updating with quick notes here. Please follow along and refresh for all updates.
- Robby Ashford is in the room.
- John Cohen: Wants to recognize Carnell Williams who did a tremendous job as interim coach. (Standing ovation for him)
- Said Carnell and Freeze had a great meeting last night.
- Thanks the football team. "It's never easy what they have been through."
- Thanks Christopher Roberts for his role in the process.
- Mentions all of the people they talked to during a thorough search.
- "Hugh Freeze was at the top of our list at the beginning and we never wavered from that."
- Creed mention. Knock that off your BINGO list.
- Says Freeze was completely transparent with his past transgressions.
- Perhaps his greatest relationship is his marriage with his wife Jill. Been married 30 years.
HUGH FREEZE
- "War Eagle and good morning. What an honor."
- "What I witnessed was one of the most outstanding jobs in leadership I have ever seen in college football." - On Cadillac and the last four weeks
- "I knew my first priority was that I have to have Cadillac by my side to drive the culture of Auburn football." - "He embodies the Auburn spirit."
- "Working at Liberty the past four years for Ian McCaw was one of the greatest joys of our college career."
- "He has thorough as anyone I have ever met." - on John Cohen
- "To my family: You are the rockstars." - he starts to choke up. "I'm not going to get emotional today."
- "They are the hardest working people I've ever known. My dad's full of toughness. My mom's full of grace." - on his parents
- Met with the team this morning. Incredible meeting. Looking forward to getting with them individual. Talked about getting out of the wilderness and righting the ship. "They have to buy into the standard and we have to set the standard."
- "You have to believe in something bigger than yourself to be a great football team ... You are not strong enough to do it alone."
- "I am going to be just like Bruce Pearl except I'm not going to take my shirt off because I don't look as good as he does." -
- "You have to have the mental toughness to wake up and do it again, do it again, do it again." - on passion.
- "Integrity is not always getting it right, because then none of us would have it. It is about what you do when you don't get it right."
- "Love is the next core value. It is about dealing with the inconveniences that come with relationships."
- "Last is why. It's you. We need you. We need fans. We need the Auburn family ..."
- HIs six core values are F-A-M-I-L-Y.
- "Jordan-Hare is one of the toughest places to play and it is due to the fans, the student body." mentions how he was watching the Texas A&M game and he thought he was watching the SEC championship.
- On how valuable is having Cadillac with the transition: "I don't know if I had to plead or beg, but I told him he was invaluable. I need to know who is vital to get this program back to winning a SEC championship."'
- "It's humbling. You have to be careful not to sound like ... I don't believe in earning something. I believe we fought to earn this ... I have leapfrogged where I was at the time ... I see this as one of theta 10 program sin the nation."
- On transitions before: "Staff has to drive the culture ... The first priority will always be our players."
- If he has talked to Gus? "Yes. Gus is a dear friend. Him and Kristi have been faithful to Jill and I for years, especially the last 6 or 7."
- How quick is the turnaround?: “I think we can turn it very fast with the new world we are in.”
- What lessons have you learned from Liberty? "Well, the culture will be the same that we created. I know that it works and it wins."
- On staff ideas: "I've got a list of every position and a lot of great candidates. There are some here, there are some where I came from, there are some all across the country."
- Thanks Jimmy Sexton for staying by him.
- On Greg Sankey now allowing him in conference and if he feels he deserves a second chance: "He's never done anything but shoot me dead straight and tell me what is best for me and the conference ... As far as second chances, I don't think anyone in this room doesn't deserve a second chance."
- Does he plan on calling plays? "I've called the plays my whole career. I honestly sitting here today contemplating if in the world of rebuilding the Auburn football team .. maybe I should get some help." Says he has gotten some texts from some play-callers that are maybe better than him.
- On transfer portal: "In year one, I think it will be a big priority."
- On winning fans over: "Please give me a chance. Get to know us. Get to know our story ... Those who have done that are kind of like 'Hey, I like this guy.'"
- The report isn't accurate that he has to give up control of his social media.
- On where he can improve? "I'm trying to be a better listener .. I think that is what players need these days is a coach who will listen."
- On Robby Ashford: "We've had great success with our Auburn transfers at Liberty ... When I watched Robby last game, I think I told John, he has me intrigued now. He made some throws in that game that were really really difficult." - mentions his TD pass to Ja'Varrius. Says he feels like he is good at developing QBs
- On matching up with Nick Saban: "You don't take this job if you're not built to want that. I welcome that. I want it. I want to be in that arena. I really, really enjoy that type of game ... I hope they are a little nervous today."
- On if he is surprised by the backlash: "Truthfully, I really don't know the magnitude of backlash because, I know you won't believe me, I haven't been on social media in the past few weeks."
- On how he would describe himself as a recruiter: "I can't wait." Says he knows this is one of the best years in recent history. "Auburn is an easy sell ... If we get him here, I think we can get them."
It can be viewed here: https://fb.watch/h5UGl9mPso/
I will be updating with quick notes here. Please follow along and refresh for all updates.
- Robby Ashford is in the room.
- John Cohen: Wants to recognize Carnell Williams who did a tremendous job as interim coach. (Standing ovation for him)
- Said Carnell and Freeze had a great meeting last night.
- Thanks the football team. "It's never easy what they have been through."
- Thanks Christopher Roberts for his role in the process.
- Mentions all of the people they talked to during a thorough search.
- "Hugh Freeze was at the top of our list at the beginning and we never wavered from that."
- Creed mention. Knock that off your BINGO list.
- Says Freeze was completely transparent with his past transgressions.
- Perhaps his greatest relationship is his marriage with his wife Jill. Been married 30 years.
HUGH FREEZE
- "War Eagle and good morning. What an honor."
- "What I witnessed was one of the most outstanding jobs in leadership I have ever seen in college football." - On Cadillac and the last four weeks
- "I knew my first priority was that I have to have Cadillac by my side to drive the culture of Auburn football." - "He embodies the Auburn spirit."
- "Working at Liberty the past four years for Ian McCaw was one of the greatest joys of our college career."
- "He has thorough as anyone I have ever met." - on John Cohen
- "To my family: You are the rockstars." - he starts to choke up. "I'm not going to get emotional today."
- "They are the hardest working people I've ever known. My dad's full of toughness. My mom's full of grace." - on his parents
- Met with the team this morning. Incredible meeting. Looking forward to getting with them individual. Talked about getting out of the wilderness and righting the ship. "They have to buy into the standard and we have to set the standard."
- "You have to believe in something bigger than yourself to be a great football team ... You are not strong enough to do it alone."
- "I am going to be just like Bruce Pearl except I'm not going to take my shirt off because I don't look as good as he does." -
- "You have to have the mental toughness to wake up and do it again, do it again, do it again." - on passion.
- "Integrity is not always getting it right, because then none of us would have it. It is about what you do when you don't get it right."
- "Love is the next core value. It is about dealing with the inconveniences that come with relationships."
- "Last is why. It's you. We need you. We need fans. We need the Auburn family ..."
- HIs six core values are F-A-M-I-L-Y.
- "Jordan-Hare is one of the toughest places to play and it is due to the fans, the student body." mentions how he was watching the Texas A&M game and he thought he was watching the SEC championship.
- On how valuable is having Cadillac with the transition: "I don't know if I had to plead or beg, but I told him he was invaluable. I need to know who is vital to get this program back to winning a SEC championship."'
- "It's humbling. You have to be careful not to sound like ... I don't believe in earning something. I believe we fought to earn this ... I have leapfrogged where I was at the time ... I see this as one of theta 10 program sin the nation."
- On transitions before: "Staff has to drive the culture ... The first priority will always be our players."
- If he has talked to Gus? "Yes. Gus is a dear friend. Him and Kristi have been faithful to Jill and I for years, especially the last 6 or 7."
- How quick is the turnaround?: “I think we can turn it very fast with the new world we are in.”
- What lessons have you learned from Liberty? "Well, the culture will be the same that we created. I know that it works and it wins."
- On staff ideas: "I've got a list of every position and a lot of great candidates. There are some here, there are some where I came from, there are some all across the country."
- Thanks Jimmy Sexton for staying by him.
- On Greg Sankey now allowing him in conference and if he feels he deserves a second chance: "He's never done anything but shoot me dead straight and tell me what is best for me and the conference ... As far as second chances, I don't think anyone in this room doesn't deserve a second chance."
- Does he plan on calling plays? "I've called the plays my whole career. I honestly sitting here today contemplating if in the world of rebuilding the Auburn football team .. maybe I should get some help." Says he has gotten some texts from some play-callers that are maybe better than him.
- On transfer portal: "In year one, I think it will be a big priority."
- On winning fans over: "Please give me a chance. Get to know us. Get to know our story ... Those who have done that are kind of like 'Hey, I like this guy.'"
- The report isn't accurate that he has to give up control of his social media.
- On where he can improve? "I'm trying to be a better listener .. I think that is what players need these days is a coach who will listen."
- On Robby Ashford: "We've had great success with our Auburn transfers at Liberty ... When I watched Robby last game, I think I told John, he has me intrigued now. He made some throws in that game that were really really difficult." - mentions his TD pass to Ja'Varrius. Says he feels like he is good at developing QBs
- On matching up with Nick Saban: "You don't take this job if you're not built to want that. I welcome that. I want it. I want to be in that arena. I really, really enjoy that type of game ... I hope they are a little nervous today."
- On if he is surprised by the backlash: "Truthfully, I really don't know the magnitude of backlash because, I know you won't believe me, I haven't been on social media in the past few weeks."
- On how he would describe himself as a recruiter: "I can't wait." Says he knows this is one of the best years in recent history. "Auburn is an easy sell ... If we get him here, I think we can get them."
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