We are set to speak with Hugh Freeze as he recaps the 2023 regular season and previews signing day and the bowl game.
Follow along and refresh for all updates.
*** Hugh says it was the best college football atmosphere he's ever been in. Wants to thank everyone for making it incredible. Best home atmosphere in the country. Knows a lot of recruits got to see that and that is thankful.
*** "Will forever be a regret that we didn't get to celebrate afterward."
*** Our kids played with the type of passion and physicality that you have to to play with the top teams in the country.
*** Sting is still there. Should have won the game. Laid the foundation. Played three top 10 teams within a touchdown. The consistency they need to find is to get that every game.
*** Texted some players this morning. They are still hurt. This game means so much to them.
*** "More determined than ever and more confident than ever that this program can be elite."
*** On headspace on Sunday following loss: "I never went to sleep so I never did wake up. This profession we sign up for it and I try to keep in perspective of why we coach. I have to preach that to myself after a loss like that."
*** "When it means so much to so many people, you want to deliver."
*** On coming back after bad start: "It showed our resolve. We wanted the ball and we thought we had a good plan."
*** On talking to DJ after the game: "I wish I had the words for him. I texted him yesterday. Him and Koy."
*** Hates when people attack the players. "No one hurt more than Koy and DJ." Mentions there should have been someone else there with him.
*** "I let you down. I let you down, Coach." - on what DJ said after the game. "He felt the weight of the world on him. I told him we would get through it and I love him."
*** Keionte dinged his shoulder on the third down before the muffed punt. Koy had been solid so far this season. "Something happened with his footing. It's something where I think if we field that punt we win the game."
*** Said he took screenshots of the last play and the defense was in a perfect spot it seemed.
*** "Anytime you go undefeated in college football something must be going on special." - on Liberty going 12-0 "I think we helped start building that program. Really happy for the kids that I know."
*** "Everything but the win. That would have been huge. But I think the recruits see it. The battle is never over for the top kids in the country, but I don't think they have never been to a game that was quite like that."
*** On approaching players who don't want to play in a bowl game: "You are on top of that. This is new to me. I didn't have a single kid at Ole Miss do that ... That is a difficult deal for me. I always believe that you finish. You finish with your team. But I will say every situation is a little different."
*** On transfer portal numbers he is looking at: "I don't think there is any possible way a coach can sit here and tell you how he's going to come up with his 85 players ... I have no idea how the makeup of the 85 will look. Do we have to replace just 22? Do we have to replace 32? We don't know. That is what has become the biggest challenge for us as coaches. I think it is absolutely ridiculous this transfer portal we are about to go into is how long that it is."
*** On how much he has learned about Auburn: "I'm absolutely positively totally convinced that this program can be an elite program. This place, the support it is, the family feel, the administration alignment, the facilities, everything is here for us to build a championship team. It's here and we can do it."
*** On reality of having to re-recruit your current roster: "The only way I know is to be total transparent. Tell them the truth. The truth for some is that the chance to play here is probably slim. The truth for others is patience, that they are going to be really good."
*** On assessing the culture and building the foundation and progress he has made: "If you take away week 11, I think have made great strides in our culture. We have started learning about true accountability. I don't think you can win big games if you don't have a large percentage of your team buying into the accountability to each other."
*** What is he most proud of in his first year? "Probably most proud of the Auburn family that supported us. I'm proud of our kids and the fight that they showed. You lose four straight games and that could go in a lot of different ways. I think they stayed engaged."
*** "Get your season tickets for next year and we are going to make you proud." - on message to Auburn fans
*** On approach to bowl practice with young guys: "I'm not one that grinds them during the bowl. I want them to enjoy the journey and the process. Want to get the young guys some playing time, especially the DBs."
That's it for Hugh. Have a great Monday!
Follow along and refresh for all updates.
*** Hugh says it was the best college football atmosphere he's ever been in. Wants to thank everyone for making it incredible. Best home atmosphere in the country. Knows a lot of recruits got to see that and that is thankful.
*** "Will forever be a regret that we didn't get to celebrate afterward."
*** Our kids played with the type of passion and physicality that you have to to play with the top teams in the country.
*** Sting is still there. Should have won the game. Laid the foundation. Played three top 10 teams within a touchdown. The consistency they need to find is to get that every game.
*** Texted some players this morning. They are still hurt. This game means so much to them.
*** "More determined than ever and more confident than ever that this program can be elite."
*** On headspace on Sunday following loss: "I never went to sleep so I never did wake up. This profession we sign up for it and I try to keep in perspective of why we coach. I have to preach that to myself after a loss like that."
*** "When it means so much to so many people, you want to deliver."
*** On coming back after bad start: "It showed our resolve. We wanted the ball and we thought we had a good plan."
*** On talking to DJ after the game: "I wish I had the words for him. I texted him yesterday. Him and Koy."
*** Hates when people attack the players. "No one hurt more than Koy and DJ." Mentions there should have been someone else there with him.
*** "I let you down. I let you down, Coach." - on what DJ said after the game. "He felt the weight of the world on him. I told him we would get through it and I love him."
*** Keionte dinged his shoulder on the third down before the muffed punt. Koy had been solid so far this season. "Something happened with his footing. It's something where I think if we field that punt we win the game."
*** Said he took screenshots of the last play and the defense was in a perfect spot it seemed.
*** "Anytime you go undefeated in college football something must be going on special." - on Liberty going 12-0 "I think we helped start building that program. Really happy for the kids that I know."
*** "Everything but the win. That would have been huge. But I think the recruits see it. The battle is never over for the top kids in the country, but I don't think they have never been to a game that was quite like that."
*** On approaching players who don't want to play in a bowl game: "You are on top of that. This is new to me. I didn't have a single kid at Ole Miss do that ... That is a difficult deal for me. I always believe that you finish. You finish with your team. But I will say every situation is a little different."
*** On transfer portal numbers he is looking at: "I don't think there is any possible way a coach can sit here and tell you how he's going to come up with his 85 players ... I have no idea how the makeup of the 85 will look. Do we have to replace just 22? Do we have to replace 32? We don't know. That is what has become the biggest challenge for us as coaches. I think it is absolutely ridiculous this transfer portal we are about to go into is how long that it is."
*** On how much he has learned about Auburn: "I'm absolutely positively totally convinced that this program can be an elite program. This place, the support it is, the family feel, the administration alignment, the facilities, everything is here for us to build a championship team. It's here and we can do it."
*** On reality of having to re-recruit your current roster: "The only way I know is to be total transparent. Tell them the truth. The truth for some is that the chance to play here is probably slim. The truth for others is patience, that they are going to be really good."
*** On assessing the culture and building the foundation and progress he has made: "If you take away week 11, I think have made great strides in our culture. We have started learning about true accountability. I don't think you can win big games if you don't have a large percentage of your team buying into the accountability to each other."
*** What is he most proud of in his first year? "Probably most proud of the Auburn family that supported us. I'm proud of our kids and the fight that they showed. You lose four straight games and that could go in a lot of different ways. I think they stayed engaged."
*** "Get your season tickets for next year and we are going to make you proud." - on message to Auburn fans
*** On approach to bowl practice with young guys: "I'm not one that grinds them during the bowl. I want them to enjoy the journey and the process. Want to get the young guys some playing time, especially the DBs."
That's it for Hugh. Have a great Monday!
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