SEC Media Days: AU Updates

[aubiefifty 17,073]

 

[aubiefifty 17,073]

 

al.com

 

Hugh Freeze unable to say if Jarquez Hunter will be available for fall camp

Updated: Jul. 18, 2023, 3:43 p.m.|Published: Jul. 18, 2023, 1:02 p.m.

1–2 minutes

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Jarquez Hunter takes it 94 yards for the longest rushing touchdown in Auburn history

In a press conference with local reporters at SEC Media Days, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze was not able to say if running back Jarquez Hunter will be available for fall camp in August.

“I can’t comment on University policies or procedures,” Freeze said when asked about Hunter.

Freeze also said he can’t comment when asked if any players will be suspended.

During the offseason, a sex tape was leaked on social media that is rumored to show Hunter. Auburn announced suspensions and that it is conducting an investigation but the statement did not include the number of players involved.

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[aubiefifty 17,073]

al.com

Auburn’s Hugh Freeze ‘hopes’ coaching compliment was from Alabama’s Nick Saban

Updated: Jul. 18, 2023, 2:47 p.m.|Published: Jul. 18, 2023, 1:43 p.m.

~2 minutes

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze speaks during NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days, Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)AP

Hugh Freeze was informed Tuesday, while at SEC media days, there are coaches who believe he is the best when it comes to second-half adjustments. The Auburn coach hopes one of those coaches is Alabama’s Nick Saban.

AL.com’s Joe Goodman asked Freeze how he tackles the task of preparing for the second half against opponents. Prior to that, Goodman said he has been told by coaches that Freeze reigns supreme when it comes to preparing for the second half of games at halftime.

RELATED: Freeze says should have 3 wins vs. Nick Saban: ‘I respect the King,’ but ‘I want to beat him’

“Well, what coach said that?” Freeze asked. “Was it coach Saban? That would be nice coming from him.”

Freeze always seems to have a connection with the Alabama coach.

The former Ole Miss coach is one of only three coaches to beat Nick Saban more than once. The other two coaches are former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and former LSU coach Les Miles.

RELATED: Freeze talks about the schools ‘up the road from us on both sides’

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

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[aubiefifty 17,073]

al.com

Hugh Freeze hands off play calling duties to Philip Montgomery

Updated: Jul. 18, 2023, 4:34 p.m.|Published: Jul. 18, 2023, 4:00 p.m.

3–4 minutes

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze speaks during NCAA college football Southeastern Conference Media Days, Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)AP

At one-point, back years ago, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze would call himself one of the best play-callers in the country. And for a man known as an offensive coach and known for developing quarterbacks, it’s not hard to see why he’d think that.

Yet now as he comes back into the SEC with the task of now, in his own words, “resuscitating” Auburn and its struggling offense, Freeze doesn’t think he’s quite the play caller he used to be.

“I haven’t felt like I was quite on my game, but I could still manage a game and figure out a way to win,” Freeze said.

So, Freeze will join what seems to be a growing trend among SEC head coaches who have spoken in Nashville through Tuesday: assigning play calling duties to coordinators.

In a meeting with local media, Freeze said former Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery was hired for the main reason of calling plays.

With Montgomery’s hire, Freeze seemed to reflect on his time calling plays at Liberty. He said his team “lost some we shouldn’t have lost,” and he put those losses on himself. That was a key part of the thinking that prompted Freeze’s change.

Giving away play-calling duties comes coupled with the role Freeze sees for himself in trying to lead Auburn back to national prominence which he described as “all-encompassing.” Giving Montgomery the main play-calling role is one less thing Freeze has on his plate.

Montgomery’s job, too, will be even down to the basics of terminology on offense. Freeze didn’t always believe he’d be coming back to the SEC, and at times, he said he’s talked scheme with other coaches in the conference -- implying those at Alabama and Georgia. Except he is back now, and not making a change would mean Auburn’s biggest rivals would already have a head start in scouting.

“Someone whose terminology is as simple as mine, I do think I need a new terminology because there are too many people in this league that I went and talked ball with and probably told too much to, particularly up the road from us on both sides,” Freeze said in the main media room.

Though it’s not as if Freeze will have his hands off. Montgomery will call the plays, but this is Freeze’s system. Freeze said he will be one of the multiple people involved in creating game plans each week.

And frankly, Freeze said he could take over the main play calling duties in the middle of a game if he felt the need -- or even the desire.

“I certainly reserve the right to jump in at any time and say, ‘I’ve got a good feeling right now, let me help a little bit,’” Freeze said. “There’s also gonna be suggestions from a lot of other people, including me. And he knows that. But he’s challenged with calling them.”

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[toddc 13,194]

Freeze updates health of Battie, others

NASHVILLE | With fall camp arriving in less than two weeks, all eyes will be on what players can come healthy following recovering from injuries this offseason. Hugh Freeze gave an update on some of those players before his time at SEC Media Days on Tuesday.

One of those is running back Brian Battie, the transfer from USF who should play a massive part on special teams.

"He's gonna suck it up and go," Freeze said. "I wish I felt a little better about his surgery, and maybe I'm just pushing it — I want it faster than what is coming."

Brian Battie had surgery on a toe this summer. (John Reed/USA TODAY SPORTS)

Battie underwent surgery on a toe this offseason. While playing for the Bulls, he was a consensus All-American for punt returner in 2021.

Fellow offensive linemen Jeremiah Wright and Kam Stutts, one of three players representing Auburn in Nashville, are both good to go, as is Tate Johnson, who Freeze says needs to "stay healthy." Johnson started four games last season but suffered a collarbone injury in the spring.

Malcolm Johnson Jr., who missed spring practice with a dislocated shoulder, is also back healthy.

"He's good," the Auburn coach said.

Freeze added that cornerback J.D. Rhym is "back and going."

North Texas transfer Jyaire Shorter, a wide receiver that "can help us", is still recovering from a foot injury.

"We're gonna have to manage Shorter some," Freeze said. "But we've got to manage him a little bit."

As for the entirety of the team, the first-year coach said, "I think we're in a pretty good spot, sitting here today."

[Maverick.AU 13,281]

Also saw where McAllister was the only player to have a prepared opening statement and is also pursuing his 3rd degree. That's crazy 

[3rdgeneration 6,471]

Thanks @aubiefifty and @toddcfor posting all these interviews and articles.  I’m very impressed with how well our players and our coach represented Auburn.  I’m starting to get excited!!!! 😁

Edited July 19, 2023 by 3rdgeneration

[woodford 3,677]

Just listened to CHF press conference. I liked this attitude. I don’t really over analyze these things because they don’t really matter. 
 

One of the last questions was “how important is the Iron Bowl?” Lol hard to believe you have to gain certain privileges and access to ask questions like this 

[southern_sports 58]

17 hours ago, Win4AU said:

I’ve heard Robby has made good progress during the summer.  Hopefully they have a package or 2 if the circumstances dictate.  Too much athleticism not to give him some touches.

Yes. Has way too much speed to sit on the bench.

[ScotsAU 1,343]

17 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

 

al.com

 

Goodman: Why is Hugh Freeze worth the risk?

Updated: Jul. 18, 2023, 4:29 p.m.|Published: Jul. 18, 2023, 4:21 p.m.

5–6 minutes

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Hugh Freeze, Auburn Man, was back at SEC Media Days on Tuesday for the first time in six years. The last time he participated in the league’s big kickoff celebration of college football something uncomfortable was dogging him like a burn on the roof of his mouth.

Tonguing that thing always makes it worse, but it’s so hard to stop.

There is a curious history of unexpected cringe-inducing moments involving coaches at SEC Media Days. An intoxicating mix of SEC sideshow shenanigans, Paul Finebaum and cosplaying Alabama fans are what made this thing popular, and I hope that no one ever forgets that grassroots weirdness. This year’s four-day event in Nashville is like a glow up for the league. It’s so corporate now. It’s so … professional. No matter where the SEC is headed, though, the SEC lifers among us will always look back with fondness at those days in Hoover and Birmingham.

They were so … what’s the best way to put this … they were so Hugh Freeze at Ole Miss.

GOODMAN: Has Brian Kelly already surpassed Nick Saban?

RELATED: Freeze notes Alabama ‘gold standard,’ welcomes challenge

RELATED: Auburn football players already talking about the Iron Bowl

RELATED: Rewinding what Auburn’s Hugh Freeze said at SEC Media Days

Freeze is the new head coach at Auburn and he’s a major upgrade from the previous guy. Freeze has his baggage, though. In 2017, he was the coach of the Rebels and he was sued by former Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt on the eve of Freeze’s turn in front of the cameras. It was awkward, of course. Freeze handled it the best that he could.

“I keep waiting for the Media Day where I come here and we can just talk about our players,” Freeze said to reporters. “For whatever reason, the journey we’ve been on — obviously, some our fault — has continued for a long time. This’ll be my sixth Media Day, if my memory’s right. Be the fifth time we’re talking about something other than our team.”

Freeze didn’t see another SEC Media Days with Ole Miss. In fact, he only lasted at Ole Miss for another week. Freeze was forced to resign in disgrace after the civil complaint filed against him brought to light a history of phone calls to escort services.

The SEC might be changing, but it’s bringing along Freeze for another ride. I’m ready for it. There’s something poetic about Auburn’s unpolished hue. It tastes and feels and sounds like the old SEC, for good or ill — like grit between the teeth, like an Iron Bowl that suddenly matters, like a hard-written country song by the Hillbilly Shakespeare himself. Hank Williams, Sr., moved to Nashville and became a star, but it was Alabama that formed his tragic genius.

I would not be shocked if Freeze and Auburn upset Nick Saban and Alabama in November. Freeze is that good of a coach. Is the league ready for a renaissance on The Plains? I know that I am. The Ballad of Hugh Freeze begins this way: At least it’s not Bryan Harsin.

The hook of that song goes like this. Why is this guy Hugh Freeze worth the risk?

Answer: Freeze gives Auburn a legitimate chance to beat its rivals and win a national championship. It’s that simple, and it doesn’t matter what teams join the SEC in 2024 or how future schedules stack up against the Tigers. The new ways of the SEC favor an old coach keen on redemption.

Auburn is a mystery like no other going into the 2023 season. Harsin never saw a lead he couldn’t find a way to squander. I don’t know what to expect from Auburn this fall, but coaches tell me that no one in college football makes better second-half adjustments than Freeze. That’s something worth remembering. I asked Freeze about it on Tuesday and he laughed.

“Well, what coach said that?” Freeze asked. “Was it Coach Saban? That would be nice if it came from him.

“I do think we’ve been very good at that through the years. We typically have been able to come out and have good adjustments. Truthfully, I always hold a few things until the second half. I don’t know if that’s wise… but I’ve instructed our staff, let’s kind of hold onto that until the second half.”

Freeze is a complicated country song and a window into the real SEC. That sounds like Auburn to me. His seventh SEC Media Days was not unlike the sixth. I asked him if running back Jarquez Hunter would be available to participate in the beginning of fall camp.

“Yeah, I’m not allowed to comment on university’s policies or procedures at this point,” he said.

Maybe next time he’ll get that chance to talk about his players.

Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of “We Want Bama”, a book about togetherness, hope and rum. You can find him on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr.

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Maybe just skip the Goodman articles from now on. He’s a tool and most of what he writes is trash.

[AuCivilEng1 11,045]

5 minutes ago, ScotsAU said:

Maybe just skip the Goodman articles from now on. He’s a tool and most of what he writes is trash.

That was a very good article and favorable towards Auburn and Freeze. 

[aubiefifty 17,073]

3 hours ago, ScotsAU said:

Maybe just skip the Goodman articles from now on. He’s a tool and most of what he writes is trash.

scots i have thousands of people to make happy. i post stuff i do not like to try to make everyone happy which is very hard to do. i would hope out of kindness you can overlook something if you might not care for it. i am not trying to be difficult but there are more folks than you and i that read.this stuff. it makes my job easier and i already get made fun of for a copy  and paste guy. and doing this every morning sick or sober is a task. i do however thank you for reading most of what i post. and i will say if anyone wants to take over they have my blessings. then folks can decide what to post and what not to post for those of you that read only certain sources. i do this out of love and i get nothing for it. no pay and no powers which is ok because i volunteered but i am old. sorry i am rambling i just woke up from a nap. have a good one.

[Hank2020 3,223]

On 7/19/2023 at 11:17 AM, AuCivilEng1 said:

That was a very good article and favorable towards Auburn and Freeze. 

1 out of 42. lol

[toddc 13,194]

 

[southern_sports 58]

30 minutes ago, toddc said:

 

Keep everyone doubt heavy. Just how we like it.

[DAG 34,034]

3 hours ago, southern_sports said:

Keep everyone doubt heavy. Just how we like it.

Some of us . 

[LPTiger 5,202]

4 hours ago, toddc said:

 

Brother you do work, hard work, and we appreciate it!!!