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The way college football chases down excellence this season, Auburn letting go of Hugh Freeze after a 4-5 fall wasn’t that shocking. He was already in the hot seat before the Arkansas game, but that win bought him a week. But a 3-10 loss against Kentucky proved to be the final nail in the coffin. Moreover, the journey that commenced in 2023 ended midway this season, and even Freeze’s daughter couldn’t help but hold back her feelings as the reality set in. Regan Freeze Reynolds, who was also his assistant, took it all on an emotional IG post. She said, “There will never be enough words to express the life @coachhughfreeze has given us through this profession. He has blessed us generationally and has given us memories and experiences you could never even dream of. He has given Auburn his absolute all.” Well, that’s a straight fact. Since the moment Hugh Freeze joined the team, he has tried to reconnect Auburn’s locker room and fan base after Bryan Harsin’s tenure. His community-focused approach, praising Auburn’s traditions like Tiger Walk and Toomer’s Corner, and emphasizing the team’s commitment to “family first” values resonated with the team. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Even Regan highlighted the same: “He’s laid down his pride, his comfort, his control, and even his health for this team and university. He’s without a doubt left it better than he’s found it, and I will forever be grateful for the way he’s led and loved through it all. It has been my greatest honor to stand beside him, and I will always believe in him.” ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Not just that, despite suffering from prostate cancer back in February, Freeze never stopped showing up for his team. For Freeze, Auburn has been competitive since day 1, and that’s what attracted him. “I turned on that Texas A&M game… I thought I was watching a game that would send you to the SEC championship,” Freeze said back in 2022. “Bruce, was it that feeling in the stadium? Because it appeared that way from watching it on TV. I was just like, ‘Oh my gosh. Look at the passion of this place and these people.’” Look, Auburn parting ways with Hugh Freeze makes sense, as they want to compete in championship games. However, knowing that teams like Penn State, LSU, Arkansas, and UCLA are all seeking the best coaches to rebuild their programs, securing someone better than Freeze would be a challenging task for the Tigers. But on the field, he couldn’t replicate his success at Ole Miss and Liberty. Freeze ended his season with the Tigers, going 1-11 against ranked teams despite having a top-13 roster. Even his reputation as an offensive wizard didn’t come into play this season, as the Tigers had a ranking of no. 105 in yards per play despite having a talented OL and elite receivers like Eric Singleton Jr. Even his handpicked QB, Jackson Arnold, couldn’t make much of an impact. Despite that, fans are standing tall beside him. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Hugh Freeze gets immense fan support Despite going through a rough patch with Auburn this season, fans couldn’t be more disheartened with the entire decision of letting him go. Doubts might keep making headlines, but fans haven’t forgotten that he is the same guy who won two back-to-back games against Alabama at Ole Miss. For this fan, he’s already a winner: “Say what you want about him, but he led this team to Jesus and in my opinion, that’s a winner.” Ragan’s words cut deep into fans’ hearts, putting light on all the sacrifices and efforts Freeze made for his team. And that’s what’s making them so emotional on his exit. Just like this fan said, “Love this! An honor to have you guys as part of the Auburn Family! You always are! Love you all!!! Fans are not just hoping for a better comeback but also praying for Freeze’s better career, as this sudden break feels like an incomplete journey. “Wanted him to be our guy 😢 praying for whatever comes next,” they said. Moreover, fans couldn’t get over how supportive Hugh Freeze’s family is, and that’s all a man needs when the entire world is against you. And that’s what’s drawing this fan towards them: “What a wonderful family.” Even this fan said the same: “Your family is loved, appreciated, and will be missed.” The journey of Hugh Freeze certainly inspires the masses, but it didn’t work out well with the Tigers on the field. Off the field, he stands above the rest after instilling core values in the team, and Freeze oozes class. Now that Freeze’s journey ended on a rough note at Auburn, it will be interesting to see what’s next for him.
