HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Speaking to reporters before the second stop on the AMBUSH tour, Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze paused to reach into his back pocket.
"Both phones are ringing right now and I guarantee it's something to do with recruiting," said Freeze, noting the identity of the incoming caller. "This is a good one."
The Tigers' first-year head coach and his staff are prioritizing in-state players in their recruiting efforts.
"I hope the high school coaches and players have sensed our willingness to do whatever it takes to get back in the game," Freeze said. "We've got to win some battles in this state. Hopefully we've taken a step in that direction in the short time we've had."
Between signing autographs for fans and meeting with Tigers Unlimited donors, Freeze FaceTimed the parent of a prospective student-athlete to talk about an upcoming visit to the Plains.
"We're going to do what's best for Auburn and hopefully get a group of young men who believe in that vision and that culture," Freeze said.
Huntsville marked the third stop of the day on a whirlwind tour of Alabama for men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl, who spoke by invitation in the morning to the Alabama Senate at the State House celebrating the State of Israel's 75th anniversary and was the featured speaker at a Boy Scouts luncheon in Birmingham attended by 1,200.
Auburn's two recent basketball signees – Denver Jones and Chaney Johnson – have ties to the Rocket City. Johnson played at Alabama-Huntsville while Jones attended Buckhorn High School in nearby New Market.
"Auburn basketball got a lot better when Denver Jones and Chaney Johnson decided to come on board," Pearl said. "Both Denver and Chaney are really hard workers, they're going to be in the gym. They're versatile because they both can play a lot of positions."
Pearl and Freeze joined athletics director John Cohen and women's basketball coach Johnnie Harris for a discussion hosted by Andy Burcham, the Voice of the Auburn Tigers.
Known for its oustanding high school girls basketball, north Alabama produced former Tiger standouts Vickie Orr and Whitney Boddie among many others.
"This area is big," Harris said. "Some of the best basketball is played in this area. We are actively recruiting some players from here and we'll continue to come back here.
"We're building. We feel like this is going to be our best year because we have players we've brought in who fit, and the players we inherited, they're bought in."
Monday will mark Cohen's six-month anniversary since his hiring as athletics director.
"This Auburn spirit is a real thing," Cohen said. "I've always seen it from the outside. Now when you're on the inside of it, it's pretty remarkable to see. When you're in gatherings like we are tonight with this AMBUSH, you can feel it from our alumni as well. It's a fun atmosphere."
The AMBUSH tour resumes in Nashville on May 16 and concludes in LaGrange, Georgia, on May 17.
"Our fanbase is incredible," Freeze said. "Anytime you get a chance to be in their presence to make them feel appreciated for what they do for us, we don't ever want them to think we take that for granted. For us to come out for a night to say thank you is a good night."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
Rocket City AMBUSH: Auburn coaches visit Huntsville
