'A magical experience': Hugh Freeze eager for Auburn debut

AUBURN, Ala. – Five weeks into his tenure as Auburn’s 31st head football coach, Hugh Freeze addressed the donors whose generosity helped construct the Woltosz Football Performance Center at its Grand Opening Gala in early January.

“I’m not that great at a lot of things,” Freeze said. “That’s why I hired those other guys to fill in for my shortcomings. But one thing I promise to you - the Auburn Family - as your head coach: no one will show more purpose and drive every single day. I have that mental toughness and I will show that to you.”

Idle words these were not. In the ensuing eight months, Freeze has shown that daily drive and purpose, relentlessly recruiting both the players he’ll coach during the 2023 season and those who will arrive in years to come.

Between leading Auburn through spring practice and preseason camp, he visited alumni in three states on the AMBUSH tour, often calling recruits during the minutes leading up to his time on stage.

Those efforts paid immediate dividends, with Auburn ascending in the recruiting rankings from the 50s to the top 20 in Freeze’s first high school class and a top five transfer class ranking.

Only the beginning, based on the five-star prospects who have committed to play for Freeze on the Plains in 2024. 

Seeking to “Flip the Script” after inheriting a program coming off consecutive non-winning seasons, Freeze leads the Tigers into Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT vs. Massachusetts for Kickoff on The Plains.

“I’m really excited game week is here,” Freeze said Monday in his first weekly press conference. “This is exciting and our kids are ready. I think our staff is ready and excited about getting into a normal week and I’m really excited about my first experience running out in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“I think that’s going to be phenomenal and exciting. I've got more family coming than ever before. It’s going to be a magical experience in that stadium, provided that we play well.

“That’s the pressure or the anxiousness that you feel sitting in this chair, wanting to deliver for the incredible fanbase that has welcomed us so much.”

Auburn fans purchased a record 63,500 season tickets for the 2023 season, eclipsing by 600 the previous high from 2014. With additional premium seating increasing stadium capacity to 88,043, Saturday’s sold-out season opener will mark the largest home attendance in program history.  

“You hear all those things, and you just so badly want to deliver,” Freeze said. “Hopefully we’ll play well, but no question we’re extremely excited to kick off the campaign this Saturday.”

Growing up on a dairy farm in northwest Mississippi, Freeze arose while it was still dark to milk cows before school, instilling in him the work ethic that helped him climb the coaching ranks from high school to the SEC.

“My parents, they're the hardest-working people I've ever known,” Freeze said at his introductory press conference in late November. “My dad's full of toughness. My mom's full of grace. I learned hard work and toughness from him and love and compassion from my mom.”

Before SEC Media Days in July, Freeze retreated to a mountain cabin to write the messages he shared with the Tigers during preseason camp.

With cameras rolling in Nashville and fans tuning in on the SEC Network, he expressed gratitude to Auburn fans.

"They've welcomed our staff, my family and our new players and are excited about the effort we're putting in to try to put a product on the field that brings them joy, so we're very thankful,” Freeze said. “We could not have asked for a better welcome to the Plains. What a great place it is to live. We're excited about putting our roots down and building this program back to what it's been."

Undeterred by underwhelming preseason media predictions, Freeze outlined his intentions for the 2023 season.

"My expectations are for us to play a passionate, 60-minute football game every Saturday," he said. "Hopefully it's fundamentally sound where we give our kids a chance to win some games in the fourth quarter.”

Come Saturday, the Tigers will walk into Jordan-Hare Stadium, the eagle will fly and the fans will cheer. Auburn football, founded in 1892, will take the field under new leadership.

Hugh Freeze, whose core values – faith, attitude, mental toughness, integrity, love and you – form the word “FAMILY,” coaches his first game as a member of the Auburn Family.

“I think the most exciting thing to me is taking in what I consider to be one of the best home atmospheres in college football,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been at a place that has quite the enthusiasm, passion and energy that Jordan-Hare is going to have. I will take a moment to take that in.”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer