The coaching carousel in college football continues to grow with each passing week. On Sunday, Auburn became the latest opening when Hugh Freeze was fired after an underwhelming tenure.
In three seasons, the former Liberty coach went 15-19, but the last straw for the school was a 10-3 loss to Kentucky on Saturday night at home. Right after the loss, the writing was on the wall with a comment from Freeze.
“I wish I could ask for patience, but that’s not something people are willing to give in day and age,’’ said Freeze. “I just know we’re so dang close…”
That didn’t age well, and now Auburn is the fourth SEC school, joining Arkansas, Florida, and LSU, looking for a new head coach. Whoever gets the job, AL.com sent a message to the new perspective head coach.
College Football Writer Sends a Dire Message About Auburn Opening
Jerry Humphrey III of AL.com listed some pros and cons about the Auburn opening. Truth be told, they all make sense, but one con should be something that raises some eyebrows among the coaching candidates. Sharing the state with Alabama won’t make the job an easy one.
“It’s not easy being considered the ‘little brother’ of your bitter rival. Alabama already leads the Iron Bowl record 51-37-1 over Auburn and during Freeze’s tenure he finished 0-2 against the Crimson Tide. Auburn hasn’t won an Iron Bowl since 2019. One thing that was noted when Hugh Freeze took the Auburn role was his two wins vs. Alabama, he went 0-2 in his two shots at the Tide as Auburn head coach,” Humphrey wrote.
Being the ‘little brother’ is never what you want to be against your rival, but that is the case for Auburn when it comes to Alabama. Not only do the results on the field matter, but off the field, too, when it comes to recruiting.
“Since 2008, Auburn has only won four Iron Bowls, making one of college football’s historic rivalries one-sided in the last 17 years. Taking over the Auburn jobs comes with the most important words in the entire state: Beat Alabama,” Humphrey also wrote.
That is a true statement. When taking the Auburn job, in the end, it comes down to wins and losses, as well as beating Alabama. Easier said than done.
Auburn Candidates Have Face a Daunting Task
As soon as Freeze was fired, the names linked to the job were the same names for other openings. Former Penn State coach James Franklin, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz, and Georgia Tech’s Brent Key, just to name a few. Tulane coach Jon Sumrall continues to be a hot name, as last week he addressed the LSU opening. His wife, however, is an Auburn graduate.
Does this job go to the top of the openings? SEC openings always seem to go to the top or near the top of the openings. It just comes with the territory of being in the SEC. However, all openings come with pros and cons, but the Auburn opening comes with a warning: competing with Alabama.
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