The Auburn Tigers have been far from perfect this season, but coach Hugh Freeze is urging fans to stick with the team through the ‘growing pains’.
After Auburn nearly defeated a truly banged up #21 Oklahoma Sooners, Tigers fans were quick to take to social media expressing concerns. The Tigers have been an interesting team through five games, showing flashes of true offensive promise while at times looking like a completely different team. Along with the inconsistent play, there has also been an inconsistent leader of the offense with four total benchings occurring at the position.
Between the quarterback flip-flop and the results on the field, Tigers fans are rightfully upset and want answers from Freeze. In an attempt to reassure fans that the team has more to come, Freeze stated “We’re not that far off.”
Hugh Freeze asks Auburn fans to stick through growing pains: ‘We’re not that far off’https://t.co/QtDYnGGp5d pic.twitter.com/MTz4SzSSiv
— On3 (@On3sports) September 30, 2024
Auburn is about to get dragged in Athens lol
— ℍ𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕥𝕠𝕟⚡️ (@HamDawg115) September 30, 2024
LMAO idk about that one hugh, seems pretty far off to me
— Hitman (@SlapcoFudd) September 30, 2024
Freeze signed a six-year, roughly $50-million deal ahead of the 2023 football season with the Auburn Tigers. Freeze was previously the coach of Liberty and had recorded a record of 34-15 with the Flames through four seasons. Thus far into his tenure with the Tigers, and Freeze currently has a record of 8-10 leading the team.
The coach finished his first season with the team last season with a 6-7 record overall, and a 3-5 record in the SEC. The Tigers finished in 5th in the Western Division of the SEC.
Auburn Tigers Coach Hugh Freeze Confident Team Can Improve This Season
While the fans do not seem confident in Freeze, the coach is certainly confident in his team proving the fans wrong moving forward.
The Tigers are currently 2-3 and lost this past weekend to a backup freshman quarterback in Michael Hawkins Jr making his first start. Auburn has also had major issues on offense as previously mentioned, with quarterbacks Payton Thorne and Hank Brown both starting games for the Tigers this season.
There are no QB questions for Auburn this week after Payton Thorne’s performance against Oklahoma.
Hugh Freeze: “He gives us the best chance to win.” https://t.co/9cOzZXoLJ6 pic.twitter.com/HjJSVArPKU
— Nathan King (@NathanKing247) September 30, 2024
Thorne had perhaps his best game for the Tigers against the Sooners, recording 338-yards through the air along with three touchdowns. While Thorne threw an interception, he has been the best quarterback out of the two and likely will remain the starter this season.
Auburn has not won seven or more games in a single season since Bo Nix as the starting quarterback during the 2019 season. With three early losses, it might be hard to correct that trend this season for Freeze and company.
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