Hugh Freeze’s first press conference since announcing sanctions

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze held his first press conference following his school’s Friday release detailing the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations and the self-imposed sanctions against the team.

Freeze began his Tuesday press conference with a prepared statement:

Ole Miss’ Hugh Freeze reading a prepared statement concerning NCAA violations: “We’ve been as honest as we can through the process"

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 31, 2016

Ole Miss’ Hugh Freeze: “I stand here today owning our mistakes. That’s what they are, mistakes. Not coaches out there buying players"

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 31, 2016

Ole Miss’ Hugh Freeze: “13 charges, 4 predate me; 9 under my watch; 4 of those serious charges, 3 which have nothing to do w/our staff”

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 31, 2016

He then answered questions:

Hugh Freeze on cheating rep. in recruiting: 'I don’t know that I’ll ever change that narrative, and I’ve got to come to grips with that.'

— Matt Baker (@MBakerTBTimes) May 31, 2016

Hugh Freeze on Laremy Tunsil's payment comment at NFL draft. "That certainly didn’t help the narrative."

— Matt Baker (@MBakerTBTimes) May 31, 2016

Ole Miss’ Hugh Freeze on any impact on recruiting: “It’s still going good. We’re still on the top guys (around) the nation"

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 31, 2016

Freeze: "I don't believe & have zero knowledge that any of our coaches have paid players. If I get that knowledge, there will be problems."

— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) May 31, 2016

Ole Miss’ Hugh Freeze: “In 2013, when I sent out my infamous tweet I ran it by my AD … if there are things wrong, we want to know"

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 31, 2016

The “infamous tweet” has since been deleted from Freeze’s account, but lives on in retweets from those such as Fox Sports reporter Bruce Feldman.

RT @CoachHughFreeze: If you have facts about a violation, email compliance@olemiss.edu. If not, please don't slander the young men

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 1, 2013

Freeze previously spoke to Tony Barnhart and ESPN.com on Monday. Video of the Destin press conference can be viewed be Barrett Sallee’s Periscope account:

LIVE on #Periscope: Hugh Freeze at SEC Spring Meetings https://t.co/rgDAGMYqcL

— Barrett Sallee ?? (@BarrettSallee) May 31, 2016

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.