While Auburn’s first season under Hugh Freeze hasn’t gone the way Tigers’ fans had hoped, Freeze is optimistic about the direction the program is heading.

For Freeze, his optimism starts with Auburn’s resilient fan base that has continued to show up despite the early struggles.

“I know it speaks volumes for our incredible fans at Jordan-Hare,” Freeze said in his press conference Monday. “I continue to be amazed at this great home environment. I know they’ve endured disappointing years and they’re certainly in the growing pains with us right now also, but their energy and their support, I can’t say enough about that or them. They sense what I sense, and that’s we are Auburn. We should take a backseat to no one in recruiting and that’s the approach we’re taking.”

Freeze believes Auburn is on the rise, and this rebuilding season is just a bump in the road on their way back to being the powerhouse they once were.

“While there are certainly bumps in the road and people make of those what they will,” Freeze said. “That’s you guys, us, fans, everybody makes of it what they will, but they are temporary and the time is coming when people will sense what Auburn truly is, like our fans already do. I’m thankful for them.”

Freeze is also redefining the culture at Auburn. That starts with holding his players accountable outside of the locker room as well as inside of it.

“To those little things. You can’t slide on things,” Freeze said. “Maybe when I got here maybe they felt they could.”

He cited the example of not allowing his players to be 5 minutes late to a class. He believes if they can slip up in the classroom, they could also slip up in game situations.

“I’m a firm believer the same thing can happen on a Saturday,” Freeze said.