Hugh Freeze compares Ole Miss’ situation with NCAA investigation to Jesus Christ
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Sometimes coaches will say some odd stuff while on the recruiting trail. This may top them all.
According to SB Nation, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze had an interesting explanation when it comes to how he’s been handling the program’s ongoing NCAA investigations. This is what he told four-star cornerback Chevin Calloway recently:
“Well, Coach Freeze told me when you’re that big and out there with faith in Christ, he’s like, ‘What do you expect? Jesus got nailed to the cross.’ So, he was just telling me sometimes things like that happen, but that’s never going to change how he’s going to treat his players and take care of them. Even if — I don’t know if he really did make the mistake, doing what he did or not — but I can just tell he’s a good person, great person. I know they’re looking at maybe a bowl suspension [for 2017]. I don’t know what they’re gonna do. But I don’t think that’ll affect anything as far as how he treats his players and stuff like that.”
Negative recruiting is a real thing, and it’s likely something Freeze deals with on a day-to-day basis with the dark cloud hanging over his head. His 2017 recruiting class, ranked 48th nationally, is easily the least impressive since he took over the program in 2012. In fact, the Rebels only have one four-star recruit pledged to the 2017 recruiting class.
That’s simply not going to cut it in the ultra-competitive SEC West.
Add in the fact that the No. 1 running back in the nation, Cam Akers, decided to leave his hometown state of Mississippi to go play for Florida State, and you can begin to understand the fallout.
Either way, we’re not totally sure what he really meant by this, but it’s a pitch that you do not hear every day.
Tyler Waddell is a member of the Saturday Down South news team. He brings over five years of professional journalism experience and is closing in on a Bachelor's in sports management. Follow him on Twitter (@Tyler_Waddell).
