Hugh Freeze reacts to Bruce Pearl calling Auburn a ‘football school’ first during March Madness run

Auburn’s success on the hardwood has led to some discussion about how what kind of “school” AU should be labeled.

After winning the Elite 8 in Atlanta, Bruce Pearl praised Auburn basketball fans for showing up to support the basketball program, indicating he still sees AU as a “football school” first, but an “everything school” as well.

Last thing is just grateful for our fans and our families,” Pearl said. “… We are a football school. We are. Don’t ever forget that. We’re a football school. We are. But we’re also an everything school. We’re an everything school. Our fans represented really well here in Atlanta.

On Thursday, ahead of Auburn football’s A-Day spring game, Hugh Freeze was asked about those comments and whether the basketball team’s Final Four run puts pressure on his team to contend for the College Football Playoff.

“I don’t give into the pressure,” Freeze said. “I don’t feel a lot of pressure anymore in life. I know we’re doing it the right way. I know we’re building it the right way. Whatever the results come with that, I’ll have to live with. Obviously, we want to (contend for the CFP).

“I think Bruce’s comments are just his belief in what we’re doing and how we’re doing it and his belief in what Auburn can be. He’s proven through time – I don’t know how long it took him to get his program where it is, but he certainly has. The notoriety and brand recognition that he and his team brought to us certainly helps us. I appreciate his confidence that he knows we’re building this the right way and will have chances to do that hopefully in the near future.”

Freeze congratulated Pearl in person after the win over Michigan State in Atlanta and also took to social media.

Is Auburn still a football school?

Hugh Freeze is asked if Auburn football has any extra pressure to make the playoffs after the basketball team advanced to the Final Four for the second time in six seasons #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/JPbvOIwnYf

— Auburn Tigers | AL.com (@aldotcomTigers) April 10, 2025

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.