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Hugh Freeze says Auburn doesn’t measure up after Music City Bowl loss; QB job is ‘wide open’
By Keith Farner
Published:
Hugh Freeze took responsibility for the disappointing loss in the Music City Bowl to Maryland, as Auburn enters the offseason on a low point.
Freeze said the effort didn’t measure up and added, “that starts with me.”
Freeze also said that he didn’t get involved in the offensive game plan until just ahead of the game, and that it was ineffective. Freeze previously spent time on recruiting and evaluating the program.
As for the QB competition entering next year, Freeze said, “it’s wide open.”
Auburn played 3 quarterbacks in the game. Starter Payton Thorne was 13-for-27 passing for 84 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.
As he sounded for much of this season, Freeze again said the roster would improve, but that he wanted to get more out of this season.
#Auburn HC Hugh Freeze: “I don’t need anyone to tell me we don’t measure up, and that starts with me.”
— Adam Cole (@colereporter) December 30, 2023
Hugh Freeze said he wasn’t too involved in the offensive game planning up until right ahead of the game. He was focused on recruiting.
He said he was also doing a full evaluation of the program.
And he thought the offensive game plan was ineffective
— Matt Cohen (@Matt_Cohen_) December 30, 2023
Hugh Freeze on QB competition going into next season: “it’s wide open”
well then
— Matt Cohen (@Matt_Cohen_) December 30, 2023
Auburn HC Hugh Freeze: “I don’t think I did a very good job in a lot of areas this year with our staff and with our team. I feel like we competed really, really well in some games, but we had some letdowns in others.”
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) December 30, 2023
Auburn HC Hugh Freeze on the quarterbacks in 2024: “It’s wide-open… I’m constantly evaluating players, staff, everything. If we see that my evaluation has been wrong and we need to change gears… the quarterback position will be an interesting one in spring practice.”
— Justin Ferguson (@JFergusonAU) December 30, 2023
This was some of the least confidence we’ve seen in Payton Thorne from Hugh Freeze.
He had given him a full vote of confidence before National Signing Day knowing the WR he had coming in.
But clearly Freeze doesn’t see that as the only solution now. It might not meant Thorne. https://t.co/jkmr8fUxRp
— Matt Cohen (@Matt_Cohen_) December 30, 2023
Hugh Freeze after Auburn’s Music City Bowl loss…
“We’re going to improve the roster, but we still could have gotten more out of this season.”
Freeze said he has “great confidence” Auburn will improve.
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) December 30, 2023
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
