Hugh Freeze expresses regret over decision to take back play-calling at Auburn

During his first season at Auburn in 2023, Hugh Freeze operated in a “CEO” type role and did not call plays. That changed in 2024 when he took back play-calling duties, and he expressed regret with that decision.

Freeze initially wanted to focus on makes sure Auburn’s NIL was in good standing, which is why he delegated play-calling. The Tigers went 6-7 in his first season – marking their lone bowl game appearance under his leadership.

Looking back on his time on The Plains during an exclusive interview with AuburnSports’ Justin Hokanson, Freeze admitted he likely should have stuck with the CEO role. He added it’s part of the second-guessing process as he reflects on the last three years.

“Obviously, I’m not good with how it went,” Freeze said. “So you have to look back and say that I probably was right in my initial decision and probably regret not sticking with that plan and seeing that setup through. It was just really strange because I’d done it for so many years and done it at a high level, if you really look.

“I think probably emotions, feelings, probably had a role in it. And I don’t know that I’m right or wrong. But when you sit here today and you look back, you obviously second-guess a lot of things. That’s one of the things that does say maybe you should’ve stuck with that plan.”

Freeze had a 15-19 overall record after arriving at Auburn in 2023, including a 6-16 mark in SEC play. The Tigers made a bowl game in his first season at the helm, but did not make it back and won’t make an appearance this year after going 5-7 under Freeze and interim head coach DJ Durkin.

But even after his departure, Hugh Freeze still watched Auburn games, even though some of his mentors told him not to do so. However, he noted some key moments could have changed everything.

“I would text the guys after, the staff, saying we can write a book on this,” Freeze said. “The number of ways we lost. Whether we tried to slow it down offensively and obviously, you’re not going to score a lot of points, but your defense doesn’t have to play a lot of snaps and you’re going to be in it. We lost that way. We lost by missing field goals, dropped passes. Obviously, offensively, not playing our best or at critical moments, in particular. Then, defensively, times we didn’t play well in critical moments. Every way you can imagine.

“I guess I can say it now, I don’t think officiating helped us in two games either – I really don’t. I think it really turned the season somewhat in the Oklahoma and the Georgia games. We really could write a book on how we lost those seven games in different ways.”