Lane Kiffin claps back at Hugh Freeze over Ole Miss comment
Auburn had two names in mind when it came to its next head coach. Lane Kiffin was the top priority but he decided to stay at Ole Miss. Once the Lane Train left the station, Hugh Freeze was next up for new Tigers athletic director John Cohen. Those plans came to fruition as Freeze was announced as the next leader of the program on Wednesday.
During his introductory press conference, Freeze took a mini shot at Ole Miss, a place he also had success at. Freeze thinks he has “leapfrogged” the Rebels in the sense of “family” and “culture” at Auburn nearly six years after leaving Oxford.
“I feel like this is, no offense to another school or anything, but I feel like I’ve leapfrogged where I was at that time (Ole Miss) by being in this family and this culture here,” said Freeze. “I see this as one of the top 10 football programs in the nation.”
Well, Kiffin did not take those comments too kindly and decided to clap back at Freeze. He took a shot himself at the fact that Freeze is reportedly not allowed to use his own Twitter account. We all know Kiffin is not afraid to directly tweet at somebody.
” I would tweet at you but I guess you aren’t allowed to respond by @AuburnFootball now,” Kiffin said.
Once the Freeze hire was made by Auburn, reports began to emerge over the head coach’s control over social media. Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde said the two parties agreed a P.R. consultant will be the one to send out tweets and make sure he stays out of mentions/direct messages.
“Multiple sources say Freeze has agreed to relinquish control of his social media accounts when he becomes the Auburn coach,” reports Sports Illustrated‘s Pat Forde. “The background check on Freeze was extensive, and the school hired a P.R. consultant to handle the expected blowback in bringing him aboard. They are jumping through a lot of hoops for Freeze.
“As one source with Auburn ties said Sunday, ‘If he’s contractually obligated to stay off social media and they had to hire an Oh S— firm before he even started, is hiring him really a good idea?’”
Freeze was asked about the report during Tuesday’s press conference, where he denied it. Although, he seemed open to the idea at the end of his comments.
“No, that’s not accurate,” Freeze said. “I mean, how could you in this day and time? I think there may be wisdom in it, though.”
The Lane Kiffin vs. Hugh Freeze rivalry could be one of the more entertaining in the SEC over the next few years. Not only for the Ole Miss-Auburn factor but because of the product the two put out on the field. Any kind of social media jabs thrown at one another will only add fuel to what’s an already hot fire.