Everything John Cohen and Hugh Freeze said during Auburn's football coach press conference
AUBURN — Hugh Freeze officially became Auburn’s 31st head coach in the football program’s history on Tuesday, as AD John Cohen announced the hiring in the brand-new Woltosz Football Performance Center in front of media, Auburn staff, supporters, alumni and more.
RELATED: ‘HUGH WAS THE BEST FIT’ FOR AUBURN, JOHN COHEN SAID
RELATED: ASSESSING FREEZE’S ALIGNMENT WITH COHEN’S COACHING CHECKLIST
Here’s what Cohen and Freeze had to say during the press conference.
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John Cohen
— Cohen starts off singling out Carnell Williams for his work, Williams gets a standing ovation from supporters
— Cohen mentions the Creed, talking about “hard work,”…referencing Freeze’s hard work to go from high school to major college football
— Cohen talked about an accountability plan Freeze has put into his place during the last five years in his life, mentions Freeze was completely truthful about everything in his past and everything Freeze said checked out after background checks
Hugh Freeze
— “What an honor.”
— Freeze starts off talking about Carnell Williams’ leadership and witnessing one of the best displays of leadership he’s ever seen in college football
— “I have to have Cadillac along my side to help me drive the culture of Auburn football.”
— Says of Cohen, “this guy will measure it 100 times before he cuts it once.” Freeze says Cohen is as thorough as anyone he’s ever met.
— Freeze gets emotional talking about his family, has to stop as he tears up, praises his wife, daughters and son-in-laws
— Met with the team on Tuesday morning, said it was a great team meeting talking about righting the ship.
— “I look forward to the challenge. They have to buy in to chasing the standard.”
— “I’m going to be just like Bruce Pearl, if I can,” Freeze says when praising Pearl and the job he’s done at Auburn.
— Freeze talks about faith, mental toughness, integrity, love and YOU (the Auburn family)
— He says integrity isn’t about getting it right all the time, or none of us would have it. It’s about owning mistakes, making the necessary changes, and getting up the next day and playing the next play.
— Says Jordan-Hare Stadium is one of, if not the toughest places he’s ever played in, praised the fans for the Texas A&M game experience and what he saw on television that night.
— “I don’t fear much in life, and I don’t believe our team will either.”
— On Carnell Williams, “I was planning to” beg, but called Williams “invaluable” to the program.
— “I believe we’ve fought to earn this.”
— Says Auburn is one of the top-ten football programs in the nation.
— Says he’s one of the most competitive dudes he knows, but “I’ve already won in life” when talking about his family and friends.
— “If I had to show you the texts I’ve received from big-time coaches wanting to come to this place, it’s going to be very difficult” to choose his staff.
— Says he believes they can turn the program around fairly fast in the NIL, transfer portal world of college football.
— Says he’s “not sure” it’s accurate regarding Greg Sankey not allowing other teams to hire him.
— Jimmy Sexton was visibly not pleased with the repeated questions From Joe Goodman towards Freeze about “why he deserves a second chance” — Freeze thought he answered the question, Goodman clearly didn’t think he answered the question so he asked it again, Sexton moved up in his seat and was starting at Goodman. It was a moment.
— Says the report of turning over his social media is inaccurate.
— Says he is working on “listening” better over the last few years.
— Welcomes the challenge of going against Nick Saban and Alabama. “I hope they’re a little nervous today.”
— Isn’t aware of the backlash against him, hasn’t been focused on that right now, only concerned about the Auburn family. “Take the time to get to know us.”
