Auburn Football Coach Hugh Freeze Expresses Gratitude to Bruce Pearl
Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze recognizes the significance of Bruce Pearl’s achievement as the Tigers reach their second Final Four in five tournaments—excluding the canceled 2020 NCAA Tournament and the postseason-ban season of 2020-21.
Freeze acknowledges the positive impact Auburn basketball’s success has on the university’s brand and overall momentum.
“I told him [Bruce Pearl], ‘You’re in the thick of the battle right now, but you may not realize how much you and your team are elevating Auburn’s recognition and reputation for all of us,’” Freeze shared with WKRG’s Simone Eli in Atlanta over the weekend.
This Auburn basketball squad is making waves nationally. While some critics mock the team’s older roster for delaying their professional careers, players like Chad Baker-Mazara, Denver Jones, and Dylan Cardwell are proving that perseverance and hard work can earn them the spotlight typically reserved for top high school recruits.
Their journey is nothing short of inspiring. Take Johni Broome, for instance—rising from Morehead State to being considered for the Wooden Award.
Pearl’s comeback story, overcoming the fallout from his time at Tennessee to lead Auburn to a No. 1 seed, is a testament to resilience—a lesson for coaches who may feel their careers are beyond repair. His story is particularly relevant given Auburn’s other major coaching figure.
Freeze can certainly relate to Pearl’s path, as his own career faced a major setback with his departure from Ole Miss under far more severe circumstances. His road to redemption remains long, especially considering his first two seasons at Auburn.
However, Auburn’s faith in Pearl paid off in a big way. Perhaps the same patience should be extended to Freeze—if not for belief in his coaching abilities, then at least to avoid the financial strain of another costly buyout.
