Is Hugh Freeze the football equivalent to basketball's Bruce Pearl?

There are are some obvious parallels between the two Auburn coaches.

Author:
Steve Simpson
Publish date:
Aug 2, 2023 7:11 PM EDT

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Auburn Tigers

When the search for a new football coach began after the dismissal of Bryan Harsin, many fans and people around Auburn knew this was a pivotal hire. The program was at a low point not experienced in quite some time, and it needed an infusion of hope and energy.

It needed a football version of Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl.

When Hugh Freeze was announced as Auburn's 28th head coach last November, he arrived under a cloud of media cynicism and outrage questioning the decision. Bruce Pearl arrived under similar circumstances in 2014 when he was hired to coach the Tigers' basketball team.

Both had done their time in the NCAA wilderness and were viewed as damaged goods by many around the country. People questioned if they were men of integrity and whether or not they had learned anything. Neither of them cared much for their critics nor paid much attention to them. Auburn represented a chance at redemption, a chance to show they had persevered through the self inflicted adversity and emerged as better men and better coaches.

While Pearl arguably inherited a much worse situation than Freeze, both were hired to restore their respective programs to the level necessary to compete for championships on a consistent basis. Recruiting is the lifeblood of a consistent winner and both men are fabulous at it. Why? Because it is all about connecting with people, building relationships and selling a a vision.

Pearl has demonstrated his recruiting prowess year after year heading into his 10th season at Auburn. He has recruited 16 of Auburn's all-time top recruits according to 247Sports, including six five-star players and multiple McDonald's All-Americans. All while winning two regular season SEC Championships, an SEC Tournament Championship, and an appearance in the Final Four. Under Pearl's guidance, Auburn is competing among college basketball's elite and making a name for themselves.

Freeze has also been known for getting elite recruits, and he is off to an ice cold start after what he did to salvage a top 20 class in 2023. He is currently working on a top 10 class for 2024 after last week's commitments of five-stars Demarcus Riddick and Perry Thompson. If he finishes off this class with a couple more elite recruits, and can do this every year going forward, Auburn will be in great shape to compete for championships every year.

Hugh Freeze has yet to coach a game, so it remains to be seen if he indeed can establish the consistent success in football that Pearl has achieved in basketball. With fall camp beginning this week, Freeze will now finally get to sell his new program on the field. Count this writer among those that believes he can deliver.

One thing is certain about both men: they are both grateful for the opportunity Auburn has given them. They have loved Auburn, and Auburn has loved them back. And while you may never see Freeze handing out pizza at a Sigma Nu Charity Car Wash like Bruce Pearl, he might should consider a new Sani-Freeze in downtown.

The Tigers kick off the 2023 season on September 2nd at home vs UMass at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN.