Paul Finebaum believes that a phenomenon he calls “JABA” (Just Auburn Being Auburn) is happening within Hugh Freeze’s Auburn football program in 2024. He speculated that Payton Thorne’s benching against New Mexico wasn’t a decision Freeze wanted to make, but rather one he was pressured into by the school’s boosters.
During an appearance on On3, Finebaum expressed his skepticism about the situation, saying, “Let me introduce you to Auburn football. If you have a mind of your own, you’re probably not going to be there very long.” He suggested that Freeze may have been overruled, saying, “What I think happened, and this is an opinion, somebody told him, ‘Let’s move on from Payton Thorne,’ because that did not seem like the guy who had said everything that he said about the portal and Payton Thorne and backing him after the law.”
Finebaum further criticized the involvement of external influences, adding, “Somebody else was calling the shots. And by the way, whoever that somebody else is, I would like them to get out of the program because they’re not doing a very good job. This program really is in turmoil right now.” His comments underscore concerns about the stability and decision-making process within Auburn’s football program.
Hugh Freeze under Auburn football brain trust’s thumb for giving him coaching opportunity
Hugh Freeze finds himself in a challenging position at Auburn, where dissenting from the will of the boosters isn’t an option. These are the same boosters who gave him the SEC head coaching opportunity he likely wouldn’t have found elsewhere. When Freeze was hired in November 2022, Auburn was in a state of desperation. Bryan Harsin had left the program with a depleted talent base, and the fanbase was eager for a proven coach who could turn things around quickly.
While Freeze has shown promise in recruiting for future classes, his work in the transfer portal has fallen short of expectations. Despite his reputation as a capable coach with a few signature wins over Nick Saban, he’s struggled to get the team to perform consistently on the field at Auburn. His frustration has become evident, as he’s pointed fingers at offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery for the team’s failures in 2023, and this season, he’s expanded that blame to include players as well.
However, the real issue may lie with the people behind the scenes—boosters who are influencing Freeze’s decisions, from coaching hires to football operations. This external pressure could be preventing him from fully implementing his own vision, leaving the program in turmoil as a result. Freeze, while capable, is trapped in a situation where he can’t fully operate with the autonomy that might be required to succeed long-term at Auburn.
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