Did Hugh Freeze's love for golf ultimately cost him his job at Auburn? It's a question that's been buzzing around the college football world, and the answer, as with many things, is complex. While his passion for the links might not have been the sole reason, it certainly didn't help his cause.
Freeze recently received a hefty $15.8 million buyout to leave the Auburn football program following a disappointing 10-3 loss to Kentucky, bringing their season record to 4-5 overall and a troubling 1-5 in SEC play.
It's no secret that Freeze loves golf. During his three seasons at Auburn, he was frequently spotted on the course. But here's where it gets controversial: some people began to question the priority he placed on the sport. One Auburn booster even recounted seeing Freeze at the golf course on a Friday before a home game.
Freeze's dedication to golf was so pronounced that one booster lamented, "The only problem we didn’t foresee is that he wanted to play golf way more than coach anymore!"
This wasn't just whispers; several stories surfaced over the summer highlighting his golfing habits. Even Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin seemed to take a jab at Freeze on social media, hinting that golf was impacting his recruiting efforts.
And this is the part most people miss: In June, Freeze had logged 10 rounds of golf in the USGA’s GHIN database, a number that surpassed any other college football coach who publicly recorded their scores.
Adding a final layer of irony, golf itself seemed to foreshadow his departure. An observant fan noticed that Freeze's regular tee time at the Auburn University Club had vanished from the schedule after the Tigers' loss on Saturday.
Freeze's time at Auburn ended with a 15-19 record, and the team had lost five of its last six games.
What do you think? Did Freeze's love for golf play a significant role in his firing, or was it simply a convenient scapegoat for the team's performance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
