Hugh Freeze Hire
Dear editor,
AU Athletics submitted a press release to the Nov. 30th “Opelika Observer”, which announced Hugh Freeze as the new Auburn University head coach. The release proved as public relations puffery, but woeful as reporting. For example, several Alabama outlets reported that Freeze resigned from Mississippi, buffeted by 21 NCAA violations, 15 Level 1 infractions, the NCAA vacated 27-victories, and Freeze maliciously implicated former Mississippi head coach as responsible for the the violations.
To paraphrase Colonel Nathan Jessup, in “A Few Good Men,” Freeze’s existence while grotesque, wins game. Just say it. Instead, Athletic Director John Cohen lauded his thoughtful and thorough coaching search. He communicated with industry experts, teachers, professional and college coaches, law enforcement officials, student-athletes, and parents of student athletes in his dauntless search for truth. Huh.
Cohen’s ardor notwithstanding, he didn’t contact Chelsea Andrews, a Liberty University student, one of 20 plaintiffs who sued Liberty for mishandling sexual misconduct allegations. Andrews denounced Athletic Director Ian McCaw for his role. Inexplicably, Freeze zipped Andrews three unsolicited direct messages, defending McCaw in a near blasphemous manner. Freeze requested to talk her by phone or meet in person. But Freeze’s horrendous judgment should have eliminated him from consideration. It didn’t deter Cohen.
Cohen even retrieved the venerable and the venerated Auburn Creed. Does the Creed advocate luring a coach who just signed an eight-year guaranteed contract?
Just asking.
Marc D. Greenwood
Opelika
