So, you all have to have already seen the news about Hugh Freeze resigning from the head coaching job at Ole Miss after using a university phone to call an escort service. With everything that was swirling regarding NCAA investigations, it’s odd that this is the bit that did him in. Let’s dive right in, shall we?
It all started with this:
Y sources: Explosive new information has put Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze's job in immediate jeopardy. A decision should come soon.
— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) July 20, 2017
With then became this:
ANNOUNCEMENT | Hugh Freeze has resigned effective immediately. Matt Luke interim head coach. Press conference live at 7:30 PM CT on ESPNews.
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) July 20, 2017
Which was brought about because of this:
Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze made call to number tied to escort service https://t.co/syuS0LCOQX via @usatoday
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) July 20, 2017
Want more? Don’t cross Houston Nutt, apparently... he’ll work his inane magic to make you pay.
How does this affect Auburn at the moment? Well, in the immediate sense...
Ole Miss will be blown out by Auburn this season but Rebels get a win tonight by interrupting Auburn's #SECNTakeover with a press conference
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) July 21, 2017
Yes, the Ole Miss presser preempted Auburn’s SEC Network Takeover coverage, but things were still back in full swing in time for you to see the Tigers beat Oregon. I believe we missed some of the Georgia game from 2013, so here are those highlights just in case you were craving that this morning.
As for the actual play on the field, obviously nobody knows how Ole Miss will rally around their interim coach, Matt Luke. Luke was a center at Ole Miss from 1995-1998, and he’s spent his time since graduation at Murray State, Tennessee, Duke, and now Ole Miss once again as co-offensive coordinator turned interim head coach. Luke has at least been present for Ole Miss’ wins over Alabama recently, so maybe he can rekindle some of that magic this year. He’s still got Shea Patterson to work with, so he’s got some tools, but I don’t think many people are going to expect much from the Rebels this season. This is a giant distraction, to put it mildly.
And to make things worse, it’s not like Freeze’s absence will burn off the NCAA cloud hanging over Oxford. The kinds of allegations levied against the school are still going to have to be addressed.
How would Faulkner have written what happened today? Probably like chapter 19 of As I Lay Dying. https://t.co/3XH3IKKoQn
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) July 21, 2017
For the final word on this matter (at least today), one of our favorites has the dagger.
God even actual fossil Robert Bentley knew about burners.
— Peggy (@peggyrossmanith) July 21, 2017
Back to Auburn, James Crepea has continued his early scout on some of the Tigers’ opponents... let’s get Mercer, Missouri, and Mississippi State. Ole Miss should be coming up next, but that may take a little while to concoct.
Kam Pettway was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list:
Congratulations to @Uno_Kam on being named to the @DoakWalkerAward Watch List.#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/FwN5I4wtgF
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) July 20, 2017
And check out this piece from the Montgomery Advertiser on the capitol city native Daniel Thomas. Obviously, Thomas improved greatly this year, finishing the regular season with a pair of picks in the Iron Bowl. Looks like even more work’s coming his way in 2017.
Montgomery native Daniel Thomas 'playing every position' in secondary at #Auburn (w/videos) https://t.co/hwQkuXNBZP via @mgmadvertiser pic.twitter.com/9YUSDoHakK
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) July 18, 2017
It’s definitely almost football season. War Eagle!