SEC Coach Under Fire for Offseason Golf Habit After Back-to-Back Losing Seasons
There's an old sentiment in college football that you don't want your coach to be a good golfer. Why? Because if he's good at golf, then he obviously isn't spending enough time in the facilities working, and is likely out on the course more often than he should be.
Advertisement
That's got to be the feeling among Auburn fans this week, with a report from some investigative fans showing that head coach Hugh Freeze has been spending a lot of time on the golf course this summer.
According to the fan, Freeze played 10 rounds in the first 20 days of June.
Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze.© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Had some friends who play in Auburn tell me how much CHF plays, and it has led me to check his GHIN," the poster wrote. "Hugh played golf 10 of the first 20 days this month. I know people that are RETIRED that don't get to play that much, let alone making $7mm a year. Not blaming our struggles on this, but goodness, when you're under .500 here and ranked 47th in recruiting, I have concerns."
Advertisement
That's a fair thing to be concerned about as an Auburn fan. Since joining the Tigers in 2023, Freeze has gone 11-14 in his 25 games, with an 0-1 bowl record.
Things aren't expected to get much better going forward, either. Most sports books have Auburn with a 7.5 win total for 2025, with ESPN's Football Power Index giving the Tigers just a 1.8% chance of winning the SEC.
While it may be a bit crazy for someone to deep dive into the Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN) to sleuth out a handicap, this Auburn fan feels justified in his findings.
"I understand that it is insane behavior for me to have dove into this, and I do not care. When I have friends tell me he is at the course every day as an SEC head football coach, I am going to investigate. Just pretend like you're working harder than you actually are, because I am tired of losing."
Advertisement
Seeing as it is the offsesaon in college football, there are few media availabilities for Freeze to be pressed on this, if any. We'll see if Auburn reporters bring it up come August.
Related: Florida State Fans Furious Over Thomas Castellanos' Latest Controversial Comments
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
These 5 Longshot NFL MVP Candidates Offer Good Betting Value
These 5 Longshot NFL MVP Candidates Offer Good Betting Value originally appeared on The Spun. (Editor's note: This article is from The Spun by Athlon Sports' 2025 Football Betting Guide — the perfect preseason reference companion for new bettors or sharps alike. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.) An important thing to understand when betting in an awards market: It doesn't matter who you think will win; it only matter who voters are most likely to support. And in the case of the NFL MVP, history indicates those voters most likely will back a quarterback. Not only have quarterbacks won 70% of NFL MVP awards, but they've taken home the hardware 17 times in the last 18 seasons — including 12 years in a row. So when considering an MVP wager on a quarterback, ask yourself two questions: Can his team win its conference, and can he lead the league in touchdowns? You should be able to answer 'yes' to at least one of those questions before making any MVP bet. When it comes to MVP longshots for 2025, your best bets are NFC quarterbacks. For an AFC longshot to win, he and his team would have to outperform Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Burrow. That's a daunting task. Therefore, it's far easier to emerge as the top quarterback on the best team in the NFC. With that said, here are five dark-horse candidates to win the NFL's MVP this season: Brock Purdy +2500 The 49ers seriously regressed in 2024. The year prior, though, Brock Purdy was neck and neck with Baltimore's Lamar Jackson in the MVP race heading into their Week 16 head-to-head tilt. Purdy imploded that night, throwing four interceptions in a 33-19 home loss. However, he's shown that he can play at an MVP level — a reason the 49ers gave him a $256 million extension in the offseason. San Francisco will enjoy the league's easiest schedule this season, which means it conceivably could contend for the top spot in the NFC. Which makes Purdy an intriguing MVP longshot bet. Jared Goff +3100 Detroit Jared Goff has joined the ranks of elite NFL passers. The problem with his 2025 MVP candidacy? His team's schedule, especially in the first half of the season. Seven of Detroit's first 10 opponents made the playoffs in 2024. The Lions also face the (seemingly improved) Bears and Bengals during that stretch, giving them nine contests against playoff-caliber teams through Week 11. Now you know why Goff's MVP price is higher than Purdy's: The latter has a much easier path to MVP contention. Baker Mayfield +3400 Baker Mayfield has posted numbers similar to Goff the last two seasons. However, the Tampa Bay quarterback has a much easier 2025 schedule — in large part because the NFC South is arguably the NFL's weakest division, while the NFC North is the toughest. Matthew Stafford +4000 The Rams' Matthew Stafford is getting up there in age, but it's not inconceivable that he could lead the league in touchdown passes this year — especially with a wide receiver corps headlined by a healthy Puka Nacua and veteran Davante Adams, who is an upgrade over Cooper Kupp. J.J. McCarthy +7500 The Vikings' J.J. McCarthy is a Hail Mary MVP longshot. Remember, though, head coach Kevin O'Connell's not only resurrected Sam Darnold in 2024, he got 14 wins and an MVP-quality season out of the former No. 1 pick. McCarthy, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, takes over a loaded offense. Also, his coach is one of the league's best play-callers. In other words, McCarthy has the potential to put up huge numbers for a legit playoff contender. These 5 Longshot NFL MVP Candidates Offer Good Betting Value first appeared on The Spun on Aug 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Auburn's claim of 7 football titles is a throwback to a flawed system. Don't blame the Tigers
Not so long ago, in a land not so far away, what sounds like a fairy tale was reality. An SEC team won every game it played. It beat four top 15 teams. Only two wins came by single digits. The BCS computers said, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' and tapped undefeated USC and Oklahoma teams to play for the national title. Advertisement That was 2004. Two decades later, Auburn is — why now? who knows! — rewriting history. Tuesday, it announced plans to recognize that 2004 team as a national champion, one of seven new titles the program will now commemorate. With one decision, it also added national championships 1910, 1913, 1914, 1958, 1983 and 1993, taking it from two to nine all time. It might be absurd. But I say let Auburn cook. College football has never made sense. It's never been fair that a team can win every game on its schedule and not get to compete for a national title on the field. It's infuriating. It's unlike other sports. It'll likely never happen again after the College Football Playoff expanded from four teams to 12, a new world from the two-team BCS National Championship Game that locked out Auburn 21 years ago. Auburn's decision Tuesday harkens back to a bygone era of the sport, where national championships could routinely be claimed and disputed. Ironically, in 2017, Auburn failed to end UCF's undefeated season in the Peach Bowl, which gave the Knights the impetus to controversially hang '2017 National Champions' signage in the Bounce House after the season. Auburn, welcome to the club. 'For too long, Auburn has chosen a humble approach to our program's storied history — choosing to only recognize Associated Press National Championships,' athletic director John Cohen said. 'Starting this fall, we have made the decision to honor the accomplishments of our deserving student-athletes, coaches, and teams from Auburn's proud history.' The 2004 team, led by future first-round picks Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams, could make a case. Not all of the seven new titles are as legitimate. In 1993, Terry Bowden led the Tigers to an undefeated season, but the program was under NCAA sanctions and unrecognized by the coaches' poll and bowl games. It ranked fourth in the AP Top 25. Advertisement I'll begrudgingly allow it. The 1910 Auburn team, which went 6-1, was named champion by the Maxwell Ratings and College Football Rankings. It's important to note that neither of these rankings existed at the time. They're run by Loren Maxwell and Kyle Matschke. They are not grizzled pre-World War I college football sickos who died decades ago. They're men living in 2025 who built ratings systems and crowned retroactive champions. Now, a school is recognizing them. The same is true of the Howell Ratings System, which gave Auburn the 1914 title. Auburn lost a game in 1910. Champion Pitt did not. It tied a game in 1914. Champion Army was unbeaten and untied. But a sport with no one in charge has no mechanisms to prevent teams from claiming titles out of thin air. And while the legitimacy of Auburn's titles is questionable, it's not like those teams went head to head. There's at least some debate, even if it's being spawned by ratings models decades later. It's all silly, but credit to Auburn for recognizing it and giving their program more things to celebrate and honor from the past. Don't hate the player. Hate the game. Alabama fans — so long as no one takes a closer look at the dubious claims behind many of their 18 titles — will laugh. So will fans of other rivals like Georgia. Anyone associated with Auburn should ignore the complaints and derision and join the parade. Hundreds of players from the proudest teams in Auburn history are more revered than they were yesterday. Ultimately, that's what this is about. That and making Jordan-Hare Stadium feel a little cooler and more historic. Come and take the signage down. Try it. They'll just put it back up again. Auburn got a little prouder on Tuesday. And there's nothing anybody can do to change that. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Final preseason SEC Power Rankings
The college football season is just days away. Texas begins its second season in the SEC and the expectations are sky high for the Longhorns. Texas and Georgia again look to be the cream of the crop in the best conference in the sport. But what about the rest of the conference? In addition to UT and UGA, Tennessee also made the college football playoffs last season. Will the Vols take a step back after losing QB Nico Iamaleava to the transfer portal? Alabama and Ole Miss came close to making the playoff. Both could be better in 2025. The Sooners look improved with new QB John Mateer under center. The Aggies hope to be better. As does LSU, who could either compete for the title or fall flat again down the stretch. So much will depend on the quarterbacks. Many return, like Florida's DJ Lagway and Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia. Some teams feature new QBs, like Texas and Georgia. Here are the final 2025 preseason SEC Power Rankings: 16. Mississippi State Bulldogs The Bulldogs were the last place team in the SEC last season and it shouldn't change in 2025. Head coach Jeff Lebby seems in over his head. In 2024, Mississippi State finished the SEC season 0-8. The Bulldogs also got blown out by Toledo, 41-17. QB Blake Shapen is back after missing much of last season to injury. 15. Kentucky Wildcats Head coach Mark Stoops and the Wildcats put a scare in some teams last season, but in the end finished an abysmal 1-7 in the league. Stoops has brought in former Aggies QB Zach Calzada through the transfer portal, but there aren't many winnable conference games for the 'Cats. 14. Arkansas Razorbacks The Hogs finished with a winning record last season, but finished 3-5 in the SEC. Quarterback Taylen Green is back and Arkansas should be around a .500 team again. But the schedule is tough with Texas, A&M and Ole Miss on the schedule. Plus the Razorbacks play Notre Dame out of conference. 13. Vanderbilt Commodores Vandy was a surprise last season behind QB Diego Pavia. The Commodores finished the season with a winning record and a huge upset of Alabama. Vanderbilt gave Texas a huge scare in Nashville as well. But there won't be a surprise this season and with all of the good vibes, Vandy still finished 3-5 in the SEC. 12. Auburn Tigers Head coach Huge Freeze has had a rocky offseason and now is pinning Auburn's hopes on former Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold. Arnold was abject last season in Norman, but maybe a change of scenery will help. The defense should be solid thanks to future first rounders EDGE Keldric Faulk and DB Jay Crawford. 11. Tennessee Volunteers Look for the Vols to take a step back in 2025. The messy departure of QB Nico Iamaleava could reverberate throughout the season. Former Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar should be solid for coach Josh Heupel. But he doesn't have the elite skills required to win in the SEC. 10. Texas A&M Aggies It is year two of the Mike Elko era Aggieland. A&M was decent last season, but struggled against the upper tier of the conference. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed should be improved. But the Aggies have a tough schedule that culminates in Austin. 9. Oklahoma Sooners OU should be better this season. Just the addition of former Washington State QB John Mateer through the transfer portal should help the offense. OU had a solid defense last season and that should stay the same. But if the Sooners can't keep up again on offense it will be another long season. 8. Missouri Tigers The Tigers have been a consistently good team under coach Eliah Drinkwitz. Mizzou leans into the transfer portal. Starting QB Beau Pribula comes from Penn State. Missouri will jump up and get a big upset at some point this season. Alabama, A&M and South Carolina all must travel to Columbia. 7. Florida Gators Florida's 2024 season was headed for disaster. But behind dynamic QB DJ Lagway, the Gators scored late season upsets of LSU and Ole Miss. UF coach Billy Napier will hope Lagway can push the Gators over the line a few more times this season. Florida will open its SEC season hosting Texas. 6. LSU Tigers LSU has enough talent to win the SEC, Brian Kelly's teams tend to disappoint. QB Garrett Nussmeier is purported to be a Heisman candidate. The Tigers conference schedule is tough. Just like last season, LSU will be tested in Week 1 with a trip to Clemson that could set the trajectory of the season. 5. Ole Miss Rebels Lane Kiffin seems to be building something in Oxford. Last year, Ole Miss just missed the college football playoffs. Ole Miss knocked off Georgia and South Carolina last season. But losses to LSU and Florida were killers. Kiffin hit the portal to reload at receiver and beef up the defense. 4. South Carolina Gamecocks A pleasant surprise last season, the Gamecocks look to build on 2024. QB LaNorris Sellers is a unique talent and should help the Gamecocks navigate a tricky schedule that includes home games against Alabama and Clemson, with road games at Texas A&M and LSU. 3. Alabama Crimson Tide The Tide's three SEC losses last season were all shocking in their own way. Obviously, no one expected 'Bama to lose to Vanderbilt or Oklahoma. The OU loss cost Alabama a college football playoff berth. Ty Simpson will be the Crimson Tide's starting QB. The junior has waited three seasons for his turn. 2. Georgia Bulldogs It is tight between Georgia and Texas at the top of the SEC. Last year, Georgia beat Texas twice. It seems the Longhorns have more talent this season, but the Horns must travel to Athens to face the Bulldogs this year. So much of Georgia's season depends on QB Gunner Stockton. 1. Texas Longhorns The Longhorns look loaded. The defense could be the best in the country with three All-Americans, one on each position group. Arch Manning takes over a QB. What he might lack in experience he should make up for in arm strength and speed. Could coach Steve Sarkisian finally win a national title? This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: SEC Power Rankings: Final preseason ranking 1 to 16
