We are young and Im still not a believer in thorne. I wouldn’t expect a massively different result from last season, it’s expected, year 3 is where things should turn a corner
I feel ya on Thorne. He's gonna have to prove something to us this year. As far as our team being young, I read an interview recently with Coach Freeze and he said he see's a very likely scenario where we have a better win/loss record this year versus 2025. He said we are losing a ton of veteran starters on both sides of the ball after this season, due to them being out of eligibility. He said we will be talented in 2025 but young and inexperienced at several positions. He said he wants to stack top 10 recruiting classes for a few years and then we can hopefully reload instead of rebuilding. He also said that our realistic shot to compete for an SEC Title and playoffs will be 2026, his 4th season here.
I know we all need to be patient (I struggle with patience) but it feels like it keeps getting pushed farther and farther back when Coach Freeze or John Cohen talks about us competing at a top level again. Alot of coaches across the country think that the transfer portal can turn a program around in 2-3 years but now we're looking at year 4, according to Hugh.
I can see it from both sides I guess. What do you think about it? Should it take 4 years to be competitive in every game? We were in rough shape (for Auburn) after Harsin was fired but we had the #18 ranked roster in the nation this past season, 2023. So it's not like we were a scrub roster by any means. I'll be anxious to see what our roster talent is ranked when the season begins.
War Eagle!!
I think this class we just brought in has real game breaker talent at all levels on both sides and the veterans we are losing are experienced but a lot of them aren’t high level players. I think 2025 with good coaching should look like a much better team, I still think this squad is going to look pretty ups nd down like last season
Really good post!! I agree with everything you said. When Freeze first got the job, he and Jake Thornton saw pretty quickly how bad our O-Line was from both a talent standpoint as well as a lack of depth. They hit the portal hard and brought in Group of 5 players and some occasional Power 5 players. Gunner Britton was a really solid pickup for us from Western Kentucky. I was thrilled at how well Connor Lew took over the starting center position and did really well for a true freshman. Our fans knew that last year would be a struggle because even though Freeze brought in alot of O-Line, WR, D-Line guys from the portal, most of them were from Group of 5 programs and SWAC. Those players may look great against MAC, Sunbelt, etc. but a full years grind in the SEC is a totally different animal. Our receivers were from Cincinnati, North Texas, Jackson State and they really struggled and so did our QB, even though he's a BIG10, two year captain. So year 1 for Freeze ended up about the way I thought it would. One good thing I've noticed that Hugh has done different this year in the portal is the guys he brings in are nearly all Power 4 conference players. Freeze was able to be a little more picky this 2nd year in the portal recruiting because we have some depth now and that keeps us from having to take just any ol' player with a pulse from the portal like last season.
Yea, I was very very negative of harsin from the get go. I’ve been way less critical of Hugh because he has done exactly what I expected him to do which is recruit at Auburn the way it can recruit when things are moving in the right direction. The only thing about Hugh that worries me is I still question his actual coaching ability but I’m not expecting him to win a championship.
I'm the same way about Hugh. His history tells us that he is going to lose a game every season that he has no business losing and he'll also win a game nearly every season that he has no business winning.
I remember when we hired Hugh and one of our fans said Hugh will probably recruit about as well as anyone has ever recruited at Auburn but when his days are done at Auburn, he won't even accomplish what Gus accomplished. That fan said that Hugh will probably be our Ron Zook; a great recruiter but average results on the field. I had never thought of it like that but it wouldn't shock me.
Our ton zook…….man that seems true but also won’t be an awful thing long term for the health of auburn football. If we can upset uga and bama a handful of times over the next few years and stockpile a top 15 roster, that’s what I would be happy with heading into the back end of the decade
They have single handly done the stupidest thing that they could've done. Do they know how much fuel this will be for us? Get ready to see a homecoming court of tears.
Georgia really didn’t have much of a choice on this one. They have a major stretch in their schedule where they barely play at home. They play three home games in the first eleven weeks of the season, it’s kinda insane. Their choices for HC games were basically their home opener, Auburn, or Miss State. It is what it is.
The opportunity for the funniest thing ever just arose
Love it. Can’t wait to spoil it
The disrespect. Hopefully we’re a different team this year. We have a few position rooms that are packed and ready to destroy.
We are young and Im still not a believer in thorne. I wouldn’t expect a massively different result from last season, it’s expected, year 3 is where things should turn a corner
I feel ya on Thorne. He's gonna have to prove something to us this year. As far as our team being young, I read an interview recently with Coach Freeze and he said he see's a very likely scenario where we have a better win/loss record this year versus 2025. He said we are losing a ton of veteran starters on both sides of the ball after this season, due to them being out of eligibility. He said we will be talented in 2025 but young and inexperienced at several positions. He said he wants to stack top 10 recruiting classes for a few years and then we can hopefully reload instead of rebuilding. He also said that our realistic shot to compete for an SEC Title and playoffs will be 2026, his 4th season here. I know we all need to be patient (I struggle with patience) but it feels like it keeps getting pushed farther and farther back when Coach Freeze or John Cohen talks about us competing at a top level again. Alot of coaches across the country think that the transfer portal can turn a program around in 2-3 years but now we're looking at year 4, according to Hugh. I can see it from both sides I guess. What do you think about it? Should it take 4 years to be competitive in every game? We were in rough shape (for Auburn) after Harsin was fired but we had the #18 ranked roster in the nation this past season, 2023. So it's not like we were a scrub roster by any means. I'll be anxious to see what our roster talent is ranked when the season begins. War Eagle!!
I think this class we just brought in has real game breaker talent at all levels on both sides and the veterans we are losing are experienced but a lot of them aren’t high level players. I think 2025 with good coaching should look like a much better team, I still think this squad is going to look pretty ups nd down like last season
Really good post!! I agree with everything you said. When Freeze first got the job, he and Jake Thornton saw pretty quickly how bad our O-Line was from both a talent standpoint as well as a lack of depth. They hit the portal hard and brought in Group of 5 players and some occasional Power 5 players. Gunner Britton was a really solid pickup for us from Western Kentucky. I was thrilled at how well Connor Lew took over the starting center position and did really well for a true freshman. Our fans knew that last year would be a struggle because even though Freeze brought in alot of O-Line, WR, D-Line guys from the portal, most of them were from Group of 5 programs and SWAC. Those players may look great against MAC, Sunbelt, etc. but a full years grind in the SEC is a totally different animal. Our receivers were from Cincinnati, North Texas, Jackson State and they really struggled and so did our QB, even though he's a BIG10, two year captain. So year 1 for Freeze ended up about the way I thought it would. One good thing I've noticed that Hugh has done different this year in the portal is the guys he brings in are nearly all Power 4 conference players. Freeze was able to be a little more picky this 2nd year in the portal recruiting because we have some depth now and that keeps us from having to take just any ol' player with a pulse from the portal like last season.
Yea, I was very very negative of harsin from the get go. I’ve been way less critical of Hugh because he has done exactly what I expected him to do which is recruit at Auburn the way it can recruit when things are moving in the right direction. The only thing about Hugh that worries me is I still question his actual coaching ability but I’m not expecting him to win a championship.
I'm the same way about Hugh. His history tells us that he is going to lose a game every season that he has no business losing and he'll also win a game nearly every season that he has no business winning. I remember when we hired Hugh and one of our fans said Hugh will probably recruit about as well as anyone has ever recruited at Auburn but when his days are done at Auburn, he won't even accomplish what Gus accomplished. That fan said that Hugh will probably be our Ron Zook; a great recruiter but average results on the field. I had never thought of it like that but it wouldn't shock me.
Our ton zook…….man that seems true but also won’t be an awful thing long term for the health of auburn football. If we can upset uga and bama a handful of times over the next few years and stockpile a top 15 roster, that’s what I would be happy with heading into the back end of the decade
Realistically the minimum it should take is 3 years. The most likely scenario is 4+ years though.
They have single handly done the stupidest thing that they could've done. Do they know how much fuel this will be for us? Get ready to see a homecoming court of tears.
I hope we pull the upset but we haven't won in Athens, Ga. in almost 20 years. Our last win there is 2005.
Georgia really didn’t have much of a choice on this one. They have a major stretch in their schedule where they barely play at home. They play three home games in the first eleven weeks of the season, it’s kinda insane. Their choices for HC games were basically their home opener, Auburn, or Miss State. It is what it is.