Liberty Flames head coach Hugh Freeze. James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Freeze frame: Why has Auburn's coaching search crawled to a halt?

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 11/28/22

Forty-eight hours after it was reported that Auburn had zeroed in on Hugh Freeze as its next head coach, all is quiet on the Tigers front.

Per On3's Steve Samra, "It's indisputable things aren't going according to plan at the moment."

On Saturday, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported there was a mutual attraction between Auburn and Liberty head coach Freeze. The only thing heard from the football program since has been crickets as no official announcement has been made.

It begs the question: Is Auburn having second thoughts about going through with the hire, or is it that the program is biding its time as it readies to do damage control with a controversial hire? Is there a mystery third candidate the Tigers will look to explore?

Hearing pushback on Auburn administration re fb hire now that Lane is staying at Ole Miss. Plan A was Lane; Plan B was Freeze. Don't know if Auburn had a Plan C. Bears watching.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) November 28, 2022

It's hard to believe that those in charge of the coaching search thought there would be unanimous praise for hiring a coach as polarizing as Freeze. His tenure at Ole Miss ended in disgrace. Winning cures all, but Freeze hasn't done it enough to be considered a "must-hire" candidate. In five seasons as Ole Miss coach, he averaged five losses a season.

In what looked like his final game as Liberty coach this past Saturday, the Flames were snuffed out in an embarrassing 49-14 loss to New Mexico State (5-6). In the waning moments of the game, fans were heard chanting "Go to Auburn!"

Deigo Pavia to Kordell David on a 42-yard scoring strike.

New Mexico State 28, Liberty 7

43 seconds left in the first half

There is no emotion on the Liberty sideline. You can hear chants of "Go to Auburn" up here in the press box.
— Damien Sordelett (@DamienSordelett) November 26, 2022