Alabama Crimson Tide message boards indicate that many Alabama football fans are hoping the Auburn Tigers will retain Hugh Freeze. Given the mess that the Auburn football is in, such hope has felt like folly.
Recent rumors suggest that Auburn may have swung toward retaining Freeze. Apparently, there are two main reasons why some Auburn power brokers and John Cohen want to give Freeze more time. One reason is they believe, if not for incompetent officiating, that Auburn would currently be 5-2, rather than 3-4.
The other rumored reason is more anchored to reality. It is that Freeze is right that Auburn is 'close' to turning a corner, the roster upheaval from a coaching staff transition should not be risked. It is believed that with the help of increased NIL funding, Auburn invested heavily in this season's roster. Whatever decision is made about Freeze, the Tigers will likely lose some top players to transfer. But if the transfer losses are fewer by retaining Freeze, then dipping into the NIL well again will not be as challenging.
Another wrinkle to this conjecture is that on Monday, Hugh Freeze publicly asked John Cohen for a vote of confidence. So far, Cohen has not complied. Auburn's Board and influential others might be entrenched in a split about Freeze, and Cohen is sensibly being tight-lipped.
Another rumor is more sketchy. It is that Auburn is looking to come to terms with a Freeze replacement before announcing Freeze's exit. Supposedly, Cohen is prepared to wait until the open week after the Vanderbilt game. Such a delay could mean Auburn's record is then 4-6, after losses to Arkansas and Vanderbilt.
Alabama football fans have some hope
The rumor Alabama football fans most enjoy is that if Freeze reaches seven wins, he will return for next season. Only a thin hope can be held that the Tigers will reach seven wins. Beating Kentucky and Mercer would give the Tigers five wins. Two more wins would have to come from games at Arkansas, at Vandy, and the Jordan-Hare Iron Bowl.
One more rumor is that with a loss, either in Fayetteville or Nashville, Auburn will pull the plug on Freeze. What irony it would be if that happened with the winning, opposing coach being Bobby Petrino.