The A-Gap: Will Hugh Freeze be invited back to Ole Miss one day? Sure he will
This question was posted on Twitter Monday by AP sports writer David Brandt:
It's 2025. Ole Miss is celebrating the 10-year anniversary for its Sugar Bowl win with a halftime ceremony. Will (Hugh) Freeze be invited?
Nearly 1,700 people voted, and 32 percent said there was not a chance. Only 23 percent said absolutely, Freeze would be afforded that opportunity.
I'm with the latter, and the reason why is Billy Brewer.
Brewer was the coach at Ole Miss when the NCAA leveled the program — a two-year bowl ban, one-year TV ban, four years of probation, loss of 24 scholarships and a reduction of official visits. Most connect the penalties to at least part of the reason why Peyton Manning signed with Tennessee and not Archie's Ole Miss.
And I was there that day 17 years later when, amidst a terrible, no-good season, Brewer walked out to the 50-yard line at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and was warmly received as one of the newest inductees into the M-Club Hall of Fame.
There was some amazement in the press box at the reaction of the fans, given the state of the program when Brewer left. But, as I said that day, family is family.
Hugh Freeze is not Billy Brewer, a former player who came back to be the head coach, but the point is the same.
Ole Miss fans have already decided the entire NCAA process is a sham, a conspiracy, or both. The penalties are not going to dissuade them from that notion. And even the night of July 20, with Freeze resigning amid a sex scandal, he had his defenders. They'll grow as time and distance from the events grow, I'd suspect. This is the SEC: you hate your rival for life, but even the biggest grudge against kinfolk will be one day forgiven.
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Is he ever going to be Brewer, a consistent presence around Oxford in the decades since his coaching career ended? I'd suspect not — Freeze is 47 years old, and surely going to try to coach again (whether or not he's successful in that venture is a whole other debate).
But in 10 years, when Ole Miss fans want to remember that 2015 season, they'll want to see Laquon Treadwell. They'll want to watch Chad Kelly come out and wave to them. And it'll feel wrong to them if Freeze, who built that team, is not a part of it. So, yeah, he'll be invited, and he'll probably come.
- Good for Rodney Hood
Rodney Hood, now one of the stars of the Utah Jazz, came back to Meridian on Sunday and hosted a free basketball camp for the kids from his hometown. It's something he has done for several years now, and an awesome gesture. And our Annie Costabile was there to show you what was going on. Check it out.
- At Ole Miss camp
Former Morton prospect D.D. Bowie was definitely convinced he had a chance to play early at Ole Miss, and was open to moving to cornerback. So far he's earning his shot there, which leads Antonio Morales' early training camp observations.
- At Mississippi State camp
Mississippi State already felt pretty good about its cornerbacks. But if Cam Dantzler is as good as people are telling Will Sammon he is, the Bulldogs can be better than good at the position.
- The Committable Offer
On today's show it'll be Jackson State beat writer and golf columnist Tyler Cleveland. We'll talk about the Tigers, and the PGA Championship. We may even talk about Game of Thrones, because I'm still conflicted about some things. As always you can watch live at noon here.