Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

12/7/2011 at 9:31am

Hugh Freeze has plenty of work to do if he hopes to win at Ole Miss. But he took the first step toward building a winner by winning his introductory press conference.

Locals who saw Freeze in action while guiding Arkansas State to 10 wins, a Sun Belt Conference title and a GoDaddy.Com Bowl berth probably won’t be surprised by press reaction following Monday’s announcement:

Geoff Calkins, Commercial Appeal

So does Freeze have it?

I have no idea. But if he doesn’t, it’s not because he didn’t spend the last decade holding a clipboard at Alabama or LSU.

Indeed, which is harder, rising through the ranks as an assistant at a BCS school, or going from Briarcrest to the big time the way that Freeze did?

Answer: Freeze’s path is harder. And by harder, I mean nearly impossible.

The guy won state titles in football and basketball at Briarcrest. That had never been done before.

He went an astonishing 20-5 at Lambuth, including 11-0 in his second regular season. That had never been done before.

He went 10-2 at Arkansas State, including a perfect 8-0 in the Sun Belt. That had never been done before.

Hugh Kellenberger, Jackson Clarion Ledger

It never is as simple as it sounds during that introductory press conference, but Freeze hit all the right notes on Monday while speaking to a crowd that witnessed the once-promising Houston Nutt tenure come crashing down this season.

Ole Miss was 2-10 this fall, the most losses in school history. It was last in total defense and points allowed in the SEC, and 11th in scoring and total offense.

"I understand where things are," Freeze said. "I told our team today that we are in the wilderness. ... We have to realize why we are here, and we have to realize how we are going to get out."

Mike Herndon, Mobile Press Register

 

One day into the Hugh Freeze regime at Ole Miss, one thing is certain -- the man knows how to work a room and wow a selection committee.

If he can work the same kind of magic on the field and lead this downtrodden program out of the wilderness, there will be plenty of hallelujahs to go around. If he can't, the Rebels will be second-guessed from here to kingdom come.

Ron Higgins, Commercial Appeal

Freeze is known for his persuasive recruiting and no-huddle spread offense. Arkansas State currently ranks 25th in the FBS in total offense (453.4 yards per game), 28th in scoring offense (33.5 points per game) and 17th in passing offense (288.7 ypg). ASU is one of only two teams in the NCAA to lead its conference in both total offense and defense.

"We want to play that same fast break offense here," Freeze said.

Parrish Alford, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

I knew Hugh Freeze when he was an assistant to Ed Orgeron, but I didn't really KNOW Hugh Freeze.

I never saw Hugh Freeze grab the mike and have church like he did today at his celebration/presser.

Watching Freeze address the crowd and talk about his vision for Ole Miss football it's not hard to see the “wow” factor that Archie Manning says he saw.

Kellenberger, Clarion Ledger

[Freeze] in response to a question about the importance of the Egg Bowl:

“It’s not big, it’s paramount. I have great respect for the job he’s done there and certainly take nothing away from that job but being raised here, I have a quite good understanding of what that means. The administration doesn’t have to tell me that.

“… Again, great respect for what they’ve done but it’s about us regaining the momentum.”

If you’ll notice, Mullen was he. Mississippi State was they. And there was a not so subtle dig at Nutt thrown in.

Maybe it was just giving the people what they want. Maybe Freeze truly means it. Either way, the crowd at the Ford Center ate it up.

Now Freeze turns his attention to winning games.

Tagged: Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss Rebels, Arkansas State Red Wolves, Geoff Calkins, Ron Higgins, Parrish Alford, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Ed Orgeron, Houston Nutt, Mobile Press Register, memphis commercial appeal