Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze gets his first taste of a big rivalry game with his new program this weekend when the Tigers host No. 1 Georgia on Saturday afternoon.
This rivalry has long been a heated one and dates all the way back to 1892. Georgia has won the last six meetings and are 14.5 favorites to win on the road this week.
How is Freeze, whose team lost to Texas A&M last week, firing up his squad and fanbase for this huge game? He’s preaching love vs. hate, saying on Monday, “We should compete out of love for our people, not out of hate for other people.”
Here’s his full quote:
Full quote: pic.twitter.com/vtsRcHmAvo
— Nathan King (@NathanKing247) September 25, 2023
Fans roasted him:
This will be the moment Auburn fans turn on Hugh Freeze https://t.co/NHZKY0JKUM
— Bobby Reagan (@BarstoolReags) September 25, 2023
Careful, Hugh...this is how you snap your fingers and lose an entire fanbase. Tread lightly https://t.co/uAWIiNw1ID
— AU_Propaganda (@AuPropaganda) September 25, 2023
What in the “Champions of Life” mindset is going on here? https://t.co/BQOlDfdWec
— caleb (@autigerfan22) September 25, 2023
he used the same line about the egg bowl and all it did was motivate everyone to hate each other louder https://t.co/0rcn0UsgQI
— Alex McDaniel (@AlexMcDaniel) September 25, 2023
Hugh Freeze is the “I just hope both teams have fun” meme come to life. https://t.co/39D7MkihZ3
— Brandon Adams (@DawgNationDaily) September 25, 2023
“This is our oldest rivalry so can you please not do any of your cheesy, youth pastor bits this week?”
— Braves Not Cheating Truther (@WhitebreadPanic) September 25, 2023
Hugh Freeze: https://t.co/0gUkMZE92R pic.twitter.com/LeVr8qtqkG
Not sure this youth pastor energy is quite what I’m looking for with the UGA death machine headed to town https://t.co/dUCU3EPQOt
— Dave, Friend of the Program (@FOTPDave) September 25, 2023
The line just moved another 27 points in favor of Georgia. https://t.co/6BQgTzxXnM
— Pablo Escobarner (blue chek) (@PabloEscoburner) September 25, 2023
Fire Hugh Freeze https://t.co/HFso8J1R7p
— esoteric (@Im_aSuperhero) September 25, 2023
I don't even understand these words https://t.co/K9lQhf1LVg
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) September 25, 2023
What the hell does this even mean, Hugh? https://t.co/wUbbLSdV7z
— AD, Esq. (@ADSmith_9) September 25, 2023
Hugh's about to find out that Auburn fans aren't going to love going 7-5 in the SEC https://t.co/TAEABabxDB
— Kevin Wall (@kwallcuse) September 25, 2023