re: New OC & DC after first year; embarrassing loss to mid major; .500 regular season; and…

I don't think it is a good idea to compare Hugh Freeze and this Auburn team to Nick Saban and Alabama. And we are not in a position to go 12-0 next year. But there are plenty of examples of coaches starting off their first year with a below average season and working up from there, and the level of recruiting from this year is a huge step in the right direction.

Hugh Freeze won 7, 8, 9, and then 10 games his first 4 seasons at Ole Miss. Mike Norvell won 3, 5, 10, and then 13 games his first 4 seasons at FSU. Lane Kiffen also had a below .500 season his first year at Ole Miss. Eliah Drinkwitz took until his fourth season. Now most of those guys aren't even recruiting at high level, and maybe Drinkwitz is a one hit wonder this year, but most of them hit the portal hard and it took them a few years to get the right pieces in places.

All of that to say there is good reason to have patience with a coach that is recruiting at a high level and has proven he can win at his other stops. We have to keep the momentum going in 2024 though and win at least 8 games in my opinion. Getting the coordinators correct though is a big deal, especially on the defensive side of the ball. We need to find some stability there.