What Hugh Freeze said during the A-Day press conference

We’re live in the media room under Jordan-Hare Stadium for Hugh Freeze’s press conference to recap the 2023 A-Day scrimmage. Alex McPherson hit a 33-yard field goal at the buzzer on a windy and rainy Saturday as the game ended 24-24 tie.

Auburn’s defense started with 24 points, and the offense’s objective was to catch up. Robby Ashford scored the first touchdown on a designed quarterback run. Running back Justin Jones had a touchdown. Evan McGuire hit a 19-yard field goal. McPherson also had a 39-yarder.

The game was abbreviated because of continuous rain showers on a day that felt more like a late October or early November game rather than a spring game. Freeze will address the team’s progress. We’ll have updates here on AL.com/auburnfootball.

-- Freeze opened the press conference by thanking the fans and the Tiger band for showing up. Despite the cold and rainy day, Auburn announced attendance of over 16,000 fans.

“First, man, thanks to our fans, the band, and everyone that weathered the conditions to come out and support our players today. Appreciate that very much. I know that was kinda my first spring game to have those types of conditions,” Freeze said. “Certainly appreciate you guys being here to cover it all. We also think we got through it without anybody being injured, which is always a plus. I thought it was a solid day — some good things and some not-so-good things, of course.”

But overall, I thought our first spring and the first 15 days that our kids gave us it was great energy and great effort. I think we took the right step toward building some foundational things that we will have to lean on to compete next year in this league. I’m pleased. Pleased. Like our staff, I think we can take a lot of good from the 15 days.

-- Freeze says he feels about the quarterback position now than he did 15 days ago before spring camp. He also said a lot more needs to happen before fall camp when it comes to picking a quarterback.

I feel better than I did 15 practices ago. I think that from this point now until the end of fall camp, there’s so much that needs to happen for somebody to solidify being the guy. And I think all have improved. I think all are still inconsistent with some things.

Man, we really wanted to throw that ball around today. And it would’ve been really ugly with probably a lot of 3-and-outs had we tried to do that.

“But, you know, I think Robby got better. He’s really been fun to coach. And I think he’s trying to change some of the things that may have caused — at least me concern — being the quarterback and the leader, whether it be body language or ball security or your demeanor in general, the way you talk, the way you talk to your teammates. I don’t know if anybody has really challenged him like I did this spring with that. I thought all three of them responded to our challenges and were like, ‘Coach, just please coach me.’ I think you saw today that he’s capable of making some plays. Thought he threw a really good seam ball in those conditions. Can’t remember if we threw it any more with him.”

“But I thought Holden threw some good balls. He missed a couple of reads on some RPOs, I think. T.J. did, too. But it’s been that way all spring — some real positives and some inconsistencies the next day. We’ve still got time to help them improve, hopefully.”

-- “I don’t know if anyone’s really challenged him like I did this Spring,” Freeze on Robby Ashford’s progress. “I thought he threw a really good seam ball in those conditions.”

-- “Overall, we’re running the ball fairly well and getting the dirty yards from our backs,” Freez said, improving the running game.

-- “Damari Alston, I didn’t give enough credit to him coming into this job. But he’s had one heck of a spring for us,” Freeze on Alston, who had 43 yards on five touches.

-- Hugh Freeze says he’s open to taking players from the portal, including the quarterback position.

“We are open to any position who might fit within our team and the culture, including the quarterback position...I think competition is helpful”- Freeze on the transfer portal.

-- “Im cautiously optimistic that we’re gonna have a decent offensive line; in this league, you can have a decent one and still look bad at times.” - Freeze on the offensive line.

-- It obviously changed,” Freeze on a rainy day. “But, you know, we might have a game or two next year where it’s that way, and so we can lean back on this experience. But like I said earlier, we had met offensively yesterday and really had said, ‘Man, let’s see who can throw this thing, and who can catch it, and who can get open.’ So that was really the only change. That probably wasn’t the most feasible thing to do today.”

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.

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