Hugh Freeze, Auburn reveals unique A-Day format

Get ready to experience A-Day in a new way this Saturday.

Auburn head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has not been shy when it comes to sharing his thoughts about spring games because they give fans a false sense of what to expect from the team.

“Unrealistic expectations lead to frustration,” Freeze said this week. “I don’t want anybody to be frustrated. Don’t want to show too much of what we think we might be really good at. There’s nothing on tape of what this new staff is exactly like.”

He has even gone as far as saying that he hopes to one day schedule a spring scrimmage against an in-state team rather than pitting teammates against themselves.

He cannot do that yet, so he will do the next best thing… alter the current model.

This season’s spring game, which will take place on Saturday, April 8 at Jordan-Hare Stadium, will have a running 60-minute clock with no quarters. The concept seems fun itself, but the kicker is even better.

The defense begins the game with a 24-0 lead.

Freeze calls it “the best format I know,” and says it provides motivation for each side of the ball to win the game.

“If the defense can hold the offenses to under that number of points the defense wins the spring game, and they’ll get to eat steak and the losers will eat a hot dog,” Freeze said.

In addition to the unique format, Freeze says fans will see more contact in this season’s A-Day game than in years past.

“They’re going to see us hit. They’re going to see us tackle. They’re going to see people run the ball and throw the ball,” Freeze said. “Will it be exactly the same that they see this fall? I sure hope not. I hope it’s better and probably a little different. I want to prepare the Auburn family that we’re going to do the best we can to hopefully give them a game I hope they can enjoy.”

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A-Day 2023 will begin at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday afternoon at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

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