Tag: Cadillac Williams

Auburn’s championship week outlook according to College Football News

Is there an outside chance that Auburn could earn a bowl bid?

The regular season has come to a close. Let’s take a look at Auburn’s weekly outlook according to the experts at College Football News.

Auburn closed the regular season on Saturday by falling to rival Alabama, 49-27. Auburn had a great day running the football, as it posted 318 rushing yards. Running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] and quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] each rushed for more than 100 yards, posting 134 and 121 yards, respectively.

Ashford rushed for two scores, becoming the first Tiger since interim head coach [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag] in 2003 to rush for multiple touchdowns.

The loss dropped Auburn’s record to 5-7. Despite not gaining bowl eligibility, College Football News wrote there is still a way for the Tigers to go bowling.

How did Auburn’s loss to Alabama affect its placement within College Football News’ rankings and bowl projections? Here’s a look at where Auburn lands ahead of “Championship Saturday.”

Williams ‘not upset’ about interim tag not being removed

Interim head coach Cadillac Williams says that he interviewed for the head coaching job at his alma mater, but is not bitter about the result.

By the end of the 2022 season, a bulk of Auburn’s fan base rallied for [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag] to become the permanent head coach of the Tiger’s football program.

It is easy to see why. Williams led Auburn to a 2-2 record over the final four games. He brought energy to an exhausted roster, and developed Auburn’s running game to a new level. Auburn closed the season with two 100-yard rushers in each of its last three games. The Tigers rushed for 318 yards in the loss to Alabama, which is the most the Crimson Tide has allowed in the Nick Saban era.

Once the regular season concluded, athletic director [autotag]John Cohen[/autotag] and Auburn University President [autotag]Dr. Christopher Roberts[/autotag] elected to go with experience by hiring Hugh Freeze as Auburn football’s 31st head coach. Freeze is a 10-year head coaching veteran with stops at Arkansas State, Ole Miss and Liberty.

Following Freeze’s introductory press conference on Tuesday, Williams told reporters he interviewed for the open position with Cohen, but the job went to [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag]. Williams said he was miffed to learn he had been passed over for Freeze, but that he welcomes the idea of working alongside Auburn’s newest head coach.

“Like I told them whenever they brought me the news, honestly, they looked more disappointed than me,” Williams said Tuesday. “They were like, ‘I’m sorry.’ But I’m like, I’m disappointed, (but) I’m not upset; like, I was at peace about it. I had the opportunity to talk to coach Freeze last night, and I was sold, to be honest with you.”

Williams received good news on Monday night. He was named associate head coach in addition to his role as running backs coach. He is believed to be Freeze’s first hire. Freeze said Tuesday he was impressed with the way Williams led Auburn during the final four games of the season.

“What I witnessed was what I thought was one of the most outstanding jobs of leadership that I have ever witnessed in college football,” Freeze said. “Being in this profession, I know how hard it is to finish seasons, even when you are doing well, even when you are bowl eligible. Much less finishing a season with enthusiasm and passion and desire and excitement and having fun like I witnessed when I turned on the Auburn football games. To me, it was a direct reflection of Cadillac, his leadership, and how he led the staff, and those young men, I thought, was a brilliant job.”

Williams said in a “thank you note” Tuesday that his intent was to remain at Auburn and to play a key role on the next staff. After meeting with Freeze on Monday, Williams is buying into what Freeze brings to the program.

“I’m here to serve,” Williams said. “Like I said before, my seat doesn’t dictate my service, so I am looking forward to this opportunity. I’m excited about it, and I back coach Freeze and Auburn 100%.”

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Photo Gallery: Hugh Freeze introduced as Auburn’s head coach

Take a look at Auburn’s newest head coach.

[autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] is officially in charge of the Auburn Tigers.

The Tigers announced his hiring Monday night and on Tuesday he was introduced as the head coach.

Freeze has spent over 10 years as head coach of FBS programs, spending time at Arkansas State, Ole Miss, and Liberty.

“Before I start my comments,” Freeze said at his press conference. “I’d also like to just take a few minutes too. I’m so glad that the schedule for me at the end of the year married up with being able to witness your final few games here. Because what I witnessed, I thought, was one of the most outstanding jobs of leadership that I’ve ever witnessed in college football. Being in this profession, I know how hard it is to finish seasons even when you’re doing well, even when you’re bowl eligible much less finishing a season playing with enthusiasm and passion and desire and excitement and having fun like what I witnessed when I turned on the Auburn football games. To me, it was a direct reflection of Cadillac (Williams) and his leadership and how he led the staff and those young men.”

One of the first things Freeze did was announce that not only was he retaining [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag], but he was also giving him a promotion. He is now an associate head coach as well as running backs coach.

Here are the top photos from the press conference.

Hugh Freeze: ‘I have to have Cadillac on my side’

Auburn’s interim head coach to close out the 2022 season has officially earned his role on Hugh Freeze’s staff.

Hugh Freeze wasted no time in naming the first member of his staff.

It became official Tuesday that [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag], Auburn’s interim coach for the final four games of the regular season, will remain on staff as the associate head coach in addition to his role as running backs coach.

During his introductory press conference on Tuesday, newly named Auburn head football coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] said that the decision to retain Williams was a no-brainer.

“It became easy for me when I had my meetings with John (Cohen), and Rich (McGlynn), and the other guys… I had already done my homework on people that we had in common, friends, I knew that my first priority was “I have to have Cadillac on my side to help me drive the culture of Auburn Football,” Freeze said.

Freeze said that his schedule at Liberty, as well as Auburn’s schedule, aligned perfectly to allow him the ability to watch most of the Tigers’ final regular season games. He says that he admired the way that Williams led the team during a difficult period.

“What I witnessed was what I thought was one of the most outstanding jobs of leadership that I have ever witnessed in College Football,” Freeze said. “Being in this profession, I know how hard it is to finish seasons, even when you are doing well, even when you are bowl eligible. Much less finishing a season with enthusiasm and passion and desire and excitement and having fun like I witnessed when I turned on the Auburn football games. To me, it was a direct reflection of Cadillac, his leadership, and how he led the staff, and those young men, I thought, was a brilliant job.”

Prior to Freeze’s introduction, Williams confirmed the news by sharing a “thank you note” via Twitter, showing gratitude to Jesus, Dr. Christopher Roberts, Rich McGlynn, and John Cohen, among others.

In his note, Williams said that he had the desire to remain at Auburn. After a meeting with Freeze, Williams says that he shares the same values and vision for the football program with Freeze and that he is excited to get Auburn back to its tradition of winning.

Williams is the first official hire that Freeze has made since becoming head coach. Freeze said during his press conference that many names have reached out to him in regards to joining his staff.

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Freeze is ready to bring championships to the Plains

Now that the hire of Hugh Freeze has been made official by Auburn University, Freeze says that he is ready to get to work.

Reports began surfacing Monday afternoon that Auburn had found its’ next head coach. By Monday evening around 5:23 p.m. CT, the news had become official that Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze was indeed named the head coach of the Tigers program.

Auburn University officially announced the hire of Freeze Monday after a 28-day search led by athletic director John Cohen. Cohen on Monday says that he landed his top target.

“After a thoughtful, thorough, and well-vetted search, we ended where we started, with Hugh Freeze,” Cohen said in a press release. “Of all the candidates we considered, Hugh was the best fit. Fit has several meanings, but the most important factors were student-athlete development, football strategy, recruiting, and SEC experience.”

As an FBS head coach at Arkansas State, Ole Miss, and Liberty, Freeze has built a record of 83-43, including a 34-15 record at Liberty, his most recent stop. His success both on the field, as well as in player development, is an important factor to Auburn University President Dr. Christopher Roberts.

“I’m pleased that our Athletics Director John Cohen conducted a detailed and thorough national search process, and I look forward to welcoming Hugh and Jill Freeze to the Plains,” Roberts said. “I am impressed with Coach Freeze’s focus on player development and his on-the-field success at multiple universities and at multiple levels.”

Interim head coach [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag] led Auburn to a 2-2 record during its’ time of transition. Due to that, it is expected that Williams will remain on Freeze’s staff. Although his new role with the staff has not been announced, Freeze took the time to thank Williams for his leadership. Freeze also says that he is ready to lead the Tigers to championships.

“First, I want to acknowledge Cadillac Williams for the incredible job he did as interim head coach. The impact he made is immeasurable and cannot be overstated,” Freeze said. “Secondly, Auburn is one of the preeminent programs in college football and I’m very appreciative of President Roberts and John Cohen for this opportunity at Auburn. I’ve been fortunate to witness first-hand how special Auburn is during my time as a head coach in the SEC and while visiting my daughter, Jordan, who attended Auburn and currently lives in the community. I can’t wait to work with our student-athletes and the Auburn family to bring championships back to the Plains.”

Freeze replaces Bryan Harsin, who was dismissed on Oct. 31 after building a 9-12 record since the start of the 2021 season. He becomes the third former Arkansas State head coach to lead Auburn’s program, following Harsin and his friend, [autotag]Gus Malzahn[/autotag].

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Cadillac Williams is expected to remain on staff at Auburn

According to a report, Auburn legend and interim head coach Cadillac Williams will be a part of Hugh Freeze’s staff.

After a 28-day search, Auburn has reportedly hired its next head coach.

Ex-Ole Miss and Liberty head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] has agreed to become the next head coach at Auburn according to sources, replacing [autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] who was relieved of his duties on Oct. 31 after posting a 9-12 record in a season and a half on the Plains.

Interim head coach [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag] led Auburn to a 2-2 record during his four-game stint as the coach. Although he was not the ultimate choice to remain head coach, he is expected to be retained on staff.

Jason Caldwell of Auburn Undercover says that Williams is a priority to remain on staff for Freeze, and has an offer for a “much larger role” than his original duty as running backs coach.

Auburn improved offensively under Williams’ direction, as two players rushed for over 100 yards in three-straight games for the first time in program history, and the Tigers posted 318 yards rushing against Alabama in the Iron Bowl, which is the most that the Crimson Tide has allowed under Nick Saban.

Auburn has also received two commitments under Williams’ watch, four-star DL Darron Reed and three-star DL Brenton Williams.

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Twitter reacts to Auburn losing to Alabama in the Iron Bowl

Auburn was unable to keep up with Alabama.

It wasn’t the outcome they wanted but the Auburn Tigers represented themselves well Saturday in the Iron Bowl.

Yes, they lost 49-27 to Alabama but they fought at every opportunity and continued to play hard despite having a disappointing season. [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag] likely won’t become the next head coach but he and the rest of the coaching staff deserved plenty of credit for what they did with the roster.

Auburn’s offense had another great game running the ball. They averaged 7.4 yards per carry and finished with 318 yards and two touchdowns. [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] showed just how dangerous of a runner he can be, wracking up 121 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground.

Auburn fans took to Twitter after the game to show their pride in their team.

Five takeaways from Auburn’s final game of the season against Alabama

Here are five takeaways from Auburn’s final game of the season:

The Tigers will go no further after a 49-27 loss to their greatest rival.

Auburn dropped the Iron Bowl to the Alabama Crimson Tide for the third year in a row. The Tigers end the year at 5-7, meaning that they will not be bowl eligible and won’t be participating in postseason play like other teams who finished with six wins or greater. The game caps off an inspiring 2-2 run from interim coach Cadillac Williams, whose tenure is certain to be remembered by Auburn fans after the firing of coach Bryan Harsin.

Here are five takeaways from Auburn’s performance in their rivalry matchup:

A look at Cadillac Williams’ Iron Bowl history as a player

Auburn went 3-1 over Alabama during Williams’ career as a player. Can he continue his success over the Tide on Saturday?

Auburn interim head coach [autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag] is no stranger to the Iron Bowl.

Williams played in three Iron Bowls during his collegiate career and has been a part of two more as an assistant coach for the Tigers. Now, he prepares to compete in the Iron Bowl in a new way… as the head coach of his alma mater.

Williams is excited about the opportunity that he and his players have in front of them Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

“We are excited. I think that as a staff and as a team, we’re excited to have this challenge in front of us to play not only one of the best teams but one of the best coaches that has ever coached college football,” Williams said during his weekly press conference on Monday. “So, we are fired up and looking forward to the atmosphere at Bryant-Denny Stadium.”

As Williams prepares for his first Iron Bowl as head coach of the Auburn Tigers, Auburn Wire looks back at his time as a player in the rivalry game.

In three games against Alabama, Williams rushed for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Auburn also went 3-1 against the Tide while Williams was on the roster. His most iconic moment as a Tiger took place during the 2003 Iron Bowl when he rushed for an 80-yard touchdown on the opening play, which coined the “Go Crazy, Cadillac!” slogan that was made famous by the late Rod Bramblett.

Here’s an in-depth look at Williams’ career against the Crimson Tide as a player from 2001-04.

Nick Saban on Cadillac Williams: ‘he’s done a phenomenal job.’

Alabama’s head coach praised Cadillac Williams and his recent success leading the Auburn Tigers during a recent radio show appearance.

[autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag] has done wonders with a deflated program in three short weeks.

He has led the team to a 2-1 record and has pumped life back into the program. Not only has he changed the attitude within the program, but it has translated to the recruiting trail as well.

Friday, Auburn moved to No. 39 in 247Sports’ 2023 overall ranking following the commitment of 4-star defensive lineman Darron Reed from Carver High School in nearby Columbus, Georgia. Reed became Auburn’s second commitment since Bryan Harsin’s dismissal on Oct. 31, joining 3-star quarterback Keyone Jenkins who committed on Nov. 19.

The amazing job that Williams has done in such a short time has drawn praise from one of College Football’s all-time greats, Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

During a recent episode of his weekly radio show Hey Coach, Saban discussed the recent success of Auburn Football, crediting Williams for his ability to rally his team through such a difficult situation.

“(Auburn is) playing good football. They’re playing together as a unit, they have confidence, they believe in each other — and that’s why they’ve won two out of the last three games they played, and the one they lost they lost in overtime,” Saban said. “So they’re playing really well right now and I think you’ve gotta give Cadillac a lot of credit for that. Because that’s not an easy situation that he sort of inherited relative to a changing of the guard right in the middle of the season. To get the players to rally for him in a positive way speaks volumes for the kind of competitive character he has.”

Williams looks to continue his success against Alabama on Saturday. Auburn won three Iron Bowls during Williams’ time as a player from 2001-04. During the 2003 game, he rushed for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of the game. The play coined the “Go Crazy, Cadillac!” slogan that has returned to relevancy, which is a nod to the late Rod Bramblett’s call of the touchdown.

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