Tag: Dr. Christopher Roberts

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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The one factor that could convince Lane Kiffin to take the Auburn job

Auburn has plenty of advantages, but which factor could convince Lane Kiffin to bolt to the Plains?

Over the last two weeks, Ole Miss head coach [autotag]Lane Kiffin[/autotag] has been a popular name among Auburn fans as the replacement for Bryan Harsin, who was relieved of his duties on Oct. 31.

Auburn athletic director [autotag]John Cohen[/autotag] and Auburn University President [autotag]Dr. Christopher Roberts[/autotag] has kept their list close to heart, but all signs point to Kiffin being the favorite to take the job.

Why would he leave Ole Miss? Well, there are plenty of reasons.

Auburn has a better track record of success in football than Ole Miss with six SEC West crowns as opposed to the Rebels’ zero. Auburn has also recently hired a new athletic director who has a reputation for allowing his coaches to have more freedom than most. Mix it with the new football-only facility that just opened, and Auburn becomes a top destination for any potential hire.

However, one ESPN analyst believes there is one factor that truly separates Auburn from Ole Miss, and that is the recent build-up of Auburn’s NIL collective, “On to Victory.”

ESPN senior writer Chris Low recently tweeted his thoughts on the potential of Kiffin leaving Oxford for the Plains. He says that the shifting landscape of College Football appears to be working in favor of the Tigers.

“The overriding reason Lane Kiffin would leave Ole Miss for Auburn is the hefty NIL fund that Auburn has built,” Low said in a recent tweet. “In the NIL world, that kind of cash is the key to sustaining success at a high level, both in attracting high school talent and keeping players from transferring.”

In a follow-up tweet, Low says that Kiffin is proud of the success that he has built at Ole Miss, but could easily see Auburn’s outstanding efforts in NIL being a deciding factor for accepting a potential offer.

“One thing I know about Lane Kiffin if he is indeed the choice at Auburn is that he does not do anything impulsively,” Low said. “He would examine everything, all factors, and I do believe NIL would be the deciding factor IF he were to leave.”

On to Victory’s objective is to expand NIL opportunities for Auburn Student-Athletes according to its website. Currently, three Auburn athletes are a part of On3’s NIL 100, including [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] and [autotag]Derick Hall[/autotag], who ranks No. 87 and No. 93 respectively.

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