Not even a full day into being Auburn’s new HC, Alex Golesh was reminded of his predecessor’s red flag. Before he could begin righting the ship set adrift by Hugh Freeze, he had to dodge a bullet that injured the former HC grievously.

“That’s a setup question. I’ve been here long enough to know that,” he said at his Auburn inauguration on December 1. “I like football more than golf. And I’m terrible.”

Hugh Freeze loved Auburn football. But he also loved golfing. Though the former HC has remained adamant about being able to keep the two separate, the rest of the world thought otherwise. Fans regarded him as preferring golf over football, and this accusation remained a murmur throughout his stay at Auburn. Naturally, Alex Golesh was asked if he shared the same passion. The new HC said his wife and two kids both golf in some capacity, but he doesn’t.

Unlike Golesh, Freeze just happened to be good at golf. He regularly updated his UGSA Golf Handicap Information Network (GHIN.com) scores. In June this year, he logged a 78 and two 86s in May. That’s a great number, but it came during a bad period in Auburn’s recruitment. AL.com’s Matt Stahl reported that Freeze had lost 3 blue-chip prospects in June. And it didn’t help how frequently he was on the course while Auburn football struggled.

CBS Sports’ John Talty confirmed that Freeze golfed on Sundays right after losing games last season. Boosters had also noted his dedication to golf. One of them told Talty that Hugh Freeze was once spotted on the course on a Friday, before a home game, without clubs. He seemingly wanted to watch golfers play. According to Stahl, Freeze had been to the course 10 times in the month of June, when high school recruiting reaches its peak.

“The only problem we didn’t foresee is that he wanted to play golf way more than coach anymore!” another booster told CBS Sports.

The word ‘golf’ alone is going to invite some untoward attention at the Auburn building now. Alex Golesh has nothing to do with it and will not be bothered by that bad rep. He will have to rebuild Auburn football both on and off the field, since the impact of Freeze’s golfing was felt on both sides.

Hugh Freeze simply wasn’t working out at Auburn, but his golfing became the scapegoat. Moreover, it was through golf that fans got a hint of his inevitable firing as head coach.

Golf broke the news of Hugh Freeze’s firing

Sunday golf seemed to be a regular for Hugh Freeze, which earned him a lot more criticism. Win or lose, he’d be there after game day. However, after Auburn got brutally outsmarted by Kentucky, which was then the worst-ranked team in the SEC, one fan noticed a massive change. The former HC’s name was removed from the 1:30 pm slot on the tee sheet at the Auburn University Golf Club.

Hugh Freeze was fired on the very same day. The Kentucky loss was beyond humiliating for Auburn as a program, and for the HC to be seen on the course while trying to unwind from the loss was going to bury Auburn’s image. By that time, Freeze had already implied that the Tigers administration was losing faith in him, as he continuously asked for more time.

“I wish I could ask for patience, but that’s not something people are willing to give in this day and age. I just know we’re so dang close.”

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The former coach built a disappointing legacy for himself with the Tigers, and his repeated offenses of showing up to play golf might have cost him his job. Auburn now gets a coach who has nothing to do with golf, and fans can rest assured.