AJ McCarron didn’t ease his way into the answer.
Chris Stewart, McCarron’s co-host on the podcast “The Dynasty,” asked the former Alabama quarterback how nice it is seeing the Crimson Tide recruit well while Auburn struggles.
“Hugh Freeze is full of shit,” McCarron said. “And I think Hugh Freeze is trying to do whatever he can to save face. He’s starting to feel pressure at Auburn. I think going into his third year, not having the success that the alumni, the boosters, everybody donating a lot of money, thought that he would have by this point, I think he’s trying to figure out and scramble on why they are not successful.”
Auburn has the No. 71 recruiting class as of Wednesday night, per On3/Rivals. Meanwhile, Alabama ranks No. 5. This comes after the Tigers landed two top-10 recruiting classes.
Freeze and Auburn athletics director John Cohen spoke recently about the recruiting struggles, and they suggested the Tigers are going about things the “right way” while other programs are not. Freeze and Cohen mentioned Aug. 1 as a pivotal date because that’s when offers that are made verbally now can be offered in writing.
“In my opinion we can’t put ourselves in jeopardy,” Freeze said. “We’ve got great interpretations from our administration and our legal team on what the settlement really means and how we should operate. That’s what we’re doing. If others are operating in a manner not with that, I’m hopeful they’ll be called out on that at some point.”
McCarron said he played golf recently with someone connected at Auburn, and people on the Plains, after significant financial investment into rosters the past few seasons, are “pissed on the fact that it hasn’t been successful like they thought it would be,” McCarron said.
Freeze has lost both Iron Bowls in which he’s coached. The Tigers also finished below .500 in each season.
“The state of Alabama is ran by Alabama fans, Alabama alumni, whether you like it or not,” McCarron continued in his monologue. “I’ve never been one to absolutely hate on Auburn. Hell, I’ve caught hell from Alabama fans for cheering for some of my friends that played at Auburn. It proves, like I was talking about with recruits, if you are from the state of Alabama, I think it is dumb for you not to sign with the University of Alabama and pick Auburn over Alabama.”
McCarron said in life after football, UA “supplies more avenues for that.”
“I think life after football is set up for success a lot more than Auburn,” McCarron said. “I think that has been proven when it comes to the recruiting standpoint. And that, I mean, that’s just my take. But I think it also shows with why Hugh Freeze is struggling a little bit.”
