Hugh Freeze reacts to bad calls postgame against Texas A&M: ‘I really wanted to fight.’
As fans stormed the field celebrating the biggest victory for the Tigers this season, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze had to speak his mind on the games officiating.
During two-point conversions of one of the final overtime periods, Rivaldo Fairweather was called for an offensive pass interference putting the Tigers in a second and long situation.
That same drive the referees missed a defensive holding call on the Aggies as the Tigers sidelines erupted at both no-calls.
Freeze said his frustration reached fighting levels.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever wanted to fight so bad. I really wanted to fight at that moment,” Freeze said. I’ll have to watch it. It looked like on the screen that there was no contact on the pick call. I’ll have to see it on film to be 100% sure, but it sure didn’t feel good. I was livid, not very happy. I thought one could have been called. Maybe they thought the ball was a little uncatchable, but I thought he was getting his jersey held.”
“I don’t know where Dre got to on that play. It was down inside the five. It would have given us a first and goal at the two. That’s a tough call for sure. Thankfully our kids had great composure, because I kind of didn’t for a minute, and kept playing.”
After a penalty free game last week against ULM, Auburn finished with nine compared to the Aggies seven.
Despite giving up 24 second half points by the Aggies, The Tigers leaned on its defense to pull it out its second conference win of the year.
Admist all the twist and turns Saturday’s victory presented Auburn; Freeze was proud of the resiliency his group displayed.
“But give them credit. They’re a good football team,” Freeze said. “They came back, and they’re well-coached, and they’ve got really good players. But our kids responded really, really well.”