No. 18’s Crystal Ball – Dead-On Target

Ole Miss head football coach, Hugh Freeze, was given the green light by Ole Miss football legend Archie Manning even before he sat down to interview for the head coaching position in 2011. At the time, Freeze was a realist and promised a turn-around; but not an immediate “quick fix” of a 2-10 program left in shambles by former head coach Houston Nutt. Manning’s decision – questioned at the time – is now seen as inspiration.

Freeze’s body of work before his hiring at Ole Miss was impressive, but his resume paled in comparison to other SEC coaches. At the time, that resume included: Arkansas State (Head Coach, 2011; Offensive Coordinator, 2010); San Jose State (Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator, Dec. 2009 – Feb. 2010); Lambuth (Head Coach, 2008-09); Ole Miss (Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, 2006-07; Assistant Athletics Director for Football External Affairs, 2005); and Briarcrest Christian High School (Head Coach, 1995-2004; Assistant Coach, 1992-94).

Manning, the hiring committee’s co-chair during Freeze’s 2011 recruitment to Oxford, considered (and still does) Freeze to be a man of “high character and integrity.” Manning and the rest of the committee understood that the hiring would make Freeze one of SEC’s youngest head coaches; but also understood that he was a proven winner at each career coaching stop. Backed by elite-level recruiting classes in college football’s most competitive division, Freeze undoubtedly has Ole Miss headed in the right direction.

That direction now includes an impressive 48-20 2016 Sugar Bowl thrashing of the Oklahoma State Cowboys on New Years day.

Here’s hoping that No. 18 holds tight to his crystal ball when aiding in other major Ole Miss decisions in the future.

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Jeff McVay is a staff writer and graphic designer for Hottytoddy.com. He can be reached at jeff.mcvay@hottytoddy.com

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