The Georgia Bulldogs are off to a great start in today’s game against the Auburn Tigers. The game was totally under the Bulldogs’ control, which resulted in a 31-13 win for them. And there are moments when you can’t control your emotions. Now, that’s what happened with Auburn’s head coach Hugh Freeze after witnessing quarterback Payton Thorne’s poor performance against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Today, a fan took to X to share an intense moment between Auburn’s star quarterback Payton Thorne and Hugh Freeze, saying, “TV showed Hugh Freeze furious with Payton Thorne after that failed fourth-and-1.” The defense was gassed after the QB was thrown for a 1-yard loss on a fourth-and-1 at the Auburn 44. It was basically their last shot to keep the game alive.
Well, in Payton’s favor, that was a pretty hard throw. But Freeze seemed pretty ticked off with his play. The ABC cameras caught a few tense moments between them, and even though we couldn’t see Freeze’s face, it was clear he wasn’t happy with Thorne’s effort. As the play unfolded, Freeze looked baffled on the sideline and stormed onto the field, waving his arms and yelling.
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TV showed Hugh Freeze furious with Payton Thorne after that failed fourth-and-1. pic.twitter.com/r4Srg4JWr5
— Nathan King (@NathanKing247) October 5, 2024
Well, even if Auburn’s head coach doesn’t seem satisfied with Payton Thorne’s gameplay against Georgia, he has still tried to put up a decent game this season. Payton’s got some decent numbers so far this season—474 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 4 picks in just 2 games. But it hasn’t been enough, and Auburn’s record shows it. They’re 2-4, and things are looking pretty bleak for them.
However, if you think this is the first time Hugh Freeze and Payton Thorne are having differences, then you are wrong. Wait until you know Hugh’s disappointment over Payton’s gameplay this season.
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Hugh Freeze’s disappointment with Payton Thorne
What’s your perspective on:
Is Hugh Freeze's anger justified, or should he cut Payton Thorne some slack for that tough throw?
Have an interesting take?
This season Thorne started as a starting quarterback for the Auburn Tigers, but that didn’t last for much longer because of his poor gameplay against the California Golden Bears, which resulted in an embarrassing loss of 21-14. During the game, Payton completed 14 out of his 27 passes, running for 165 yards while throwing four interceptions, which cost a big loss to the team.
Later on, for further games, head coach Hugh Freeze decided to switch Payton Thorne with freshman quarterback Hank Brown. Following the decision, Hugh Freeze shared his thoughts on the switch between Payton Thorne and Brown saying, “I know the quarterback always gets a ton of criticism, and it’s not always exactly them, but there are plays that we had that he’s expected to make that we didn’t make in critical moments.”
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This season Payton played as a starting quarterback in two games against Alabama A&M and Carolina. Well, looking at the recent incident, it might look like Hugh Freeze made the right move, and Payton Thorne sure had a rough night today. What are your thoughts on it? Do let us know in the comments!
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Debate
Is Hugh Freeze's anger justified, or should he cut Payton Thorne some slack for that tough throw?