JONESBORO (11/28/11) – With a high amount of speculation circulating about Arkansas State Head Football Coach Hugh Freeze’s level of involvement in the ongoing searches for a head football coach at various NCAA FBS institutions, Freeze and Director of Athletics Dr. Dean Lee have issued the following joint statement.

“Our football team has one week left during the regular season and is focusing on the Troy game, so out of respect for our players and coaches we feel that it is inappropriate to comment at this time on any speculation or rumors surrounding Coach Freeze and various coaching vacancies that are out there,” said Lee. “Requests by any institution to speak with Coach Freeze during this week have not and will not be granted. Coach Freeze and I both agree the focus right now should be on our current season and closing out our home schedule with a victory on Senior Day.”

“Coach Freeze and I will continue to have open communication not only about the interest other institutions may express in him, but about his future as Arkansas State’s head football coach,” Lee said. “We have put together a package for Coach Freeze that we feel rewards success, and we will continue to have dialogue with Coach Freeze regarding his continuation as our head football coach.”

Arkansas State, which holds a 9-2 overall and 7-0 league record, has claimed at least a share of the Sun Belt Conference championship and accepted an official invitation to the GoDaddy.com Bowl. The Red Wolves are receiving votes in both the AP Top 25 Poll and USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll. They are No. 30 and No. 34 in the latest CBSSports.com 120 and BCS rankings, respectively.

“I want to be clear that my focus right now is on our players and our football team’s game against Troy this week,” said Freeze. “We want to minimize distractions and finish this outstanding season strong. Myself and our team are 100 percent focused on the difficult task we have ahead of us this week facing a very talented Troy team.

“This is a process that is a part of this business, but I also want to express how ecstatic I am to be the head football coach at Arkansas State University,” Freeze said. “I have a wonderful situation here, and everyone on this team is excited about the opportunity we have in front of us this week and at the GoDaddy.com Bowl.”

The ASU Athletic Department, football team, Coach Freeze and Dr. Lee will have no further comment on this matter this week.

Glad to see someone remembered there was a game this weekend.

The Jonesboro Sun today noted that increasing assistant coaches’ salaries, not just Freezes salary are in included in the package ASU is putting together and Freeze felt it was a good package. While ASU will be lucky to hold onto Freeze at least they are making the effort and should be in good shape against most Non-AQ teams, including Memphis.

just and FYI, you need to lead all articles like this with the website link you pulled the story from.

(11-29-2011 08:41 AM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  just and FYI, you need to lead all articles like this with the website link you pulled the story from.

Even if it is a press release from the school?????

Freeze was just on WNSP Radio here in Mobile. When asked if he had interviewed with another school he didn't deny or confirm it, and just referred to this press release statement. He then said he had a game this weekend and schools would not contact him this week out of respect. He also said that it's a compliment to the ASU players for schools wanting him as a coach. It almost seemed to me like Freeze knows he will be leaving...

He's as good as gone.

(11-29-2011 09:46 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  It almost seemed to me like Freeze knows he will be leaving...

What a shame if he does leave. The big AQ programs with all of the BCS TV money will always keep the non-AQ's down.

(11-29-2011 10:10 AM)Green Menace Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 09:46 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  It almost seemed to me like Freeze knows he will be leaving...

What a shame if he does leave. The big AQ programs with all of the BCS TV money will always keep the non-AQ's down.

It's the way of the world, especially in the Sun Belt where the majority of us just cannot afford to pay our coaches enough to keep them. Some of the bigger more successful programs are on the fringe of being able to pay the big bucks(non-AQ big bucks anyhow) and with a bit more sustained success could possibly pay a HC $1 million to $1.5 million, which can be enough to keep a coach happy and make most AQ jobs only a small pay raise.

(11-29-2011 09:46 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  Freeze was just on WNSP Radio here in Mobile. When asked if he had interviewed with another school he didn't deny or confirm it, and just referred to this press release statement. He then said he had a game this weekend and schools would not contact him this week out of respect. He also said that it's a compliment to the ASU players for schools wanting him as a coach. It almost seemed to me like Freeze knows he will be leaving...

I listened to the interview and had the exact same take away - i have never heard a coach that honest about the fact he will be leaving if the "right oppertunity" presents itself - it almost seemed like a forgone conclusion he would be moving on after this weekends game.
Based on what i heard this morning - ASU may have an interim guy leading this team when it gets down here to Mobile (or when the head coaches fly in for the media kick off on Dec. 12).

(11-29-2011 10:47 AM)playfailstogain Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 09:46 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  Freeze was just on WNSP Radio here in Mobile. When asked if he had interviewed with another school he didn't deny or confirm it, and just referred to this press release statement. He then said he had a game this weekend and schools would not contact him this week out of respect. He also said that it's a compliment to the ASU players for schools wanting him as a coach. It almost seemed to me like Freeze knows he will be leaving...

I listened to the interview and had the exact same take away - i have never heard a coach that honest about the fact he will be leaving if the "right oppertunity" presents itself - it almost seemed like a forgone conclusion he would be moving on after this weekends game.
Based on what i heard this morning - ASU may have an interim guy leading this team when it gets down here to Mobile (or when the head coaches fly in for the media kick off on Dec. 12).

I heard he's already looking at color swatches for his new office in Oxford.

(11-29-2011 09:46 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  Freeze was just on WNSP Radio here in Mobile. When asked if he had interviewed with another school he didn't deny or confirm it, and just referred to this press release statement. He then said he had a game this weekend and schools would not contact him this week out of respect. He also said that it's a compliment to the ASU players for schools wanting him as a coach. It almost seemed to me like Freeze knows he will be leaving...

While there is no doubt his name has been associated with some recent openings no school has offered him or said they were going to offer him a position.

Do know his agent is negotiating a new compensation package for him and his staff and it is in his best interest to remind ASU that there are other interested parties.

I would say there is a good chance ASU will keep him.

(11-29-2011 11:23 AM)Seminole Indian Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 09:46 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  Freeze was just on WNSP Radio here in Mobile. When asked if he had interviewed with another school he didn't deny or confirm it, and just referred to this press release statement. He then said he had a game this weekend and schools would not contact him this week out of respect. He also said that it's a compliment to the ASU players for schools wanting him as a coach. It almost seemed to me like Freeze knows he will be leaving...

While there is no doubt his name has been associated with some recent openings no school has offered him or said they were going to offer him a position.

Do know his agent is negotiating a new compensation package for him and his staff and it is in his best interest to remind ASU that there are other interested parties.

I would say there is a good chance ASU will keep him.

Of course his agent is negotiating a new compensation package, but ASU would struggle to make a competitive offer with Southern Miss(if they end up with an opening) let alone Ole Miss/Kansas/UNC/Illinois etc.

(11-29-2011 10:48 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 10:47 AM)playfailstogain Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 09:46 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  Freeze was just on WNSP Radio here in Mobile. When asked if he had interviewed with another school he didn't deny or confirm it, and just referred to this press release statement. He then said he had a game this weekend and schools would not contact him this week out of respect. He also said that it's a compliment to the ASU players for schools wanting him as a coach. It almost seemed to me like Freeze knows he will be leaving...

I listened to the interview and had the exact same take away - i have never heard a coach that honest about the fact he will be leaving if the "right oppertunity" presents itself - it almost seemed like a forgone conclusion he would be moving on after this weekends game.
Based on what i heard this morning - ASU may have an interim guy leading this team when it gets down here to Mobile (or when the head coaches fly in for the media kick off on Dec. 12).

I heard he's already looking at color swatches for his new office in Oxford.

I may be wrong, but from what I am hearing the Alabama assistant is in the drivers seat for the Old Miss job right now. Saban is pushing this guy very hard for the position. I know Hud is no longer a candidate for the Old miss job, but I am not overly confident he will be at UL next year. There are just too many openings coming up. I am confident that our AD has a list of possible replacements started, and at least one of the names I suspect is on the list is very is a very attractive possibility. My concern (like one of the ASU guys stated) is how this will affect recruiting. It is what it is, but I believe we will have a good head coach next season and he will make more money than the 400K that HUD currently pulls down. Who it will be is the big question.

(11-29-2011 11:37 AM)crawfish3 Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 10:48 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 10:47 AM)playfailstogain Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 09:46 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  Freeze was just on WNSP Radio here in Mobile. When asked if he had interviewed with another school he didn't deny or confirm it, and just referred to this press release statement. He then said he had a game this weekend and schools would not contact him this week out of respect. He also said that it's a compliment to the ASU players for schools wanting him as a coach. It almost seemed to me like Freeze knows he will be leaving...

I listened to the interview and had the exact same take away - i have never heard a coach that honest about the fact he will be leaving if the "right oppertunity" presents itself - it almost seemed like a forgone conclusion he would be moving on after this weekends game.
Based on what i heard this morning - ASU may have an interim guy leading this team when it gets down here to Mobile (or when the head coaches fly in for the media kick off on Dec. 12).

I heard he's already looking at color swatches for his new office in Oxford.

I may be wrong, but from what I am hearing the Alabama assistant is in the drivers seat for the Old Miss job right now. Saban is pushing this guy very hard for the position. I know Hud is out, but I am not overly confident he will be at UL next year; too many openings coming up. I am confident that our AD has a list of possible replacements started, and one of the names I suspect is on the list is very is a very attractive possibility. My concern (like one of the ASU guys stated) is how this will affect recruiting. It is what it is, but I believe we will have a good head coach next season and he will make more money than the 400K that HUD currently pulls down. Who it will be is the big question.

I actually haven't heard anything about Freeze and Ole Miss that isn't already known, it was just a joke.

If I were Kirby Smart, I wouldn't want the Ole Miss job. He currently makes $750,000 and has one of the best coordinator jobs in the country. I believe I'd be happy staying put indefinitely until a more attractive job comes open, be it a HC position at a better program(or at least out of the gauntlet of the SEC west) or perhaps even a DC position in the NFL.

How much is Freeze being paid at ASU? a buck and a quarter?

(11-29-2011 11:41 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  How much is Freeze being paid at ASU? a buck and a quarter?

There is a cap for state employees in the state of Arkansas, Governor included as I understand it - and that is the number that gets published often. But I think the total package is around 270K.

FWIW - Arkansas somehow manages to maintain a balanced budget with crazy policies like this.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/...tough-sell

(11-29-2011 11:30 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 11:23 AM)Seminole Indian Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 09:46 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  Freeze was just on WNSP Radio here in Mobile. When asked if he had interviewed with another school he didn't deny or confirm it, and just referred to this press release statement. He then said he had a game this weekend and schools would not contact him this week out of respect. He also said that it's a compliment to the ASU players for schools wanting him as a coach. It almost seemed to me like Freeze knows he will be leaving...

While there is no doubt his name has been associated with some recent openings no school has offered him or said they were going to offer him a position.

Do know his agent is negotiating a new compensation package for him and his staff and it is in his best interest to remind ASU that there are other interested parties.

I would say there is a good chance ASU will keep him.

Of course his agent is negotiating a new compensation package, but ASU would struggle to make a competitive offer with Southern Miss(if they end up with an opening) let alone Ole Miss/Kansas/UNC/Illinois etc.

Really think Ole Miss is the only AQ school in the mix.

As far as how the negotiations are going, per coach Freeze in todays JB Sun "They've worked on a new package for us here, for our whole staff, not just for me, and I think it is a very, very fair package here, and it's a great place to live and raise a family, " and "I couldn't ask for any more from our administration."

(11-29-2011 11:47 AM)WinstonTheWolf Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 11:41 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  How much is Freeze being paid at ASU? a buck and a quarter?

There is a cap for state employees in the state of Arkansas, Governor included as I understand it - and that is the number that gets published often. But I think the total package is around 270K.
FWIW - Arkansas somehow manages to maintain a balanced budget with crazy policies like this.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/...tough-sell

How *does UA manage to compete with draconian measures like this?

(11-29-2011 11:50 AM)Seminole Indian Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 11:30 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 11:23 AM)Seminole Indian Wrote:  

(11-29-2011 09:46 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  Freeze was just on WNSP Radio here in Mobile. When asked if he had interviewed with another school he didn't deny or confirm it, and just referred to this press release statement. He then said he had a game this weekend and schools would not contact him this week out of respect. He also said that it's a compliment to the ASU players for schools wanting him as a coach. It almost seemed to me like Freeze knows he will be leaving...

While there is no doubt his name has been associated with some recent openings no school has offered him or said they were going to offer him a position.

Do know his agent is negotiating a new compensation package for him and his staff and it is in his best interest to remind ASU that there are other interested parties.

I would say there is a good chance ASU will keep him.

Of course his agent is negotiating a new compensation package, but ASU would struggle to make a competitive offer with Southern Miss(if they end up with an opening) let alone Ole Miss/Kansas/UNC/Illinois etc.

Really think Ole Miss is the only AQ school in the mix.

As far as how the negotiations are going, per coach Freeze in todays JB Sun "They've worked on a new package for us here, for our whole staff, not just for me, and I think it is a very, very fair package here, and it's a great place to live and raise a family, " and "I couldn't ask for any more from our administration."

Saying all the right things, but they won't be able to offer enough in the end.

JMO....but I believe he's gone. We can't compete with SEC money.