As of Thursday evening, Hugh Freeze is no longer the head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels. Given the lengthy investigation into the program, that reality is not necessarily jarring in nature but it was Freeze's decision to resign that sent shock waves through the college football world.
Now, though, word has broken that Freeze, regardless of his own actions in stepping down, was not going to be the football coach in Oxford moving forward.
Ole Miss officials confirm Hugh Freeze would have been "terminated" if he hadn't resigned.
— Kelvin Reynolds (@Fox6Kelvin) July 21, 2017
Ole Miss AD Ross Bjork indicated publicly that Freeze would have been fired and, in the midst of his statements, Bjork said that a "pattern of conduct that is not consistent with our expectations as the leader of our football program" from Freeze emerged over the course of the investigation into his actions.
Among the reporting into Freeze's alleged transgressions was a call to a female escort service.
Ole Miss found at least one call on Hugh Freeze’s Ole Miss cell phone to female escort service in Tampa, Yahoo Sports & USA Today report
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 20, 2017
From there, Bjork indicated that the university "proactively looked into the rest of (Freeze's) phone records and found a concerning pattern." In short, Bjork frankly stated that Freeze's conduct was not something the university could deal with any longer.
"The conduct was just not something we could continue with him as head coach." Bjork
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) July 21, 2017
Further details almost certainly will emerge in the future but the new reality in Oxford is that Hugh Freeze is not the head coach and the direction of the team will be led by interim head coach Matt Luke for the immediate timetable.
You Might Also Like
College Football
The fallout from Hugh Freeze's resignation is already being felt as first recruit decommits
By Ray MarcanoSEC
SEC school "ready to strike" with a new head coach at the end of the season
By Bo ChurneySEC
More details revealed on the phone calls that led to Hugh Freeze's ouster at Ole Miss
By Bo ChurneyCollege Football
Hugh Freeze has shockingly resigned as head coach of Ole Miss
By Ben BornsteinncG1vNJzZmiekaOvtsbZZ5qopV%2BYvK24xKCcZp6fpMGjrculZqGtl516p77EnrGeZaKawKqzzZqroqeeYr%2Bwv9JmmaOnoqB6tMDArZymnZ6perC4xGakoqujZA%3D%3D