Two players on Auburn’s football team wear No. 0. One of them made a critical mistake late in Saturday’s Iron Bowl loss to Alabama, muffing a punt return and setting the Crimson Tide up for what ended up being the game-winning touchdown.
The punt was fumbled by, Koy Moore a Tigers receiver. Defensive back Keionte Scott also wears No. 0. Scott was also the return man on a pair of punts earlier in the game and was the Tigers’ primary returner during the season. So, even though Auburn’s players have names on their jerseys, mistaking the two players would be an understandable mistake — at least for most observers. Auburn’s head coach, though, should probably know who’s who. But for Hugh Freeze, that was not the case.
In his postgame press conference, Freeze was asked who the return man was. He paused but ultimately said, “It was Keionte.” Later, though, Freeze was asked, “Was there a reason that Koy was back on that punt instead of Keionte?”
“Was it Koy? I thought it was Keionte,” Freeze said. After it was confirmed that Moore was back there, Freeze said, “I’ll have to ask Tanner,” referring to Auburn’s special teams coordinator, Tanner Burns.
“It would have to be — Keionte must have taken himself out.”
Following Auburn's Iron Bowl loss to Alabama, Hugh Freeze was unaware that it was Koy Moore who muffed the critical punt and not regular returner Keionte Scott. pic.twitter.com/PD6kpbOp17
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) November 26, 2023
This wasn’t a blowout where teams may be emptying their benches. Auburn had a four-point lead and could have potentially either run the clock out or produced a game-clinching touchdown on the possession.
As one would expect, Freeze was criticized for these comments.
Oh this is a baaaaad look https://t.co/Mx9eRn9MT1
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 26, 2023
Is every Auburn Football Coach an IDIOT! Yea, I'm talking about you Tuberville! https://t.co/WoGrLYFzw0
— Scott Gruber (@Troy_ScottGrube) November 26, 2023
https://twitter.com/alexmorrisonnnn/status/1728589409065238770
Yikes. https://t.co/vkb6RSG45b
— Future Of The Retro (@TraeK_) November 26, 2023
[The Next Round on Twitter/X, Photo Credit: Auburn Athletics]
