Hugh Freeze Pays Emotional Tribute as Auburn Family Member Retires After 44 Years in College Football

Auburn football is no stranger to tough roads and comeback stories. The Tigers have had their fair share of ups and downs, and head coach Hugh Freeze knows that as well as anyone. He’s spent the past few years trying to pull the program back to relevance, but his recent tone has taken on a more reflective, emotional edge. The reason? A cherished member of the Auburn family is hanging up her headset after a remarkable 44-year career, and for Freeze, it’s personal.

On May 12, Auburn Athletics announced the retirement of a longtime and prominent professional in college sports communications. After decades of groundbreaking work, Shelly Poe is stepping away, leaving a legacy that spans generations of athletes, coaches, and fellow media professionals. The program marked the occasion with a powerful tribute, declaring her a “𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐫. 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫.” The post read: “Congratulations, @shelly.poe ,on your retirement after 44 years of excellence in college sports communications. Thank you for serving our program so well since 2012. You have made Auburn better!” That simple message perfectly captured her impact.

The comments section blew up with former Auburn stars, from LB Eugene Asante to OL Kam Stutts, jumping in to congratulate her. Freeze, never one to miss a chance to honor those who have shaped his program, reshared the tribute on his IG story.

Poe’s impact reaches far beyond the Auburn campus. She was a pioneer in the field, blazing trails at West Virginia and Ohio State before bringing her talents to the Plains. She became the youngest Division I sports information director (SID) at just 23 and was the only female head SID at a D-I football school when she started. Over her career, she promoted 21 postseason football teams, 16 All-Americans, and countless national award finalists. Recognized as a leader among her peers, she served as CoSIDA’s national president in 2013-14 and was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 2006.

Her accolades include the Trailblazer Award, the Arch Ward Award, and the President’s Award, among others. Her impact went way beyond just Auburn; she changed the game. As Auburn says goodbye, Hugh Freeze is locked in on the big 2025 season ahead.

Auburn’s 2025 season outlook

The Tigers wrapped up 2024 with a disappointing 5-7 record, missing a bowl game for the second straight year. Freeze’s overall record at Auburn now stands at 11-14, a tough pill for a program used to contending for championships. But the pieces are there for a turnaround, and the betting odds reflect cautious optimism. BetMGM recently set Auburn’s win total at 7.5, a significant jump for a team still finding its footing.

Leading this potential resurgence is quarterback Jackson Arnold, a former five-star recruit who transferred from Oklahoma. Arnold is the centerpiece of Auburn’s offensive rebuild, and he’ll have plenty of support. The Tigers landed Eric Singleton, the top-rated skill player in the transfer portal this offseason, adding much-needed firepower to the receiving corps. The offensive line should be sturdier, too, with experienced tackles Xavier Chaplin and Mason Murphy anchoring the front five.

On the defensive side, the Tigers have infused fresh talent as well, hoping to shore up a unit that struggled to close out games last season. Freeze’s focus on the trenches is a calculated move, aiming to bring the physicality back to Auburn football—a staple of successful SEC programs.

However, the road ahead won’t be easy. Auburn hasn’t posted a winning season since 2021, their longest drought since the 1950s. As Justin Ferguson of the Auburn Observer bluntly put it, “No one should realistically expect Auburn to compete for an SEC championship this season. They need to get above .500 first and foremost.” It’s a sobering reminder that while talent and tradition are critical, execution and consistency are what truly win games in the SEC.

For Freeze, 2025 is about more than just wins and losses. It’s about restoring pride, building a culture, and, most importantly, making good on the promise that Auburn football can once again be a contender. It’s time for them to prove what Auburn’s really about.

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