Hugh Freeze’s Resistance Could Lead To Ole Miss’s NCAA Downfall After Allegations That Include Cheating

Hugh Freeze has dug himself into quite a hole.

Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss Self-Impose One-Year Bowl Ban After Allegations of Rules Violations

The NCAA is coming hard for the Ole Miss Rebels football coach and his program, charging the latter with cheating, lack of institutional control, and other rules violations.

Freeze himself is being charged with unsatisfactory oversight of his assistants, both former and current, whom the NCAA claims have committed 21 rules violations.

Mississippi athletic director Ross Bjork said in a 20-minute video statement the university agreed with the NCAA that there was sufficient and credible evidence to support at least three of the new charges. However, Bjork added that the school would contest the allegations of lack of institutional control, as well as the charge against Freeze for failing to supervise his coaching staff.

When Freeze first learned of the accusations, he lashed out at the NCAA in a tweet in which he directed anyone who believed he and his staff were guilty of cheating or any other violations to contact Ole Miss’ compliance office via email with any proof of these claims.

“If you have facts about a violation, email compliance@olemiss.edu. If not, please don’t slander the young men,” read the head coach’s since-deleted tweet.

On Wednesday, Ole Miss announced it was self-imposing a one-year bowl ban for the 2017 season for major recruiting violations.

Many are now left wondering whether Freeze’s journey from Memphis high school coach to where he is now, with a $5 million annual contract, will soon come to a disgraceful end.

According to ESPN, Ole Miss could lose close to $8 million after forfeiting its share of SEC postseason revenues for this coming season.

The fight will continue as the university prepares its official response to the NCAA within the next 90 days, before facing the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions later this year.

Among the other charges against Ole Miss is one that a former staff member arranged for a recruit, who ultimately signed elsewhere, to receive cash payments from two boosters totaling $13,000 to $15,600.

USA Today’s Dan Wolken tweeted on Wednesday that he believes the NCAA will continue to be “conservative” with their punishment against Freeze and Ole Miss, as they generally have been thus far under vice president of enforcement Jon Duncan, who has held that post at the NCAA since April 2014.

“I am extremely disappointed to learn that any member of my staff violated any SEC or NCAA rules, and as the head coach, I regret those actions,” Freeze said Wednesday. “Any behavior by my staff that is inconsistent with that commitment to do things the right way simply does not reflect the emphasis I personally place on NCAA compliance.”

OXFORD, MS – NOVEMBER 26: Quincy Adeboyejo #8 of the Mississippi Rebels has a pass go through his hands during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Rebels 55-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)