Fansided

Hugh Freeze takes blame for Ole Miss troubles with NCAA

By Jason Parker

Jan 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Hugh Freeze during the second half in the 2016 Sugar Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Hugh Freeze during the second half in the 2016 Sugar Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ole Miss head football coach Hugh Freeze says the blame falls on him while the school continues to deal with a NCAA investigation.

Last week, the Ole Miss Rebels officially received their Notice of Allegations from the NCAA regarding alleged improper activities involving recruiting and other violations with several athletic programs, most notably the football team under head coach Hugh Freeze.

While the school has already begun the process of disciplining themselves (in part to hopefully soften the blow from the NCAA), the waiting game continues as to how much trouble the Rebels will be in. Nearly half of the 28 violations were committed by the football program, with nine of those (including four deemed the most serious) happening under Freeze’s time.

Freeze, currently at the SEC’s spring meetings in Florida, told ESPN.com that the buck stops with him when it comes to accepting responsibility, but says that the intent of coaches and others has to have a role in the investigation:

"“The first thing I would say is that I own it. That’s part of it when you’re the head coach. You take the good with the bad. But there’s a big difference between making mistakes in recruiting and going out there with the intent to cheat. I don’t have any information that anybody on my staff has been involved in any illegal payments to players or offering any inducements to players, and if I did have that information, I would fire them.”"

Three of the four most severe penalties (dubbed Level 1 by the NCAA) involve former Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, who was held out for six games during the 2015 season while the NCAA investigated alleged payments and benefits the player received. Tunsil was suspended another game and forced to pay back some money based on their findings.

However, Tunsil caused more controversy when, shortly after being taken by the Miami Dolphins in the 2016 NFL Draft, said he received money from an assistant coach to help pay his mother’s bills. The school has asked the NCAA for more time to investigate those claims.

For more NCAA football news, check out our NCAA football hub page.

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