“Dabo has Won 2 Nat. Championships & played in 2 others,” Harsin prefaced before saying, “This will be his 16th season as Clemsons HC. He is one of most successful college football coaches ever. He’s respected by all his peers, he’s always articulated himself so well & he is authentic! Listen to those that know.”
This was the second time in a week that Harsin stuck up for a head coach under fire for not handling the transfer portal and NIL well. Billy Napier — who is dealing with a lawsuit from former Florida recruit Jaden Rashada for an unfulfilled NIL promise of over $11 million — also had Harsin come to his defense.
“Coach Napier has always handled himself with class,” Harsin posted on X. “He’s a winner 40-12 at his last program! He’s following 10 years of fired coaches & is working to build some consistency with Florida. He deserves the benefit of the doubt.”
Bryan Harsin believes his Auburn football tenure was similar to Hugh Freeze’s so far
Harsin liked a post comparing his first season leading the Tigers to Hugh Freeze’s, and while their records were similar, down to the Iron Bowl being a heartbreaking one-score instant-classic at Jordan-Hare Stadium and a bowl game loss, the off-field work couldn’t be more different.
Freeze has become a constant presence on the recruiting trail throughout the state, building relationships with high school head coaches and asserting himself as a flip threat for nearly every notable in-state recruit.
Harsin, well, didn’t do the same work. If the results on the field are similar to Harsin’s for Freeze in his second season, he’d probably get at least another year to right the ship because of that. AU also doesn’t need to keep paying fired coaches severance, but that’s another issue entirely.
Harsin certainly has been sharing interesting opinions this offseason, but seeing his time on the Plains as similar to Freeze’s is the most befuddling.