What's They're Saying About Alabama at SEC Media Days: Day 2

During his return to SEC Media Days on Tuesday, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze was asked everything from if he ever thought he'd be back after being fired at Ole Miss, to where the Tigers now fit in the league's landscape.

But the last coach to beat Nick Saban two straight times back when he was with the Rebels made a point to remind everyone of that fact, albeit indirectly. When a reporter mentioned that other coaches had said Freeze may be better at second-half adjustments than anyone in college football, he asked who had given the praise.

"Was it Coach Saban?" Freeze said. "That would be nice if it came from him.

"I do think we've been very good at that through the years. We typically have been able to come out and have good adjustments. Truthfully, I always hold a few things until the second half."

Here's some of the other things being said about Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide on Tuesday in Nashville, including more from Freeze:

Q. When you talked a couple of months ago you mentioned there about the talent gap between you guys and some of the teams. Do you think it's maybe too early to tell? Do you have a better idea now? And as you go into fall camp, what kind of things will you look for to try to figure out how close you might be?

Here's what I really believe. I want to be careful not to -- I love our team. They're my team. They're Auburn's team. We're going to coach the heck out of them.

Does our roster from top to bottom look like Alabama's, Georgia's, LSU's, Florida, A&M, Ole Miss? I don't know yet. I know a couple they don't because I've watched the tape.

Do I think we've improved Auburn with the additions that we've had since I've been there? Yes. Does that mean we close the gap at all? I have no clue.

I do know we improved Auburn, and I hope that means that we somehow close the gap enough to -- if we have a good game plan, to be in some of those games in the fourth quarter and have maybe a shot to pull an upset.

It's too early for me to really say, but I do know we improved our roster. But at the same time, they're constantly improving theirs it seems like.

Q. A couple questions ago you mentioned you-know-who. How important are the games against Alabama in the Iron Bowl, and maybe the overshadowed rivalry against Georgia for you all?

Yeah, I don't think it's overshadowed at all. The Iron Bowl is what it is, and I don't have to be educated on that. I've been a part of some big rivalries and understand that in most polls this would be No. 1 in the rivalry, so I know what it means to the people that support our university and our football program. I won't need to be educated.

I've always taken great pride in walking into a new program and saying, listen, they currently are the gold standard and this is what we want to be. We welcome that opportunity and we welcome that challenge.

I have great respect for Nick. He's actually a good friend, and what he's done there. But there are so many good coaches in this league that do such a great job, and many of them do it with less than what others have.

But I relish the opportunity to play the Alabamas and Georgias, and I know they're tall tasks and I know who you're going to get measured against in my tenure there.

I'm excited about those games, as our kids will be.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart

Q. Speaking of a guy that's been in your program since the beginning, you were with Coach Saban so long. I know he worked with you there. Talk about the development of Glenn Schumann and what he's meant to your program defensively and what he's helped you accomplish thus far.

KIRBY SMART: First off, Glenn Schumann is an incredible man and person. He's a graduate of Alabama. He came there on the Bear Bryant Scholarship. His dad played football at Alabama. He is the son of a football coach. He is extremely bright, extremely passionate. I rely heavily on Glenn for input on practice schedules, defensive design, thinking outside the box.

There's not a time when I think of who can I ask on my staff that understands what we want and what we need, Glenn Schumann is that guy. He's very talented.

Glenn Schumann will be the first to admit he came to the University of Georgia without ever getting an on-the-field coaching position, and I was very confident in his role to do that. What has he done with that? He has produced one of the most productive inside linebacker rooms in the country, and he's one of the people that really believes in growth being a part of his process, and he continues to grow to this day.

Q. Earlier you alluded to being the only program to win consecutive national titles in the College Football Playoff era. Since 1936 at the Division I level, no team has won three straight since Minnesota in 1936; 12 teams have attempted to duplicate that but have come up short, including one you were part of in 2013 with Alabama. If Georgia is indeed the last team standing this year, what would that mean and represent for you personally and also for the Georgia program?

KIRBY SMART: It would be a lot of hard work that had been acknowledged. I think we're a long way from that, so to make that assumption or that theory relevant, we would have to get to that point in time. But I can assure you if we get to that point, I'm going to be worrying about the next day's work more than I am the achievement.

This story will be updated

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