The mention of lingering back issues stems from a serious health incident during Freeze's tenure at Liberty, when a life-threatening staph infection in 2019 left him hospitalized and temporarily unable to walk. He famously coached that season opener from a hospital bed stationed in the press box, communicating with his staff via headset.

Hugh Freeze hit the ground running as Auburn opens fall camp even as the Tigers' coach takes the field knowing he will likely need surgery for prostate cancer.

Freeze added that he doesn’t feel sick, but will reevaluate the situation with doctors in January, a plan Freeze first announced after opting out of having surgery in the spring. In the meantime, he said his wife, Jill, has had him take a “natural” route to manage the cancer.