Archie Manning speaks on Hugh Freeze’s resignation: ‘I’m sorry what’s happened’

Published 9:42 pm Monday, July 31, 2017

One of Ole Miss’ legends on Monday gave his thoughts on the recent resignation of Hugh Freeze.

In Biloxi as a guest speaker at the meeting of the Southern Legislative Conference, Archie Manning spoke with WLOX-TV and expressed disappointment but maintained support for Freeze, who abruptly resigned July 20 after five seasons as the Rebels’ football coach after school officials discovered calls made from Freeze’s university-issued cell phone to numbers tied to escort services.

“I’m sorry what’s happened,” Manning told the Biloxi TV station. “Hugh is a friend of mine. He’ll continue to be a friend of mine. We’re going to move on.”

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Manning, who quarterbacked the Rebels from 1968-70, was co-chairman of the school’s search committee that hired Freeze in December 2011. Freeze, who went 39-25 during his time with the Rebels, also leaves behind an NCAA investigation that has the program facing 21 alleged rules violations, 15 of them Level I charges.

Manning also voiced support for Freeze’s former assistant, Matt Luke, who will be the interim coach this season.

“Matt Luke is a great young man,” Manning said. “He’s going to do a good job for us. It’s football time. We’re going to get going.”