Hugh Freeze's ejection from Ole Miss has been covered from every angle at this point. His actions may produce severe sanctions for the football program in Oxford and, if nothing else, the Freeze era did not end well for the Rebels in the slightest.
In the meantime, the now-former head coach has been pretty quiet since vacating his post and, while some of that could have been for legal/NCAA reasons, Freeze has now broken his near-silence. His method is in the form of a written letter of apology to the Ole Miss faithful. (via Rebel Grove)
While I realize a statement from me could be met with criticism and more negative attention, I believe I owe the Ole Miss family an apology for the pain and disappointment I've caused them. With this being an open week for the football team, and with the NCAA hearing behind us, this seemed to be the right time for me to speak from my heart.
As you know, in July of this year Ross Bjork asked me about a concerning number discovered in my phone records. In the days that followed, I shared with him the truth about my past, ultimately resulting in my resignation. It's a truth I'd already shared with my wife, Jill, and with two of my closest friends months earlier.
While some of the things being reported about the matter are inaccurate, or in some cases completely false, it's much more important for me to tell you that what I did was wrong, and there's no justification for me making the selfish decisions that I knowingly made. I know I've hurt many people, especially those in the Ole Miss family, and I am asking you to forgive me for what I've done. I miss being a part of Ole Miss but will be pulling for our team every Saturday this season. To my faith family, I ask for your forgiveness and appreciate your prayers as well.
I have experienced unbelievable grace from above, from friends, and especially from Jill. Her strength and love through this storm have been incredible. Neither she nor our girls ever asked to live their lives in the public eye, but they have handled this with grace and dignity.
Words cannot express our gratitude for the outpouring of prayers, love, and forgiveness we have received from many of you. We have some incredible memories to hold onto from our time at Ole Miss, and want to thank you for blessing us over the last 5 years. While I realize there's no good answer for the pain I've caused, I hope you can forgive me.
Sincerely,
Hugh Freeze
A statement like one may fall on deaf ears for many Ole Miss fans still angry about the way things ended. Still, Freeze coming out in this fashion will probably produce some goodwill from some and that was likely the reasoning behind the decision to issue the letter.
