A New Era for Auburn Football: Can Hugh Freeze’s Offense Turn the Corner?

After a debut season that was marked by struggles on the offense, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is looking to turn things around in his second year at the helm. With a slew of new playmakers on board and a retooled receiving corps, the Tigers are hoping to improve on last season’s lackluster passing game.

But can Freeze’s offense really turn the corner? With quarterback Payton Thorne returning for his second season under Freeze’s guidance, the Tigers are banking on more production from their signal-caller. Thorne passed for 1,755 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, but was intercepted 10 times. This season, he’ll have a new group of receivers to work with, including prized freshman recruit Cam Coleman and Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

Receiver Renovation

The Tigers are hoping that an influx of highly-rated receivers will help kick-start the lackluster passing game. Coleman, in particular, has been making waves in the spring, and headlines a group of four freshman receivers. He was rated the nation’s No. 3 prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings.

But it’s not just the new receivers that have Freeze excited. He’s also brought in new coordinators on both sides of the ball, including longtime Mississippi assistant Derrick Nix on offense. Nix arrives for his first coordinator job, and Freeze thinks he’s the perfect man for the job.

A New Era for Auburn Football

Freeze thinks the culture and chemistry of his team has also improved going into year two. With a winning record in his sights, the Tigers are looking to rebound from a third straight losing season. But will it be enough to turn the corner? With a tough schedule ahead, the Tigers will need to be firing on all cylinders if they want to make a run at the SEC title.

Freeze thinks the key to success lies in his team’s ability to adapt and adjust. With a new group of playmakers on board, the Tigers are looking to mix things up on offense and keep defenses guessing.

A Look Ahead

The Tigers open with five home games, ending with a visit from new SEC member Oklahoma. That game on Sep. 28 starts a run that includes visits to Georgia and Missouri. The regular season finale against rival Alabama is also on the road.

With a tough schedule ahead, the Tigers will need to be firing on all cylinders if they want to make a run at the SEC title. But with Freeze at the helm and a new group of playmakers on board, the Tigers are looking to turn the corner and make a statement in the SEC.

It appears that the $1.2 billion Scottsdale park tax will not go to voters this year as previously thought, after the Goldwater Institute successfully blocking the proposal in court. The 30-year tax was set to replace an existing tax that expires next June and was touted as a move to reduce overall taxes. However the Institute cited misleading advertising as its reason to appeal against the measure.

Goldwater argued that the initiative was not an actual reduction in taxes as the existing tax will expire regardless. Furthermore, it was not a true extension of the existing tax but rather a new tax that would fund upkeep and improvements at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and city parks.

A panel of judges ruled in favor of Goldwater stating that Scottsdale’s description of the initiative was faulty and ordered the city to remove the measure from the November ballot.

A Win for Taxpayers

Goldwater is hailing the decision as a victory for taxpayers statewide.

“Today’s decision vindicates the rights of taxpayers who deserve honesty from their local officials — especially when it comes to the money hardworking Arizonans are required to fork over to the government,” Goldwater Spokesman Joe Setyon wrote in a statement on Monday.

A Warning to Local Leaders

“Local leaders in Scottsdale and across Arizona should consider themselves warned: Public officials should not be in the business of deceiving taxpayers so they’ll vote to raise taxes on ourselves,” he added.

It remains unclear how the ruling will affect the ballot initiative, as cities had to finalize their ballot initiatives by July 3. Scottsdale can still appeal Monday’s decision to the Arizona Supreme Court.

The proposition would have generated about $1.15 billion over its 30-year lifespan if it had appeared on the ballot and gotten voter approval.

The specific spending breakdown for that money would have been:

• 51% to replace “capital assets” at citywide parks, like playground equipment and irrigation systems.

• 14% for more maintenance workers and contracts to “enhance park maintenance.”

• 7% for the Police Park Ranger program to boost enforcement of city rules in its parks.

• 18% for conservation efforts and maintenance of things such as trailheads at the Preserve.

• 10% for the Fire Department to fight and prevent wildfires at the Preserve.