This is what might have happened when Raymond Harbert discovered that Auburn was going to hire Hugh Freeze as their next head coach.

He gave Jimmy Rane a holler two nights before.

JR: “Yello.”

RH: “Jimmy, it’s Raymond. What is this about hiring Freeze? Haven’t I told you we don’t want him.”

JR: “It’s not like my wood that if it’s not yella wood, you don’t want it, Ray. I like the guy. Seems like a good fella.

RH: “What’s good about him? He doesn’t have any character.”

JR: “He’s a character, Ray. Pretty funny guy when you get to know him.”

RH: “Jimmy, I meant he doesn’t have any ethics.”

JR: “He’s got a great work ethic. Really likes to recruit. And he beat Saban twice at Ole Miss. Better than anything Lame has ever done.”

RH: “I know he can coach, Jimmy. But he’ll get us in trouble. Hookers, come on!”

JR: “There was a lot of pressure there and he was just doing a little unwinding, Ray. Nothing wrong with a guy having a little fun. His wife and daughters forgave him. That’s good enough for me. They know it was just a minor mistake.”

RH: “Minor! You got to be kidding me, Jimmy.”

JR: “That’s what he told me. His wife and daughters are clearly on board. He’s taking 5 from us. That’s less than half of what Saban and Smart make. Heck, it’s 2 and a quarter less than what Venables at Oklahoma makes and that guy’s a clown.”

RH: “ I don’t care about that, Jim. I care about his morals.”

JR: “He’s a changed man, Ray. He may not have had the best morals in the past, but he can create good player morale. That’s enough for me. Plus he can beat Saban and Smart.”

RH: “I think Cohen isn’t being rationale here.
JR: “Cohen knows a winner when he sees one. Hugh will win and win big for us. “Let the Eagle Fly…”

RH: “Jimmy, please stop singing.”

JR “Come on, Ray. My wife says I got a pretty dang good voice. Hold on, Ray, it’s Bruce. We got a 5 star in Florida he needs. Gotta send some checks down to put in the church offering plate. Need this guy. The minister’ll deliver.”

RH: “Jimmy!”

JR: “Gotta have this guy, Ray. Bruce might not be much of a floor coach, but if we get him 5 stars, he can win and win big.”

RH: “ I give up.”

JR: “WDE, Ray.”

The rest is history. As Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated wrote, “Auburn gonna Auburn.”