Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1)
In today’s edition of Auburn Tigers News, two major storylines are dominating the conversation: Auburn basketball legend Sonny Smith’s retirement from his longtime role as a radio color analyst, and football head coach Hugh Freeze’s ongoing debate about the future of his quarterback position.
Sonny Smith Retires from Radio Booth After Decades of Service
Auburn fans were hit with bittersweet news this week as Sonny Smith, the iconic former Auburn basketball coach, announced his retirement from his role as the color analyst for the Auburn Sports Network. Smith, who coached the Tigers in the 1980s, helped elevate Auburn basketball to national prominence, leading the team to five NCAA Tournament appearances and an SEC championship during his tenure.
“After years courtside as both a coach and a broadcaster, it is time to pass the mic and reflect,” Smith said in a statement shared by Auburn Undercover. “That front row seat was more than a job; it was love for the game. As the color commentator, I had the privilege of bringing the game to life, going beyond the stats and scores by adding a little extra color to the game.”
Smith’s deep knowledge of the game and charismatic storytelling made him a beloved figure in the Auburn community. His voice became synonymous with Auburn basketball, particularly for fans tuning in for home games and road broadcasts.
Auburn assistant coach Randall Dickey, who filled in for Smith during road games last season, will take over the role full-time. Dickey, a familiar face to the Auburn faithful, will now have the tough task of stepping into Smith’s sizable shoes, keeping fans engaged with his own style of insightful commentary.
Hugh Freeze Ponders QB Change as Auburn Football Struggles Continue
On the football front, it’s been a season full of uncertainty for the Auburn Tigers. The team has struggled to find consistency, and now head coach Hugh Freeze is grappling with another critical decision: what to do at quarterback.
Payton Thorne, who was named Auburn’s starting quarterback ahead of the 2024 season, has faced considerable criticism following a series of underwhelming performances. After a disastrous showing in the season-opening loss to California, Thorne was benched in favor of backup Hank Brown, who started the next game against New Mexico. However, when Brown threw three interceptions in the first half of Auburn’s game against Arkansas, Freeze turned back to Thorne to finish out the contest.
Though Thorne has shown flashes of potential, Freeze is still weighing his options as the Tigers head into their second bye week with just three games left in the regular season. The team’s struggles to win games — coupled with the growing pressure on Freeze to turn things around — have led the coach to rethink his approach at quarterback.
“Payton’s played pretty solid, but at the same time, you start thinking big picture,” Freeze said Wednesday on the SEC Coaches Teleconference, as reported by Auburn Undercover. “That’s a tough quandary for you as a coach — when you start thinking big picture, as opposed to one of your players that really hasn’t done anything wrong. But we certainly aren’t winning. And so we’re debating all of that this week and we’ll continue into next week debating that.”
The decision to bench Thorne for Brown earlier this season and then reinsert him has highlighted the inconsistency at the quarterback position. For Auburn, who is 4-5 with just three games remaining, the quarterback controversy has added another layer of complexity to an already challenging season. Freeze has expressed that he’s still looking for a spark, but as he has alluded to, sometimes a coach must look beyond individual performances and toward the broader team goals.
Looking Ahead: The Final Stretch
With Auburn’s bye week coming up, Freeze has some time to decide what path to take with the quarterback position. After a tough season, the Tigers will return to action on November 16, when they host ULM at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Freeze and the coaching staff will have one last chance to make adjustments before Auburn finishes the season with tough matchups against SEC rivals.
As for Smith, his retirement marks the end of an era in Auburn basketball broadcasting, but his legacy in both coaching and commentary will continue to resonate with fans for years to come.
The next few weeks will be pivotal for Auburn football as Freeze looks to make a final decision on the quarterback situation and try to salvage a season that has had its fair share of highs and lows. Fans are hopeful that whether it’s Thorne or another player under center, the Tigers can find their rhythm and finish strong in what has been a season of growing pains.
