Liberty is back in action this Saturday to take on UMass at noon EST in a game carried on ESPN3. The Flames will be looking to pick up a second straight win and reach the 7-win plateau for a third consecutive season. On Thursday, Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze met with the media to give his final update prior to kickoff. Here are the main takeaways from his media session.

GOOD WEEK OF PRACTICE

Freeze mentioned that he thought the team had a good week of practice, particularly on offense, and that he is looking forward to the early kickoff.

“I’m overjoyed,” he said. “I thought we had a really good week of practice, particularly offensively. We need to get better on that side, hopefully Saturday will show that we worked better this week, I think we did. Definitely overjoyed to be, number one, at home in front of our home crowd and also to have an early kick. That will be nice to get through the middle of Saturday and have a little time to get some extra rest.”

BENNETT RECOVERING FROM CAR ACCIDENT

As we reported earlier this week, Liberty backup quarterback Johnathan Bennett was not practicing as he had his right, throwing hand heavily bandaged. Coach Freeze gave a little more insight into what happened.

“He was involved in a car accident on Sunday evening,” said Freeze. “Cut his hand all up, his throwing hand. He’s doubtful for the game unless the swelling goes down and the stitches really close up. He had a few stitches in a couple fingers. We are thankful he is ok, but he is doubtful for this week.”

Starting quarterback Malik Willis injured his right foot and missed a portion of last week’s game at North Texas, but both Willis and Freeze say that he looks fine and will be ready to go Saturday against UMass. As for the backup quarterback, Freeze was non-committal in naming one guy and instead referred to both true freshmen Kaidon Salter and Nate Hampton.

“Am I comfortable putting other quarterbacks in? Not totally, probably at this point,” Freeze said when asked about a backup quarterback for this week. “It’s not because they aren’t talented enough, it’s just because I don’t feel like I’ve done an adequate job of preparing them. We’ve tried hard this week. Both Nate and Kaidon have gotten some reps. Both will be ready, obviously, to go in.”

Freeze said he won’t change the game plan this week to protect Malik, but instead will go into it with the full game plan. He did note that as a coach he always prepares for contingency plans and the coaching staff is doing the best they can to prepare Salter and Hampton to be ready despite being on short notice.

“We’re not changing who we are or our identity at all,” he said. “The plan is to get those two as ready as we can. We have tomorrow and Saturday. We will continue coaching those two to have those ready to go should we need them to go into the game.”

FREEZE ON UMASS

Coach Freeze gave an update on his preparation this week on UMass, particularly their defense.

“I’ve got a good feel for them now,” he stated. “They are multiple. They have had a different flavor every week whether they try to plan even front like they did against Florida State or an odd front like they did against many others. They have capability of doing both which is not uncommon. I think we have a good plan but you have to block them and go execute. I like our plan and hopeful we can execute.”

FREEZE ON REALIGNMENT

Freeze was also asked about his thoughts on realignment with all the discussion in the media over the past several months and heating up in recent days at the Group of Five level.

“I’m interested and intrigued by all of it for sure,” he said. “If I concentrate too much on it, I probably can overthink it. I just really choose to lean on Ian and those guys that know a lot more than I do about what’s best for us, what’s best for the university, what makes sense financially. I wouldn’t have a clue. Someone told me the other day that it costs money to join a conference. I don’t know all that stuff. I have great trust in Ian. I know that he has the best interest for our program, as (well as) the other programs here. Whatever he sees his options, I think he will definitely communicate those to me and get my opinion. I’m sure Ritchie (McKay’s) and Scott (Jackson’s) and all the other coaches (also) and then make a decision if we have options like that. If we just keep winning football games, we will all probably be happier whether we are in a conference or not.”

FREEZE ON OLE MISS

Freeze was able to evade all questions related to his return to Oxford, Mississippi to take on his former team Ole Miss, but all things must come to an end as Freeze was asked about next week’s game during Thursday’s press conference.

“My initial reaction was let’s get out of that game,” Freeze said of his initial reaction to seeing Liberty having to take on Ole Miss. “Then, you get into the season and you start getting to know and love your team and coaches and school that you’re with and relishing opportunities to go into great places and play. That’s kind of the way I feel right now. I haven’t thought about it a lot this week, but I want our kids and people to enjoy the opportunity that will present us by going to a great place and playing a great team and great people there. I think we will look at it as a great opportunity when that time comes.”