Liberty saw its regular season come to an end with a third straight loss on Saturday against New Mexico State, 49-14. The Flames finish the regular season at 8-4. Here is everything head coach Hugh Freeze had to say following the game, beginning with his opening statement:

“It’s extremely disappointing. Maybe one of the worst that I can remember in my 30 years of coaching. Our fans, our university, our administration, our players deserve better than what we finished the season. We have had our share of injuries, losing Dae Dae and some linebackers, but we certainly aren’t the same team since Arkansas. That falls directly on me it’s an awful feeling.”

“Obviously, I’m certainly not taking anything away from Coach Kill and his crew. They were hungry to get bowl eligible. They beat us in every facet of the game. Every break, it felt like, the penalties, turnovers obviously, so give them credit. It’s certainly disappointing and tough to sleep with this one. Nothing will take away what these seniors have done for this program. To elevate it to the point where our expectations are so high. To win against Power Five teams, this is our fourth consecutive year with at least 8 wins.”

“It’s disappointing and really stings that we didn’t finish the season better. What will stick in your gut right now that we’ve got to try to figure out. Obviously last year this happened and we had a great bowl prep and played really well in the bowl game. That is the hope that these seniors can experience that instead of a game like today.

WHAT WAS THE FEEL WITH YOUR TEAM AT THE HOTEL LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING?

“It was really good at the hotel. We had a great morning together. We honored our seniors. It was one of the most genuine, best times of honoring a senior class that I’ve been a part of. It was incredible. Certainly, when we got to the stadium this morning it was a different feel in the locker room. There was zero energy on the sideline or in the stadium today. We couldn’t get any. It certainly showed.”

IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE REPORTS FROM AUBURN?

“I’m sure it didn’t help. I have a really unique relationship with my boss, Ian, and with our players. They know that I’m very transparent and honest with them. I’ve certainly told them that if I ever got to the point where someone was pursuing me and I thought it was right for Jill and I our family that I would tell them. I have not told them that. For that to come out, I haven’t been offered a job but it certainly was hard to refute that report. It was bothering some people, just hate it.”

WAS IT ADDRESSED WITH THE TEAM PREGAME?

“I was asked directly by them. So I did. Whether or not that had to do, I think it had something to do with our flatness, I’m sure, but I’m not one to dodge people that I care for and love’s questions. I’m not one to tell them something that’s not true. I tried to tell them the truth. It was just an odd, odd feeling.”

WHAT COMMENT CAN YOU PROVIDE ON THAT STATUS?

“I have communicated with Ian if someone ever wanted to talk to us that interests us, I would always tell him. Is the job that everyone is talking about one that I would have an interest in talking with? Sure. They have not offered me a job. Who knows where that’s headed, but I’ve always said I love being here on The Mountain. I’m happy here. I’m not going to sit and say to our kids or somebody that’s just absolutely false there’s no interest in it. The part that is false is there is no offer nor have I accepted anything. I think that’s what our kids came in the locker room kind of feeling.”

ALL 3 QBs HAD A TURNOVER TODAY, WAS IT JUST MORE OF THE SAME THERE?

“Of course. We were driving twice and turned it over. Both times it resulted in touchdowns. It’s been that kind of here for us offensively and we haven’t taken care of the ball. You’re not going to win college football games doing that. This spring the quarterbacks have got to really go to work on taking care of the ball.”

AHMAD’S EJECTION, WAS THAT THE RIGHT CALL?

“The replay looked to me, by the letter of the law, the crown of his helmet did make contact. It was not vicious at all, but by the letter of all I think that is targeting.”

HOW DO YOU THINK BREWER PLAYED?

“Other than the one pick I thought he was playing pretty solid. I think his hand still bothers him. It’s not coming out like it did in fall camp. JB got a cut on his and the ball wasn’t coming out of his hands very well there in the second half. It was kind of floating on him. He put tape all over it. I think his grip was a little iffy.”

YOU PLAYED MORE THAN 1 QB?

“I was hopeful that Charlie would light it up. All three had good practice times and felt like we could move the ball with all three and I thought we did at times. All three had turnovers also and took some sacks when we should have thrown it away. Things we should have coached better.”

WHAT DID THE DEFENSE STRUGGLE WITH TODAY?

“It was unlike anything we’ve experienced this year from our defense. We didn’t tackle well the last three games. We just looked like a really tired football team. We’ve kind of looked like that since the Arkansas game. We didn’t fit the run very well. We gave up a few explosive passes. We didn’t stay on top of routes. There’s no telling how many penalties we had that resulted in first downs.”

IS IT JUST A LONG SEASON?

“College football is a mental drain. 12 games is a mental drain. We’ve had 12 games where it’s four quarters every game. Our kids have had to play a lot of snaps, against some good football teams and several Power Fives that have more depth. There’s no question that we need to evaluate the things, we’re getting to this point this season and we don’t look like the same football team. That falls on me to figure out.”

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT ADDRESSING THE RUMORS WITH THE TEAM MOVING FORWARD?

“I had to address it when I was asked about it and I did.”

DO YOU PLAN TO MAKE A STATEMENT SOON?

“I don’t need an official statement. I don’t have any news to report.”