South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp was let go on Sunday evening from his position following the Gamecocks’ setback at Ole Miss, 59-42, USC’s third straight loss as they fall to 2-5 on the season. Immediately, Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze was mentioned as a possible replacement in Columbia by all the national media outlets.
On Monday, during his weekly press conference as the Flames prepare to take on NC State this Saturday, Freeze was asked about his name being mentioned for that opening.
“I don’t know if it will keep coming up, it’s a compliment to our kids and our administration and our program,” Freeze said when asked if his name will keep coming up whenever there’s a job opening. “You can keep asking, but my total focus is on our kids and Liberty University and building this program. That’s the answer you’re going to get if you ask this week, next week, or the following week. I don’t know how else I can address it. I’ve addressed it ten times and said it would take something very, very special for me to even consider it and I don’t know that even that would do it, me considering it. My focus is here. I’m at peace and love what we’re doing. You will probably have to deal with those rumors, as long as we’re winning. If we lose one or two everybody will probably quit talking about it.”
Hugh Freeze is 16-5 in his two seasons at Liberty, including a program best 8-0 mark to begin the 2020 season. The Flames are also ranked in both major college football polls for the first time in school history, as Liberty checks in at No. 21 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and No. 22 in the Coaches Top 25 Poll.
“I want to do the best job I can where my feet are planted and that is loving and building this place that I’m at right now,” Freeze also stated on Monday. “I’m very blessed to be here. All that I have peace about right now is sitting right in front of me here on this mountain. I’m thankful for it. They were more than gracious to me and my family. That goes a long way with me.”
Liberty has what Freeze calls his team’s biggest challenge of the season to this point this coming Saturday when the Flames head to Raleigh, North Carolina to take on the NC State Wolfpack. This will be the first game Liberty will play under the lights this season as kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from Carter Finley Stadium and will be televised on ACC Regional Networks.
