This past Monday, Liberty football head coach Hugh Freeze met with the media for almost 45 minutes during a virtual press conference. Over the past week, we’ve brought you numerous stories from that interview session, and today we put the finishing touches on his comments in this notebook.
Freeze in favor of extra year for student-athletes negatively impacted
When the NCAA made the decision to cancel the NCAA Tournament and all spring championship events, one of the first discussions that popped up on social media was the idea of giving these student-athletes an extra year of eligibility. Hugh Freeze is a big proponent of that.
Last Monday, just a few hours after Freeze’s press conference, the NCAA announced that all seniors from spring semester sports would be given an extra year of eligibility should they choose to use it.
“Here’s the problem with a coach like me when you ask that,” Freeze said when asked about his opinion on the situation. “We have our opinion, but I’ll be the first to say that I don’t have a plan. We as coaches are probably quick to tell you I think it’s a great idea.”
“I don’t want my kids not to have a senior season and get a chance to not be evaluated, and I’m certain others don’t either. On the back end of that, do I have the plan that pulls all of that together, how do the scholarship numbers work, where do you give and where do you take, do we still get to sign 25? All the issues that come with that, do I have the answer, am I willing to say that I have the plan for that? No. I’m quick to try to put myself in both sides of it.”
“If you’re asking me if kids that miss out on their last year should have the option to have another year? I would raise my hand, absolutely I’m in favor of that. Someone smarter than me figure that out.”
Liberty opens newly remodeled and renovated Liberty Football Center
When the Liberty football coaching staff returned from spring break, they were able to move into the newly remodeled and renovated Liberty Football Center (LFC).
This 80,000 square feet and $25 million facility will serve as the football team’s headquarters. It includes the coaching staff’s offices, meeting rooms, a weight room, training room, locker room, and players lounge.
Freeze and his staff have been working out of makeshift offices on the 5th floor of the Carter Tower at Williams Stadium since he was hired in December 2018 as this facility was renovated.
“It’s an unbelievable facility,” Freeze said. “It still has some punch list things that are going on with the construction guys. We’re very very blessed. I think it would be hard to find a Group of Five type school, that we view ourselves as, that has put the money where their mouth is so to speak and the vision of trying to create and build a football program. We’re thankful to President Falwell, Ian and the Board for doing that. Our Indoor (Practice Facility) and this operations center, I think it rivals many Power Fives and certainly the Group of Five.”
Freeze’s hobbies during the stay at home order
Coach Freeze has been an avid golfer for years, and during this pandemic the golf course has been one of the few places he has been able to go to. Prior to his back surgery last summer, he had his handicap down to a 2. He says it’s probably about a 6 right now.
Freeze enjoyed watching the XFL
Coach Freeze has also been a fan of the XFL.
“I Tivo’d it. I Tivo most football games. I had some former players who were playing in it. I Tivo’d St. Louis who had Jordan Ta’amu who I recruited and coached some. I love watching it. I think they have a unique idea with the kickoff. I think it has some merit to the safety of collisions on that play. I enjoyed watching the games. I don’t like all the mic of the coaches.”
Ta’amu was just signed by the Kansas City Chiefs last week.
