Hugh Freeze is making his Liberty coaching debut Saturday night from an unconventional location.
Freeze, who is recovering from a herniated disk in his back, will coach the Flames' showdown vs. No. 22 Syracuse from a hospital bed in the coaches' booth at Liberty's Williams Stadium, according to the university. He is most comfortable when reclined and the bed is being used to support his back.
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Freeze missed two weeks of practice because of the herniated disk, and he also recovered recently from a life-threatening staph infection. Doctors discovered the infection during Freeze's back surgery to repair the disk.
Liberty set up audio and video equipment for Freeze to communicate with coaches and players. Freeze arrived at Williams Stadium in a wheelchair and watched his team practice via the cameras.
Here's Hugh Freeze coaching from his hospital bed pic.twitter.com/SSURR2KErM
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) August 31, 2019
Freeze coached five seasons at Mississippi, guiding the Rebels to four bowl games. The Syracuse matchup will be Freeze's first coaching appearance since he resigned from Ole Miss in 2017.
Saturday also marks Liberty's first game in the Football Bowl Subdivision. It will compete as an independent this season.