Bed-ridden Hugh Freeze will somehow still coach in Liberty’s game
By Keith Farner
Published:
Coaches have used creative ways to still coach in games despite various health problems. Hugh Freeze may have found the most unique yet.
The Liberty coach is recovering from a staph infection and subsequent surgery, and has missed time this preseason while in the hospital. Freeze, the former Ole Miss coach, originally had back spasms that kept him away from the team.
Liberty played Syracuse on Saturday and according to the program, Freeze was to coach from the press box in a hospital bed. The school said he’s most comfortable when reclined. The Flames travel to Louisiana-Lafayette next week, and Freeze plans to make the flight.
It’s been a unique preseason camp throughout, according to the Associated Press.
Freeze had back surgery on Aug. 16 and has stayed in a hotel near campus because he’s not allowed to climb steps, including at his home. The school’s IT department set him up with video monitors from numerous camera angles that enable him to watch practice from his room. He’s also able to speak with coaches and players during the practices via an audio hook-up and has even called plays to be run during some of the workouts.
This is is set to be Freeze’s first season since his dismissal from Ole Miss ahead of the 2017 campaign.
Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze will work from a hospital bed in the coach’s booth tonight, per LU Athletics.
Freeze’s staph infection is gone, but he’s only two weeks into a 4-6 week recovery from surgery. He’s most comfortable when reclined and plans to fly to ULL next week.
— Stephen Bailey (@Stephen_Bailey1) August 31, 2019
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
