[Jonathan Carone]

My argument is what happens when there’s pressure to win again? Does he succumb to it and let his morals slide again? I think he needs to be an assistant again to prove he can do things with integrity. It’s not enough to sit in time out for a few years.

It's football. No matter where he goes and what he does there is pressure to win.
unless medioctiy is king.

There’s more accountability when you’re an assistant coach. The head football coach is king, even with a strong AD.

I’m not saying Freeze should never be a head coach again. I arguing he should have to prove he can be an ethical coach who recruits with integrity before given the opportunity to be the public face of a university.

[Jonathan Carone]

Liberty could be the haven for quality coaches(and athletic directors) that never want to feel pushed to blur ethical lines. The message from JLFJr should be, "be as good as you can while representing God first."

If that is the message we send to the coaches and ultimately the fanbase, I am fine with that. Yes, there is still pressure to win, but we are not willing to support unethical or non-Christian behavior to meet that end.

I think this is the goal! If it’s not, it should be.

The problem with that thinking is right now we are not that school yet. We are still a stepping stone. So most great coaches are going to want to move to a more prestigious school after having success here.

If we have success with this next hire - and likely the guy after him - I think we can become that destination for the next hot shot Christian coach to stay for a really long time.

[Purple Haize]

Liberty is the best for him and his family. No other place is a close second.

To piggyback on this, where is he going to have better guard rails? At LU or as an OC at a P5 school? He will have all the support and resources he needs to keep his Walk right here since it’s obstensibly a priority at LU.

I agree and disagree with this.

In a perfect world, you are 100% right. However, in reality we’ve seen those guardrails blown through on multiple occasions. With no FOIA requirements and a neutered press, there’s no outside accountability to keep things in check.

Had Freeze called a prostitute while the head coach at Liberty there would be no way it was found out and no way for it to be proven he did it. It could be swept under the rug and kept inside the bubble.

Dude can call for a Prostitute anywhere so I’m not sure what your objection truly is about. Because your hypothetical can happen anywhere whether he is coaching or selling widgets.
The key is what is the framework available. Could it get swept under the rug at LU? I’m going to say not in this case because of history. But if/when the temptation is there will he bein a better position to overcome it at LU or UT? When LU loses 2 in a row will the fan base be questioning his manhood and morals like the would at an SEC school? If his offense doesn’t put up X number of points or has Y number of turnovers at an SEC school the pressure will be unbelievable
The scenario you have put out SCREAMS that LU is the best choice for this guy. If I were in his circle of friends I would say Run don’t walk to take this job.

[Purple Haize]

My argument is what happens when there’s pressure to win again? Does he succumb to it and let his morals slide again? I think he needs to be an assistant again to prove he can do things with integrity. It’s not enough to sit in time out for a few years.

It's football. No matter where he goes and what he does there is pressure to win.
unless medioctiy is king.

There’s more accountability when you’re an assistant coach. The head football coach is king, even with a strong AD.

I’m not saying Freeze should never be a head coach again. I arguing he should have to prove he can be an ethical coach who recruits with integrity before given the opportunity to be the public face of a university.

There is also less stability which equals more pressure. Which as you argue makes it easier to go back into old habits.

[ballcoach15]

I believe I have been in every building on campus, except dorms. Everywhere you go on campus you see reference to Christ. I have been to 5 SEC schools and many ACC schools, plus many Mid major conference schools. You do not see references to Christ at other schools. At Liberty, Freeze would be among believers every day.

[Jonathan Carone]

Dude can call for a Prostitute anywhere so I’m not sure what your objection truly is about. Because your hypothetical can happen anywhere whether he is coaching or selling widgets.

You missed the point I was making. At public schools - regardless of conference - he's more likely to get caught doing that because of the external accountability. People can investigate accusations. The local press isn't subjected to the pressure of appeasing the school. At Liberty, if someone makes an accusation, all we have to do is say it isn't true and it goes away.

When LU loses 2 in a row will the fan base be questioning his manhood and morals like the would at an SEC school? If his offense doesn’t put up X number of points or has Y number of turnovers at an SEC school the pressure will be unbelievable.

This is where I look to Freeze's aspirations. If he has aspirations to be a P5 head coach again, he'll have the same pressure on himself as Liberty's head coach if he loses 2 in a row that the fans would have on him if he were a coordinator at a P5.

Danny Rocco - a man with as much or more integrity than anyone I've met - sacrificed his integrity at the altar of success to try and bring back Asa Chapman because he needed to win in order to get the job he wanted. Knowing that makes me really skeptical of someone who has already been proven to cut corners and do things he shouldn't. Coaches are highly competitive and driven. You of all people understand this.

The scenario you have put out SCREAMS that LU is the best choice for this guy. If I were in his circle of friends I would say Run don’t walk to take this job.

I agree completely! For Hugh Freeze, Liberty is his best option available.

If I'm Liberty, I don't think Hugh Freeze is my best option available.

[Class of 20Something]

I agree completely! For Hugh Freeze, Liberty is his best option available.

If I'm Liberty, I don't think Hugh Freeze is my best option available.

+1

[Purple Haize]

Your DR point is perfect here. Based on his past actions do you think he is more or less likely to do something like that again? If he were thinking about doing it again would he be more likely to do it at a school with stricter or looser guard rails? I agree with you that LU sweeps things under the rug. No question about it. But I also know it is much much easier to get away with something at say UT than LU without people finding out.
The pressure he puts on himself is going to be the same regardless. In a case like this I think it lines up perfectly with LU’s mission and that of being a Christian. He did what he did. He came clean before it became public. He’s been out of his profession for several years. I’m good with giving him a chance.

[Jonathan Carone]

Your DR point is perfect here. Based on his past actions do you think he is more or less likely to do something like that again? If he were thinking about doing it again would he be more likely to do it at a school with stricter or looser guard rails?

This is a really fair point in favor of Freeze. He’s still not my top choice, but I can buy this line of thinking.

[flameshaw]

Well, what do you know, I agree with PH 100%. Good argument for Huge Freeze for sure. Personally, he would be my #2 choice. I am still a Streeter fan, based on those who we have talked about.
Another thought about a subject I see talked about here often. I do not see the need to hire a guy who is going to stay here forever. I don't have a problem with LU being a stepping stone, especially at this time in our history. If we get the right guys and each one builds on the foundation of the previous coach(s), we will eventually become one of those places where the absolute best Christian coaches will aspire to ply their trade.

[ballcoach15]

I believe Freeze would stay longer than some youngster, who would jump ship at first sign of $$$$$$$.

[Sly Fox]

I do not see the need to hire a guy who is going to stay here forever. I don't have a problem with LU being a stepping stone, especially at this time in our history. If we get the right guys and each one builds on the foundation of the previous coach(s), we will eventually become one of those places where the absolute best Christian coaches will aspire to ply their trade.

Agree 100%

[Liberty22]

You know this is a unique position especially regarding Freeze. With his past, this could be a place he wants to stay the rest of his career. He’d be a head coach at a school that could schedule like a p5 if they want. He could be really successful or even 7-8 wins a year successful and leadership would love it without the pressures of National Championships or else. It also has the faith community he and his wife seem to cherish now. You just never know, this could be his dream job now due to his circumstances and where he appears to be with the Lord.

[Jonathan Carone]

I do not see the need to hire a guy who is going to stay here forever. I don't have a problem with LU being a stepping stone, especially at this time in our history. If we get the right guys and each one builds on the foundation of the previous coach(s), we will eventually become one of those places where the absolute best Christian coaches will aspire to ply their trade.

Agree 100%

I agree with this too. I think 10-15 years from now, if the next couple guys have success, we could be a destination for a Christian coach, but we aren't there yet.

[Sly Fox]

Alabama & Liberty – Two schools in competition with Tennessee for Hugh Freeze



KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- What do the football programs at Tennessee, Alabama, and Liberty all have in common?

They're all reportedly in the mix to hire Hugh Freeze.

Click Here for Full Story

[ballcoach15]

It's great to see LU logo with Alabama, Auburn, and Florida State. Doctor Falwell is smiling down from heaven.

[rtb72]

And ours is at the very top!

[ballcoach15]

We have played all of them in softball except FSU.

[flameshaw]

It's great to see LU logo with Alabama, Auburn, and Florida State. Doctor Falwell is smiling down from heaven.

+1

[Cider Jim]

You know this is a unique position especially regarding Freeze. With his past, this could be a place he wants to stay the rest of his career...It also has the faith community he and his wife seem to cherish now. You just never know, this could be his dream job now due to his circumstances and where he appears to be with the Lord.

With all due respect, Ian seems to have found a home here at LU, and I hope the same could be true for Hugh Freeze, if he is chosen as our next head coach.

[R i]

Jury is still out on Ian finding a home here. All indications are he is here for a long term like he was at Baylor, however if he knocks this hire out of the park and his public reputation is a little cleaner, I could see P5s knocking at the door for former NCAA AD of the year.

[Purple Haize]

If Ian is here in 5 years I’d be surprised

[R i]

Looked into Hugh Freeze's record at Ole Miss. If it hasn't been mentioned here, his 2016 campaign would be a huge red flag. He did not leave Ole Miss in a great spot on or off the field. This makes the off the field stuff even harder to stomach. He had two good seasons (5-3 , 6-2) in a very difficult conference, not what I want to sign up for.


2012 Ole Miss 7–6 3–5 5th (Western) W BBVA Compass
2013 Ole Miss 8–5 3–5 T–5th (Western) W Music City
2014 Ole Miss 9–4 5–3 3rd (Western) L Peach† 19 17
2015 Ole Miss 10–3 6–2 2nd (Western) W Sugar† 9 10
2016 Ole Miss 5–7 2–6 7th (Western)

[House on fire]

A question I haven't seen discussed much... How does his past effect recruiting? Regardless of the depth of his repentance and steps to move forward, can we afford to give opposing recruiters the extra fodder as we try to build the program? How does his past influence parents of recruits?

[Class of 20Something]

A question I haven't seen discussed much... How does his past effect recruiting? Regardless of the depth of his repentance and steps to move forward, can we afford to give opposing recruiters the extra fodder as we try to build the program? How does his past influence parents of recruits?

He has to turn it into a positive. Look at how Ray Rice has taken his situation, isn't afraid to talk about it, and actually has become and advocate for it. Hugh can do the same. Sit down with a recruit and their folks. Admit mistakes. Relate on a human level. We are Christians, not Christ. Sell your brokenness and your desire to work for God's glory.