There was already a pretty high level of comedy in Hugh Freeze, the former Ole Miss head coach who resigned that job over “a pattern of personal misconduct inconsistent with the standards we expect from the leader of our football team” after a university investigation found he made at least 12 calls to escort services on his university phone, taking the head coaching job at the super-Christian, Jerry Falwell-founded Liberty University, but things got even funnier at Freeze’s introductory press conference Friday.
To start with, there was this:
I'm sure you've met a few others who can handle your junk @CoachHughFreeze pic.twitter.com/NxEU8bxUYz
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) December 7, 2018
“Faith, for me, is believing in the son of God, Jesus Christ. He’s the only one that can handle my junk. If you know somebody else that can do that, I’d love to meet him, but I haven’t met that person yet.”
Oh, but it got better from there. Let’s check out some other quotes from that press conference:
Hugh Freeze says he's "inconvenienced" his wife "several times" during their relationship.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 7, 2018
That’s what we’re calling it now, eh? Also:
#Liberty AD Ian McCaw on Hugh Freeze: "He’s a man of great faith, great family man."
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 7, 2018
Calling Freeze “a great family man” is one thing (oh, and it should be noted that that’s former Baylor AD Ian McCaw, who resigned from that job in 2016 amidst a giant sexual assault scandal and was individually named as a defendant in several lawsuits alleging he covered up sexual assault allegations). And:
And now Hugh Freeze is crying. "We're all about finishing," he said of himself and his family.
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) December 7, 2018
Freeze declaring himself to be Christopher Columbus is also quite entertaining considering the way many now view Columbus’ legacy. And that finishing quote could also use a “phrasing.” Oh, and it should be noted that Freeze was around for plenty of NCAA violations at Ole Miss, and would have received a two-game suspension from the NCAA if he’d returned to a head coaching role before this past November. But he’s now signed a five-year contract with Liberty; we’ll see if he lasts through that. As he said, he is all about finishing.
At any rate, if this press conference is anything to go by, Freeze’s tenure at Liberty should provide plenty of comedic ammunition for college football writers. His first game with the Flames will be hosting Syracuse on Aug. 31.
