Game week has arrived. Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze spoke to reporters on Monday as his Flames prepare for their season opener against Syracuse in Williams Stadium on Saturday.

ANY UPDATE FROM NCAA ON MALIK WILLIS’ WAIVER?

“Not as of today, I think we expect it by Wednesday.”

INJURY UPDATE

“Unfortunately, we are going into the game a bit short handed at some places with (WRs) Noah (Frith) and Khaleb Coleman being questionable going into this game. Noah will not play in it, he’s got a fracture in his foot. Khaleb is questionable as is C.J. Yarbrough, he’s in concussion protocol, and we will see what happens with that.”

“I think Khaleb will be able to go, I do, but I can’t say that today. But I think he will be able to go. We will miss Noah, no question, he had a great fall camp.”

“(Isaac Steele is questionable). Hopeful, he may can run tomorrow. That’s our goal, but he’s struggled with a hamstring, so has Hunter Goetz. At safety position, we’re a little thin.”

TRUE FRESHMEN STANDOUTS

On corners Tre Clarke and Tank Land – “I sure do expect both of them to play. If nothing else, for sure special teams, but I expect we will see them in the rotation at corner also.”

“C.J. Yarbrough has had a remarkable camp. Our freshmen (WRs), C.J. and Demario (Douglas) have had remarkable camps. Real excited about the future for those guys.”

True freshman WR C.J. Yarbrough

TONY BENNETT PAID COACH FREEZE A VISIT WHILE AT UVA HOSPITAL

“First time I’ve ever met him. I’ve thought a lot of him, just by the way he approaches life. He’s a man of faith, then obviously getting beat by a 16 seed and what people would consider as failure and then bouncing back the next year and winning it. I bet we visited for literally an hour and talked about faith and failure and leadership. He’s a remarkable man, thankful that he stopped by. I don’t know who all had a hand in that, if anybody, but it was a great visit. Us and our wives, we’re going to get together and have a dinner as soon as I get a break and he gets a break. Really appreciate that and think a lot of him.”

WILL YOU COACH IN THE BOOTH OR ON THE SIDELINES SATURDAY?

“Ian is brilliant. Ian has all kinds of ideas. We’re discussing all of those now. We’ll come to a conclusion at some point this week, not sure right now.”

SYRACUSE THOUGHTS

“Obviously, a huge opportunity, a great experience for our kids to get to play an ACC opponent that is coming into our home which will be exciting for Lynchburg. I know the place will have a buzz about it, that excites me, it excites our kids, they’re looking forward to it. All in all, we’re facing a top 20-ish, in my eyes they’re a top 20-type program going into the season right now. That is a tall, tall order for our kids, for our coaches. One that we’re excited about the opportunity to go and try to compete with.”

ON SYRACUSE QB TOMMY DEVITO

“I’m impressed with their quarterback Tommy DeVito. He didn’t play in a lot of games, but I think he is an extremely accurate passer and athletic enough to run when he needs to. I thought he was a very accurate passer. Notre Dame got after him good, but in the other games I thought he was really, really accurate, maybe more accurate than the starter last year as a passer. An accurate passer with his frame is something that you worry about.”

ON SYRACUSE COACH DINO BABERS

“how can you argue with the job he’s done? i was impressed with him when he was at bowling green also. then he comes in to this place and turns it very quickly, competes with the nation’s best in clemson year in, year out. beat ’em a couple years ago and had them on the ropes last year. his tempo on offense is as fast as anyone in the country, that could give us issues. Obviously we’re not as deep as we would like to be, but you’ve got to give him credit for what he has built there and continuing to build.”