Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze met with the media on Monday afternoon following the team’s loss at Virginia. The Flames must win Saturday to be achieve bowl eligibility. Here are some of Coach Freeze’s main takeaways from his media availability.

DISAPPOINTED FOLLOWING VIRGINIA GAME

“Very disappointing in the way we played Saturday, that’s my fault and my staff’s fault. In hindsight, I made a lot of this game, and I think maybe I did not accurately assess how our kids viewed it. It was almost like the moment was a little too big for us right now in their eyes. When adversity hit, we did not respond with poise, with discipline, or handle adversity very well. It meant a lot to those kids and they weren’t quite sure how to handle that game. I really thought we had turned that corner, the way we played at BYU. I felt like Virginia and BYU were very similar. 53 plays into the game we’re leading 14-10, in the latter part of the 2nd quarter, driving to score more points. Then a series of events happened that were out of character for some of our kids and the score gets flipped. Instead of us scoring, they score and then drive back down missed a field goal, which would have put points and kept a one score game, and then they score again. There was a different feel in our locker room at halftime that I really haven’t experienced. I think it was just the disappointment of them wanting to do well in that game which meant a lot to them. It was a bit overwhelming to them, that’s where we are in our program. We will learn from it, coaches and players, and move forward. Give credit to Virginia, they’re a very good football team, very well coached, got a chance to win their side of the conference this week. Bronco does a great job. I’m not at all standing here and saying we would have won the game, but I do think it would have taken us playing a really, really solid football game, and if we did that I think we could have been in it. That’s the frustrating thing, is that we as coaches couldn’t get our team to that point of being in it, and having a shot and I thought we were capable of being in it.”

FLAMES KNEW THE FAKE FG WAS COMING

“The 4th down play, we worked that. Our kids were even, ‘There he is, number 10 is in, it’s a fake, it’s a fake. Yet our awareness to say it’s really a fake, I’m saying ok we don’t have to call a timeout, we’ve drilled this, and then I see Jessie (Lemonier) and the others say, ‘There he is, there’s 10, it’s the backup quarterback, it’s a fake.’ Yet, we freeze and don’t guard the eligible guys. I’ve got to coach that better. I’m sick in my stomach that I didn’t call a timeout, but I thought they see it, they’re pointing him out, and then we don’t have it. I’m learning our team still, where we are.”

FREEZE LOVES THANKSGIVING WEEK

“It’s a great week, this is my favorite week of coaching really. I don’t know if its because all the rival games that are taking place that I used to watch as a kid or even as a high school coach when I wasn’t coaching college. You just lay around and eat and watch games, but then when I got into college coaching this week just became special to me for the time and the quality of time that you get to spend with your players. I try to make the most of this week in regards to our approach to being thankful for all we have and grateful, even if our young men or staff are going through a difficult time, there’s still so much to be thankful for.”

FLAMES GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THIS WEEK

“Each position group has adopted a family for this week. We look forward to going out and spending sometime with them starting tomorrow afternoon and Wednesday afternoon, making sure their Thanksgiving is everything it can be. I look forward to hearing the stories from our staff and our kids.”

LIBERTY WILL RECOGNIZE 17 SENIORS ON SATURDAY

“Invaluable,” Freeze said about what this group has meant to the program. “These seniors have welcomed me with open arms. They probably taught me as much as I’ve taught them. I don’t want to be emotional going into this game for these seniors, but obviously I don’t want them to end it Saturday. I think that they have paid their dues to get this program to this point to where you are at least in the discussion of bowl games and competing against teams like BYU, Virginia and others. I give these seniors credit for getting it to this point, and Turner Gill and the job he did in bringing this senior class together to help the transition. I’ve been very blessed to be a part of it and certainly want to see it extended a little bit, mostly for those seniors.”

INJURY UPDATE

(Brandon Tillmon, Javon Scruggs, Isaac Steele) – “Tillmon is doubtful. The other two are at the doctor as we speak. We expect them both to play, just from talking to Barry (Finke), but it’s still a little premature to say.”

TEAM FOCUS FOR THIS WEEK

“The focus this week is on impacting and loving each other. I think if we accomplish that, the effort that will be given on Saturday afternoon will be one that we’re proud of. Not talking so much about what’s on the line. They know that, and I think maybe the more I talk about it, that’s maybe not the right approach for the current state of who we are. We will focus on, ‘Let’s impact and love each other this week, and may it be evident in everything we say and do and how we prepare.’ Saturday will take care of itself.”