Former Ole Miss coach Freeze savors second chance at Liberty

LYNCHBURG, VA. >> Hugh Freeze has enjoyed the highs of football, such as winning the Sugar Bowl and beating mighty Alabama. He’s also known embarrassment and shame following a personal scandal that cost him his job at Mississippi.

Freeze, 49, believes those experiences will serve him well as the head coach at Liberty, where he’s been given a second chance.

“I believe in teaching young men on our team all of the lessons of when I got it right and when I got it wrong and what the consequences are,” Freeze said.

He was introduced as Liberty’s football coach on campus Friday, calling the opportunity an “unbelievable day for me and my family.” He was emotional at times during a press conference, thanking his family and calling them his heroes.

“I’ve made decisions that have hurt a lot of people,” Freeze said. “I don’t ever want to experience that again.”

Freeze will replace Turner Gill, who resigned after his seventh season to spend more time with his ailing wife. The Flames finished 6-6 this season, their first competing at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, and were 47-35 under Gill.

Freeze spent five years at Mississippi and led the Rebels to a 39-25 record and four bowl games. He resigned in the summer of 2017 amid a scandal in which school officials discovered a “pattern of personal misconduct” starting with a call to an escort service from a universityissued cellphone.

Ole Miss was also mired in an NCAA rules investigation during much of his tenure that eventually resulted in a two-year postseason ban.

Kansas suspends Williams after assault arrest

LAWRENCE, KAN. >> Kansas running back Pooka Williams was suspended by the Jayhawks after his arrest on suspicion of domestic battery, the same day the star freshman was chosen Big 12 newcomer of the year.

Williams, whose given name is Anthony Ray Williams, was involved in a physical confrontation at a Lawrence apartment complex Thursday, university police said in a statement.

The woman reported minor injuries, and the incident report indicates that she sustained injuries from bodily force.

Williams was a four-star prospect from Boutte, La., who emerged as a star during his first season in Lawrence. He ran for 1,125 yards and seven TDs after missing the opener amid questions about his eligibilit.

Florida AD would welcome 2-for-1 series vs UCF

GAINESVILLE, FLA. >> Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin would welcome a two-for-one series against in-state opponent UCF, which has the nation’s longest winning streak at 25.

“I’d be OK with scheduling them in the right situation,” Stricklin said Friday during a Peach Bowl event at Florida Field.

Florida and Central Florida last played in 2006, a 42-0 victory by the eventual national champion Gators.

Stricklin said he and UCF AD Danny White have not spoken about scheduling a game.