Hugh Freeze, former Ole Miss coach

Nick Gray | The Tennessean

Liberty coach Hugh Freeze is recovering from a procedure stemming from a staph infection that he has been dealing with since the start of preseason camp.

So, instead of staying home during Liberty's season opener against No. 22 Syracuse (5 p.m. Central, ESPN+), the Flames head coach will coach from a hospital bed in the coaches booth at the stadium, according to the school.

Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze will work from a hospital bed in the coach's booth tonight, per LU Athletics.



Freeze's staph infection is gone, but he's only two weeks into a 4-6 week recovery from surgery. He's most comfortable when reclined and plans to fly to ULL next week. — Stephen Bailey (@Stephen_Bailey1) August 31, 2019

Additionally, Freeze will have a video connection to the locker room for a pregame pep talk and a halftime speech, if need be.

Often, coaches with external injuries (i.e., broken bones) will stay in the press box in the rare occasion that they are injured in-season. And in the NFL, Packers coach Matt LaFleur and Lions coach Matt Patricia coached preseason practices from a cart while recovering from surgeries.

But a hospital bed in the coaches booth during a game? That's an original way to do things. And for Freeze, who is returning to coaching after scandal forced his resignation from Ole Miss, his coaching career continues to stay weird.

Here’s a look at Hugh Freeze’s seat in the coaches’ booth.



Freeze will essentially videoconference with his team pregame and at halftime and do so during postgame press conference.



The plan is to fly him to Louisiana next week to be with the team on the road. pic.twitter.com/YA1HAXiQ43 — Nate Mink (@MinkNate) August 31, 2019