Coach Hugh Freeze delivers Convocation message on ‘chasing lions’ and playing ‘the long game’ of life

At Wednesday morning’s Convocation, Liberty University Flames Football Head Coach Hugh Freeze addressed the student body with a message of hope, bringing a word of redemption and offering a guide to living well before the Lord.

Freeze took the stage in the Vines Center after Liberty Campus Pastor Jonathan Falwell introduced the Flames’ sideline boss, who guided the team to its third consecutive bowl game victory last month and recently signed a five-year extension to remain at the helm through 2028.

“We want to continue to make this one of the most difficult places to play (in college football),” he said after applauding the student body and thanking them for their faithful attendance in Williams Stadium on fall Saturdays.

Freeze began his message by asking listeners to reflect on the best day of their lives aside from the day that they committed their lives to the Lord.

He then shared a story from Daniel 23 when David, who had recently been anointed king, had selected 37 mighty men for his inner circle, to provide accountability and companionship. One of these men, Benaiah, chased a lion into a pit on a snowy day and killed it while also performing other incredible acts of valor. Freeze implied that Benaiah likely drew inspiration from David’s leadership and boldness, a king who had killed a lion and a bear in his youth.

“He had heard the stories of God’s faithfulness to this man David,” Freeze said  “He had heard those stories and somewhere in his mind he had believed in his heart that if God would be faithful to David, He would be faithful to him (Benaiah).”

“I would ask you, who are you following?” Freeze asked the students.

Freeze told students to model Benaiah’s faith.

“Sometimes opportunities come and, man, we must grab them,” he said.

David took the opportunities that came his way early in his life. When he heard Goliath taunting his people, David ran toward the challenge, boldly trusting in the Lord while killing his people’s adversary.

“He took the opportunity and did something about it,” Freeze said. “Lion chasers are much more afraid of missing an opportunity than (committing) mistakes or failures.”

While it can be tempting to give in to the fleshly inclination of living passively, Freeze instructed students to be bold, never afraid to jump at an opportunity to make a positive impact.

In the cave of Adullam, surrounded by the Philistine army, David and his mighty men found themselves in conflict despite their faithfulness to the Lord. In a similar way, Freeze said conflict will always be a part of the Christian journey, and we must overcome as we keep our eyes on Jesus.

“When life hits you smack dab and you have conflict and heartache, whether you caused it or whether you didn’t, it’s all real,” he said. “What do we do in those moments?”

Freeze challenged students to not only embrace the Christian culture at Liberty as being different from the world around them, but to hold true to their faith when the world stands in opposition.

“Are we really built different here at Liberty?” he asked. “Are we really all in when society … and culture is trying to dictate how we should think and react? Are we really all in with the faith that we say we possess and the faithfulness of a God who has never failed?”

While everyone enters caves from time to time in their lives, David and his men were not going to remain there. But the Lord did teach them throughout that time.

“It was there where David and his men learned a lot of great lessons,” he said. “So don’t be afraid of the conflict when it comes. He was faithful before, and He’ll be faithful again.”

“God created us to chase some lions,” he added. “And He put you here and equipped you with people who will help you do that. So be some lion chasers.”

Using football references, Freeze explained life as quarters in which we, as believers, need to “consider the long game” — the big picture, the end goal to glorify God — by making decisions today that will be beneficial down the road.

In conclusion, he shared one of the greatest days of his own life: “my daughter getting married.”

Although he is comfortable speaking to his football team, Freeze said he struggled to prepare his speech for the wedding earlier this month, overwhelmed and overcome with emotions.

“I was doing pretty good until … she gave me her purity ring that I gave her when she was 14. And she said, ‘I want you to know that I honored you.’”

While this brought Freeze to tears, he rejoiced knowing that his daughter had considered the long game.

“How many decisions can we make that bring honor to each other and to God? That is the long game,” he said. “And I’m here to tell you that some of you have made decisions that you regret, and I’ve been there.”

“What matters from this moment on is how do we finish,” he added.

Because of the Gospel, he said regret and shame are not a believer’s final destination in this world.

“Accept the forgiveness of a Heavenly Father that loves you and play the next play. And then play the next play. And may you finish with the long game in mind that brings honor to God, and may we truly prove that we are built different here because of His faithfulness to us.”