Flames football team reflects on cancer’s personal impact in preparation for Cure Bowl

“Cancer in general is something that this world could definitely do without,” Liberty University football head coach Hugh Freeze said.

As Liberty University’s football team prepares to take on Georgia Southern on Saturday afternoon in the 2019 Cure Bowl in Orlando, Fla., the Flames recognize that the game is about so much more than football.

Orlando is one of America’s leading cities in cancer research, and funds raised by the Cure Bowl will go toward The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Cancer’s far-reaching attack has not passed over the Flames. Numerous players and staff members have been directly impacted by the devastating illness. The Flames’ first-year tight end coach Ben Aigamaua lost his mother to breast cancer, while Freeze’s mother fought through the same condition and prevailed. Sadly, her closest childhood friend lost her life to the disease this year.

“That affected my mother,” Freeze said. “They were as close of two friends (as) you’ve ever seen.”

Freeze mentioned that other members of the Flames have also been significantly impacted by different types of cancer, such as standout sophomore defensive end Austin Lewis, who lost his closest friend this past year to leukemia.

Freeze desires for the time spent in Orlando for Bowl week to be a time when the Flames can reflect and be joyful for what the Lord has done for them.

“The word ‘holiday’ comes from an old English word meaning ‘holy days,’” Freeze said. “That (word) was set apart for celebration and remembrance, and that’s kind of what I want this experience to be about. Yes, we should celebrate, and yes, we should have joy. I don’t want this week to be a grind at practice and not have celebration and joy.”

Liberty wants the university’s bowl game experience against the Eagles to be special for the football staff, and is making an effort to include every member of the Liberty family in town to celebrate the historic occasion leading up to Saturday’s game.

“(Administration has) done it the right way by including all of our people,” Freeze said. “Our trainers and managers and families. I think that’s what it’s about.”

“To be a part of a bowl that is bringing awareness to (cancer), and in particular breast cancer, is something that we are honored to be a part of,” Freeze added. “I hope in some way that we can help in bringing awareness to it and also maybe change our mindset to be more thoughtful in what our role is in helping with that.”

The Cure Bowl will kick off at 2:37 p.m. on Saturday at Exploria Stadium in Orlando.