Once thought to be just a dream, theWilliams Football OperationsCenter is now a reality as the

Flames Football program has a new placeto call home.

Thanks to the hard work and dedicationof Liberty’s new Director of Athletics JeffBarber, first-year head football coachDanny Rocco and returning Assistant ADfor Football Operations Paul Rutigliano,the Williams Football Operations Centerwas finally able to leap off the drawingboard and into the north end zone atWilliams Stadium prior to the start of the2006 season. The 60,000-square foot building is a state-of-

the-art facility that brings all operations for thefootball team under one roof for the first time inthe history of the program.

The bottom floor houses specially-designedweight training equipment in a spacious weightand conditioning area, while the second floor (atground level) includes the team’s locker room,academic lab, equipment room and a cutting-edgeathletic training facility.

The top floor houses both the coaching staff andadministrative offices, numerous video and con-ference rooms and a uniquely-designed viewingroom that overlooks the North end zone atWilliams Stadium where members of the FlamesClub can enjoy several pre-game festivities.

Construction for the Williams FootballOperations Center was made possible because of agenerous donation of $4.5 million dollars

by the Art Williams Foundation. The Art Williams Foundation is no

stranger to those familiar with the Flamesfootball program as the football stadiumis named in honor of Arthur L. andAngela Williams, major contributors toLiberty University. The football stadiumwas given the name Williams Stadium,which it still bares today.

The Williams Football OperationsCenter is just one of several facets to theredesign of the program and is helping tousher in a ...

New Era of Liberty Football.New Era of Liberty Football.

To those that closely follow the National Football League, he is known as Samkon Gado. However,to the Flames faithful he’s just plain Sam. To the “Cheeseheads” that brave the blustery winter con-ditions at hallowed Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., he currently wears the #35 on his green andgold uniform. But on Liberty Mountain, he will forever be the Flames devotee’s favorite player to donthe #2 red, white and blue jersey.

Gado was a four-year letterwinner for the Flames who captained the special teams and gave heartand soul to the football program. Although he could have been a starter at most programs in thecountry, Gado choose to remain faithful to his calling and stay at Liberty behind the school’s all-timeleading rusher in Dre Barnes and a stout back-up in Eugene Goodman during most of his career.However, with both backs sidelined due to injuries early in the 2004 season, the sacrificial Gado did

what he had done since coming to Liberty in 2001; he put the team first by giving up a planned redshirt sea-son and taking over the starting role for the final nine games of the campaign. Gado quickly excelled andposted a career year in a shortened season by rushing for 901 yards and 11 touchdowns to close out hiscollegiate days.

The strong showing didn’t go unnoticed though as it drew the attention of those at the next level andon April 25, 2005, Gado became the 15th player in school history to sign a NFL free agent contract withthe Kansas City Chiefs.

Despite a successful training camp with the Chiefs, Gado failed to make the final team roster andwas placed on the practice squad. However as always, Gado remained faithful and on October 17,2005, the Columbia, S.C. native was picked up by the Green Bay Packers.

His stellar work ethic and desire quickly made an impression on the Packers coaching staff and after two moreinjuries, this time to Green Bay’s Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport, Gado was promoted to the active roster on October 29, 2005,fulfilling a life-long dream to play professional football.

One day later, Gado made his NFL debut in a road contest at Cincinnati where he was called on for just one carry, an eight-yard run, while alsoseeing time on the special teams unit.

However, one week later, Gado burst onto the national scene as he rushed for 62 yards on 26 carries against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the even-tual Super Bowl champions. If that wasn’t grand enough for a first-year player, Gado also found the end zone on a one-yard run, giving him hisfirst of soon to be several opportunities for the famous “Lambeau Leap” into the adorning arms of Green Bay’s faithful.

By the end of the season, Gado rushed for 582 yards on 143 carries, including three 100-yard games, with the yardage ranking second on thePackers’ all-time rookie list. Gado tied NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Cadillac Williams for touchdowns by a rookie running back with six, whilegarnering the NFL’s Rookie of the Month honors in November as he rushed for 283 yards and five scores during the month.

However, despite the new-found fame and the love and admiration of some of the most loyal fans in the history of the National Football League,Gado still remains the same humble back that first set foot on Liberty’s campus during the fall of 2001.

So, whether you’re a member of the Flames’ faithful that just calls him Sam or you’re a part of the rest of the country that knows him asSamkon, one thing’s for certain, we’re all glad we know Gado – Liberty’s Newest Star.