NFL dream approaches reality

Ro d Gladfelter, an LBC senior, wants to play pro football in the NFL.

An outstanding collegiate athlete who rewrote several sections of the record book as a defensive back and place kicker for Liberty Baptist College, Gladfelter made the Churchman's 1979All-American second team in his junior year He also held the highest consecutive number of points after touchdown by an LBC kicker.

Now he ishoping toland a spot on an NFL roster with the vision of someday becoming an NFL team chaplain, in addition to operating youth camps in the off-season

Gladfelter attended LBC on a footscholarship,stilldesiring to someday play pro football. "I talked to LBC Head Coach Tom Dowling and told him I wanted to play pro ball, and worked on my speed and quickness," he said.

Rod Gladfelter, an outstanding collegiate footballplayer, is now playing semi-pro footballfor the West Virginia Rockets.

Pro football scouts noticed Gladfelter,who was one of 1,000 men to participate in the1980 open tryoutsin Atlanta for NFL teams.Gladfelter was one of 50 who made the lastcut.

He was soon spotted by the Dallas Cowboys,who wasted no time in testing him.FirstGladfelter ran three lateralmovement backpedal drillsat 2,7, 2.5, and 2.3 seconds

Next, were three backpedal lateral movement drills at 3.1, 2.7, and 2.5 seconds. "My times were half that of everyone else. The coaches thought the clock was broken." Gladfelter said.

In mid-June, Gladfelter received a call from Dallas "Training camp was full and the Cowboys couldn't take me," Gladfelter said

Desiring to be alone, Gladfelter hung up the phone and turned to leave the room His mother grabbed his shoulder.

"What happened?" she said.

"Excuse me,mom, Ihave togo sort things out," Gladfelter said, "There's someone Ihave to talk to."

Gladfelter walked to the football field and knelt on the 50-year line. He reached fora few stray blades ofgrass and began to pray

"Thank you, Lord, for my healthy body and the ability toplay football," Gladfelter said, "You've given my great opportunities. Thank you for taking me this far But I need an extra dose of patience, Lord Show me your will."

As Gladfelter walked back to the house a supernatural peace filled his heart. "I knew the Lord had something else in mind," he said. "God's will was more important than my own I settledthaton the50-yardline."

A shorttime later, Gladfelter signed a two-year contract with an American

Football Association team, the West Virginia Rockets,on the basis of his performance in Dallas

Gladfelter's pro football experience disqualified him from participating in the LBC Flames 1980 season.

"I really missed playing," Gladfelter said. "But there isjust no turning back."

Rod Gladfelter is asuccess by many men's standards But, according to Gladfelter, "success is not elevation into the pros.Itisbeing in the willof God daily and meeting challenges sent to you by God."

Playing NFL football, becoming an NFL team chaplain and operating offseason youth camps are stilla part of Gladfelter's dreams.

"But if I am to share Christ with anyone," Gladfelter said, "I must be consistent professionally and spiritually Consistency is the measure of greatness."

-Lori A Davis Z]

-Monica Parson