- July 27th, 2006, 10:32 am
#22149
As if there was any question that the NFL wouldn't ruin Sam ...
Just ‘Gado’ have faithhttp://www.dailypress.net/stories/artic ... cleID=3212
By Dan Hughes - dhughes@dailypress.net
GLADSTONE — It’s not every day a current NFL running back visits Delta County. Then again, Samkon Gado is anything but your every day running back.
Gado was at Gladstone High School Tuesday to share the story of his meteoric rise to starting in the Green Bay Packer backfield and how his faith played a part in it.
Grace Baptist Church in Gladstone facilitated Gado’s appearance. How did it come about? “A friend knew a friend and asked if I wanted to come to Gladstone and I said ‘Sure. Why not?,’” Gado said.
Last season Gado went from not being on an NFL roster to taking handoffs from Brett Favre in three weeks. He only started one game at Division 1AA Liberty University as a senior in 2004 and was cut from the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad when the Packers came calling.
After injuries to Najeh Davenport, Ahman Green and Tony Fisher, Gado found himself thrust into the starting lineup. In eight games, five as starter, Gado led the Packers with 582 rushing yards on 143 carries. He missed the final two games with a minor knee injury.
Gado’s breakout game was Nov. 13, 2005 (his 23rd birthday) against Atlanta. He had 25 carries for 103 yards with two rushing touchdowns and a receiving TD in a 33-25 Packer win. Gado said he had a hard time dealing with the rapid success until he turned to his faith. “I was scared with how to deal with the attention and make it pleasing in the eyes of the Lord,” he said. “He gave me the strength to do it.”
The biggest message Gado wanted to promote was that life was about more than football or personal success. “Football is great. I love doing it. It’s a great job,” he said. “Life is about honoring God. He does a much better job dealing with your life than you do yourself.”
Football is also a way for Gado to fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor. “I felt obliged to serve Africa,” said Gado, a native of Nigeria. “Here I am with the wonderful opportunity to put myself through medical school and go to the next level.”
Does that mean he will quit football to become a doctor? “The NFL is once in a lifetime. I’m gonna ride this thing until the wheels fall off,” Gado said with a laugh. “Medical school will be there. There’s no age limit.”
Dana Hanson of Gladstone was impressed with Gado’s journey. “It went so fast for him,” Dana said. “It could happen to anybody.”
For all his rapid success, Gado is staying humble because he said NFL glory can be fleeting but his faith will always be there. “In 10 years many of you may not remember my name,” he said. “Nothing in this world compares to knowing Jesus Christ.”
Elizabeth Pederson, a Grace Baptist volunteer, said Gado’s message was great, particularly for the youths in attendance in the crowd of about 1,000. “It was good for the kids to hear,” she said. “Football comes and goes. What matters is eternity.”
Eighteen-year-old Mitch Collins of Gladstone shares a laugh with Green Bay Packer running back Samkon Gado during an autograph session at Gladstone High School on Tuesday evening. Gado autographed the shoulder of Mitch’s t-shirt. Hundreds of people lined up for an autograph from the NFL player after he spoke of his faith in God and his surprising first season as a Packer starter to an audience of more than 900 fans.
For real though if you are NFL caliber then you will get multiple chances. He could also get picked up by another team and stick. I don't think it is all or nothing with the Pack for Samkon.
- By olldflame