Liberty Completes Men of Armour Football Alumni Weight Room Campaign
7/23/2021 12:00:00 AM | Football
Liberty Athletics and the Flames Club have completed a multi-year campaign to name the recently renovated weight room in the Liberty Football Center as the Men of Armour Football Alumni Weight Room.
Men of Armour was an evangelistic ministry based on Ephesians 6:10-20. From the 1970s to the 1990s, the outreach of Liberty's football strength and conditioning programs was integral in the whole-person development of many Flames football players.
Men of Armour participants would travel to high schools, churches and youth events to perform feats of strength and share the Gospel. Many young people came to know Christ and grow in the faith through this ministry.
The campaign to name the weight room was led by former football player Richard Osborne (`79) and his wife Karin. Through a matching gift from the Osborne family, a total of $250,000 was raised by dedicated fans and supporters, among them football players from every decade of Liberty football. The funds raised will be used to improve and maintain national-caliber facilities for current Liberty student-athletes.
During the campaign, former student-athletes led the effort to name two spaces after former coaches within the program. The Football Head Strength Coach's Office was named after Bill Gillespie, former football player, track and field team member and coach, and long-time football strength coach. The Head Strength Coach's Office in the Liberty Athletic Center was named after Dave Williams, long-time strength coach through decades with the Flames and Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame member.
"We are deeply indebted to Karin and Richard Osborne, who made a generous lead gift, and a number of our former student-athletes for commemorating the Men of Armour ministry and honoring two very deserving Liberty legends in Bill Gillespie and Dave Williams," said Director of Athletics Ian McCaw.
With the conclusion of the Men of Armour campaign, the facility will officially be dedicated on Friday, September 3 during Football Alumni Weekend, and just prior to the 2021 Hall of Fame induction. To attend, please contact the Flames Club at (434) 592-CLUB (2582).
Those interested in Naming Opportunities, which support Liberty's student-athletes, and in most cases is 100 percent tax deductible, are encouraged to contact Jeff Alder, Assistant AD and Director of Major Giving at jtalder@liberty.edu.
