X'Zauvea Gadlin: More Than Football

Note: Story provided by @FanWord and is the feature story in Saturday's Flames Illustrated Game Day Program

I saw him at practice earlier that morning, and just like that, he was gone.

I couldn't believe it.

When I learned that Tajh (Boyd – Liberty freshman offensive lineman) passed away right before the school year and the season was about to start, it was devastating.

It's difficult to process, and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to fully process it.
He was so young and had his whole life ahead of him. It's hard to concentrate on football when a tragedy like that happens, you know?

He was a friend.

A brother.

A fellow offensive lineman like myself.

His passing truly put into perspective how much bigger life is than football. That's a message that resonated with the entire team.

And truthfully, it's a message I didn't fully understand until I arrived at college.
They say college is all about finding yourself, which I can more than attest to as I approach the 2023 season as a redshirt senior.

While my career didn't start at Liberty, the experiences and opportunities I've had at this university have helped me find my identity and set me up for success once my playing days are over.

Pursuing My Passions

Football has always been a big part of my life, but it was never football or bust for me.

Even when I was in high school, I was heavily involved in many other things.
Band.

Volunteering.

Student council.

You name it.

Fact of the matter is, I always knew that I wanted to be more than just a football player. And that passion has never wavered.

But, obviously, my dreams on the football field were important to me, too.
And those dreams did come true when I was offered a scholarship to the University of Tulsa.

During my freshman year, the university cut the master's program I was planning on studying. They were forced to make some difficult decisions in that area, and while it was a tough pill for me to swallow, I fully understood their reasoning.

As the years went by, I realized that my time at Tulsa was nearing a dead end. I was about to graduate with my undergraduate degree, and I didn't see a clear academic path beyond that.

It was a realization that hit me hard.

I loved my time at Tulsa.

But I also knew that if I wanted to pursue my other passions, I had to go somewhere else and find my new home.

Trusting My Gut

I'll be completely transparent.

I didn't know the first thing about Liberty or Lynchburg until they started showing some interest. Being a Texas kid, that area of the country was just never on my radar.

I can't even explain why, but when I visited the campus, something just clicked. My gut told me that this was where I needed to be. It was a feeling that I couldn't shake off. My gut has never let me down before, and let me tell you, it was spot-on again when I chose to transfer here.

Playing football at Liberty has been an incredible experience.
I've been a part of some historic moments, like beating BYU and Arkansas. Those are the kind of moments that you remember for the rest of your life. And being able to share those memories with my teammates is something I'll always cherish.
But it's not just football that defines me anymore.

Liberty opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities.

And frankly, this was something I was always craving.

Sense of Identity

Music is something that I've always felt drawn towards.

But it wasn't until I joined college where I began to take an interest in musical theater.

It was actually during my time at Tulsa when I began to take an interest in musical theater.

It started with a class on the History of Musical Theater. One day, I was just messing around playing the piano and singing, and my professor caught me in the act.

She encouraged me to take voice lessons, which turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I stayed connected with the theater community at Liberty and got involved in other productions. The hard work, the rehearsals, the performances, it all just clicked with me.

And I realized that theater and football weren't so different after all.

Both require dedication, teamwork, and the ability to perform under pressure. It was a perfect fit for me, and it gave me a sense of identity outside of football.
That's why I'm always preaching to the younger guys to find their passion and purpose outside of football.

You don't always have a say in what happens to your playing career, but you do have a say in what happens when it comes to an end.

I want our younger guys to be cognizant of that as they get older. I'm constantly encouraging them to find their identity so they can live a fulfilling and prosperous life.

Overcoming Challenges and Heartbreak

It was this past spring when we really got to interact with Coach Chadwell and develop a relationship with him as the new leader of the program. One of his main goals for us was to embrace the challenges during this transition period.

That hit home for so many of us because it's difficult to deal with the transition of a coaching change. Not only that, but we're competing in the Conference USA for the very first time in this upcoming 2023 season, so we all appreciated Coach Chadwell's communication and relationship-building as these shifts were taking place.

When Tajh passed away, nothing could have prepared us for that heartbreaking tragedy, but with the support of our coaches and each other, we found a way to grieve and honor our teammate while still pushing forward.

There were times when football was the last thing on our minds, and we had to make tough decisions, like taking time off from practice to process our emotions.
Coach Chadwell listened to us and fully understood what we were going through.
The whole staff showed what kind of men they are as we all processed this together, and there isn't another group I'd rather go to battle with as we take the field this fall.

Making a Difference

The 2023 season will be special for a variety of reasons, but the chance to compete for a championship in a new conference is something that has driven us all spring and summer.

There's real history in that; there's a legacy in pursuing that goal, and it fires us up.

I'm going to give everything I have this season, but I also know that no matter what happens, I understand who I am and what I can bring to this world when I'm not trying to deliver pancakes on the field.

I strive to be a role model, someone who inspires others to chase their dreams and give back to their communities.

That's where teaching comes in.

Frankly, I've always wanted to teach.

I've just always had a passion for education, thanks to the amazing teachers who shaped my life.

I want to be that same source of inspiration for future generations. I want to create a safe and nurturing environment for my students, just like my teachers did for me.

Whether it revolves around musical theater, teaching, coaching, or anything in between, I plan on making a difference in this world.

And that journey, my friends, has only just begun.

X'Zauvea Gadlin: More Than Football

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