Bob Davidson @rjdshocker77

Joe Kassanavoid had come to the conclusion his football career was likely over.

Kassanavoid returned to the Salina Liberty early last season to try and help the teams struggling offense. The Liberty was 0-3 when he joined the squad, but nothing much changed.

For me being on the team, nothing seemed to get any better, said Kassanavoid, who played wide receiver. I thought maybe footballs over for me, its not getting any better. I felt like if I stayed at home and hung out with my kids Id have just as much fun.

So Kassanavoid departed and went back home to Liberty, Mo. The Liberty team never got untracked, finishing the season with a 1-11 record after going 2-10 in their first season in 2016, during which Kassanavoid also played.

Kassanavoid, though, is back again for the 2018 season. The team announced his signing along with defensive/offensive lineman Jamar Seard during the Salina Liberty Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday at Great Life Golf & Fitness.

Kassanavoids change of heart came after a meeting with new Salina coach Heron ONeal.

He actually drove from Salina to Kansas City to buy me a steak dinner and talk about the possibilities of me coming back, Kassanavoid said. He wants me on the team. For him doing that said a lot to me and meant a lot to me. I made up my right there Salina really wants me back.

Ricky (chief operating officer Bertz) is doing a great job and getting everybody pumped up and ready for the new season. Im blessed that they want me to play for them.

Playing for ONeal was a big part of his decision.

I knew him through (Liberty rival) Dodge City, Kassanavoind said. Hes one of the best coaches in the league. ... He knows the indoor game more than most of the head coaches out there.

Kassanavoid, who played at Kansas State during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, is the football equivalent of utility player in baseball. At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds hes listed as a wide receiver, but also has played quarterback, linebacker and defensive end during his indoor career, which includesthree seasons with the Wichita Wild/Wichita Force, from 2010-13.

Kassanavoid will play wide out for the Liberty.

My position's mainly a field-position receiver," he said. "Catch the ball five yards, a hitch route, get another five yards, fight for more yardage, get a first down, be a big goal line target for the quarterback. Being a big target and athletic body and someone who can play multiple positions is definitely somebody you want on your arena football team.

ONeal plans to take advantage of Kassanavoids size.

Hes a matchup nightmare, he said. His size and physical play are going to be used in many different ways. He will be utilized and utilized a lot.

The 6-3, 310 pound Seard was a second team all-Champions Indoor Football selection while playing for Dodge City this past season. He started 13 games and had 23 tackles, seven for loss, and three sacks while playing nose guard. He also played 13 games in the offensive line.

In my opinion Seard is the best nose guard in the league, said ONeal, who was Dodge Citys defensive coordinator in 2017. Hes the best two-way lineman I have ever coached in my 13 years of indoor football.

Bertz has been busy revamping the Liberty since his hiring in mid-April. He hired ONeal away from Dodge City, which folded earlier this month, and has added six new players for 2018.

I know it sounds very cliche-ish for people, but the separations in the preparation and there will be no one more prepared for the 2018 season than the Salina Liberty, Bertz said. What were doing from a business standpoint, from a football standpoint and even things yet to come all demonstrate that were serious about this and were committed to that.

Bertz said theres still much to do.

While other organizations might be taking a break, we have a lot of ground to catch up on what was done previously and were putting the work to not only catch up, but hopefully go past them on that, he said. We have high aspirations for the 2018 season and were putting in the work every single day to make sure we meet those goals.

#####Golden Football program

Bertz also announced a community initiative that will involve youth and the Salina police and fire departments.

The Golden Football program will reward children who display outstanding leadership and citizenship. Theyll receive youth-sized golden footballs from police and fire department officials that can be redeemed at the Liberty offices in exchange for a free pass to a 2018 game.

The programs sponsored by First Bank Kansas.

We recognized this would be a great opportunity for our department to continue to integrate ourselves into the community in a very exciting and rewarding way, police chief Brad Nelson said in a news release.

The Liberty also will have Hometown Heros Night during a 2018 home game. Liberty players will wear limited edition jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game with proceeds going to the police and fire departments.

This Golden Football program we have gives us a chance to recognize some people who are making a difference out there in the community off the football field, Bertz said. Were recognizing them off the football field and were going to give them some accolades on the football field during a game in 2018.

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Liberty add Kassanavoid, nose guard - Salina Journal