Across college football nation, all eyes have been on the Nebraska Cornhuskers this season as they have faced adversity like none other. The tragic death of senior punter Sam Foltz shook Husker nation, and has pulled Nebraska closer together like never before.
Sam Foltz was participating at a kicking camp in Wisconsin, where he and other college football players were in a car accident on July 23, 2016. Sam and Michigan State kicker Mike Sadler did not survive the crash. Husker nation was stunned to hear the news of Sam's passing, he was nothing but a positive influence and an all around great guy. Everyone, including teammates, coaches and classmates had nothing but positive things to say about Foltz. He was 22 years old and had just graduated with a degree in agronomy, he was going to play his senior season as a graduate student.
For the first home football game of the 2016 season, Nebraska honored Sam by sending out a punterless punt team after going 3 & out in its first drive against Fresno State. The Huskers took a delay of game penalty in honor of fallen teammate Sam Foltz.
Since his passing, Nebraska as well as other schools across the nation have made a conscious effort to remember Sam and those affected by this tragedy. Multiple opponents creating a Sam Foltz jersey and giving it to the Nebraska Cornhusker team, bands getting into #27 formation, specialized helmets, flowers on the 27 yard-line, the list goes on and on. The amount of support and love Nebraska has received after this horrible tragedy is heartwarming.
Country music star Brad Paisley was featured for the University of Nebraska fall concert, and he showed his support for Sam Foltz.
Country music star Chase Rice performed in Kearney, Nebraska during their annual fair, just days after word of Foltz' death spread.
According to the Husker football website, Sam had received multiple prestigious awards:
Honors & Awards
» Ray Guy Award Watch List (2016)
» Eddelman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year (2015)
» First-Team All-Big Ten (Coaches, Media, AP, Phil Steele, ESPN.com, 2015)
» Ray Guy Award Watch List (2015)
» Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten (Coaches, 2014)
» Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week (vs. McNeese State, 2014, at Illinois, 2015)
» Big Ten All-Freshman Team (BTN, 2013)
» Five-Time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2014, 2015; Spring 2013, 2015, 2016)
» Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award (2016)
» Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2016)
» Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2016)
Not only was Sam an incredible athlete, he was also a standout in the classroom as well as the community. He was a five-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll and earned a spot on both the Brook Berringer and Tom Osborne Citizenship teams in 2016. Foltz also was awarded a Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award in 2016, which recognizes exceptional leadership, consistent and dedicated community service and positive influence on the team.
No amount of recognition could ever bring Sam Foltz back, but Husker fans across the nation are convinced he is watching over us. During the Nebraska vs. Wisconsin match-up on October 29, 2016, the teams went into overtime creating a nail-biter of a game. During the traditional coin flip, the honorary coin used was an engraving of Foltz on one side and Sadler on the other. Of course, Nebraska picked Foltz. Of course, the call went in Nebraska's favor. Saturday's are for Sam. We have all known that he is at every single game, home or away, watching over our Huskers.
Sam Foltz will always and forever be remembered, not only in Husker Nation, but across the entire college football family. Husker fans and players will always pay tribute to Sam in any way possible.
