In a tragedy that will reach way beyond Nebraska and through all of college football, Nebraska punter Sam Foltz died early Sunday in a vehicle accident in Wisconsin. After a particularly strong punt during his senior year in ’14, Sadler pretended to pet the cat that popular Twitter parody Fake Bo Pelini had popularized.
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“Last night, we lost one of the best young men who I have ever had the honor to coach and who has ever worn the Nebraska uniform”. “Sam the Punter”, he affectionately called him. “They knew these boys”, he said. Just as he was advertised to be and never forgot where he came from. There’s no word on if seatbelts were used.
Messages left Sunday afternoon with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department by the Lansing State Journal weren’t returned. Authorities have reportedly cited speed and weather as factors in the crash. One person after another made it clear he was no ordinary football player. Sadler and Foltz were killed in a auto crash Saturday night on their way back to Meyer’s house. His faith is something he is relying on to help him overcome the loss of Foltz and Sadler. They were working at a kicking camp during the weekend in Wisconsin.
The crash scene is about 10 miles north of the high school.
“With them not knowing the area should we have all been in one vehicle?” Kohl’s Professional Camps offered its condolences to the Sadler and Foltz families Sunday.
Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said on the school website: “Mike impacted so many people not only as a football player, but also from an academic standpoint and in the community as well….”
Sadler, a four-year starter and four-time academic All-American at Michigan State, was known for his wit. Foltz graduated from the University of Nebraska in May with a degree in agronomy. “How typical was that?” He was a young man simply practicing to get better at the task at hand. It still hasn’t sunk in yet.
“That’s why it was also just so important to see them because just making (it) available is one thing but also getting to see the guys and be around them a little bit, I think, is important, to know how that can be and to make sure they’re with each other right now, too”. “I had to redress it for him this morning”. With Big Ten Media Days kicking off on Monday, the entire conference will be in a somber mood. Nebraska officials said that Riley and scheduled players will not attend. He was a beloved teammate, and the impact of his loss was felt immediately on the Lincoln campus. “Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends in this time of sorrow”. It’s not yet clear who was behind the wheel.
Craig Jarrett, a former MSU punter wrote on his Twitter page that he plans to lead a Mike Sadler Scholarship Fund. “Don’t know details yet, but his memory will live on”, Jarrett wrote.
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He certainly was doing that on the field.
