Foltz: The Ultimate Dreamer

Originally posted to Medium on July 25, 2016, Tony Chapman wrote this tribute to Nebraska punter and Grand Island native Sam Foltz. As another football season is upon us, we share again to remember how powerful it is to be a teammate.

Most of the folks I know walk into the gym at Grand Island Senior High from the west. Pay their admission, find a seat, enjoy the game.

I’ve always been pulled another direction when I go to announce a volleyball or basketball game there or cover one for The Grand Island Independent.

I like to find the north door, walk in front of the concession stand then down the back hallway before coming in past the locker rooms on the east side of the gym.

It’s because of the wall.

First, the great pictures of Islander athletes working hard together, striving toward a common goal. Maybe, celebrating a successful win over a rival.

Then, further down are the pictures of the Division I athletes. Either in action or in a suit for their team photo. That’s where I am quickly reminded that even here, in the middle of Nebraska, that it’s okay to dream.

I like to show my girls that wall. The hard work it takes to get there.

Sam Foltz was on that wall. A red 27 jersey on his chest and a ball falling on his foot. One that likely landed 70 yards away. He was the perfect story for why I went down that hall.

Sam’s life was ended too soon late Saturday night on a wet road in Wisconsin. Doing what he loved, he had just finished talking to fellow punters and kickers at a high school camp.

That’s why I’m sad God needed him up there more than we did here. And, while its hard to fathom, we know, because of how Sam lived, that he’s on the ultimate team now. But that doesn’t make it easy.

I can’t say for certain I ever met Sam Foltz. I know I covered a few of his games. The one that most sticks out in my mind is the 2012 Shrine Bowl, where he caught a touchdown pass, completed a pass and was a punter for the North team. That was the all-around, good player Sam was.

But, even from afar, you could tell he was a guy you wanted on your side. That his hard work rubbed off on others. Part of me wonders if he was more proud of the team that went 9–2 his senior year — advancing to the state quarterfinals — or that the guys who were his teammates made it to the state semifinals twice after he left. Some of both I am sure.

I could only imagine the stories we might have of Sam if he had continued in school at Greeley. Could you imagine tackling him on an 8-man football field? I can’t.

He was the ultimate athlete; the ultimate teammate. An all-stater in football, starter on the basketball team, still the school record holder in the 400 meters. For good measure in the summer he played on the Home Federal legion baseball team.

He is a Nebraska story. A Grand Island story. A Greeley story. All of them. Work hard. Pursue your dreams. Be the best you can be.

In Nebraska, especially during football season, we appreciate our native sons. Some differently than others. You have a special appreciation for the ones you knew would be great — Wiegert, Kelsay, Green, Crouch, Davison, Frost. They make you smile.

But it’s those we didn’t know that we can really identify. Those kids are the ones we want our boys to grow up to be. They have names, too. Conneally, Mackovicka, Kriewald, Thorell. A big list. Small town boys who made it. Who went after their dreams with gusto.

That was Sam.

So many friends the past 24 hours have posted pictures of their kid with Sam. You get the feeling every kid under the age of 13 from our city has Sam’s autograph. Some taught him. Some coached him. Obviously, he made an impact on all of them.

They’ll play football again in a month or so. In Greeley. In Grand Island. Kids will still pretend to be Sam Foltz. And, he’ll smile down on them.

And, they will play in front of a big crowd in Lincoln, too. Teammates will have to find a way to persevere through the heartache. The best way, will be to remember what Sam wanted from them. Just there very best.

I never met Sam Foltz, but I admired him. For being tougher than I was. For putting his teammates always in front of himself. For proving to others that kids that have dreams can realize them.

In a world that moves so fast, is real-time with information and someone always has to be right or wrong with no in-between, we can learn those lessons from a life ended too soon.

“I’m a walk-on who wasn’t recruited.. I’m not entitled to anything, all I do is put my head down and work.”

Time to go work like Sam worked.

(Original photos credit to the University of Nebraska)