The tragic car accident that claimed the lives of Nebraska punter Sam Foltz and ex-Michigan State punter Mike Sadler has shocked the college football community. It has sent shockwaves around the Big Ten Conference.
Both Foltz and Sadler were taking part in a kickers camp in Wales, Wisconsin when they drove off during a torrential rainstorm. Sadler was apparently driving when the car slid on the pavement, hit a tree and caught fire. A third person in the car, LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye was injured in the crash.
One of the last people to see Foltz and Sadler alive was ESPN’s Joe Tessitore. His son was attending the camp and Tessitore noted that the storm forced the cancellation of Saturday’s evening session and it was Foltz who literally stepped to the mic to talk to the kickers. Tessitore went on SportsCenter to discuss the experience at the camp and what Foltz said:
“So all the prospects gathered in the gym. And it was Sam Foltz who took the microphone and filled that time with an inspirational story of motivation, and mentoring, and leadership and his own life story of going for a dream.”
Tessitore added that he was sad to see Foltz and Sadler at their best, giving back to kids and then learning of their deaths:
“They truly served others,” Tessitore said. “For the last moment that we saw them in public, to be doing that, to be talking to young people, coaching young people; for those same young people then 12 hours later to receive the news they received today … it was utterly devastating.”
Tessitore said Foltz and Sadler “were special in every way.”
It certainly was devastating to see two men cut down so young.
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