Remembering Sam Foltz: He was 'hungry and humble'

GRAND ISLAND – An estimated crowd of 1,200 filled Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Grand Island on Saturday as we celebrated the life of fallen Husker punter Sam Foltz.

Saturday was a day to remember Foltz and it also once again reminded us how many people he’s touched throughout his lifetime.

In all, seven charter buses from the University came to Grand Island on Saturday morning for Foltz’s funeral service led by Nebraska head coach Mike Riley, Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst, UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green and President Hank Bounds. The entire football team was also in attendance, along with several student athletes, coaches and staff members from other NU sports.

“I told my wife when we were getting on the bus ‘this is an amazing site,’” Riley said. “Kind of just a show of everything – love, support, caring. It’s just sad.

“It’s a heartbreaking week, but the other thing as you go through it you find out more and more about people – the Foltz family, the Nebraska family, the state of Nebraska. Everybody has kind of tried to stay strong together. It’s sad and it will be, but we are just all very thankful for everybody that’s put their arms around it. This day is really a good indication of that.”

Throughout the week Riley has heard from countless people about the loss of Foltz, however maybe the most interesting thing he shared on Saturday was UCLA head coach Jim Mora reached out to him.

Mora's call to Riley was on behalf of the family of late Bruin receiver Nick Pasquale, who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2013 right before the Nebraska game in Lincoln.

It was a tough time for UCLA that week as they got ready for Nebraska, but Husker fans once again showed why they are considered the classiest fans in America.

NU had a special tribute for Pasquale by launching blue and gold balloons in the sky before kickoff, along with wearing No. 36 decals on the back of their helmet in his honor. The Pasquale family and Mora have never forgotten that moment.

“Jim (Mora) said the reaction from the Nebraska fans was something that he’ll never ever forget his whole life,” Mora said. “He said the (Pasquale) family wanted to reach out to the Foltz family. From everywhere it’s been amazing support, because they all get it."

After spending time talking with Foltz's parents Gerald and Jill on both Friday and Saturday, they wanted to let Husker Nation know they will very much be there for the team in 2016 in their son's honor.

Gerald Foltz told me he has never missed a football game his son played in, and one tradition he had was giving him a hug on the field after each and every game.

"I even somehow got myself on the field at Iowa in 2014," Gerald Foltz said laughing. "I talked the security guard into letting me on the field."

Junior Husker kicker Drew Brown understood the importance of that tradition to the Foltz family, and he told him this weekend he wants to continue it this season.

"Well it looks like I'm going to everything," Gerald Foltz said with a smile. "Drew (Brown) is going to make sure of that."

Gerald and Jill Foltz also shared that they will be in Lincoln on Wednesday for Fan Day when Nebraska plans to honor their son in Memorial Stadium.

The other lasting thing Gerald Foltz told me about Sam this weekend is he raised him to be "hungry and humble." There's no question Sam followed down that path.

If anything, the tragic loss of Foltz has brought so many people closer together. One of the more unique things that happened this week was Wisconsin kicker Rafael Gaglianone announcing he'll be wearing No. 27 this season in Foltz's honor.

The Brazil native was also in attendance at Foltz's funeral services in Grand Island and later spent the day with Drew Brown and his brother, former Husker and NFL kicker Kris Brown.

The two even did some kicking in Memorial Stadium on Saturday. If you remember, Gaglianone kicked the winning field goal in Lincoln to beat the Huskers this past season.

Attending somebody's funeral is the ultimate sign of respect, and for Gaglianone to do that shows what type of person he is, and how much Foltz's death impacted him.

One of the early kicking influences in Foltz's career at Nebraska was Pat Smith. The Illinois native kicked at NU in 2013 and coached Foltz and Drew Brown in 2014.

Smith traveled in this weekend from his new home in Osage Beach, Mo. to be at Foltz's visitation on Friday and his funeral service on Saturday.

He said the biggest thing Foltz showed him during his time in Lincoln was just how important Nebraska football is to the people of this state. Smith said he never had any idea how much Husker football meant in this state, until Foltz helped him better understand that.

"He was younger than me obviously, but he was the littler brother you looked up to," Smith said.

Another interesting story Smith shared on Saturday was he gave the Foltz family a signed cleat from the 42-yard overtime field goal he made in 2013 to beat Penn State.

"I want them to put that on his grave," Smith said. "That was a special moment we had together. "