Sam Foltz Press Conference Quotes

Nebraska Football
Weekly Press Conference
Monday, Nov. 2, 2015
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Pre-Michigan State

Sam Foltz
Junior, Punter
On if he stayed up and watched the Royals defeat the Mets in the World Series last night
“Yep. It was a late night, but it was well worth it… well worth it.”

On if he watched with any of his teammates
“Well, me and Sam Hahn were up here (Memorial Stadium) watching it for a while, doing our homework and then we kind of gave up on the homework and went back to my place and watched it for a while and then he went home in the extras and I ended up watching it from my bed.”

On how long he’s been a fan
“My Dad always has been a big fan. I kind of started following a little bit more in ’06-’07 when Alex (Gordon) ended up going there, because I had a cousin play baseball here, Jake Opitz. He played second base for the Huskers, and so I always followed those guys. Once Alex got drafted by the Royals that’s kind of when I started following them a little bit more. Obviously, I had a really good buddy back in (Grand Island), Will Bamesberger plays for Creighton now and he’s always been a big, big fan. He’s been a guy that’s kind of always followed their farm system and just told (Alex) to keep believing that something special’s going to happen and it did. So it’s pretty cool.”

On if the team will have an extra bounce in their step with undefeated Michigan State coming to town
“I think so. It’s another big game in the Big Ten for us. (It’s) another opportunity for us to go out and fight and keep battling. Obviously, being a 3-6 football team… it’s tough, obviously, but like I said, it’s going to be a fun game, fun atmosphere. I can’t wait to go out there and compete with the fellas.”

On the previous battles between Michigan State and Nebraska despite the team’s records
“Absolutely, like I said, it’s going to be a highly competitive game (between) two good teams. Like I said, they’re like 8-0 or 9-0, whatever they are. They’ve got a lot to play for. I think we’ve just got to go out there with the same mentality that it’s another opportunity for us to win another game. You know, try to put on a show and just try to finish this year out strong. That’s all we can really do at this point.”

On the key to not letting the negativity seep into the locker room
“You’ve just got to be able to “X” out the outside world, whatever’s going on out there, and you’ve got to be able buckle in and focus on what’s going on in your locker room because at the end of the day that’s all that matters. You’ve got guys in that locker room that are going to be making the plays on Saturday, so we’ve got to stay positive and take this game as another opportunity to finish this year off and try to make a positive out of this and just keep working hard. Hopefully good things will happen.”

On how he felt he punted on Saturday
“I felt pretty good. That first punt… I wish I got that first punt back, obviously. They brought some pressure and (I) kind of gave up on it a little bit. The next two punts I feel I got off pretty well. I put them in a good position, for my guys to go down there and force fair-catches or down those punts, and try to keep it out of a dangerous returners hands. I ended up putting up some good numbers so that was good.”

On Ryker Fyfe’s ascension to the No. 2 QB job in fall camp after what he had to battle through and if it surprised him
“No, not at all. Me and Ryker go way back to fourth grade, whenever we met, when I first moved to (Grand Island). We’ve played sports growing up – baseball, basketball, football – ever since we were in fifth and sixth grade. Ryker, just being the guy that he is, he’s a highly competitive guy and nothing really rattles Ryker. When the bright lights come on and the stage is the biggest, that’s when Ryker’s the best. I think he went out there and he battled really well for being thrown in the fire like he was. He battled like crazy. I think he played a heck of a game. Obviously there’s some numbers you can look at and criticize here and there, but I think, for all given circumstances, he played a heck of a game and I was proud of him.”

On Ryker’s mood after the game and if he had to pick him up
“You know, I just tried to give him his own room, let him do his own thing, but I just walked up to him and said I was proud of him. Throughout the game, whenever he came off to the sidelines, I always gave him a high-five and told him, ‘Keep battling, buddy. We’ve got you.’ He kept putting us in a position in the fourth quarter. He put us in a position to come back and win that game. Like I said, I was just real proud of him and I’m proud of the way he fought.”

On how much Ryker’s had to battle through from May to now
“Exactly, like you said, he had some issues that he had to work through and he did a tremendous job of getting through that and, like you said, he had a strong fall camp. He was just ready for his number to be called and when his number got called he stepped up. I was really proud of him. Like I said, that’s just the type of kid he is. He’s a competitor and he doesn’t let a lot of things get him down, so I was proud of him. He did a good job for us.”

On if he has a sense of what the reactions been like back in Grand Island with two guys on the team having key roles 
“I hope they’re proud of us. Like you said, we’re representing them. They kind of gave us this first platform to jump on, so there’s been a lot of feedback. Mom and Dad texting me and telling me how proud everyone is of us and all of that and stuff. It’s been fun. It’s been a fun journey so far and I can’t wait to continue it.”