Foltz Personified 'Dream Big, Work Hard, Stay Humble'

Video: Student-Athlete Samantha Areman

Video: Health Executive Tom Burnell

Video: Chancellor Ronnie Green

Randy York’s N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

Last week, Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst led off his monthly Connecting on Campus column with six expressive words – Dream Big, Work Hard, Stay Humble. Those carefully chosen words became the heart of the Huskers’ Saturday night tribute to the late Sam Foltz.

When Nebraska lined up with 10 players and no punter early in the first quarter to honor Foltz, more than 90,000 fans stood and cheered. Once fans realized the missing punter was an emotional tribute to Foltz, who died in a car wreck this summer, Nebraska’s South Stadium student section held up those six words in unison.

Dream Big, Work Hard and Stay Humble emerged as the definitive statement that defined Foltz’s entire approach to life. It also describes what Nebraska Athletics views as compelling motivation to succeed academically, athletically and in life.

Coming off a year in which Nebraska reached its largest ever enrollment and Husker Athletics achieved its highest ever grade point average, Eichorst discussed the present and the future in back-to-back fall kickoff sessions. The first was a Sunday night 600-plus student-athlete rally inside the Bob Devaney Sports Center and the second was a Monday morning all-hands meeting for nearly 300 staffers inside Memorial Stadium.

Eichorst Decided to Use Sam Foltz’s Own Words to Inspire Others at Nebraska

“We all lost a dear friend this summer in Sam Foltz,” Eichorst (above left) said. “Those who don’t know what Sam contributed in his 22 years on earth don’t understand what he was about. We decided we want everyone to know how he gave 100 percent to everything he did. Every day he had at Nebraska, Sam lived it and he loved it.

“No words can justify what Sam did in his life, so we used his own words to honor his life,” Eichorst said. “As a walk-on, Sam dreamed big. He worked hard and stayed humble every day he was here. We don’t want anyone to take what Sam did for granted. We’re going to remember everything and celebrate the way he did it. After 22 short years on this earth, Sam leaves a legacy. He was absolutely amazing and he embodies everything that Nebraska’s about.”

Eichorst invited three speakers to address Nebraska’s all-staff meeting last week – first-year UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green (below with Herbie Husker), health care executive Tom Burnell (above right), and former soccer student-athlete Samantha Areman (above middle), who fully capitalized on the Huskers’ unparalleled opportunities to broaden her student-athlete experience.

Green Grew Up on a Pig Farm and Became a First-Generation College Graduate 

All three speeches were winners. Interestingly, Eichorst connects well with Green, in part, because both became first-generation college students in their respective families. Both also have agricultural roots, Eichorst on a pig farm and Green on a beef operation. Green also connects well with Burnell, a major donor, because both landed in Lincoln and learned to love Nebraska by pure happenstance. Please take the time to watch all three videos. They’re all compelling in their own unique way.

Diane Mendenhall, Nebraska’s Senior Associate A.D. for Development and Ticket Operations, said all three featured speakers “truly define There is No Place Nebraska. They’ve embraced Nebraska and embody it. Shawn, Ronnie and Tom are transplants, yet they don't take Nebraska for granted. They truly appreciate Nebraska and realize that people here are different. We work harder and we dream bigger.”

Jon Gordon, a nationally prominent author who delivered a 15-minute keynote speech to all Nebraska student-athletes last week, agrees with Mendenhall.

“Nebraska is a special place with special leaders and great student-athletes,” Gordon said. “Most importantly, Nebraska cares. When you care, you stand out from those who don’t. In this business, caring really is a competitive edge. You care about being the best students, the best athletes and the best teammates. That helps you do everything you want and take care of everything you need.”

Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com (Please include city, state)

Follow Randy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RandyYorkNsider

N-Sider Archives