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Wisconsin kicker planning to help carry Sam Foltz's jersey out to field Saturday
Wisconsin kicker Rafael Gaglianone will walk out of the tunnel with Nebraska before the Badgers and Huskers play each other Saturday evening in Madison.
Gaglianone will help the Huskers carry the jersey of former Nebraska punter Sam Foltz, who died in a car crash along with former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler in July. The two punters were on their way back from a kicking camp in Wisconsin.
A friend of Foltz, Gaglianone was at the kicking camp as well. After Foltz’s death, Gaglianone decided to wear Foltz’s No. 27 during 2016. But he’s missed most of the season with a lower-back injury.
The injury will allow him to spend time with Foltz’s parents on Friday night at the Nebraska hotel. He said he’s talked to Foltz’s father every week since Foltz’s death. From Madison.com:
“That’s where you find out why Sam was the great guy that he was,” said Gaglianone, who won’t play in Saturday’s game after suffering a season-ending back injury earlier this season. “It comes from the family and the base that, that small-town mentality of being nice to everybody and just caring about everybody.
“Ever since, (Gerald’s) been calling me and talking to me and just kind of keeping up with the season. Just wondering how I’m doing and how I’m dealing with all that and just keeping me motivated. … It’s been good having his support and knowing that they’re doing fine and they’re doing well with all the things they’re dealing with on their plate.”
Foltz was set to be a senior in 2016 and Nebraska has carried his jersey to the sideline before every game as well as wearing a helmet decal for Foltz. On its first punt of the season vs. Fresno State, the team lined up without a punter in honor of Foltz and took a delay of game penalty (which Fresno declined).
Visiting teams to Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium have been putting flowers at the 27-yard-line in Foltz’s memory during pregame warmups. The Big Ten also commissioned a special pregame coin in the memory of Foltz and Sadler that Nebraska is using for the rest of its home games.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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