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Michigan State Football: ESPYs inexplicably leave Mike Sadler off ‘in memoriam’ segment

By Connor Muldowney

COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 15: Mike Sadler #4 of the Michigan State Spartans punts the ball during a college football game against the Maryland Terrapins at Byrd Stadium on November 15, 2014 in College Park, Maryland. The Spartans won 37-15. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 15: Mike Sadler #4 of the Michigan State Spartans punts the ball during a college football game against the Maryland Terrapins at Byrd Stadium on November 15, 2014 in College Park, Maryland. The Spartans won 37-15. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Former Michigan State football punter Mike Sadler, who tragically passed away last summer, was inexplicably left off the ESPYs’ “in memoriam” segment.

It’s been a rough year for Michigan State football. Last summer was especially tough as the Spartans lost a brother in Mike Sadler. The fan favorite was also beloved among teammates, coaches and essentially everyone he came into contact with.

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The fatal car accident involving Sadler, Nebraska punter Sam Foltz and LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye. The crash killed both Sadler and Foltz while Delahoussaye lived to tell the tale of when he lost two of his good friends.

It was a tragic story that no one around the college football landscape could forget. Opponents have even honored the late punters with numbers written on cleats and even placing flowers at the 27 and 3-yard lines at Nebraska and Michigan State, respectively, to pay tribute to their numbers.

Unfortunately, the ESPYs failed to recognize Sadler in their “in memoriam” segment on Wednesday evening while Foltz was included even though they were involved in the same accident.

Fans weren’t the only ones to realize this and call out the award show. Indiana kicker Griffin Oakes wasn’t too pleased with the ESPY fail.

Granted, it wasn’t a purposeful omission, but to include one fallen player and not the other is just poor taste. It may have been a mistake that slipped through the cracks, but for many Michigan State fans, and friends of Sadler, the loss still hurts.

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Just because Sadler didn’t play for Michigan State anymore shouldn’t mean that his legacy should be forgotten.

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