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Illinois Fighting Illini give Nebraska signed Sam Foltz jersey (Video)

ByJohn Buhler|
Sep 3, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Samuel Harlib (82) and Illinois Fighting Illini offensive lineman Joe Spencer (71) celebrate with head coach Lovie Smith after the game against the Murray State Racers at Memorial Stadium. Illinois defeated Murray State 52 to 3. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Samuel Harlib (82) and Illinois Fighting Illini offensive lineman Joe Spencer (71) celebrate with head coach Lovie Smith after the game against the Murray State Racers at Memorial Stadium. Illinois defeated Murray State 52 to 3. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

The Illinois Fighting Illini special teamers gave the Nebraska Cornhuskers special teamers a signed Sam Foltz jersey to honor the life of Nebraska’s punter.

The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Nebraska Cornhuskers haven’t been Big Ten West rivals for very long. That doesn’t mean the programs don’t have a great deal of respect for each other. Nebraska has received tributes from opposing teams to honor the life of their late punter, Sam Foltz. Illinois was pure class in their gift to Nebraska.

Shortly before their kickoff from Memorial Stadium at 3:30 PM ET on Saturday, the special teams unit of the Illini presented the Cornhuskers with a Foltz Illini jersey signed by the entire Illinois football team. Illinois long snapper Michael Martin is seen speaking kind words about a guy he never knew before handing the jersey to Cornhuskers kicker Spencer Lindsay.

Special teamers are a unique bunch on football team. They always stick together. Their bonds trough playing the crucial third phase of a football game often have special teamers from other programs in their tight circle.

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Lindsay took the jersey that Martin handed him on Tom Osborne Field and placed it next to Foltz’s Nebraska No. 27 jersey. Nebraska has honored its late punter by placing his jersey on the bench as a constant remember that he is no longer with them.

Every team that Nebraska has played this year has given Foltz his respect, trying to understand what the Cornhuskers are going through. Nebraska enters play at 4-0 on the year.

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It seems that they are playing this 2016 NCAA season in honor Foltz. If the Cornhuskers can knock off teams like the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten West, they could be the team that plays for the Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis.

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