Ex-Wisconsin P copes with deaths of friends Mike Sadler, Sam Foltz
CHICAGO — Former Wisconsin punter Drew Meyer and his passenger, Nebraska kicker Drew Brown, feared the worst.
"We essentially knew right away," Meyer said by phone Monday morning. "My heart sank. I knew that turn, living in that area."
Meyer and Brown were driving through the Town of Merton, Wis., late Saturday looking for three friends — Nebraska punter Sam Foltz, former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler and LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye.
All five had spent the day working at Jamie Kohl's specialist camp at Kettle Moraine High School in Wales, Wis.
Sadler was driving the vehicle that left the rain-slicked road and struck a tree. Sadler and Foltz died at the scene. Delahoussaye, who called 911 after the crash, was released from the hospital Monday after suffering minor injuries, including burns due to the car starting on fire, according to the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office.
According to Meyer, the instructors working the camp got together at the house of a local coach late in the afternoon to unwind.
"We just continued to build those friendships and spend time together, hanging out and relaxing," Meyer said. "We were having a great time, playing some Jenga, and it started to get late."
The group decided to leave for Meyer's home about 11:30 p.m.
Sadler pulled away first, with Foltz and Delahoussaye, and relied on GPS.
Meyer, who knew the route home, pulled out a couple minutes later.
"We ended up getting home before them and we didn't know where they were," Meyer said.
Meyer and Brown, who is entering his junior season at Nebraska, started calling the players' cell phones.
No answer.
"We thought maybe we had beaten them home," Meyer said, "that maybe the GPS took them on a different route that was a little longer.
"But after 20 minutes or so Drew and I decided to go back out and see if we could find them. We were hoping that they were OK. We thought we could find them by chance."
But that didn't happen.
"Just extremely tragic," Meyer said. "Mike and Sam are two of the best guys I've ever met. Incredible young men.
"Everyone in the kicking industry respected Mike. Even though Sam was younger we looked up to him in the same way. First one to give you a hug and ask how you're doing."
Foltz, who was preparing for his senior season, had stayed with the Meyer family several times while working camps. Sadler and Dalahoussaye were first-time guests.
"It was extremely hard on Drew Brown," Meyer said. "He was (Sam's) teammate. He understands the Nebraska community and what Sam means to them.
"Sam was his holder. He was his roommate on the road. He was truly one of his best friends."
Meyer, Brown and others working the camp didn't learn the fate of Foltz and Sadler until Sunday afternoon.
"We were praying for those guys," Meyer said. "They were in our thoughts."
Meyer, who punted for Wisconsin from 2012 through last season, acknowledged Monday he has been grilling himself with questions since the accident:
"Should I have insisted that they follow rather than letting them use GPS with them not knowing the area?
"With them not knowing the area should we have all been in one car?"
Meyer sounded somber as he shared the questions dogging him.
"It is stuff you don't really think about because you don't think it is going to be an issue," he said. "It is stuff you can't harp on because you can't change it but you feel awful. Especially when guys are coming to stay at your house you want them to be safe. It is extremely tragic.
"Things like this weekend make you understand again how precious life is, how your friendships with people and loved ones matter.
"It was a really tough day for everyone when we got the news."
