Sometimes I get all excited about the upcoming KSU Cats football season and then I remember that Daniel Sams isn't going to be our QB and I get so 
, you guys.
I mean I would be so #TeamWaters if I had never known #LiFE existed, but right now I feel about as attached to him as I did to Grant Gregory. Feel much more invested in #LiFE and Mr. Touchdown and Highsteppercat than in Jake. I hope that changes and he seems like a good guy, but I don't think it will. 
Anyway, go 'Cats. Keep living to inspire me forever, @DS4ms!
60 TD bombs by life waters will wash away the pain.
Here's a bone for all you doubters out there:
It was September 17th, 2011 and K-State had a high profile matchup with the mighty Miami Hurricanes in Coral Gables, FL. A few weeks prior the Cats escaped with a 10-7 victory at home over lowly FCS opponent Eastern Kentucky. Collin Klein's performance in that game was lackluster. Fans and media were already skeptical of the junior from Loveland, CO in the weeks leading up to the home opener.
Fast forward to week 3; Miami pulls off a huge win over no. 5 ranked Ohio State. Kansas State blanks Kent State 37-0. Impressive, but K-State's running backs and offensive line made it look easy. Most people were still reluctant to give Klein any praise. Fast forward again to the following week.
In the waning moments the Wildcats put together a solid defensive stand on their own goal-line to escape with a win over the Hurricanes in Miami 28-24. Yet it was the gutsy never-say-die performance by Collin Klein that kept the Cats alive in that game. A performance that finally caught the attention and respect of the fans and media. In the weeks and months to follow we would learn about the man he is and the kind of dedication and work ethic he had.
Looking back on that day under the hot Miami sun there was another young man watching from the sideline. Not yet eligible to play he witnessed Klein scratch and claw his way to victory. He watched every blow as Collin Klein sacrificed his body for mere inches. He saw first hand just what it meant to be a true leader. He learned self sacrifice, patience, perseverance, and for the next two years he spent the bulk of his days following Klein, splitting snaps with him in practice, watching film with him, mentoring under his tutelage, and literally studying his every move.
That young man, of course, is Daniel Sams. There was a time when he was young, naive, and maybe a bit obtuse. Now he's a junior entering his fourth year in the program. He's seen his fair share of ups and downs. He's celebrated victories and he's suffered defeat. He's seen just about everything there is to see at K-State and yet it's not enough. Not for Daniel anyways.
We can call Daniel a lot of things. Athletic. Energetic. Unselfish... Leader. Until a few weeks ago I wasn't so sure about that last one. I've always thought he had it in him but I was always reluctant to pin the title on him. Then he did something that I thought he'd never do. He changed positions. Not because he wasn't cutting it as a quarterback, and not even because a switch to wide receiver was the best option. He could have taken the road that many others do and transferred. But Daniel Sams is above that. He is committed to his teammates and he knows he needs to be out on that field. He also understands that a switch to WR doesn't necessarily guarantee him a spot in the starting lineup despite his athleticism. But he had to do what he thought was best for the team.
This kind of attitude is not unlike what we saw from Collin Klein when he made the switch to quarterback. Whether Klein and Sams were asked to change positions or took the initiative under their own volition makes no difference. They both volunteered for the greater good of the team. This sacrifice and maturity displayed by Sams shows us that he is indeed a leader and that he will stop at nothing to earn a starting position in this offense. He is fast, he is athletic, but most importantly he is determined and he feels his leadership can best be served with the receiving corp.
With teammates like Tyler Lockett and Curry Sexton to workout with, and coaches like Former Wildcat great Andre Coleman and LHCBS there to mentor him there is no doubt in my mind that Sams will be a starter in 2014. He has the support of his coaches, his teammates, and hopefully his fans. His work ethic is unquestionable and he embodies LHCBS's 16 goals for success like nobody else. So if you're not on the Daniel Sams bandwagon it's high time you jumped on board.
