LeTourneau University found their basketball program on the national radar last Halloween morning, albeit briefly, following a botched Associated Press poll from ESPN. The global sports network awarded the tiny Longview (Texas) school nine votes in the AP Preseason Rankings, a total that placed first-year coach Dan Miller’s team at No. 36 overall. It was enough to sit above perennial contenders Cincinnati, Georgetown, Baylor and dozens of other well-known programs. Although the limelight lasted all of 30 minutes after someone at ESPN plopped LeTourneau (LETU) in place of the real 36th-ranked team Louisiana Tech, it gave a refreshing blip of attention to the wonderful world of Division-III basketball.
As college hoops fans across the country scratched their head wondering what in the hell “Le Tourneau” (ESPN even spelled their name wrong by including a space) was, YellowJackets freshman guard Sam Talbert would have been joining the befuddled group before his high school coach mentioned LETU during the end of his prep career in Georgetown (Texas) last spring.
I had honestly never heard of it.
The respectfully honest, self-proclaimed Harry Potter nerd and Grey’s Anatomy aficionado was born in Temple, a modest town of 65,000 along I-35 between Waco and Austin. He would grow up in Waco before moving 40 miles south to Georgetown in grade school. It was at this point that the quiet, yet friendly and excitable, 6th-grader was forced to grow up very quickly.
He and his two older sisters, Hope and Courtney, were subjected to a nasty divorce, one that ultimately moved them south away from Sam’s father.
While this proved to be a difficult time for the Talbert family, Sam embraced the emotional change and realized that Georgetown was a special place where he could be whatever he wanted to be.
There’s not people (in Georgetown) who think they’re better than others. I love people who don’t judge others, ones that are open to anyone else.
Not that he ever dismissed the importance of academics and extracurricular activities, but the humble youngster began realizing what things are truly important in life. The people that matter. The feelings that matter. The moments that matter.
Talbert can identify dozens of people, events, programs and opportunities that made priceless contributions to his growth as a young man but a few stick out more than others, including a very tight-knit family.
I think a lot of people grow up waiting to get away from their family to get their own freedom but I always want to be with them. My mom has done the best job of raising three kids by herself. She’s someone you can be comfortable with. A lot of people don’t feel comfortable talking to their mom and she did a great job of allowing us to trust her, not be afraid to go to her for help.
Sam’s mom Karen, a 5th-grade teacher in Georgetown understands how a divorce, particularly one in which a parent is all but eliminated from the equation, can dramatically impact a family moving forward but, like Sam, is able to find the silver linings in life.
“We have come to appreciate the so-called finer things in life. There is such a deep love and respect between him and his sisters. He once posted a picture on facebook of all of them that said, “We have been called ‘the GREATEST siblings ever’ by many people. They have always supported each other and appreciated each other’s individualities.”
Following the brutal divorce, things were far from ideal for the Talbert family, explains Karen, “It was highly unexpected and very sad. Due to incidences that took place between Sam and his father, I believe Sam has been driven to be a certain type of individual, that in his mind will be successful, caring, Christlike and truthful.”
For the first 2-3 years after my parents got a divorce I had to do visitations. A lot of times my dad would tell me that I wouldn’t amount to anything and that I wouldn’t be anyone. It motivated me to get better at everything I was doing. It kept my academics on track. A lot of kids that go through divorce at those ages struggle or blame it on a lack of focus because of their parents. It drove me. I want to be a way better person than he was, not just as a father but as a genuine person. He told me I couldn’t be that person.
It appears as though Sam Talbert doesn’t appreciate someone telling him that he can’t do something.
The exercise science major at LETU had no interest in letting his father inhibit his dreams with these comments and predictions, but instead harnessed the positives in his life in becoming a talented and selfless young man both on and off the basketball court.
Entering Thursday’s game against Hardin-Simmons (Abilene, Texas), Talbert has helped lead the young YellowJackets to one less win (4) than they had all of last season (5). He is one of nine freshman on the roster and has started all 11 games, being the only freshman to do so. Talbert leads the team in numerous categories, including minutes, 3-point field goals, total field goals, steals and scoring average. He has become one of the American Southwest Conference’s most surprising players.
There is little glory in being a D-III hoops player but it suits Talbert very nicely. He is one of 100,000-plus student-athletes competing at the Division-III level nationwide and while the TV cameras, scholarships and luxurious perks are never seen in Longview, it is still college athletics.
D-III is not always about not being able to go D-I or D-II because there a lot of guys that could easily be playing for those schools. We love the game just as much. We are just as committed.
Talbert and his teammates are just as committed to the integrity of the game. They are just as committed to becoming great teammates and they’re just as committed to the grueling in-season athletics and academic schedules.
One misconception (about student-athletes) is that we don’t take our grades seriously or that we can’t be really smart. I believe some people think that because we’re good at one thing, we can’t be good at another. Some think that we come across entitled or believe that student-athletes look down on others because they don’t do what we do.
And they’re definitely just as committed to remaining real human beings, ones with real emotions and curious obsessions, including the one, the only…Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift has a huge superfan in Sam Talbert. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter strikes a significant cord with him and as other young men oftentimes hide their Swiftie card, Talbert is not shy in displaying his deep infatuation with her, even though some close to him wouldn’t tab him as a fan.
One of my favorite people in the world is Taylor Swift. I grew up listening to her and am as big of a fan as anyone. I think some would be kind of surprised to hear that about me.
Does Coach Miller know about his love for T. Swift?
“I found out when I made a joke about Taylor Swift on your iPod to another player at a LETU volleyball game and Sam laughed and said every song is on his.”
What about Mama Talbert? Oh, yes.
“I’ve always appreciated the fact that he admires Taylor Swift so much, especially being a male. He will tell anyone that she is his favorite. She has proven to be a great role model who sings about real life which he can relate to very well.”
See, Sam Talbert does not mess around. He has no problem taking initiative, being a guinea pig, taking the big shot or exposing his true emotions.
Sam is a leader, says his mom. Unselfish, dedicated and caring, says his coach. But what else does Sam Talbert want to be known as after the conclusion of his college career?
I want Coach Miller and others to remember me as someone who always gave 110 percent. I consider myself a very hard worker… I don’t know if that sounds cocky and I don’t mean to be. I’m going to do something to the best of my ability. I won’t slack off.
Point to his mom or point to his sisters to find the foundation behind this attitude and life philosophy. Point to his teammates or his faith. Point to the homelessness or anti-bullying community service initiatives that Sam has led or been involved with. Point to the incredible bond with his former high school coach Russell Miller or priceless connection with Dan Miller.
Point to whatever or whoever you want but know that all of those people will be pointing back at Sam Talbert.
“Sam is a very special student-athlete. He is a very special young man,” said Coach Miller.
After being told on numerous occasions that he would not amount to anything, that he’d be a nobody and that he has no future, Sam Talbert is crafting a pretty special future as a quietly reliable and hot-handed freshman guard at little-known Division-III LeTourneau University. The guy with dreams of becoming a physical therapist and visiting NYC someday has confronted adversity head-on, embraced the challenges that face student-athletes and continued to develop a strong passion for becoming a contributing member of society.
Despite this adversity and slew of challenges as a youngster, Sam Talbert has been able to…dare I say…Shake It Off?
Editor’s Note: Following the release of this article, we spoke with Sam Talbert’s father and his father’s wife, regarding the comments made by Sam and his mother. They believe these comments are inaccurate and untrue. They wish to state that they do not agree with the accuracy of any of the comments made in regards to his father and do not wish for readers to develop an opinion of Sam’s father based upon comments made in this article.
Photos Courtesy: LeTourneau Sports Information, Associated Press
