Jones National Bank and Trust Co. hosted a tailgate for employee Ann Koch Jan. 30. Koch’s husband Jeston is Sam Koch’s brother. Sam is the punter for the Ravens. The Koch family left for New Orleans Jan. 31 to attend the Super Bowl. Pictured are Jesten, Corbin and Ann.
Super Bowl 47 was more intriguing than most for people in Seward. It wasn’t the match-up between Baltimore and San Francisco, though. It was one man.
Sam Koch, a 2001 graduate of Seward High, is the punter for the Ravens. His tackle saved a touchdown in the second half, and his scramble in the endzone as time ticked down in the fourth quarter helped the Ravens hold onto the lead.
“It was a lot of fun to watch,” said Greg Welch, Koch’s high school football coach. “It doesn’t seem that long ago that he played here.”
Koch’s tackle on a punt return in the third quarter brought back memories for Welch.
“When Nebraska was recruiting him,” he said. “I told Dan Young (the recruiter) I was surprised that he was not playing linebacker and punting also. I brought it up about five times.”
However, the Cornhuskers needed punters, so that’s where Koch went.
Welch’s favorite memory of coaching Koch came from the 1999 season. Trailing Ralston with three second left, the Jays lined up for a 43-yard field goal attempt.
“I learned a lot about his personality in that huddle,” Welch said.
The players were talking to Koch in the huddle about the upcoming attempt, and Koch stepped away, asking them to just “let me be in the zone,” Welch recalled.
He stepped to the football and made the field goal for the win.
Another favorite memory came from Koch’s senior year game against Beatrice. It was raining that night in 2000, Welch said, and Seward led by four.
“Sam flipped the field to the five, and Beatrice can’t drive it out,” he said.
If Koch hadn’t unleashed a good punt, Beatrice might have gotten the ball in better field position and pulled out the victory. As it was, Koch’s punt sealed the win for Seward, Welch said.
As Koch juked through the end zone in the fourth quarter Feb. 3, Welch remembered conversations with his coaching staff.
“At one time, I said he might be the fastest player on the squad,” he said.
Koch played offensive line and linebacker, as well as some fullback when Andy Kadavy got hurt that season, Welch said.
While some players are concerned about their statistics, Welch said Koch is not. When the two have gotten together during offseasons, he said, he asked Koch one time if he watched his average. Koch told him no.
Welch and his wife Tracey have stayed in contact with Koch and his family.
“He was quiet, very focused,” Welch said. “He was fun to coach. He had a good attitude, and I liked him a lot.”
