He's a catch

Always-upbeat receiver Sammie Stroughter is a natural leader at OSU

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Apr 24, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

TOM HAUCK / GETTY IMAGES

A sunny personality and strong work ethic have made Sammie Stroughter one of Oregon State’s biggest leaders – and best players.

CORVALLIS — Oregon State football’s answer to Ernie Banks was hooting, hollering and having fun as usual during Saturday’s scrimmage. Inclement weather greeted the Orangemen, but Sammie Stroughter’s weather report showed nothing but sun.

In his 32 years of coaching, “Sammie is the most fun guy day to day I’ve ever come across,” OSU coach Mike Riley says. “It’s like his ethic is to just come out and love what he’s doing, practice with enthusiasm, work hard and have fun. It’s pretty easy to work with that type of kid. He’s always the same.”

Well, not always.

“There’ll be those days,” Stroughter says. “I just had one a week ago. I had a bad practice. I was down a little bit. And everybody was saying, ‘Sammie, what’s wrong?’ Guess it just lets you know you’re human.”

The other 99.9 percent of the time, Stroughter “is an upbeat guy, always energetic,” quarterback Sean Canfield says. “The kind of guy who gets everyone else going.”

It’s by design, Stroughter says.

“Attitude is one thing you have control over,” says the 6-foot, 185-pound Sacramento, Calif., native, who will be a senior in the fall. “Coach Riley always preaches it. Some situations and circumstances you have no control over, but you have control over your attitude and the way you carry yourself.”

Stroughter gets the disposition from his mother, Andrea Brown, who raised Stroughter and his older siblings, Eric and Cam, while working as a nurse.

“She’s my heart and soul,” Stroughter says. “Just seeing her take care of the family, by herself as a single mom, and doing it with a smile on her face … she’s been an inspiration.”

Riley hasn’t yet named his team captains for next season, but bet the moon Stroughter will be one.

“Sammie has been a leader ever since I got here,” says Canfield, who will be a redshirt sophomore in the fall. “We all look up to him.”

Hey, the kid can play a little football, too.

Last season, Stroughter was one of the biggest impact players as the Beavers enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history, capped by victories over Southern Cal and in the Sun Bowl against Missouri.

Stroughter was third in the nation with a 15.7-yard punt return average, taking three back for touchdowns, including one for 70 yards against the third-ranked Trojans. He led the Pac-10 and was 10th in the nation with a 17.5-yard average per reception, snaring 74 for 1,293 yards and five TDs.

His motto is one any coach would love: “Every time I touch the ball, I want to score.”

“Sammie is really, really good,” Riley says. “It’s fitting that he was selected (second team) all-Pac-10 and (third team) All-American. He’s one of the best college players I’ve coached at any position.”

And a football junkie.

“A lot of times, I’ll be sitting in my office, watching practice (video), and Sammie will come in, sit down, watch it with me,” Riley says.

“He likes to know a lot of details. He wants to know all the little things.”

Stroughter is hardly one-dimensional. A sociology major with a 2.99 accumulative GPA, he is a first team all-Pac-10 academic selection on pace to graduate a term early next winter. He is a religious young man who is involved in many campus, community and charitable activities.

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