Sam Wyche ’66 wasn’t supposed to live. But he did, with the help of a heart transplant. Decades earlier, he was far from a sure thing as a football player. But Furman gave him a chance—his only chance, really—and Sam made it to the NFL as a player and then a coach. “What are the odds of that happening?” he mused to our writer, Vince Moore, during his interview, while reminiscing about his opportunity to coach the San Francisco 49ers. But as our feature story details in the 2019 issue of Furman magazine, Sam never took any of his “miracles” for granted, and the statement could have also applied to his improbable match with a donor heart. “A Series of Miracles” chronicles Sam’s contributions to athletics, the university and the cause of organ donation. The piece came to have added poignancy because Sam Wyche passed away from cancer about three months after the piece was published. We were fortunate to have captured a profile of Sam when we did. Our aim was to craft a readable and powerful piece with sparse quotes that would move football buffs and non-sports fans, alike.
From the Judges
This is a really appealing profile that is engaging, includes substance in brevity, has an attractive design and a significant message. It really captures attention and makes one eager to learn more. The writing has passion, depth and a strong message. The content is well organized, and quotes contribute to the emotional and touching conclusion.
