A Chance Meeting Changes the Life Of A Former Hoosier Football Star
CBS News’ Steve Hartman has the story of a chance meeting sparked by a backpack in an unlikely place that changed the life of a former college athlete.
Jasper Steinmetz was walking his dog in Austin, Texas when he noticed a man with an Indiana University backpack. Since he had just graduated from there, he struck up a conversation. That man with the backpack was Sampson James, a former IU football star who had been homeless for 8 months. Jasper looked Sampson up and saw his story of how he was a 4 star recruit and standout until his knee gave out. He was diagnosed as bipolar and left school leading to him losing it all…except that backpack.
Because of their IU connection, Jasper started a GoFundMe to help get Sampson off the street and start over, raising over $17,000. Jasper helped Sampson find an apartment and cover several months rent plus the necessities to fill it. And they walk that trail together where they first met.
Sampson is determined to not let those who donated down by succeeding in his second chance!