Sun Devil QB, Samson Szakacsy
It was about that time that Angel began following ASU’s back-up quarterback, Samson Szakacsy.
Their entire home was Sun Devil football.
Angel looked up to Samson because he had a reputation for being a humble player who spent his own time reaching out to less-privileged people in the community.
Angel friended Samson on Facebook. One time, he posted and tagged a picture of Samson to his own page. He boasted about Samson’s projects off the field such as writing & performing music with his band to things like spending time at local Indian Reservations, with footballs and Sun Devil gear in hand.
Not long after, Samson’s mom, Nancy Szakacsy, sent Angel a message thanking him for what he wrote about Samson. Soon Angel and Nancy started talking frequently on Facebook.
Angel emailed Nancy a picture of him air-born, fully stretched and diving to catch a football in his back yard. “It was a flat out laid out diving catch onto mattress,” Nancy said. “He was proud. It was so cool.” She clearly saw Angel’s die hard nature when it came to Sun Devil Football.
The picture Angel sent Nancy. Nancy later photoshopped it.
Soon, Samson and his mom decided to make a trip down to Tucson just to meet Angel and his family in person. Nancy explained that their entire home was Sun Devil football. It was a humble home with a strong family. “I came to see that he and his family are what Sun Devil football is all about. He inspired us and still does,” said Nancy. I thought I was a pretty big ASU fan, but the time I spent with them kind of took me to another level.
Samson offered to throw the ball with Angel at the park. “It was pretty special,” Nancy said, “but when his dad got out of bed for the first time in months to watch, that was ineffable.”
A few months later, Samson invited Angel and his Mom to ASU’s Spring Game, and they decided to make the drive to Tempe. After the game, they met Samson down on Frank Kush Field as the players met with fans to take pictures and sign autographs.
“We were still talking to him when most people had left the field,” Angel said. “He walked with us out of Sun Devil Stadium. “He just spent time with us and talked. He was thanking us for coming up from Tucson to be there and support the team.”
“I thought I was a pretty big ASU fan, but the time I spent with them kind of took me to another level.”
Samson Szakacsy writes & performs music under the name “Samson”. He played QB for ASU from 2007 – 2010.
Angel’s 18th Birthday
“I grew up wanting to get a tattoo when I was old enough,” Angel said. “People always said it should be something meaningful to you. I’m not married and don’t have a family of my own yet. ASU Football is what I care about the most.”
On his 18th birthday earlier this year, Angel went to a tattoo parlor near his home. He chose to get ASU’s new Pitchfork on his abdomen along with the words his Dad used to describe him when he was young.
Angel Ornelas, Sun Devil for Life
There are thousands of die hard fans across Sun Devil Nation, and most don’t adorn their bodies with ink to prove their devotion. But fans like Angel are admirable. They search for the boldest ways to share their pride and prove their life-long commitment to the Maroon & Gold.
It’s in their soul.
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