 At Emory University he played varsity soccer; served as president of his fraternity, Tau Epsilon Phi; was selected to Phi Beta Kappa; and was an editor of several school publications, including the college's literary magazine and weekly newspaper "The Emory Wheel".where he served under Henry Schuster, a lifelong friend who would go on to become an award-winning producer at CNN and CBS "60 Minutes"

During his senior year at Emory, Sager studied creative writing with the noted author and jazz historian Albert Murray, who would have a profound influence on his writing style, introducing the notions of rhythm and music in the context of prose.That year he also interned at the alternative weekly "Creative Loafing", his first taste of professional journalism.