Posted: Mon February 10, 2014 9:07AM; Updated: Mon February 10,
2014 11:24AM Joan Niesen  Missouri's campus celebrates Michael
Sam's announcement  Decrease font Decrease font Enlarge font
Enlarge font Michael Sam Michael Sam led the SEC with 11.5 sacks
and was the conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images  COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Everyone knew.  His
recruiting class found out quickly after moving to campus in the
fall of 2009.  His teammates on the Tigers' defense found out as
the years wore on.  The whole team learned in August, when Sam
officially announced it to them.  The campus knew, too. What was
once a rumor -- a gay football player? -- became something more
substantiated. The story of Michael Sam's words to his team
became common knowledge in Columbia, a college town smack-dab in
the middle of a traditionally red state. The star defensive end
was out, but he wasn't.  Media knew. Students knew. Fans knew.
Yet no one said a word. Words were not written. Television
speeches we