Michael Sam Got a Resounding Ovation from Mizzou's Basketball Crowd [VIDEO]

While a lot of the immediate reaction when Michael Sam announced he was gay last weekend centered around the anonymous NFL personnel officials (and the journalists who served as their mouthpieces) who were pessimistic about whether Sam would be accepted in pro locker rooms, everything that emanated from the University of Missouri’s campus was a reassuring counterbalance.

As we all now know, Sam had already been embraced for who he is by the Tigers locker room on a 12-2 team last season, and after his national announcement a large tribute was swiftly drawn into the snow at Faurot Field.

At halftime of yesterday’s basketball game against Tennessee, Missouri brought out its football team to receive their trophy for winning the Cotton Bowl. At the end of the clip, Sam heads towards the student section, who exploded in applause. This clip is great.

The Westboro Baptist Church tried to protest before the game, but were prevented from doing so in close proximity to it by a group of students forming a human wall.