On Missouri's Pro Day, openly gay NFL prospect Michael Sam has written a letter to his has written a letter of thanks to his school. The letter ran today in the Columbia Missourian:

To my fellow University of Missouri students, athletes, faculty, alumni and supporters:

From my first recruiting trip to the University of Missouri, I felt something extraordinary and special – something I didn't feel anyplace else.

I didn't have a name for it then; I do now. It's called family.

And to me that family is defined by unconditional love.

In the letter, Sam talks about his "long journey ahead." His next big step is today. Some labeled his NFL Combine performance on-par or sub-par, so he can go a long way boosting his draft stock by performing at a high level today.

Either way, we know the folks at Missouri will forever be proud of their family member.

Read the entire letter at the Columbia Missourian.

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