Mike Minter on playing for Carolina and memories of Sam Mills

Minter was born in Cleveland, Ohio but moved to Oklahoma soon after his dad’s passing before Mike turned one. It was in Lawton, Oklahoma where Minter grew up playing with his siblings and developed into a two-sport athlete.  On the football field, Minter was a running back and free safety who led the state in rushing in 1991 with almost 1600 yards and 21 touchdowns.  On the basketball court, Minter averaged 21.0 points for the Lawton High School.  Growing up watching Nebraska football on TV, Minter’s goal was to play for the Cornhuskers.  When Hall of Fame coach Tom Osborne came calling, the choice was simple.  With Nebraska, Minter would play for a defense known as the “The Blackshirts” and would be a part of two National Championship teams (1994 & 1995) while earning All-Big 8 and All-Big 12 honors.  In 1997, the Carolina Panthers drafted him in the second round where he became a starter in his rookie season and remained there until he retired.  During his 10 years with the Panthers, Minter had many highs and lows topped by winning the NFC Championship in 2003 and playing in the Super Bowl XXXVII.  Minter officially retired in 2007 and was named to the Carolina Panthers Silver Season team in 2019.  Private business and coaching became Minter’s passion after his playing career.  Currently the head coach at Campbell University, he is set to begin his 10th year with the Fighting Camels in the fall of 2022.  Minter shares his journey with us, including his thoughts on playing alongside the late Sam Mills who would eventually become an assistant coach with the Panthers and give his “Keep Pounding” speech during their run to the Super Bowl in 2003.