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Kansas running back Deshaun Sands (36) grabs a pass in the spring game on April 24 at Memorial Stadium. Sands, listed as second-string on the depth chart at running back, will attempt to impact the Jayhawks like his father did a generation ago.
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Vertically challenged and not capable of getting to the tape first in a straight-ahead sprint against most featured Div. I running backs, Kansas University red-shirt freshman running back Deshaun Sands is the pitching prospect just up from Triple A labeled marginal because his fastball and body type are a tad on the short side, the guy who doesn’t get as long a trial as the first-round draft choice who short-circuits radar guns.
Running back ready for Saturday game
KU running back Deshaun Sands is ready to play in Saturday's home opener at Memorial Stadium. The red shirt freshman is currently listed second on the depth chart for the running back position.
A generation before him, Tony Sands was a similar underdog, though faster than his son. At 5-foot-6, the older Sands didn’t fit the profile either, but was given a chance, and he ran so hard with it he blew up not only his school’s records, but set NCAA marks of 58 carries and 396 rushing yards in a single game.
Could it happen again? Could another undersized Sands defy the odds for KU again?
The easy answer is no. Even bigger, faster defenders stock big-time defenses than when Tony Sands (1988-91) earned 1991 Big Eight Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors and tied or set 17 Kansas rushing or scoring records.
It pays to remember the easy answer isn’t always the right one. Tony proved that.
Even Deshaun Sands, a 5-7, 190-pound shifty runner from Sunrise, Fla., wonders how in the world his father was so hard to bring down.
“My brother and I, when we were young, used to look at (his highlight film) all the time,” Deshaun said. “When I first looked at it, I was like, ‘I don’t know how he did it.’ Watching him gives me motivation to do the same thing.”
Ranked second on KU’s running-back depth chart, the younger Sands leaves teammates asking the same questions that used to be asked about his father.
“Me and my teammates talk about it all the time,” Deshaun said. “They’ll say, ‘It’s amazing you’re still here playing.’ It’s all a mind thing. If you have it in your mind, you can play.”
But the natural first thought of evaluators watching a player that small always is going to drip skepticism. That’s just the way the mind works.
Tony Sands lives in South Florida, trains professional athletes, evaluates high school football talent and is the prep football expert on the radio show of his uncle, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, younger brother to Tony’s mother.
Tony shared with his son what put him over the top.
“I tell him my determination was my most valuable asset because I was so determined to prove people wrong, people who said I couldn’t do this, I couldn’t do that,” Tony said by phone from Florida. “That’s what drove me to be successful. He’s going to run into that. Just make sure you understand you can’t be mediocre. You can’t rely on what you did yesterday. You always have to climb and climb and climb.”
“Tuxedo” Tony Sands was so named because he wore a tux to games. Deshaun said Tuesday he owns one but has not yet decided whether he’ll continue his father’s tradition. Here’s hoping he does. It would add a lot of spice to a pregame football atmosphere that became lively again when former KU athletic director Al Bohl brought back tailgating. The hard-core fans could arrive early enough to spot the running back in tails.
“I’m thinking about it,” Deshaun said. “I’m thinking about it. I’ve owned one since I was in high school.”
Deshaun said his father told him he wore a tuxedo to games, but never told him why.
So why did Tony decide to become the best-dressed player in college football?
“I was around Michael Irvin and watched him create a brand for himself,” Tony said of his celebrity uncle. “The Playmaker. I watched him use that brand name for himself, and it stayed with him. I told myself I wanted to create a brand, not knowing how far it would go. I enjoyed the success that came with that brand.”
Deshaun does not grow defensive talking about his size. Instead, he embraces the advantages it brings.
“I’m low to the ground, and being low to the ground helps me because defenders try to tackle me, and I’m able to get lower than them so they can’t get a full tackle on me,” he said. “It’s easy to be a short guy. I try to get to the defenders’ knees, so he’s diving at me and I slip under him. It happens quite a bit.”
Deshaun Sands knows his college football.
“I guess a lot of schools now are starting to find out small backs are not a bad thing,” he said. “Some of the top backs are small backs right now, like (West Virginia’s) Noel Devine, Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps (both of Florida).”
He said he never has played in front of a crowd bigger than 200 or 300.
“It’s going to be like a gladiator war,” Sands said of Saturday’s 6 p.m. kickoff against North Dakota State. “You’ve got everybody around you making noise, vibrating at your feet. It’s going to be a nice feeling.”
What an interesting twist Sands could put on this season if he has what it takes to bring the crowd to its feet.
Spring game highlights April 28, 2012
Charlie Weis Jr. helps lead the KU running backs in drills April 19, 2012
D.J. Beshears makes tough catch on deep pass from Dayne Crist April 19, 2012
Highlights from Charlie Weis press conference April 10, 2012
KU football's first spring practice under Charlie Weis March 28, 2012
Comments
nwjhawk (anonymous) says…
Let's not forget who those 396 yards were against - Missouri.
KUHawkhead (anonymous) says…
THAT was a great game! Cold as hell, but well worth staying til the bitter and happy end!
RCJHKU!
rockchalk1990 (anonymous) says…
I was at that game, too, Hawkhead and remember just about freezing to my seat. I remember thinking at half "geez, Sands could get like 250 yards in this game!" And I also remember KU kneeling down on the 4 yard line as time expired and thinking "get him 400! It's Misery after all!"
Rivethead (anonymous) replies…
I'd still like to know who on the sideline (or up in the press box) screwed up their stats. Coach Mason has stated several times that he was told that Tony was over 400 and would have ran him more to get the 400 if he had known he was THAT close.
bg_duck1 (anonymous) replies…
No KU team (in any sport) should ever not try to run up the score on mizzery
roadwarrior1969 (anonymous) says…
I did stats for the student radio station 90.7 KJHK that day. Tony Sands had 24 carries for 7 yards or more. I ran out of room on his carries area of the stat sheet so kinda had to improvise after carry 35 or more...remember we didn't have laptops and the fancy 21st century stuff back then.
Later that night, Tony did an interview with KJHK (and me) at halftime of the KU-Maryland Baltimore county basketball game.
I'll never forget that day.
roadwarrior1969 (anonymous) says…
I did stats for the student radio station 90.7 KJHK that day. Tony Sands had 24 carries for 7 yards or more. I ran out of room on his carries area of the stat sheet so kinda had to improvise after carry 35 or more...remember we didn't have laptops and the fancy 21st century stuff back then.
Later that night, Tony did an interview with KJHK (and me) at halftime of the KU basketball game.
I'll never forget that day.
jayhawkdude46542 (anonymous) says…
Didn't he have a couple of long runs in the second half to go over 300? I was there, working as an usher, and remember two things: trying to stay out of the wind as it was extremely cold, and thinking "Sands is totally unstoppable today."
KGphoto (anonymous) says…
I can definitely see the problem of switching tackling styles during a game, from an upright, 6'1" 220lb truck, to a squatting 5'9" whirlybird. Even if they can spot him behind the OL, getting down there to wrap-up could prove to be a frustrating task. You won't see a lot of arm tackles on him either. He's got some power that isn't mentioned in the article. I love Deshaun's highlight video.
Hey, any chance of getting that Tony Sands highlight tape Deshaun is talking about?
KGphoto (anonymous) replies…
Oops. 5'7".
KU_FanSince75 (anonymous) says…
I remember I was listening to the KU/Mizzou game on the radio when the older Sands had his big day (sorry to those folks who were suffering in the misery cold). I was jumping up & down when Sands was pouring it on the Tiggers. It gives me a lot of hope that the younger Sands will have a great freshman season. RCJH.
KU79 (anonymous) says…
What was amazing was that mu knew exactly who was getting the ball, and they still couldn't stop him. I remember Keith Loneker remarking after the game that they would walk up to the line saying out loud to the mu linemen things like, "gee, I wonder who's getting the ball." That last drive, we moved down the stands as KU, and Tony, moved down the field. It was like it was 72 degrees out, not cold at all. Monster memory.
Rivethead (anonymous) replies…
You bring up a great point.....Tony's success was in large part due to an OL that owned mu that day.
And yeah, supposedly Loneker and others would walk up to the line and tell the MU D what the play was going to be.....and dare them to stop it.
speckleddog (anonymous) says…
I was at the game. It was so exciting that I didn't really think about it being so cold. Probably because I was on my feet for most of the game. It was a truly amazing performance.
illinijhawk (anonymous) says…
I was on the sidelines that day with Coach Ruel and that story is absolutely true. It was hilarious, though I don't think there was much doubt who was getting the ball even if the linemen weren't tipping their hand. There was just nothing that could stop him that day.
redballer1313 (anonymous) says…
any videos on him?? cant find any
OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) says…
He got to 400 yards by going 7 yards at a time!!!???.....Holey Moley, this has to be the workhorse performance of all-time. Heck, sometimes, a whole team doesn't get 58 plays from scrimmage.
What was the total yardage for KU?
What was the score?
What was the temperature?
Did any of the cheerleaders go "Commando"?
Beak (anonymous) says…
I was in the east stands. It was soo cold Pizza Hut began handing out free pizzas that were otherwise going to waste. Awesome game.
inteldesign (anonymous) says…
I listened on the radio and was eating it up. One of my favorite games of all time. That it was the Tiggers makes it all the more sweet. I hope Deshaun wears the tails. It would be a wonderful interweaving of a family/school tradition. Heck, we could go 4 or 5 generations with this. A long line of Sands.
okjhok (anonymous) says…
KUSports is saying the game is on FCS. I've got Directv and it's saying Lehigh and Drake are on in that time slot. Is FCS regional?
TwoDrop (anonymous) replies…
Directv channel 623.
okjhok (anonymous) replies…
Thanks, didn't realize there were more than one FCS
leikness (anonymous) says…
I can tell you there is no sideline camera cart for the game. The truck will be rockin in full view blockin effect.
leikness (anonymous) says…
"Tuxedo" Deshaun Sands doesn't have quite the same ring to it.
KGphoto (anonymous) replies…
How about "Dappa Deshaun"?
KGphoto (anonymous) replies…
How about just "Dappa"?
inteldesign (anonymous) replies…
How about Divine Deshaun? Wouldn't a Divine Deshaun command a tuxedo?
leikness (anonymous) says…
"Tuxedo" Deshaun Sands doesn't have quite the same ring to it.
741hawk (anonymous) says…
I told DeShaun at Family Day that seeing his father gain 396 yards against Mizzery was one of my favorite football memories. I still have a mental picture in my mind. It was Toss Sweep Left then Toss Sweep Right. They know what was comin' and couldn't stop us.
Rock Chalk!
yovoy (anonymous) says…
I don't remember it being cold that day. I sat on the hill, and some friends had a keg. I met my future wife at that keg that day. That's probably why I don't remember the weather. I was watching Sands put the moves on, and I was doing my best to put some on as well. Banner day all 'round.
inteldesign (anonymous) replies…
I listened on the radio. I thought the game was in Misery?
KU_FanSince75 (anonymous) says…
@ Yovoy-----Sweet!!!!!!!!!! Lucky boy!