The Kansas football program is adding two former greats to its Ring of Honor this October, with running back Tony Sands and linebacker Nick Reid getting the call this week.
Both earned all-conference player of the year honors on their respective sides of the ball and both were among the best to ever play their positions at KU.
Their names will be added as the 24th and 25th members of the Ring of Honor during a ceremony at the Jayhawks’ Oct. 7 home game against Big 12 newcomer Central Florida.
“Since coming to Lawrence, I have learned more and more about the great impact that both Tony and Nick have had on Kansas football and their pride of being a Jayhawk,” KU coach Lance Leipold said in a news release announcing the honor. “Both helped leave Kansas better than they found it and have provided an example for our current players, who are working hard to do the same. Nick and Tony both had the characteristics as players that we want our current team to have. I am excited for both of them and their families.”
A native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sands was the 1991 Big Eight Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a third-team All-American.
He starred at KU from 1988-91 and racked 3,788 rushing yards on 778 attempts — both second on KU’s career rushing list — and 28 touchdowns, which all stood as school records upon his departure. In his final game in a KU uniform, Sands set the FBS record for rushing attempts (58) and rushing yards (396) in a 53-29 victory over Missouri on November 23, 1991, which still stands as KU’s single game rushing record.
Responding to a Twitter video of Leipold and KU Athletic Director Travis Goff giving him the news via telephone, Sands said he was in tears.
“It means the world to me, and not only me but to every teammate that had a part in it,” Sands said in the release. “It is unbelievable to have this recognition and to know that my name is going to be in the stadium up amongst the greats. When I go into the Ring of Honor, that means everyone that took part in my success goes in and that just means the world to me.”
KU’s Nick Reid makes his way down the line of KU seniors during senior day introductions Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Reid, who hails from Derby, started 40 of his 48 games for the Jayhawks from 2002-05 and was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year during the 2005 season.
A three-time all-Big 12 honoree, Reid racked up 416 career tackles, which ranks second on KU’s all-time list, and 40 tackles for loss, which ranks fourth.
Like Sands, he also was a third-team AP All-American his senior season while also participating in two bowl games with the Jayhawks.
“I am truly honored to be getting this recognition, but I know for a fact, it wouldn’t have happened without my teammates,” Reid said in the news release. “To think that my children will be able to take my grandchildren to Memorial Stadium and see my name in the Ring of Honor is more than I could have ever dreamt about.”
The other 23 members of KU’s Ring of Honor are: Gilbert Brown, Larry Brown, Anthony Collins, Nolan Cromwell, Bobby Douglass, Ray Evans, John Hadl, Chris Harris Jr., David Jaynes, Bruce Kallmeyer, Curtis McClinton, Mike McCormack, George Mrkonic, Willie Pless, Todd Reesing, Gil Reich, Gale Sayers, Otto Schnellbacher, Oliver Spencer, Darrell Stuckey, John Riggins, Aqib Talib and John Zook.
In other KU football news on Monday, a source confirmed a report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel that the Jayhawks were hiring Joe Dailey as an offensive analyst.
This will be the second stint on KU’s staff for Dailey, who played quarterback at Nebraska in 2003 and 2004. In 2010, he was KU’s recruiting coordinator under head coach Turner Gill. He other college stops include Buffalo, Bethune-Cookman, Liberty, New Mexico, Boston College, and last season he coached the wide receivers for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL.
Journal-World file photo
