Tony Sands, who waited patiently 30 years, will be inducted into KU’s Ring of Honor

Tony Sands, the diminutive but powerful former Kansas Jayhawks running back sensation from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will have his name emblazoned in KU’s prestigious football Ring of Honor on Saturday afternoon.

The honor comes more than 30 years after his graduation from Kansas.

Sands, who played at 5-foot-6 and 170 pounds, was named the Big Eight offensive player of the year in 1991 and still ranks as KU’s second-leading rusher of all time.

His accolades don’t end there. Sands still holds KU’s single-game rushing-yardage record, with 396 yards against Missouri on Nov. 24, 1991. He also remains the NCAA record-holder for carries in a game: 58 vs. Mizzou.

It took a while for Sands to be honored, but he’s thrilled the recognition is finally coming. Sands and former KU linebacker Nick Reid (2002-05) will join the KU Ring of Honor during the Jayhawks’ 3 p.m. conference game Saturday against UCF at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

“Some people have asked me, ‘Why so long?’,” said Sands, who played for KU from 1998-91. “Sometimes it’s best to wait, and the opportunity will come.”

Sands spoke with The Star during a Thursday phone interview from Florida, where he has his own business training young athletes, college athletes and pros.

“To get this opportunity now when I am still living … I can have my mom, wife, (three) children share this with me. I have over 20 family members coming in from Texas, Florida, California (including eight grandchildren), which means so much to me. My mom gets to see this. Coach (Glen) Mason (his coach at KU) will be there, which makes it even more special.”

Sands believes this was meant to happen decades after his playing days concluded.

“I guarantee not many can say this: I wore (jersey) No. 24 and now I’m the 24th inductee in the (KU) Ring of Honor,” he said. “My family put No. 24 on the back of shirts they have. Some people will probably see ‘24’ Saturday and not realize that’s my jersey number, along with being the 24th inductee.”

Sands was informed in April that his name would be emblazoned in the KU Ring of Honor, which located atop the stadium bleachers, during the 2023 season.

“Coach (Lance) Leipold and Mr. Goff (KU athletic director Travis Goff) called me and said, ‘We want to inform you that you will be inducted into the Ring of Honor come this fall.’ It brought tears to my eyes,” Sands said.

“It’s what I’ve been dreaming of since I stepped foot on the University of Kansas campus, from the first day I practiced in that stadium. It’s a dream come true for me. It’s something I worked for every day.

“I got to KU and the first day looked at the names up there — Gale Sayers, John Riggins, John Hadl — and all these guys. I wanted my name to be up there. Now when I’m dead and gone my grandchildren and their children, and their children, will be able to go to the University of Kansas and say, ‘That’s my grandfather.’”

Sands said he will thoroughly enjoy spending time this weekend with Mason, the man who offered him a scholarship at KU.

“He’s the coach who took a chance on me — a small 5-6, 157-pound guy,” Sands said. “Coach Mason took a chance on bringing me to the Big Eight Conference. I tell kids, ‘When I played, the Big Eight was the SEC of today.’ We were the conference that national champs were coming out of each and every year. Outside Miami and Florida State, it was Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado. I had to go against them every year.

“I played with Barry Sanders, went head to head against one of the greatest running backs ever. I went against (Eric) Bienemy, a lot of great running backs. I was All-American, Big Eight offensive player of the year. People say, ‘Look at those numbers and it stacks you with the greats.’ If you ask me where I stand, I’d say top 10 (of college backs all-time),” Sands added.

Sands, who played a full four seasons at KU, amassed 3,788 rushing yards on 778 carries and scored 28 touchdowns during his Jayhawks career. All of those marks were school records upon his departure.

Only June Henley (3,841 yards) has gained more yards than Sands at KU. Sands is KU’s all-time leader in 100-yard rushing games (17), and his touchdown total ranks third behind Henley (41) and James Sims (34).

Sands’ final game in a KU uniform was his best. That was the 1991 game against Missouri in which he set the FBS record for carries and rushing yards. KU beat the Tigers 53-19. His rushing-yardage total of 396 was an NCAA record for eight years until it was broken by LaDainian Tomlinson of TCU, who rushed for 406 against UTEP in 1999.

Sands helped KU to a 6-5 record in his senior year, the Jayhawks’ first winning season in a decade.

“That was the most important thing, beating Missouri to have a winning season for the seniors on the team,” Sands said of his 396-yard game. “I had the opportunity to carry 58 times and gain 396 yards. People ask, ‘Were you tired?’ I say, ‘No, I worked for that. I trained myself all offseason for that moment.’”

Sands now lives in Florida, where he not only trains younger athletes but is also an author. His first book — he has another in the works — is entitled “I Was Before My Time.” It is available on Amazon, and Sands will sign copies in a tent on Campanile Hill before Saturday’s game.

“I love being called an author,” Sands said. “It shows a side outside the sports realm. My book speaks about my life and time at KU and experiences I had at KU. I had a lot of responsibilities. I was an athlete, student, husband father and ambassador for the university. I had to wear all those hats. I had to navigate each and every day.”

Sands is making this a memorable weekend. He and his family members were planning on attending Friday’s Late Night in the Phog basketball-kickoff event at Allen Fieldhouse. Sands said he is a good friend of musical guest Flo Rida, who just might be wearing a No. 24 jersey during his mini-concert, which is slated conclude the proceedings.

“That will be fun. Also, I know people from the administration at UCF,” Sands said of the visiting team for Saturday’s Big 12 football game. “Terry Mohajir (UCF AD) ... we drove together to the first coaches’ convention in Dallas. Tim Allen (who formerly worked in academics at KU) is now at Central Florida (as executive associate AD).”

Sands made contact this week with fellow Ring of Honor inductee Reid, a native of Derby, Kansas who ranks second all-time in tackles at KU (416). His 40 tackles for loss rank fourth in school history.

In 2005, Reid became the Jayhawks’ first Big 12 defensive player of the year — he’s still the only KU player to win the award. Reid was also named third team All-America by the Associated Press after his senior season.

Reid led the Jayhawks in tackles for three consecutive seasons (2003-05). He finished his KU career with 14 sacks, three interceptions and six forced fumbles.

“Nick said to go in with somebody who has done so much for the university is a blessing,” Sands said. “I said that going in with him was a blessing for me.

“Also Coach Mangino (Mark Mangino, who coached Reid at KU) will be here. He recruited my son Deshaun to the University of Kansas, which means a lot to me and my family.”