Angry Pope
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A solid foundation for Sands
Sunday, July 15, 2007
By Mark Wiedmer
Terdell Sands cast a long look into the McKenzie Arena stands Saturday afternoon. Before him sat more than 150 kids ages 8 to 18, all of them wearing white T-shirts bearing Sands' name printed in silver and black letters. As in the Silver and Black made famous by the Oakland Raiders.
This was his obvious gift to the football clinic that used his name this weekend. After all, Sands just signed a four-year, $17 million extension with the Raiders. Approached by Lurone Jennings II of BASIC (Believing in Athletes, Students and Introducing Christ) to help fund a camp, the former Howard High star happily delivered both his money and his message.
"My thing," said the 6-foot-8, 300-plus pound defensive lineman as he gently rocked back in his seat, "is that I try to tell the kids the road I took is not the right way."
Rarely has a more long and winding road been taken to NFL riches than that traveled by Sands. He signed with Tennessee out of Howard in 1997 but never played for the Vols. He went to two junior colleges before finding brief shelter at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
"I played one year for the Mocs," he said softly. "I did all right, I was looking forward to the next year. Then I was dismissed for academics. I flunked one class, but I was already on probation when I got here."
What happened from there is a tribute to both Sands' talent and his perseverance. Out of college options, he moved to Atlanta and began preparing himself for the 2001 NFL draft.
It seemed a pipe dream at the time. He had played exactly one season of college football. By his own words, he had done "all right." Then things got worse. After spending all of 2000 running and lifting weights, he damaged nerves in his leg while working out for scouts in the winter of 2001.
"But Kansas City drafted me in the seventh round," he said. "I'd made it."
He made the Chiefs' injured reserve list for 2001. He moved to Green Bay's practice squad in 2002. He also played for Berlin in NFL Europe, crossing paths with another former Chattanooga football great -- Mike Jones.
"Just a couple of country boys in Europe," laughed Jones, who was coaching NFL Europa's signature franchise, the Frankfurt Galaxy, when the league was disbanded last week.
"We talked a lot about life," said Sands. "Everywhere we go, Tennessee and Chattanooga guys know each other."
Sands knew Jones had starred at Riverside in the late 1970s, played at Tennessee State and enjoyed a brief NFL career at wide receiver with both Minnesota and New Orleans before moving into coaching, including a stint at Brainerd High.
"He really encouraged me," said Sands. "He told me to keep working."
The Raiders noticed. They signed him in 2003 and began working him into their lineup. His first big break came in a Monday night game against Green Bay, of all teams.
"It was on TV again just the other day," said Sands. "I watched a little of it. I did OK."
The camp was more than OK. Rodney Allison volunteered his entire UTC coaching staff. Jones pitched in, as did Tennessee Titans defensive lineman and former City High star Tony Brown and a couple of Sands' friends on the Raiders -- tight end Courtney Anderson and tackle Chad Slaughter.
"And we want to make this thing even bigger next year," said Sands. "You just had the Bullocks brothers (Josh and Daniel) camp a couple of weeks ago. I want to talk to them about having one big camp. No use being divided. We should teach everybody at once."
Life has taught him much. The first thing Sands bought with his new contract money wasn't a tricked-out vehicle, but a house in East Brainerd. He isn't even bitter about his tough road to the NFL.
"If I'd played for UT and gotten all that money as a first-round draft choice," Sands grinned, "there's no telling who I would have corrupted. But my story also shows that with hard work and faith, you can still get where you want to go."
And just maybe use your money and your message to make the road a little easier for those who wish to follow.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
By Mark Wiedmer
Terdell Sands cast a long look into the McKenzie Arena stands Saturday afternoon. Before him sat more than 150 kids ages 8 to 18, all of them wearing white T-shirts bearing Sands' name printed in silver and black letters. As in the Silver and Black made famous by the Oakland Raiders.
This was his obvious gift to the football clinic that used his name this weekend. After all, Sands just signed a four-year, $17 million extension with the Raiders. Approached by Lurone Jennings II of BASIC (Believing in Athletes, Students and Introducing Christ) to help fund a camp, the former Howard High star happily delivered both his money and his message.
"My thing," said the 6-foot-8, 300-plus pound defensive lineman as he gently rocked back in his seat, "is that I try to tell the kids the road I took is not the right way."
Rarely has a more long and winding road been taken to NFL riches than that traveled by Sands. He signed with Tennessee out of Howard in 1997 but never played for the Vols. He went to two junior colleges before finding brief shelter at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
"I played one year for the Mocs," he said softly. "I did all right, I was looking forward to the next year. Then I was dismissed for academics. I flunked one class, but I was already on probation when I got here."
What happened from there is a tribute to both Sands' talent and his perseverance. Out of college options, he moved to Atlanta and began preparing himself for the 2001 NFL draft.
It seemed a pipe dream at the time. He had played exactly one season of college football. By his own words, he had done "all right." Then things got worse. After spending all of 2000 running and lifting weights, he damaged nerves in his leg while working out for scouts in the winter of 2001.
"But Kansas City drafted me in the seventh round," he said. "I'd made it."
He made the Chiefs' injured reserve list for 2001. He moved to Green Bay's practice squad in 2002. He also played for Berlin in NFL Europe, crossing paths with another former Chattanooga football great -- Mike Jones.
"Just a couple of country boys in Europe," laughed Jones, who was coaching NFL Europa's signature franchise, the Frankfurt Galaxy, when the league was disbanded last week.
"We talked a lot about life," said Sands. "Everywhere we go, Tennessee and Chattanooga guys know each other."
Sands knew Jones had starred at Riverside in the late 1970s, played at Tennessee State and enjoyed a brief NFL career at wide receiver with both Minnesota and New Orleans before moving into coaching, including a stint at Brainerd High.
"He really encouraged me," said Sands. "He told me to keep working."
The Raiders noticed. They signed him in 2003 and began working him into their lineup. His first big break came in a Monday night game against Green Bay, of all teams.
"It was on TV again just the other day," said Sands. "I watched a little of it. I did OK."
The camp was more than OK. Rodney Allison volunteered his entire UTC coaching staff. Jones pitched in, as did Tennessee Titans defensive lineman and former City High star Tony Brown and a couple of Sands' friends on the Raiders -- tight end Courtney Anderson and tackle Chad Slaughter.
"And we want to make this thing even bigger next year," said Sands. "You just had the Bullocks brothers (Josh and Daniel) camp a couple of weeks ago. I want to talk to them about having one big camp. No use being divided. We should teach everybody at once."
Life has taught him much. The first thing Sands bought with his new contract money wasn't a tricked-out vehicle, but a house in East Brainerd. He isn't even bitter about his tough road to the NFL.
"If I'd played for UT and gotten all that money as a first-round draft choice," Sands grinned, "there's no telling who I would have corrupted. But my story also shows that with hard work and faith, you can still get where you want to go."
And just maybe use your money and your message to make the road a little easier for those who wish to follow.
