Sands, who prepped at Linn-Mar, was a senior captain on Coach Steve Miller’s historic 1992 squad that captured the Midwest Conference championship and became the first football team in MWC history to finish a season 10-0. The Rams blew out Beloit, 40-14, in the MWC title game for their first undefeated season since 1937. Ironically, it was the only contest that season in which Sands did not intercept a pass.Â
Cornell was left out of the 1992 NCAA playoffs, although held claim as the only Division III team in the nation to finish untied and unbeaten that year. Sands had an interception in each of the Rams’ nine regular-season games, which still stands as a Division III record for consecutive games with a pick.
Sands, a 5-foot-8, 166-pound strong safety, garnered first team all-America honors in 1992 by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette and Champion USA. He was named the MWC Defensive Player of the Year, after setting school records for interceptions (9), interception return yards (162) and pass breakups (21) in a season.
Sands holds career marks at Cornell for interception return yards (273) and pass breakups (45). A three-time all-conference performer, Sands totaled 17 interceptions and 235 tackles over his final three seasons during which the Rams compiled a 22-6 record.
Sands was chosen as a 1992 GTE Academic All-American, and in 1993 was a recipient of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. He earned academic all-conference status three years. Sands also picked up the Roy LeClere, Russell W. Landis, Paul Maaske Scholar-Athlete and Joe Meade Most Valuable Football Player awards during his time on the Hilltop.
Sands remained at Cornell as assistant football coach from 1993-97, helping the Rams win the MWC title in 1995 and a South Division championship in 1996. He currently is assistant football coach and head girls track and field coach at Solon High School. Sands’ resume there includes four state football championships in seven title game appearances, and four top-three state finishes in track, with a title in 2010.
