Firecat has winning history

BY CARL BLEICH
cbleich@news-press.com

Ethenic Sands is used to winning.

He has not been on a team with a losing record since his freshman year of high school in 1994. He lost just six games in four seasons while playing at the University of Miami.

In fact, there isn't a game in which the Florida Firecats wide receiver takes the field and doesn't expect to win.

"All through my life, I have been winning championships," Sands said.

"I have been blessed because it seems wherever I go I am on a championship team."

The winning started when he played youth football in Carol City. His team won three HOFL (which is similar to Pop Warner) league titles and captured a national championship in 1989. He went on to win back-to-back Class 6A state championships while playing quarterback for Miami Carol City High in 1996 and '97.

Sands then helped the University of Miami win a national title in 2001 and play for another in 2002. He still cannot understand how the Hurricanes lost the 2002 national title game.

"Everybody likes to blame the refs for that, but it was all on us," Sands said of the defeat. "I just never thought we were going to lose that game."

Sands is in his fourth season with the arenafootball2 Firecats and the winning has continued. He was signed midway through the 2004 season, the year the Firecats captured their only ArenaCup, the league championship. He spent 2005 playing for the Miami Morays of the National Indoor Football League but rejoined the Firecats in 2006.

"I see a strong resemblance between this year's (Firecats) team and the national champion team at Miami," Sands said. "Both teams practice so hard.

"Coach (Kevin) Bouis and (offensive coordinator Ken) Mastrole work us very hard in practice. We always have guys going as hard as they can, just like at Miami."

Sands leads the Firecats (7-1) in receptions this year with 40 in seven games. He has 384 yards receiving and eight touchdowns.

"Sands has brought a lot of leadership to this team," Bouis said. "He is a tremendous ballplayer and an all-around wideout. He has really stepped up and taught the young guys a lot."

Sands has been giving tips to James Panui, a rookie out of Central Florida. Last week, Panui broke out, catching 12 passes for 117 yards and three scores in a win against South Georgia. Sands caught quarterback Chris Wallace's other two touchdowns in that game.

Sands has also tried to help Naples High School graduate Bruce Gordon, also a receiver, learn the indoor game.

"A lot of people say I don't talk much, but they don't see me in practice," Sands said. "The most important thing I tell these guys is that when your number is called, make sure you are ready."

Sands joined the Firecats this year after their first win in April. He had tryouts with teams in other leagues, including a two-day workout with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League, but nothing panned out.

"(The Dragons) said they liked me but they were full at my position," Sands said. "Coach Bouis opened this door back up for me, and now I am focused on doing whatever I have to do win another championship."

(news-press.com)