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)