Remember when the Big 12 conference was the Big 8? Think about all the NFL players who emerged from prestigious universities like Texas, Kansas, Kansas State and Oklahoma. The list would make you dizzy. I have another, less known school. Oklahoma State University produced a running back who brought past visions of Chicago Bear's legend, Gale Sayers. He had worn number 20 in college and number 20 in the pros. His runs were of "ankle-breakers", hesitations, full-speed with quick lateral movements and shoulder twitching, head jerking and eyes always gazing upfield for that long-distance chalk line. He danced all over the football field, like a ballroom starlet. He danced as she with prospective tacklers (suitors)attempting to take him down. They whiffed at air. They snatched at a jersey. He brushed against a pant leg. However, he stayed on running upfield.

His eyes darted one way. His feet shifted to the other. You couldn't read his body movements. Once you predicted his direction, he took another path. Some of his legendary 80 yard touchdown runs(two in one game against Tampa Bay's stout defense in 2000) started 5-yards behind the line of scrimmage. When the Detriot Lions drafted him in 1989. The team forgot to tell this man, "Oh. We have no O-line. Is that going to be a problem?" No problem, if you enjoyed being pancaked next to your dismantled quarterback!

A Lions quarterback was an endangered species. Scott Mitchell and Gus Frerotte lasted a couple of seasons each. Probably, their chiropractors' bills got too high. A Lion quarterback got sacked period! Their running back of 10-plus years kept running and hoping for championship.

That never came. Lions president, Matt Millen, stayed cheap and never reached past the second round. Defenses learned to keep eight in the box and contain their franchise back. 5-yard and 10-yard runs became 2 and 4 yards. All were physically debilitating and mentally draining. The running back wanted to win a Superbowl. At least, he wanted an opportunity to play for one. Neither arrived to the NFL's shame.

He ran one more time. This time, he ran out of football. He ran back into obscurity. A mystery surrounded his unexpected exodus. Not a whisper was heard, just footsteps. Historians have said that a championship epitomizes a career. Critics have said that a superstar raises the level of their team. Loyalty should've counted for something. During the off-season, rival teams in the NFC North called with kings' ransoms. He stayed in Detroit. They came with draft picks and requests to pay off most of his salary (around $6 mil a year). He still stayed. The offensive line continued their woeful performances. Quarterback "musical chairs" played every other Sunday afternoon or so. First-round playoff losses were guaranteed for this struggling Lion team.

Who was the greatest, pound for pound running back of all time?

Barely 5'9"
Around 210-220 lbs.
Fearless
Competitive
Respected his foes
Respected the game he grew to play
College graduate
NFL legend
Hall of Famer
Humanitarian
Family man
And, above all a role model for the littlest fan

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUM: BARRY SANDERS

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