The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

November 16, 2009

WVU safety Sands having solid sophomore season

By Mickey Furfari

MORGANTOWN — Robert Sands has developed into a sparkling free safety in West Virginia’s defensive secondary this year.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound sophomore from Miami had 37 tackles, including 17 solo stops, in the Mountaineers’ first nine games. He led the team in pass interceptions with three, recovered a fumble and broke up eight passes.

“Yes, I’m having a pretty good season,” Sands readily admitted. “But I didn’t make many plays last year.”

As a freshman, however, he appeared in all 13 games, including eight as a starter.

Head coach Bill Stewart said, “I’m pleased with the way Robert has turned into a very good defensive player. He has worked hard and with his experience he has become better with every game.

“He also has become a real leader in the secondary as he has become more comfortable every week.”

Sands is happy to be at WVU. He has friends from Florida that he played with or against while starting at Carol City High School. Nearly all were recruited by Doc Holiday, WVU’s associate head coach.

“I’m making a lot more big plays now than I did last year,” Sands said. “That’s the name of the game.”

He thinks the Mountaineers could finish strong if they perform better. He thinks their 21-0 start at Syracuse made that probably their best overall performance.

“We emphasize not to let one big play get us down and things like that,” he explained. “We need to make sure we stop an opponent on the big plays, which is what we failed to do at South Florida.”

Nate Sowers, senior starting strong safety, said of Sands, “He’s having a great year. He obviously is very good physically, a talented guy, and at 6-5 is doing an outstanding job.”

Sowers has been banged up the past couple of weeks. But he noted that most players are hurting this late in the season.

Sowers also is having a fine year. He has 33 tackles, including 22 solo stops and 11 assisted. He also had four for lost yardage and two pass deflections.

Text Only
Sports
  • Woodrow holds off Huntington

     It took Woodrow Wilson’s boys basketball team nearly three quarters to figure out that the backside lob was open in Huntington High’s zone.

    January 10, 2012

  • MSU hosts Rio Grande

    For the first time since 1995, Mountain State stands a little past the half-way point at the season with five losses.

    January 10, 2012

  • OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - WVU to join Big 12 Conference

    The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors have voted unanimously to accept West Virginia University as a full conference member effective July 1, 2012.  The Mountaineers will begin competing in the Big 12 beginning with the 2012-13 athletic season.

    October 28, 2011

  • Friday update: Big East notified WVU leaving for Big 12

    The Big East says it has been notified that West Virginia is leaving the conference and joining the Big 12.

    October 28, 2011

  • Cardinals force Game 7 in World Series

    After one of the greatest games in baseball history, a 10-9, 11-inning victory over Texas in Game 6 in which the Cardinals were twice within one strike of elimination.

    October 28, 2011

  • Schiano sings WVU’s praises

    It hasn’t been the year that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano envisioned.
    Not close.

    December 1, 2010

  • BNI will usher in mat season

    This time around, the Beckley Newspapers Invitational will have a decidedly more local flavor.

    December 1, 2010

  • Huggs likes looks of young Noreen

    Perhaps it was the season. Whatever it was, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins went straight to the pie.
    Well, the figurative pie.
    Huggins had just watched his team beat Virginia Military Institute 82-66 in front of 12,367 fans at the Charleston Civic Center Saturday.

    December 1, 2010

  • Oak Hill places 3 on AA

    Whether it was opposing defenses or illness, nothing stopped Charleston Catholic’s Tom Trupo for long.

    December 1, 2010

  • Spartans open with victory

    Turnovers produce points and the Greenbrier East girls basketball team collected plenty of each en route to an 81-43 season-opening victory against Bluefield on Tuesday night.

    December 1, 2010