Don Drysdale
Barry Sanders is the greatest running back who ever lived. Period. End of story.
Ok, coming from a fan who watched his every move with the Detroit Lions, my opinion could be looked at as biased. That’s fine, it is my own opinion but it is also the opinion of many others. After all, Sanders currently ranks No. 3 on the NFL’s all-time rush leader list with 15,269 yards, despite leaving football at just 30 years of age. Had he played a few more seasons, he would certainly be the all-time leader.
But before being drafted by the Detroit Lions, Sanders was shattering records at Oklahoma State. In fact, during his senior season with the Cowboys, Barry rushed for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns in just 11 games. When the regular season was over, Sanders was awarded the Heisman Trophy and the voting was not close.
Associated Press writer Cliff Blunt recently spoke to Sanders, 30 years following that magical 1988 season, to talk to him about winning the most prestigious award in college football. Sanders admitted that it was not until the fourth game of the season, a 41-21 win over Colorado, that he even started to realize how special the season could end up being.
“That was the first time I started hearing Heisman chants, which I didn’t think anything of it,” Sanders recalled. “It was just strange to hear people think I actually have a chance to win the Heisman. I was just thinking these were some very ambitious fans.”
After rushing for a total of 928 yards over his first two seasons with the Cowboys, nobody saw the Heisman season coming, including Barry.
“For me, it was something that came out of nowhere in my own mind and in the minds of many football fans,” Sanders said. “It was something that was totally unexpected.”
Three decades later, after all of his professional accomplishments, Sanders still considers winning the Heisman Trophy as one of the greatest things he has done.
“All these years of great players and great moments — this is what college football means, and to be able to rise to the top of that is really special and unique and amazing,” he said.
Sanders’ 2,628 rushing yards in 1988 still holds up in the record books and Barry has not given much thought as to whether or not it will be broken.
“It’s not something I really think about,” he said. “I think it’s possible. I think a couple of players have come close. Surely, if I did it, then someone can do it.”
The player closest to breaking Barry’s single-season rushing record in college is Melvin Gordon, who rushed for 2,587 yards in 2014 with Wisconsin. Keep in mind, back when Barry played, bowl game stats were not included like they are now.
Barry Sanders has always been one of the most humble players and he is still humble, 30 years later.
