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UNI football: ROB GRAY • REGISTER STAFF WRITER • November 29, 2007
Ask Northern Iowa quarterback Eric Sanders what it's like to be viewed as a larger-than-life character, a football hero to countless Panther fans, a player lauded as the quintessential leader, entwined by nerves of steel, and he'll respond with modest laughter.
"I'm pretty much a normal guy," said the leader of the top-ranked Panthers (12-0), who face Delaware in Saturday's Football Championship Subdivision playoff quarterfinal at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
Exceptional is the word others choose to describe Sanders' impact on the football field, and his growing list of laurels bears out that assessment.
Sanders, 35-8 as a starter, was named this week the Gateway Conference's offensive player of the year.
The 6-foot, 200-pound senior also is among three finalists for the Walter Payton Award, given to the FCS's top offensive player.
That's heady stuff for the walk-on from Oelwein.
"I was a little surprised," Sanders said of the honor, "because I don't put up huge numbers ... It's not something I'm going to worry about or anything. Whatever happens, happens."
With Sanders pulling the trigger, what happens for the Panthers usually amounts to winning.
He's led 12 fourth-quarter comebacks. He recently participated in a question-and-answer session with The Des Moines Register. Excerpts:
Q: When you hear you've led 12 fourth-quarter comebacks, does the number surprise you? "Twelve? I didn't know it was 12. I know we've been in some, but that's quite a bit in which we've been fortunate enough to somehow come away with victories. I didn't know it was 12. That's just a testament to all the guys around me."
Q: What do you think of your chances to play professional football? "I'm going to give it a shot. I don't know where, when or how I'll end up, or what league I'll end up in, but I'll give it a shot. For now I'm just going to worry about Delaware, and trying to get past the next round of the playoffs.
Q: Does it bother you that your name doesn't come up at all on NFL draft boards, given all you've helped the Panthers accomplish? "Maybe a little bit. I try not to worry about what those so-called experts or NFL analysts say. When it all comes down to it, you've got to play the game, no matter how big or how small (you are). I look at Jeff Garcia. I'm kind of a similar style of quarterback to him and he does a great job. Obviously the prototype these days is big, strong, has got a laser arm, is 6-4 or 6-5 and can take a lot of punishment. There are a lot of other attributes, not just those - being able to move around, being effective at your position, decision-making, stuff like that. That stuff, you really don't see on a piece of paper."
Q: What's in your iPod?
"Mostly country (music). Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, stuff like that."
Q: First autograph request?
"In high school. It was a kid from another high school. It was a little weird."
Q: What was watching Montari Leonard's game-winning catch on film like, since you didn't see it unfold Saturday in real time? "I knew he caught it, but I was shocked because we slow-(motioned) it down to where the ball was on his shoulder pads, it was up almost into his hair, and then, he bobbled it again and somehow he holds on with like the bottom two (fingers) on each hand. It was incredible, I was in shock, just 'Wow.' "
Ask Northern Iowa quarterback Eric Sanders what it's like to be viewed as a larger-than-life character, a football hero to countless Panther fans, a player lauded as the quintessential leader, entwined by nerves of steel, and he'll respond with modest laughter.
"I'm pretty much a normal guy," said the leader of the top-ranked Panthers (12-0), who face Delaware in Saturday's Football Championship Subdivision playoff quarterfinal at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
Exceptional is the word others choose to describe Sanders' impact on the football field, and his growing list of laurels bears out that assessment.
Sanders, 35-8 as a starter, was named this week the Gateway Conference's offensive player of the year.
The 6-foot, 200-pound senior also is among three finalists for the Walter Payton Award, given to the FCS's top offensive player.
That's heady stuff for the walk-on from Oelwein.
"I was a little surprised," Sanders said of the honor, "because I don't put up huge numbers ... It's not something I'm going to worry about or anything. Whatever happens, happens."
With Sanders pulling the trigger, what happens for the Panthers usually amounts to winning.
He's led 12 fourth-quarter comebacks. He recently participated in a question-and-answer session with The Des Moines Register. Excerpts:
Q: When you hear you've led 12 fourth-quarter comebacks, does the number surprise you? "Twelve? I didn't know it was 12. I know we've been in some, but that's quite a bit in which we've been fortunate enough to somehow come away with victories. I didn't know it was 12. That's just a testament to all the guys around me."
Q: What do you think of your chances to play professional football? "I'm going to give it a shot. I don't know where, when or how I'll end up, or what league I'll end up in, but I'll give it a shot. For now I'm just going to worry about Delaware, and trying to get past the next round of the playoffs.
Q: Does it bother you that your name doesn't come up at all on NFL draft boards, given all you've helped the Panthers accomplish? "Maybe a little bit. I try not to worry about what those so-called experts or NFL analysts say. When it all comes down to it, you've got to play the game, no matter how big or how small (you are). I look at Jeff Garcia. I'm kind of a similar style of quarterback to him and he does a great job. Obviously the prototype these days is big, strong, has got a laser arm, is 6-4 or 6-5 and can take a lot of punishment. There are a lot of other attributes, not just those - being able to move around, being effective at your position, decision-making, stuff like that. That stuff, you really don't see on a piece of paper."
Q: What's in your iPod?
"Mostly country (music). Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, stuff like that."
Q: First autograph request?
"In high school. It was a kid from another high school. It was a little weird."
Q: What was watching Montari Leonard's game-winning catch on film like, since you didn't see it unfold Saturday in real time? "I knew he caught it, but I was shocked because we slow-(motioned) it down to where the ball was on his shoulder pads, it was up almost into his hair, and then, he bobbled it again and somehow he holds on with like the bottom two (fingers) on each hand. It was incredible, I was in shock, just 'Wow.' "
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