Editing Barry Sanders (section)

==Early life==
Sanders was born on July 16, 1968, in [[Wichita, Kansas]], the seventh of eleven children to William and Shirley Sanders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nack |first=William |date=April 10, 1989 |title=Barry Breaks Away |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1989/04/10/barry-breaks-away-dad-said-take-the-nfl-money-and-run-and-barry-sanders-the-heisman-winner-obeyed |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Sports Illustrated Vault |language=en-us}}</ref> His father worked as a roofer and carpenter, while his mother worked as a homemaker for the Sanders family.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kram |first=Mark |date=September 1, 1991 |title=Work Ethic Carried Sanders to Greatness Running Back Sees Fruits of Summers of Hard Labor |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1991/09/01/work-ethic-carried-sanders-to-greatness-running-back-sees-fruits-of-summers-of-hard-labor/62518156007/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Marc |date=November 21, 2023 |title=Barry Sanders Didn’t Become Exceptional Overnight. ‘It Was an Evolution.’ |url=https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/barry-sanders-didnt-become-exceptional-overnight-it-was-an-evolution-f0d09f9c |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref> Sanders and two of his brothers worked as roofers' assistants to his father. As a child, Sanders was known for having an appetite, being able to eat an entire loaf of [[bread]] in one sitting.{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=21}} He would often listen to regional college sports games that his father would play on [[TV]].{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=20}} [[Mitch Albom]] of the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' wrote: "All day they would labor, with the hammers, with the tar, sweating in the hot summer sun. You did not complain in the Sanders family. Not unless you wanted a good whupping."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Albom |first=Mitch |date=November 21, 2008 |title=Barry Sanders: Quietly Flying Highlions Running Back Has Learned To Absorb and Endure |url=https://www.mitchalbom.com/101barry-sanders-quietly-flying-highlions-running-back-has-learned-absorb-and-endure/ |access-date=June 6, 2022 |website=[[Detroit Free Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Sanders played [[American football|football]] at [[Wichita North High School]].<ref name=":20" /> Before this, he enjoyed playing [[American Youth Football|youth football]] and basketball.{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=20}} Although Barry dreamed of playing running back, he only played [[defensive back]] for most of his high school career.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barry Sanders |url=https://www.barrysanders.com/about.html#:~:text=Although%20Barry%20dreamed%20of%20playing,he%20is%20known%20for%20today. |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=www.barrysanders.com}}</ref> Sanders was labeled as an undersized back and wasn’t a starter at [[Tailback (American football)|tailback]] as a junior due to future [[Chicago Bears]] draft pick and older brother Byron Sanders running the rock.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pro Football Hall of Famer and overlooked high school prospect Barry Sanders is center of Amazon Original documentary 'Bye Bye Barry' |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/m/news/enwnZtgUKkK93C-0-FBpiw/pro-football-hall-of-famer-and-overlooked-high-school-prospect-barry-sanders-is-center-of-amazon-original-documentary-bye-bye-barry.htm |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=www.maxpreps.com}}</ref> When Byron graduated and left for [[Northwestern University]] on a football scholarship,{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=22}} Sanders was expected to start at tailback in his [[Twelfth grade|senior year]]—but instead was started at [[Wingback (American football)|wingback]]—a variant of the [[wide receiver]] position.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trotter |first=Jake |author-link=Jake Trotter |date=2018-08-23 |title=Inside Barry Sanders' record-setting, Heisman-winning (and nap-taking) 1988 season |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/24440133/the-untold-stories-barry-sanders-record-setting-1988-season |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> His head coach at the time perceived that his small stature would be a liability and that he "lacked contact courage."{{Sfn|McCormick|2003|p=34}} Besides taking part in football, he played [[High school basketball|basketball]] as a [[Guard (basketball)|guard]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dymski |first=Gary |date=November 20, 1984 |title=Graduation-Depleted North Is Cautious About '84-85 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/698622612/?terms=%22barry%20sanders%22%20%22basketball%22&match=1 |access-date=June 11, 2022 |work=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=Newspapers.com |page=12A}}</ref> [[Table tennis|Table-tennis]] and [[baseball]] were also sports that Sanders took part in.{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=21}} During this period—according to writer Samuel Crompton—the Sanders family had to "scrimp and save to get by".{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=21}}

Sanders did not become the starting [[running back]] until the fourth game of his senior year, when the original player was suspended for disciplinary reasons; he rushed for 274 yards and four [[touchdown]]s in that game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parson |first=Jeffrey |date=August 8, 2004 |title=Barry Sanders, predictably, shies from spotlight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/703966669 |access-date=June 10, 2022 |work=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=Newspapers.com |page=6A}}</ref><ref name=":21">{{Cite web |last=Kiger |first=Fred |date=August 16, 2004 |title=ESPN Classic - Run Barry, Run |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/s/add_sanders_barry.html |access-date=June 10, 2022 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> He rushed for 1,417 yards on 139 [[rushing attempt]]s, averaging 10.2 yards per rushing attempt, and scored 17 touchdowns through his seven-game senior season.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web |title=Barry Sanders |url=https://www.heisman.com/heisman-winners/barry-sanders/ |access-date=June 10, 2022 |website=[[Heisman Trophy]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{Cite news |last=Frazier |first=Duane |date=February 13, 1986 |title=North Standouts Seek Stardom at OSU |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/701565345/?terms=%22barry%20sanders%22%20%22all%20state%22&match=1 |access-date=June 10, 2022 |work=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=Newspapers.com |page=6B}}</ref> In the last game of the season, Wichita North's head coach, Dale Burkholder, offered Sanders more playing time in order to gain enough rushing yards to reach the state rushing title, but Sanders declined, saying it was "not important."<ref name=":23">{{Cite episode |title=Barry Sanders |series=A Football Life |series-link=A Football Life |network=NFL Network |date=December 5, 2012}}</ref> For his season, Sanders earned all-state honors, and was named an Honorable Mention All-American.<ref name=":17" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 26, 1985 |title=Prep Football Players Earn National Honors |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/701802415/?terms=%22barry%20sanders%22%20%22honorable%20mention%22&match=1 |access-date=June 10, 2022 |work=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=Newspapers.com |page=8D}}</ref> Although he was viewed as a stellar athlete, because of his short stature Sanders received scholarship offers from only [[Wichita State University]], [[Iowa State University]], [[University of Tulsa]], and [[Oklahoma State University]]; he accepted the offer from Oklahoma State.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stewart |first=Mark |url=https://archive.org/details/barrysanders0000stew/page/14/mode/2up |title=Barry Sanders |publisher=[[Children's Press]] |year=1996 |isbn=9780516201399|via=Archive.org |location=New York |pages=14 |language=English |url-access=registration}}</ref>

Sanders later said that his choice to play at Oklahoma State caused a conflict between him and his father. When Oklahoma State's coach came to his father's house with a letter of intent the day Sanders signed with the team, his father was frustrated, saying as the coach walked out the door that Sanders was "making a big mistake" when signing with the team.{{Sfn|McCormick|2003|p=40}}<ref name=":23" /> His father was similarly frustrated because Oklahoma State played in the same conference as the [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma Sooners]], whom William was a fan of.<ref name=":23" /> A friend of Sanders told him that William said Sanders had chosen to play at Oklahoma State "in order to hide"; Sanders would be playing behind Heisman candidate [[Thurman Thomas]], as opposed to playing at a school where he would be the starting running back. Eventually, his father supported Sanders at Oklahoma State, and attended all of his games when he played.{{Sfn|McCormick|2003|p=40}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kimble |first=Kade |date=2023-09-16 |title=Legendary Oklahoma State Running Back to Reveal Reason For Sudden Retirement in Documentary |url=https://www.si.com/college/oklahomastate/football/legendary-oklahoma-state-running-back-to-reveal-reason-for-sudden-retirement-in-documentary |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Sports Illustrated |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Baldwin |first=Mike |date=September 15, 1996 |title=Ex-OSU Teammates Sanders, Thomas Live Up to Potential |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1996/09/15/ex-osu-teammates-sanders-thomas-live-up-to-potential/62343180007/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref>

===College career===
Sanders enrolled at [[Oklahoma State University]], where he played for the [[Oklahoma State Cowboys football|Oklahoma State Cowboys]] from 1986 to 1988 and wore the No. 21 jersey.<ref name=":14" />{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=28}} During his first two years, he backed up Thomas at running back.{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=24}} In 1986, Sanders played in eight games and rushed for 325 rushing yards on 74 rushing attempts, with two rushing touchdowns.<ref name=":14" /> In 1987, he led the nation in yards per [[kickoff return]] (31.6), while rushing for 603 yards and scoring nine rushing touchdowns, catching four passes for 58 receiving yards and a touchdown, and scoring two touchdowns from 29 total [[special teams]] returns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1987 College Football Summary |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1987.html |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=[[Sports Reference]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference, LLC]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=Barry Sanders College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/barry-sanders-1.html |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=[[Sports Reference]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference, LLC]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":19" /> He was named a second-team [[College Football All-America Team|College Football All-American]] as a [[return specialist]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 3, 1987 |title=OU lands 5 All-Americans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/701840951/?terms=%22barry%20sanders%22%20%22all%20american%22&match=1 |access-date=June 10, 2022 |work=[[The Wichita Eagle]]|via=Newspapers.com |page=K-15}}</ref> While still a backup to Thomas, he received notable attention from his opponents. Oklahoma Sooners head coach [[Barry Switzer]] in particular told his players not to injure Thomas, in fear of Sanders starting in his place, telling them: "You won't touch this kid".{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=24}}<ref name=":23" /> Sanders was not fond of this as he believed Thomas to be a good teammate.<ref name=":23" /> Thomas moved on to the NFL in [[1988 NFL draft|1988]], which allowed Sanders to become the starter for his [[Junior (education year)|junior year]] in college.{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=24}}

In 1988, in what is considered one of the greatest individual seasons in college football history,<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |last=Maisel |first=Ivan |author-link=Ivan Maisel |date=August 3, 2014 |title=Great seasons are not created equal |url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/theseason0804maisel/the-greatest-individual-seasons-college-football-history-not-created-equal |access-date=July 14, 2017 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Merron |first=Jeff |date=December 15, 2003 |title=Best individual college football seasons |url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/collegefootball/seasons.html |access-date=June 16, 2022 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> Sanders became the first player to open two consecutive seasons with a 100-yard kickoff return.{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=9}} He led the nation by averaging 7.6 yards per attempt and over 200 yards per game, including rushing for over 300 yards in four games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Mark |date=2018-10-25 |title=Barry Sanders' 1988 season, game-by-game |url=https://tulsaworld.com/barry-sanders-1988-season-game-by-game/table_b72c7777-121d-5ff9-a1ab-6abc40aea11d.html |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref> Despite his massive workload of 344 attempts, Sanders was still used as the team's punt and kickoff returner, adding another 516 yards on special teams. He set college football season records with 2,628 yards rushing, 3,250 total [[all-purpose yards]], broken by [[Christian McCaffrey]] in 2015, 234 points, broken by [[Montee Ball]] in 2011, 37 rushing touchdowns, and 39 total touchdowns, (37 rushing, one kick return, one punt return, tied with Ball).<ref name=":19">{{Cite web |title=Football Bowl Subdivision Records |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FBS.pdf |access-date=September 30, 2021 |website=NCAA.org |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |page=78}}</ref><ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nathan |first=Alec |date=December 5, 2015 |title=Christian McCaffrey Breaks NCAA Single-Season All-Purpose-Yards Record |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2596174-christian-mccaffrey-breaks-ncaa-single-season-all-purpose-yards-record |access-date=June 10, 2022 |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |language=en}}</ref>

Sanders had five consecutive 200-yard games, scored at least two touchdowns in all eleven games, and eight times he scored at least three touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 5, 2011 |title=Barry Sanders' remarkable season |url=https://www.kansas.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/article1071876.html |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=The Wichita Eagle}}</ref> Sanders ran for 222 yards and scored five touchdowns in just three quarters of action in the [[1988 Holiday Bowl]], a game that is not included in the official NCAA season statistics.<ref name="1988 Holiday Bowl">{{Cite web |title=1988 Holiday Bowl Summary |url=http://www.holidaybowl.com/game-history/1988.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221175047/http://www.holidaybowl.com/game-history/1988.html |archive-date=December 21, 2007 |access-date=December 29, 2007 |website=[[Holiday Bowl]]}}</ref> When added to his original rushing total, Sanders recorded 2,850 rushing yards from a workload of 373 attempts, 3,472 [[all-purpose yards]], 264 points, 42 rushing touchdowns, and 44 total touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirshner |first=Alex |date=2018-12-08 |title=44 reasons Barry Sanders’ 1988 is football’s greatest season ever |url=https://www.bannersociety.com/2018/12/8/20728939/barry-sanders-1988-college-stats |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Banner Society |language=en}}</ref> Sanders learned of his [[Heisman Trophy]] win while he was with the team in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]] preparing to face [[1988 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech]] in the [[Coca-Cola Classic (college football)|Coca-Cola Classic]], accepting the award via satellite;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Helsley |first=John |date=October 12, 2013 |title=Oklahoma State football: Barry Sanders' historic Heisman season, 25 years later |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/cowboys/2013/10/12/oklahoma-state-football-barry-sanders-historic-heisman-season-25-years-later/60875370007/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref> he garnered 559 first-place votes for 1,878 points, becoming the eighth non-college senior to attain the trophy, and was selected as a [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|unanimous All-American]].<ref name=":20" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Trotter |first=Jake |author-link=Jake Trotter |date=August 8, 2014 |title=Sanders' 1988 season stands alone |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/theseason0807sanders/barry-sanders-record-setting-1988-season-never-duplicated |access-date=August 8, 2014 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2018 |title=Football Award Winners |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/awards.pdf |access-date=June 10, 2022 |website=NCAA.org |publisher=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] |page=24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 1, 1989 |title=Sanders in Spectacular Form Again |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/01/sports/college-football-sanders-in-spectacular-form-again.html |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Nevertheless, he believed [[Rodney Peete]] should have won the award.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=M.B. |date=September 19, 2005 |title=ESPN Classic - Sanders' humility makes him distinctive |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/sanders_barry.html |access-date=June 29, 2022 |website=[[ESPN.com]]}}</ref> Along with his Heisman Trophy, Sanders was awarded the [[Maxwell Award]], the [[Walter Camp Award]], and named the [[Big Eight Conference football#Conference Players of the Year|Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year]].<ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mellor |first=Cam |date=November 13, 2021 |title=Barry Sanders' Oklahoma State career highlighted by 1988 Heisman Trophy run |url=https://www.profootballnetwork.com/barry-sanders-oklahoma-state-career-highlighted-by-1988-heisman-trophy-run/ |access-date=June 16, 2022 |website=Pro Football Network |language=en-US}}</ref> Sanders initially announced that he was not going to enter the [[NFL draft]], but after receiving pressure from his father, he announced his entrance into the draft.{{Sfn|Crompton|2008|p=26}}

====College statistics====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="3"| Receiving
|-
! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Y/G !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[1986 NCAA Division I-A football season|1986]] || [[1986 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team|Oklahoma State]]
| 8 || 74 || 325 || 4.4 || 40.6 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1987 NCAA Division I-A football season|1987]] || [[1987 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team|Oklahoma State]]
| 11 || 105 || 603 || 5.7 || 54.8 || 9 || 4 || 58 || 1
|-
! [[1988 NCAA Division I-A football season|1988]] || [[1988 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team|Oklahoma State]]
| 11 || 344 || 2,628 || 7.6 || 238.9 || 37 || 19 || 106 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"|[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/barry-sanders-1.html Total] || 30 || 523 || 3,556 || 6.8 || 118.5 || 48 || 23 || 164 || 1
|-
|}

====NCAA FBS records====
Sanders set 34 NCAA Division I FBS records in his college career, and still holds the following records:<ref name=":19" /><ref name=":20" />
* Most rushing yards in a season: 2,628<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-01-07 |title=UCF tailback Smith changes direction, will go pro |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3184342 |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=[[ESPN.com]] |language=en |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>
* Most rushing yards gained in a three, four, and five game span: 937; 1,152; 1,472
* Most rushing touchdowns in a season: 37<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lederman  |first=Eli |date=2021-11-11 |title=Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record remains intact 33 years later. Will it ever be broken? |url=https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/osu/barry-sanders-single-season-rushing-record-remains-intact-33-years-later-will-it-ever-be/article_6b6067bc-424e-11ec-b18e-1723123cdfc2.html |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref>
* Most 2+ rushing touchdown games in a season: 11
* Most 3+ rushing touchdown games in a season: 8
* Most consecutive games scoring two or more touchdowns: 13 (from November 14, 1987, through 1988)
* Most scrimmage touchdowns in a season: 39 (tied with Ball)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rotermund |first=Maggie |date=2012-01-04 |title=Wentzville's Ball Ties Record in Rose Bowl |url=https://patch.com/missouri/wentzville/wentzville-s-ball-ties-record-in-rose-bowl-e15128cb |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Wentzville, MO Patch |language=en}}</ref>
* Most games rushing for 300+ yards in a season and career: 4
* Most all-purpose yards per game in a season: 295.5
* Most rushing yards per game in a season: 238.9<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2015 |title=Ten unbreakable college football records |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/ten-unbreakable-college-football-records-0ap2000000356173 |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>