KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan Athletics will induct the 2015 Hall of Fame class on Friday, Oct. 9 at the Fetzer Center and this week wmubroncos.com will take a look at each of our inductees: Vinton Bennett (men's track & field), Shelly Klare (women's basketball), Bob Learman (men's tennis), Eldon Miller (men's basketball), Robert Sanford (football) and Kelly Thayer (softball).
ROBERT SANFORD
Robert Sanford is a native of Miami, Fla., who has spread the awareness of Bronco Nation from Kalamazoo to South Beach since his arrival on campus in 1997. During his time as a football player, he broke numerous rushing records, earning his spot as the top running back in school history.
Some of his accomplishments include being named a member of the WMU Football All-Century Team, the MAC Offensive Player of the Year and Vern Smith winner in 2000 along with finishing as the top rusher in school history with 4,219 yards, and back-to-back MAC West Division titles in 1999 and 2000.
Ahead of his induction into the Western Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame, Sanford visited with wmubroncos.com, to discuss his career and what it means to go into the Hall of Fame.
Q & A with Robert Sanford
Q: How did you learn you were going into the Hall of Fame and what was your reaction?
A: I got a call from Kathy Beauregard and Jeff Stone. They congratulated me and told me I was going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for everything I did on the football field, in the community and in the classroom. It just shows hard work pays off and it's a great sign. What a day! That's my second home. I've had this day circled for the last two months.
Q: How have you seen the program and university change since you were a freshman in 1997?
A: We used to have to go to a dorm to meet, then go to Read Fieldhouse to lift weights. When I came up for the Michigan State game, it is now top of the line. Seeing the football team and seeing the school grow, it's great!
Q: Your teams played in big games with two MAC title games. What is the feeling to be able to take a program to elite heights?
A: We played in a lot of big games when I was there. It was a great feeling coming out. When I was there I think we set a different record every year for attendance. The excitement that came with the community and the school. It was a great place to be and you can see the program was starting to develop and grow.
Q: What advice do you have for players?
A: Take every day and every game for what it's worth. The next game is bigger and you have to come out hard. You have to want it because you're playing for the team and for the future. You're trying to make it a better school for the guys that are going to come after you and you're setting the foundation for them.
Q: How much pride do you take in watching the great running backs the Broncos have now?
A: It's a great feeling. When Jarvion (Franklin) got there last year and he was having a great season, I would get calls after the games from different alumni, guys that I played with and didn't play with and the newspaper. You create an atmosphere that makes people want to come to the games and get involved. People get excited when you have a great running back and I'm glad to see they're bringing that running game back to life.
Q: Are you creating Bronco awareness down in Miami?
A: I started creating Bronco awareness since 1997 when I first graduated high school and got there. Ever since then I've been a full-fledged Bronco.
Q: Finally, where do you see the university and the program going the next five years?
A: After coming up and seeing the facilities we have now, and seeing the talent and the schedules we're playing every week now. I really think Western Michigan is developing into a program that is competing for top level talent in the Midwest. We'll be able to compete with Michigan and Michigan State because of the way the program is growing and the facilities are looking really good.
