The Candyman Stays Connected

There are plenty of things to do after scoring a touchdown if you're a football player. There's handing the ball to the official, high-fiving teammates, pumping up the crowd, checking in with your position coach or maybe even getting ready for special teams.

Lately, Oklahoma players have added another item to their to-do list: get a piece of gum from Zack Sanchez.

For the past two weeks, Sanchez, a junior cornerback, has been patrolling the Sooner sidelines. After being injured on the first play of the Texas Tech contest Oct. 24, OU's leader in the secondary has had to find ways to keep himself busy. So for the last two games, Sanchez has been handing out pieces of bubble gum to teammates who score touchdowns or make big plays.

"It gave me that connection back to the field. It made it easier on me and it was fun for those guys, but they probably didn't know how much they were helping me."
— Cornerback Zack Sanchez

Appropriately enough, Sanchez's trick-or-treat act began in the Sooners' game against Kansas on Halloween. For a fiery competitor like Sanchez, sitting idly on the sidelines was not an option.

"It started at the Kansas game the week before," remembers Sanchez. "The equipment guys keep a big ole thing of bubble gum so I just stuck my hand in there. During pregame stretch I was telling the guys, you make a play I got something waiting for you back on the sidelines."

The Sooners gave Sanchez plenty of opportunities to play prize-giver, beating the Jayhawks 62-7 with numerous plays worthy of some gum. The new celebration was a big hit.

A week later against Iowa State, the home crowd got to witness the "Candyman" in action, this time with more theatrics.

"Now when I see the receivers I stand like 10 yards back and I throw it to them," Sanchez said. "(Quarterback) Baker (Mayfield) stands with his hands out like he is trick-or-treating when I give it to him. It's a lot of fun."

Zack Sanchez rewards quarterback Baker Mayfield with a piece of gum after a touchdown against Iowa State last Saturday.

Sanchez doesn't just favor the skill positions. Big plays come from all over the field and he is an equal-opportunity gum provider. Just don't tell that to senior center Ty Darlington.

"I still haven't got any gum," Darlington said. "Somehow I was offensive player of the week and still didn't get a piece of gum, so I'm a little bitter."

"Sacks, picks, third-down stops or big plays and guys are getting them." Sanchez explained. "I don't leave anyone out. The big guys, O linemen - Joe Mixon's big run, they got one. When it's Samaje (Perine) pounding the ball or a long drive they always get one. I make sure I take care of those guys, too."

The motivation for gum grew so strong against the Cyclones that the Sooners racked up 52 points and recorded four touchdowns of 50-plus yards, including two scoring passes of longer than 70 yards from Mayfield.

"I gave Mark (Andrews) two for that catch-and-run he had last weekend because that was crazy," Sanchez marveled. "You aren't supposed to be that big and run that fast."

Recalls Andrews, "He just came over to me and said you deserve two pieces of gum and then I realized after the game that he was doing that the whole time."

"If you get gum, then you did something good, so I try to get a couple pieces every game," said Mayfield.

Sanchez encourages his teammates during pregame against Kansas.

Judging by the smiles and enthusiasm of the players receiving Sanchez's sugary treats, there's little doubt that the "Candyman" is keeping the Sooners' spirits at their highest.

"He throws us a piece of bubble gum," sophomore safety Steven Parker said. "It's funny, but we take it seriously. It gives us a little laugh throughout the game."

Sanchez added, "It livens things up and keeps the energy up. We are never going to play a perfect game. There will be bad things that happen, so when something good happens, to be rewarded instantly helps the guys out a lot. It's just something to laugh about and take your mind off the bad things that might have happened."

While passing out bubble gum for big plays may seem silly, the simple act is symbolic of something much more substantial and meaningful. That something is not lost on Sanchez's teammates and coaches.

"He is a leader on this team and obviously a great player," Darlington said. "A lot of guys get hurt, they take a step back and go on cruise control. Whether it's through the gum or in the locker room pregame, he is finding ways to create energy and encourage his team. I love that about him as a teammate."

"Zack is our leader," Parker said. "That's one of my brothers. We're all brothers in the secondary. He is passionate about the game, passionate about the team and passionate about his secondary brothers. That's a way for him to be involved even though he can't play. We've been without our leader. We played our best without him, but we can't wait to play with him again."

Defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks said Sanchez loves to have fun despite his competitive nature.

"Zack is a character," Cooks explained. "He is so unselfish. He's been up and down the sidelines since he's been injured. He's been yelling and screaming at those guys and coaching them when they come off the field telling them, 'be ready for this' or 'this is what I would have done.' He has stayed involved and it has been a pleasure to see that."

Sanchez eyes the action from the sidelines against KU, looking for plays deserving of reward.

Of course that was Sanchez's plan from the beginning. While he has worked tirelessly to rehab his injury, perhaps his "gum therapy" has been just as important.

"The competitor in me makes it so hard to sit on the sidelines," Sanchez said. "I told myself, 'you have to find something to do to be involved so you're not thinking about not being on the field, you're thinking about your guys.' So I guess I'm the 'Candyman' now. I kind of felt like I was making the play. It gave me that connection back to the field. It made it easier on me and it was fun for those guys, but they probably didn't know how much they were helping me."

After being sidelined for two weeks, Sanchez might make his return to the field this week for the Sooners' road showdown with No. 6 Baylor. The Oklahoma secondary would undoubtedly benefit from getting back a veteran who has 11 career interceptions and boasts three career pick-sixes, tying the OU career record for the latter. But that will leave the gum distribution position up for grabs.

"We are going to have to put someone else in charge," Sanchez said. "We'll have to put them through an interview process to make sure we get the right guy for the job. Hopefully I can get a lot of pieces this weekend."