Like most kids growing up in Nebraska, Andy Sand was born a Cornhusker fan.
And like most Nebraska football players, he grew up playing the game.
Sand enjoyed midget league and his high school team at Lincoln Southeast, both of which he shared with senior linebacker Bo Ruud and former Huskers like saftey Brandon Rigoni and fullback Dane Todd.
But what Sand - a fifth-year senior and walk-on - has accomplished is the epitome of Nebraska football's tradition.
On Saturday, Sand walked onto the field in Memorial Stadium, not only for his first career start, but for his first ever snap in Husker red.
"It was the very first play of the game," Sand said. "My emotions were running - you know, all that stuff. I was a little nervous, but once that first play got run, it was just fun. I got in the flow of the game."
Sand came to NU in 2004 as a tight end under former Nebraska Coach Frank Solich's leadership. Only weighing about 205 pounds, Sand said the last thing he thought five years ago was that he would be playing fullback, a change that came last year.
But Sand has pushed himself during the last four years to become exactly what Nebraska needed. He now weighs 240 pounds, turning his life over to the game, even in terms of his diet. Sand's father, Ben, said his son is helping bring fans back to the time when every player worked hard and waited his turn.
"It takes a special person to persevere that long and work at it that long," Ben Sand said. "A lot of people don't take it that long. It goes back to old traditions of Nebraska football - that fifth-year walk-ons get their chance."
But no matter the work behind the scenes, before Saturday, Sand hadn't seen game experience since high school, where he helped Southeast win a state title in 2002.
At least one previous experience on the field in front of more than 80,000 fans may have been helpful, but Sand said he was more than prepared for his debut. He was always ready to fill in for Todd last year in case of an injury.
Though his chance never came, apparently it didn't need to.
During spring training and fall camp, Sand stood out enough to make a name for himself.
"He's a smart guy; he's intelligent and he's tough, and that's why he's in that position," Nebraska Coach Bill Callahan said. "Mainly he's there because of his versatility. He can pick up in the protection game; he knows where the outlets are, and he has a really good understanding of coverage.
"He's earned (his spot), and he certainly deserves it."
However, joining the ranks as a starter was a shock that still hasn't completely sunk in for Sand. He said he didn't realize the grandeur of his accomplishment until he was officially named a starter two weeks ago.
"I was like, 'Oh my gosh. I'm a fifth-year senior finally getting my chance. Wow, it is going to be a good story,'" Sand said. "I didn't really realize it until before the first game. It was crazy; you always hear about those walk-ons that wait five years, but I never thought I'd be one of them."
Adding to the excitement of Saturday's win, Sand caught a 15-yard pass from senior quarterback Sam Keller on the third drive of the third quarter. The first play of the series, Sand started the Huskers' drive to a 46-yard field goal, which put NU ahead 38-10 against Nevada.
"It was real special in the fact that fullbacks block all the time basically, and you don't get a lot of recognition for blocking as much as catching a pass or making a tackle," Ben Sand said. "But just seeing him out there in a game, that really meant something."
As a fullback, most of Sand's efforts will go unnoticed. His blocks won't be recorded, and when junior Marlon Lucky has games like he did Saturday - with runs for four touchdowns and 233 yards - it will be difficult to stand out.
But none of this has mattered, and it never will.
For Sand, just being on the field is an honor.
"It was always a dream," he said. "I thought it would be great, but I never thought I'd have the opportunity. I get to do what I've wanted to do since I was little. Now, I've got to keep battling."
