Tuesday, Oct. 6, 1998 | 1:09 a.m.
He danced his way to fame and a degree of fortune. But Ickey Woods wasn't much of a dancer when he was a fullback for UNLV in the mid-1980s.
In fact, until his senior year he wasn't much of anything, unless being an underachiever counts.
But one magical season turned Woods' life around, and that wasn't lost on the folks at his alma mater.
The former Cincinnati Bengals star is a member of his school's Athletic Hall of Fame, which he didn't realize existed until he got a call from associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie to let him know he was inducted.
"It's unbelievable," Woods said. "I didn't even know UNLV had a Hall of Fame and I never expected to be inducted."
But when you lead the nation in rushing, parlay that into a job in the National Football League and appear in the Super Bowl your rookie year, that gets you some attention from the Hall of Fame committee.
Go back to 1987. Woods' collegiate career had been nondescript. In three seasons, he had amassed a grand total of 267 yards. There was nothing to think he was suddenly going to bust out as a Rebel.
"John Montgomery changed my life," Woods said of the former UNLV assistant who worked under Wayne Nunnely. "He came in and said if I do things his way, I could get to the NFL.
"I had 300 yards in three years. It was my senior year. What did I have to lose?"
What he lost was his underachiever tag.
Woods ran for 1,658 yards, scored 10 touchdowns, averaged 6.4 yards per carry and had nine 100-yard games, seven in a row.
And that was despite a slow start. He had injured his shoulder in the season opener against Southwestern Louisiana and was on the sidelines during the first half against Baylor. The longer he sat, the more he fumed.
Montgomery put Woods in at the start of the third quarter against Baylor and he wound up rushing for 114 yards on just 11 carries.
"I was frustrated," he said of the benching. "I was angry. I just went off."
Off to the NFL and the Bengals. And had he not tore up his knees, who knows how far he could have gone?
Woods' pro career was limited to four seasons, none better than that rookie year in 1988 when he rushed for 1,066 yards, scored 15 touchdowns and became a fan favorite with the "Ickey Shuffle," a humorous celebration dance that saw him bounce from one foot to the other, spin his finger in the air and go "woo, woo, woo." It brought him legendary status and television commercials.
Truth is, Woods could have lived without the added adulation. He's more of an introvert, a God-fearing man whose main concern is providing for his family, which includes six children.
And when Woods left football after the 1991 season, he soon found out how quickly the fall from grace can be.
He was no longer a Sunday hero. He had not invested his money wisely. Instead of doing the Ickey Shuffle, he was shuffling door-to-door, selling meat and frozen foods in Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky.
"Life is a testing process and life is a learning process," Woods said. "You learn that when it's good, everyone's your friend. But when it's bad, you learn who your real friends are."
And as Woods' star faded, he found that the real friends he could count on he could count on one hand -- Eric Thomas and Solomon Wilcox. They were there for him when he needed them and he remains grateful.
"I thought God had a plan for me," Woods said of the tough times he went through trying to provide for his family. "But I come from a strong family. They and my true friends wouldn't let me stay down."
Eventually, Woods found himself gravitating back to football. He is involved with Ovations Management, a Cincinnati firm that represents athletes. He is also selling insurance in Cincinnati and said he is doing well.
"My only regret was I didn't get to play a few more years," he said. "But you can't worry about what could've been. I had six kids to feed and clothe. If you harp on what could have been, you're not going to get anywhere."
Woods may never get back to the top. But he doesn't see himself returning to life's basement, either.
"I have no complaints," he said. "I know when I come home, I've got a wife and six kids who love me."
And a school that appreciates him.
"His is a name everyone knows all across the country," UNLV coach Jeff Horton said. "The other day was the first time I had talked to him. I was very impressed. He was a real humble, up-front guy.
"He turned a negative situation around and I think that's the best legacy he can leave to our program. He made something of himself and overcame the struggles he went through."
For Woods, coming back to UNLV always is an uplifting experience.
"It's part of my roots," he said. "It's part of my past. I'm amazed by the growth. All these buildings.
"It does hurt to see the football team struggling. We had a couple of winning seasons when I was there."
As for being the 15th football player to go into the UNLV Hall of Fame, Woods still can't believe it.
"It's a great moment," he said. "My first three years weren't as promising as they should have been. I was stubborn. I wanted to do things my way instead of the coaches'.
"But I'm glad I listened to Coach Montgomery. He changed my life forever."
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