Deion Sanders is a legend in football circles – from his exploits as the Cowboys’ running back to his stints in the MLB (Major League Baseball) to now serving as the University of Colorado Buffaloes head coach, he is no stranger to the big leagues. He even played two sports while in one city as a member of the Atlanta Braves and Falcons, making him a dynamic presence forever etched in sporting history. However, as of late, he is making headlines for his moves off the gridiron. Whether it be ousting numerous scholarship players from last season, delivering heated media interviews, or completely overhauling the program from behind the scenes, Sanders has generated headlines both on and off the field. Sanders recently undertook a big switch from a small-college to the famed Colorado football program, taking numerous star players with him in the process. Through the first three weeks, he has brought winning ways back to the university, tripling their win total from last season and cultivating an energetic brand of football that has caught the attention of many college football fans.
“Watching them play this season under Deion Sanders has shown us some really great football,” Lambert junior Shyam Sivan said. “I’m excited to see just how far he can take them this season.”
The Colorado Buffaloes have made for some highly watchable football this season, with their high-octane style of play taking the nation by storm – propelling them to the #19 rank in the country. While part of their success has had to do with improved play and a strong defense, the main factor has clearly been Deion Sanders and the upscaling he has done at Colorado. His direction has completely transformed the university’s program and the current football landscape, enthralling fans and football lovers alike in the process.
Arguably more notable, however, are his antics and controversies he has stirred up in plenty this season. From overhauling the existing Colorado roster without notice, to becoming embroiled in religious controversy, to being thrust into a row about sunglasses, Sanders’ off-field headlines are generating as much press as his team’s exploits on it. For instance, rival Colorado State’s head coach Jay Norvell pointed out ahead of last week’s showdown that “when I talk to grownups, I take my hat off and my glasses off. That’s what my mother taught me,” which was a clear reference to Sanders’ press conference demeanor. This resulted in Sanders clapping back and stating that they “made it personal”, leading to a feud over sunglasses and an intense rivalry game between the two programs.
“While the beef made for some extra stakes between the two teams, it seemed like just another Deion Sanders controversy,” Lambert senior Armaan Bhasin said. “It took the attention off the build-up to the game and made it more about Deion.”
Such controversies have molded Sanders into a polarizing figure in the sports world, with many of the headlines taking emphasis off Colorado’s play as well. While he is no stranger to controversy throughout his career, the ones he generates as Colorado head coach has a direct impact on the program and his players. This has drawn ire from other coaches whose teams are not even on the Buffaloes’ schedule, illustrating just how much of a reach Sanders’ actions have in the college football world. How his attitude towards the game and his coaching role alike changes over the course of a defining season could have ripple effects on Colorado football for years to come.
Deion Sanders, known as “Primetime” during his playing days, is in every way deserving of his nickname. Whether it be his highlight-reel runs in the NFL or his transformation of the Colorado football program or his off-field controversies, he has generated immense buzz around him and his image as Buffaloes head coach. Sports fans have only gotten a three-week glimpse into his team’s performance thus far, but one thing is certain – Deion Sanders and his “Prime” effect has the power to make or break Colorado’s season in this wide world of college football.
