Dustin Bradford

(Photo Courtesy of CBS News)

Coach Deion Sanders, of the University of Colorado, Boulder (CU Boulder), is transforming the Buffaloes football program, while concurrently making collegiate football history. Deion Sanders, commonly known as Coach Prime, is in his first year coaching at CU Boulder and is making a huge statement in the world of college football. 

Former MLB and NFL superstar Deion Sanders is new to coaching, but not new to the world of sports. Prime won two Superbowl titles and made a World Series appearance in 1992 during his time playing, making him the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series. Long after his initial retirement, Coach Sanders could not stay away from sports and made his return to the world of pro sports as a coach. 

Prime began his coaching career in 2020 at Jackson State University (JSU). JSU is an HBCU not particularly known for its football program. Prime’s intense and motivational coaching style allowed JSU’s record to improve from 4-8 to 12-1 after just 2 years. After great success at JSU, Prime was hired as the new head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. 

The Buffaloes had a disappointing season in 2022, winning a singular game. Following their 2022 season, it was evident that the Buffaloes needed a change in leadership. When Sanders was hired as the Buffaloes’ head coach in December 2022, he was eager to turn the Buff’s program around. Sanders did all in his power to transform the Buffaloes team, making a more competitive roster. Sanders took advantage of college football’s now unrestrictive transfer rules to stack his roster with well-faceted players. 

While CU Boulder’s season is still young, they have had a phenomenal start. The Buffaloes came out with a bang with a 45-42 win against Texas Christian University (TCU). The TCU Horned Frogs were just one game away from winning the national title last year. The Buffs did not stop there; they followed up a week later with a dominant 36-14 win over Nebraska. 

In their most recent game, the Buffaloes experienced their first loss of the season to the Oregon Ducks, ranked ninth, 6-42. In a postgame interview, Coach Deion Sanders gives credit to the Oregon Ducks, saying, “That was a really good, old fashioned, butt-kicking.” Oregon dominated the game from start to finish. Colorado had a hard time executing plays, making it hard for them to stay competitive in the game. 

Sanders acknowledged where his team can improve going forward, “We expect to win every game… and go out there and execute the things we practice… we just didn’t do it today.” 

A dedicated Buffs fan says Coach Deion Sanders “brings energy and passion back to CU football.” In speaking about this story’s significance, Buffs fans continue to stay positive about the long season ahead, “I see a season full of triumphs ahead.” 

Coach Prime’s use of the portal will set a precedent for coaches trying to transform teams in the future. Sanders has been a winner his whole life and does not plan to stop now. The Buffaloes’ next matchup is on Saturday, Sept. 30 versus the University of Southern California, Trojans at home.