Prime Time is over for Deion Sanders at the University of Colorado. At least for now.
It wasn’t that long ago when Sanders’ Buffs were must see TV, and all the college football shows were camped out in Boulder to see Deion and the legions of celebrities he brought to the Colorado sidelines. Even after a 4-8 season during his first year in 2023, the excitement never waned and when CU went 9-4 a year ago while featuring Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, Boulder was THE place to be for college football fans.
Losses of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter Were Devasting
Then a funny thing happened. Two-way star Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders left for the NFL, and the slow slide back into mediocrity began. Now, with one game left in a lost season, the Pro Football Hall of Famer is staring at a 3-9 record if his team can’t pull an upset over Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas on Saturday morning.
A drop off this season was predictable, even if most observers thought Colorado would return to a bowl game in 2025. But what the season has really done is shine a spotlight on Sanders’ shortcomings as a football coach – from recruiting, which he does in a way no other coaches do – to staff selections to game management decisions. None of it’s working.
It’s never easy to replace star players, but it’s done at other places with year-in-year-out high school recruiting. Deion has basically placed high school recruiting on a back burner, refusing to leave Boulder (and his genuine and serious health concerns provide some cover for this, but not all) and expecting the players to come to see him. Like getting an audience with the Pope.
He’s focused much more of his efforts on the Transfer Portal. That worked better three off seasons ago when he was bringing in former Jackson State players – his sons and Hunter included – with him and offering lucrative NIL deals. Now that the rest of college football has caught up in terms of NIL availability, and the celebs aren’t coming around has much, that’s not working as well all of a sudden.
Sanders coaching staff includes Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Warren Sapp – neither of whom brought a minute of actual coaching experience with them when they came to Boulder. NFL veteran Pat Shurmur has been the Offensive Coordinator for most of the past three seasons. He was recently relieved of his play calling duties.
Deion Promises Changes Are Coming
Changes are coming to the CU coaching staff after the season. It’s very likely a roster overhaul – similar to what happened when Sanders first arrived in December of 2022 – is in the works as well.
And finally, several game management decisions, like what happened late in the game in the season opener against Georgia Tech, have been head scratching. Last Saturday against Arizona State, Sanders overruled Faulk and inserted sophomore wide receiver Ronald Coleman at running back for the player’s first snap of the season midway through the fourth quarter and the game still in doubt. Coleman got the hand off, picked up 14 yards and promptly fumbled. The Sun Devils recovered, scored on the next play and never looked back.
Sanders took the blame for that play, and his taking the heat for the poor season as well. He’s not going to get fired after this season, but there has been speculation about his future and how much more of this he wants to endure.
Stay tuned. Must see TV may or may not be over yet.
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