“If you don’t believe in yourself, how will somebody else believe in you?” said a man who took Colorado to new heights. We are talking about none other than Deion Sanders. To understand his strategies and transition of Colorado, we first have to look into the life of Deion Sanders and learn how he became the legendary Coach Prime. He was born on August 9, 1967, in Fort Myers, Florida, to Connie and Mims Sanders. Deion was just two years old when his parents separated. Despite the odds, he continued his love for football. Later, he joined North Fort Myers High School and showcased his versatility by playing football, baseball, and basketball. After a notable basketball game where he scored 30 points, everyone started calling him “prime time.”.

For his collegiate career, he went to Florida State University and earned honors as an all-American twice. After getting drafted by the NFL, Sanders never looked back. He earned eight Pro Bowl selections and was named first-team all-pro nine times throughout his NFL career. At a point, he indulged in stints with the Washington redskins and Baltimore Ravens, following which he retired from NFL. Till today, Sanders’ name is taken with great pride, as he was the only player who took part in both the Super Bowl and the World Series. After achieving many milestones, Deion Sanders joined the Colorado Buffaloes in December 2022, and since then, Colorado’s success has skyrocketed.

Coach prime’s journey with Colorado

Right after arriving at the Buffs, Deion Sanders took a major step by bringing 86 new players to the program, which is considered the most in NCAA history. During that season, Deion Sanders left only 10 players from the previous season on the team, and he brought in 53 players through transfers, including his son Sheneur Sanders and Travis Hunter. Apart from players, sanders also changed the staff. He brought in coaches who aligned with his vision, such as

Robert Livingston, the defensive coordinator, and Pat Shurmur, who took charge of offensive play-calling. Under these coaches, players are also feeling more confident.

When the 2023 season came, Colorado struck hard with a new strategy, a new head coach, and a new team. During that season, the Buffs won the first three games, which included their victory over TCU. But in the end, for some reason, the team ended the season with a 4-8 record after losing in six games. However, the record was still far better than the previous year’s 1-11 record.

Deion Sanders’ impact off the field

Fast forward to today, and experts say that Colorado has received a 20% increase in applications for the 2024 incoming freshman class, which sums up to over 68,000 prospective students, which is quite surprising in college football history. Colorado’s vice chancellor of admissions, Jennifer Ziegenfus, said, “It’s difficult for us to draw a causal line between Coach Prime and this application increase,” and she credited Coach Prime for this hike.

As every day passes, we’re going a step closer to the Big 12 championship, and expectations from the Colorado Buffaloes are high. Under the steady mentorship of Coach Prime, the team moves back to the Big 12 and aims to win the championship this season. Nobody knows what happens next, but there are millions of buff fans and Coach Prime’s fans rooting for Colorado to win.