“Beat Deion Sanders”: CSU Rams HC Given Do-or-Die Instructions Against Arch-Rivals Coach Prime’s CU Buffs

Joe Parker, the former athletic director at Colorado State University, found himself unexpectedly out of a job on Monday, despite recently extending his contract through 2027. Parker, who joined CSU in 2015 following a successful tenure as assistant athletic director at Texas Tech, experienced a mix of highs and lows during his nearly decade-long stint in Fort Collins.

The current head coach of Colorado State University and former coach of Nevada gained attention for his remarks directed at Coach Prime before the 2023 Rocky Mountain Showdown. “When I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat and my glasses off,” Norvell had famously quipped, referencing Sanders’s distinctive gameday attire. However, with unexpected changes in the coaching horizon at Colorado State University, Norvell finds himself in a tough spot. 

Jay Norvell must beat the Buffaloes 

With Parker out, pressure builds on head coach Jay Norvell to perform, and take a step further at defeating their arch-rival: the Colorado Buffaloes. Despite being heavy underdogs, Norvell’s Rams put up a strong fight against Colorado football, pushing the game into double overtime and keeping Buffs fans on the edge of their seats. Surprisingly, the Rams even held the lead for most of the game, showcasing Norvell’s prowess as a big-game coach. 

The football team’s struggles have been a point of concern, particularly given CSU’s aspirations for athletic success. With a disappointing 5-7 record last season and a prolonged absence from bowl games, the pressure on head football coach Jay Norvell has intensified. “Beat Deion Sanders,” their biggest rival, has been an ultimate goal that needs to be achieved without fail. Or else he is likely to face Parker’s fate. As Norvell enters his third year at CSU, the departure of Parker adds another layer of uncertainty to the football program’s quest for improvement and success on the field.

On-the-field struggles cost Joe Parker his job

Despite signing a contract extension in 2022 that would have kept him at Colorado State University (CSU) until 2027, Joe Parker’s tenure as the athletic director ended because of ongoing struggles on the football field. Parker joined CSU in 2015 after serving as the assistant AD at Texas Tech. While he oversaw significant achievements, such as 23 conference championships and the inauguration of a new on-campus football stadium, the football team faced consistent challenges.

Read More: 2 Years After Deion Sanders Being Robbed, Colorado Players Suffered Similar Horrible Fate at UCLA

Parker’s decision to extend Mike Bobo’s contract in 2017 ended in disappointment, as Bobo was terminated two years later following a lackluster performance. Steve Addazio’s subsequent appointment proved disastrous, marked by COVID violations and racial insensitivity allegations. Jay Norvell, Parker’s final football hire in 2021, struggled to turn the team’s fortunes around, resulting in a disappointing 8-16 record in his first two seasons. With a lackluster 40-63 football record under Parker’s leadership, CSU is now in search of a new athletic director.

Watch This Story: Coach Prime Deion Sanders’s coaching conundrum deepens with Colorado football quality control analysts’ promotion