“Coach Prime Effect”: Fans Call Out LSU for Copying Deion Sanders’ Tactics as Colorado Emerges as Trend Setters in CFB

When Deion Sanders arrived at CU, he made several changes to the team. Apart from bringing wholesale changes to the roster, the “Prime Effect” spilled over to the Buffs’ cafeteria. Not only he demanded raising the quality of food services at the University for the players, but also ensured that the names of his executive chef was added to the officials Colorado Buffaloes’ website. And now LSU have followed suit.

ESPN Collеgе Football on YouTube reported on June 8 that LSU had made an important move by adding thе namеs of thеir chеfs to thе staff list on their wеbsitе.

Posting picturеs of chеfs Kеvin Andеrson, Michaеl Cartеr, Michaеl Johnson, and Ryan Andrе, ESPN captionеd the post, “LSU Athlеtics’ wеbsitе lists thеir chеfs & just know thеy can throw down in thе kitchеn (via @lsusports).”

The list includes Executive Chef, Michael Johnson, Sous Chefs Ryan Andre, Kevin Anderson and Michael Johnson. They have been added under the Performance Nutrition department in the staff section. The department also includes Dr. Matt Frakes, Assistant AD, Kayla Lawson, Director of Performance Nutrition and Reana Weaver, Assistant Performance Dietician among others.

This came after a move by Coach Prime to include the name of their executive chef Carl Solomon, along with coachеs, playеrs, and CU officials, on the Colorado Buffaloes’ website last year. Since his arrival in Boulder, Sanders has been not only been looking at the on field matters but has taken steps but change the mindset at CU off field as well.

Recently, he brought in a rule that players had to put away their smartphones in a box while having breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria. This was done to foster team building and allow the players to know each other better.

Despite only moderate success in his first season with the Buffs and frequent roster changes, Sanders has been praised bringing a mindset shift at CU. One of his key moves after arrival was to press the food services department to raise their standards, despite the high quality maintained by Laura Anderson, who is the assistant athletic director for performance nutrition at Colorado and Carl Solomon.

Sanders’s impact was also recognized by Buffs Athletic Director. “In Deion’s case, he came in here and his style is different than any coach we’ve had and it’s gonna push people a little bit,” he said last year. Sanders’s decision to inlcude Solomon’s name on the website was another way to give those working behind the scenes their due and bring the whole team together and now it has been replicated.

Even though the move by LSU is commendable, fans pointed out that LSU copied Deion Sanders and Colorado’s officials, who were the first in college football to honor their chefs.

Furthermore, they also criticized ESPN for not giving credit to Coach Prime and his team at all, accusing them of joining LSU in overlooking their trend setter coach.

“Prime did it first,” Fans remind ESPN and LSU that Coach Prime is a pioneer

While LSU fans cheered their program by commenting on the post, little did they know that the rest of the college football community would launch a scathing backlash on LSU football. The comment box under ESPN’s post was flooded with remarks pointing fingers at head coach Brian Kelly and Co. for not giving Coach Prime or Colorado recognition for the idea.

In light of the development, fans attacked the broadcaster for not crediting CU. “ESPN not crediting CU is shameful,” one user chimed in. The thread continued as a Buffaloes fan wrote, “Prime did it first.” This pithy comment went on to show how highly regarded Coach Prime was in CFB.

Not only Sanders honored their executive chef, he also praised Solomon’s impact on the University as a chef and called for pay raise. “Because as much as our staff is a difference maker to this university, he is a difference maker to this university. He’s a true game changer,” the head coach added in an interview with Sports Dissected on 14 May.

Apart from this, Sanders has regularly featured the cafeteria and the chefs in the Buffs behind-the-scenes videos on his son’s YouTube channel Well Off Media. One of the videos uploaded last year in February, put the spotlight on Solomon and his team as they prepared and served the students with luxury 4-star meals.

Fans who are in awe of the Buffs coach are helpful while identifying patterns in his records. A fan wrote, “Coach Prime sets yet another standard. I’m sure him including their chefs and meals in the WellOff videos had something to do with this.” This comment highlights the importance of the Sanders’ clan in shaping the future of Colorado football, including Deion Sanders Jr., their media specialist.

“Looks like Colorado is setting a trend. They’re the only team highlighting their support staff,” wrote another fan, who acknowledged the fact that Colorado was the first.

Another user commented, “Colorado set the trend for giving their chefs exposure,” joining the fray as people criticized LSU for copying Colorado.

It can be said that Deion Sanders’ arrival in college football has influenced other coaches and programs to follow in his footsteps, whether directly or indirectly. However, the broader college football community’s reaction reflects a growing sentiment that proper credit should be given where it is due.