Deion Sanders’ “Muhammad Ali-Like” Persona Disliked for Disrupting College Football Tradition

Let’s delve into the intriguing world of Deion Sanders, where admiration and disdain coexist. Not everyone is a fan of Coach Prime, and the crux of the matter lies in his adoption of a persona reminiscent of the legendary Muhammad Ali. 

Known for his bold, outspoken, and polarizing attitude, people either love Sanders or they love to hate him. In one of the latest episodes of YouTube’s “On3 Recruits”, the host analyst takes up this topic to dive deep into the problem between the Buffs HC and the haters.

Why do some hate Deion Sanders?

Sanders has much to offer other than representing the black community. The On3 Recruits host takes this up on how he has found himself in a position of power in American sports. He pointed out Sanders carrying the boxing giant’s persona, “Deion Sanders is a living legend in the community, in this culture… we’re talking about football and sports. What Muhammad Ali started Deion Sanders carried. That’s part of the culture some people are never, will just never like that.” 

To find out where the problem lies, the analyst points out how Sanders’ dominant personality threatened the college football tradition. According to his analysis, “You have traditionalists that clutch their very pearls when they see Dion Sanders carry on the way he does, when they see Deion Sanders being himself authentically, they can’t stand it.” Even though the Buffs HC is well aware that his “Muhammad Ali-like” personality makes many people uncomfortable, he proudly propagates Ali as his hero. 

Muhammad Ali being Sanders’ idol

The impact of the $50-million-worth boxing legend on Sanders is profound. The Colorado Coach shared an old interview with Ali, where the legend imparted a valuable lesson about money. Sanders draws immense inspiration from Ali, striving to emulate his teachings and spread his message. On one occasion, he shared a video of Ali’s past interview, where the legend candidly discussed his financials. 

The legend shares some secrets about his financials, “I got too many cars…which I don’t need. When you come up poor…and you go out just to say “I got it” but you don’t really need it. The newness wears off, you’re stuck with it, you can’t sell it, it depreciates. So I’m just saving money now…Now, every month I’m saving at least 75% of my money.” Sanders ensures that this knowledge is passed on to his sons as well. So when Shedeur wanted to buy a Rolls Royce, his father captioned the post, “1 of my Heroes @muhammadali giving us Great Advice #CoachPrime.”

Deion Sanders was one lucky man since he had the golden opportunity to meet his idol. For the coach, the experience of meeting Ali caught him like “a kid in a candy shop.” Hence, no matter how much hate he receives, Ali will always be the Black Superman for the Buffs HC.