Deion Sanders brought 9 players and his ‘unconventional’ coaching style to the CU campus from Jackson State. Thus far, both have worked out well for him. Although his anger outbursts during training sessions make headlines time and again, he hardly ever lets his players down. Coach Prime, even when frustrated, lifts the spirits and motivation levels of his players through his powerful words.

Critics like Jason Whitlock have associated words like ‘poisonous, immature, and corrosive’ to Deion Sanders’ leadership. While Sanders assumed a nonchalant attitude then, his response to Bleacher Report’s Tyler Rooks is enough to rebuff each accusation like that. Sanders fondly recalled an incident from their showdown with Colorado State. On that day, Travis Hunter went down with an injury, and their much anticipated Wide Receiver, Jimmy Horn, had to overtake the receiving duties.

The jitters got the best of Horn during the game. “We had an incident on the sideline this last game with Jimmy was having a horrific game. He’s a receiver,” recalled Sanders. However, the best part was how thoughtfully he handled it. “And I said, ‘Jimmy, you’re a dog. You from Florida, man. And guess what? Pop is at the crib. He’s incarcerated. He’s watching you right now. And he wants to clap in front of all his different inmates because he believes in it so we gon make pop proud tonight’.”

Following the impromptu pep talk with Sanders, John went straight for a 45-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, making his team win with 43-35 against the Colorado State. After that, Horn made a career-high by making 11 receptions against Texas. However, that was not the only best thing that happened to him besides the win.

Deion Sanders and John’s father share a hearty conversation

When the team was getting ready to fly to Colorado after defeating Texas, Jimmy John received a call from the person he loves and respects the most: his father. Because of being incarcerated, John’s father could not watch his son play, especially after John shifted to CU in his sophomore year. So, he was elated to talk to his dad. “Jimmy was getting on the plane and he said ‘Hey man, it’s perfect timing. My pops is on the phone,'” Sanders reported in the interview.

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When the WR was asked about it, he couldn’t get more emotional. “Coach Prime reminds me so much of my pops. And then when I heard them talk and my dad was really happy to talk to him, because he’s still done everything he said he was going to do,” said Horn. He also had an identical emotionally attached reason to join Colorado. “Coach Prime is a man of his word. My pops is a man of his word. That’s why it’s only right that I’m here,” confessed John. Hence, as he enters his senior year in the 2024 season, more inspiration is expected to flow from him.

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