The University of Colorado has been in the headlines more over the last year than in a long time. The Buffalos' hiring of former NFL legend Deion Sanders to be their new head coach last year sent waves throughout college football. Sanders saw major success as the head coach of Jackson State, leading to his arrival in Boulder.
He went 19-2 as the head coach of the Tigers, earning his keep as one of the hottest names in college football. However, his first season with the Buffalos didn't go the way that he or the program would have hoped. Colorado started out hot, winning their first three games, including a dramatic overtime win over Colorado State. But it was all downhill from there for Sanders and the Buffaloes.
Colorado lost eight of their final nine games on the season, finishing with a record of 4-8 for the year. It was a disappointing start to his tenure as the head coach in Colorado but Sanders hasn't lost confidence in himself.
His son, Shedeur, is the starting quarterback for the Buffaloes and will likely be heading to the NFL after this season. There has been a belief that Sanders could follow him to the NFL, but the coach didn't want to leave those rumors going strong.
While appearing on the All The Smoke Podcast, Sanders confirmed that he isn't going anywhere and is committed to Colorado.
"Nah, I don't want to coach in the NFL."
Even with rumors swirling that he may leave the program for something a little bigger or better in college, Sanders stayed even-keeled and denied them all, too.
"Most people ask me, 'What you gonna do when they're out, you're going to the pros together?' I said, 'A real father leads his sons, he doesn't follow them,'" Sanders said. "So I'm good, I'll be here. I ain't going nowhere, I'm straight, I love Boulder, Colorado, and I cannot wait till they go into the NFL and do their thing."
With Sanders looking to stay with the Buffaloes, Colorado could see a rise in recruits. Despite his struggles in year one with the program, Sanders still has time to turn things around. It can take time to develop a program into a consistent winner, and Sanders doesn't lack any belief in himself.
"The kids will be in the pros, and I'll be here."
If he can turn the Buffaloes into a powerhouse within college football, his coaching legacy may end up being as strong as his playing one.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Matt Levine works as a contributing writer for Newsweek, covering multiple sports. He graduated in 2021 with a Master of ... Read more
