Coach Prime shifting focus from personal criticism to Buffs’ opener
Colorado's Deion 'Coach Prime' Sanders walks along the sideline during a timeout in the second quarter against Nebraska Saturday September 9, 2023 at Folsom Field. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
BOULDER, Colo. — Although the Buffaloes will start the season on Thursday night, all of the talk as the team approaches their opener, is surrounding the head coach’s relationship with the media.
Deion ‘Coach Prime’ Sanders is no stranger to using his power and influence to bring change to College Football. The Hall of Famer is arguably the most scrutinized coach in the FBS, so he understands what comes with the territory.
However, he can only take so much unwarranted criticism from the fans and press. Which is why Coach Prime recently pulled the unthinkable, and had a Denver Post columnist banned from asking him and his players questions for the entire season. This happened after Sean Keeler continued to use derogatory comments, and slander towards Coach Prime.
The move raised several eyebrows because head coaches are professionals, and paid millions to do their job, which includes handling the media. Now Coach Prime is receiving a lot of backlash on social media about the ordeal, while a matchup with an FCS powerhouse looms.
Still, Coach Prime stands behind his actions, and is wondering why people have a problem with the way he’s running the program. So he’s determined to change the narrative about him and the Buffaloes, and explained that to a room full of reporters Saturday morning.
“I’m not negative to anybody in here, I’m not built like that, I’m not built to hate,” Coach Prime said. “I’m not a hateful guy, I come with love, and if anybody in here has had encounters with me, I don’t come with the bull junk, I come with peace and joy.”
The Buffaloes are trying to end a six-game losing streak, and shift their focus to the contest at Folsom Field in five days. North Dakota State has a reputation for being giant killers, and that’s something Coach Prime doesn’t take lightly.
Coach Prime’s squad is nearly a double-digit favorites over the Bison, so anything less than a win will result to a ton of grumbling. A lot of haters want to see Colorado lose, and for Coach Prime to have a miserable campaign. That’s what drives the team though, and they’re all about silencing the critics. Win or lose, Coach Prime has no problem entertaining the tough questions, but there’s a point where he draws the line.
“Now when you show me where you stand I might have to change that a little bit, so I’m not going to match your ignorance,” he said. “I don’t have to come where you are because my life is complete, so what you say and what you do is not going to change my life.”
Coach Prime strongly believes everything he does is a competition, and that’s why he always intends to go hard. Colorado shocked the world last year when it stormed into Amon G. Carter Stadium, and beat a top-20 TCU team to open the season.
North Dakota State has beat Minnesota, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Iowa over the past 20 years. Taking down the Bison with style points will generate a lot of momentum for the Buffaloes. Not to mention Coach Prime went undefeated in non-conference play in 2023. The game will also feature a sellout crowd.
Coach Prime and his entire team is ready to take advantage of the spotlight, and they can’t wait to give reporters something positive to talk about that actually pertains to on the field performance.
“I’m excited about what I’ve seen in practice, I’m excited about what I feel like what we’re going to see next Thursday, these guys want to hit some other colors right now.”
