Tag: Deion Sanders

Coach Prime chews out Colorado football team twice in matter of days

Deion Sanders has not been pleased by the actions of certain players in recent days

For the second time in the past week, Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders addressed his team for misbehaving.

The first lecture was because of a lack of classroom manners from certain players. Coach Prime received an email from a CU Spanish professor who explained they had “never felt so disrespected” in their 10 years of teaching due to some players’ behavior.

“You’re present, but you’re not really there,” Sanders said. “You’re on the field, but you’re not doing nothing. You in a relationship, but you ain’t got no love. You at the mall, but you ain’t got no money. (Yout) got a lot of ability but no darn talent because you don’t think.”

Sanders was back on his team’s case a couple of days later when he received a video of their locker room being left messy with items thrown astray. This time, he threatened harsh consequences.

“We gonna take care of this after practice and if one of y’all quit, you’re off the team,” Sanders said. “One of y’all shed it out or come up with a certain illness or a sudden ailment, your locker gonna be clean as well. We not gonna live like that.”

Deion Sanders Jr. caught both moments on tape and included them in vlogs on his YouTube channel, Well Off Media. With Coach Prime putting a heavy focus on making sure his players leave CU as good people, the recent behavior of his players has been concerning.

“You gon’ be men,” Sanders said to end the second lecture. “We not raising boys, we raising men.”

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Bucs Hall of Famer Warren Sapp joins Deion Sanders’ coaching staff at Colorado

Deion Sanders is adding another gold jacket to his coaching staff with the hiring of former Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp is teaming up with another member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, this time as a coach at the college level.

Sapp is officially joining the coaching staff at Colorado as a Senior Quality Control Analyst, joining Deion Sanders’ staff in Boulder, per multiple reports.

One of the most dominant defensive linemen in NFL history, Sapp had a prolific tenure in Tampa Bay before finishing his pro career with the Oakland Raiders.

Here’s video evidence of Sapp meeting some his new players as the Buffs prepare for the 2024 college football season:

[lawrence-related id=86165]

Warren Sapp officially joins Deion Sanders’ coaching staff amid spring camp

Warren Sapp is officially coaching at CU

It has been teased for several months, but Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp has officially joined the Colorado Buffaloes’ coaching staff.

The all-time great NFL defensive tackle is working with the Buffs as a senior quality control analyst, according to Thee Pregame Show. Colorado head coach Deion Sanders previously confirmed in February that Sapp would be joining his staff.

During the week leading up to Colorado’s season opener against TCU last fall, Sapp attended a practice and shared some wisdom with the Buffs. Soon after, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend publically revealed (via Rich Eisen) his intentions of joining CU’s staff.

Sapp played 13 years in the NFL (1995-2007) and earned a Super Bowl ring in 2003 with the Buccaneers.

Earlier this year, USA TODAY Sports reporter Brent Schrotenboer wrote on Sapp’s concerning history, but the hiring does appear to be official.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Colorado HC Deion Sanders says he can dictate where Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are drafted

Should players be able to decide where they want to play before being drafted?

Last season, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders took the college football world by storm thanks to his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter.

The storm ended after three weeks. Colorado started the season 3-0 and everyone had Sanders and Hunter among their Heisman favorites and projected high picks in the 2024 NFL draft. The Buffaloes then went 1-8, Hunter was hurt and Sanders struggled.

Sanders could have declared for the 2024 NFL draft but chose to return to college. When the elder Sanders was on something called the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast, he made it clear that his son and Hunter would only play for certain teams and he would “pull an Eli” if they got drafted by the wrong teams.

What he is referring to is Eli Manning, who said he refused to play for the San Diego Chargers after they chose him No. 1 overall in the 2004 NFL, The Chargers then traded him to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers who the Giants selected Philip Rivers. This allowed the Chargers to trade Manning for Rivers also with several San Diego draft picks including a first-round pick the following year.

My feelings on this are quite simple. If I’m an NFL GM, I don’t draft any player who doesn’t want to play for my team, especially not a high pick. No matter how talented they are, they will be a bust if they are set on not playing. And teams invest too much in top picks to have petulant children on the roster with huge salaries.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Deion Sanders wants Travis Hunter and Shedeur to leverage their future NFL Draft destinations just like Eli Manning

Deion Sanders knows exactly where he wants Travis Hunter and son Shedeur to play.

Deion Sanders is putting the NFL on notice. He has an idea of where he wants Travis Hunter and son Shedeur Sanders to be drafted in 2025, and if the wrong teams take them, “it’s going to be an Eli,” he said.

Sanders was a guest on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast when he predicted Sanders and Hunter would both be top-four overall draft picks, with one going No. 1. But he cautioned about the possibility of that changing based on the teams picking. He has destinations in mind for them and his other son, Shiloh.

“I know where I want them to go. So, it’s certain cities that it ain’t going to happen,” Sanders said before referencing Eli Manning, who famously requested a trade from the San Diego Chargers to the New York Giants after being drafted first overall in 2004.

On first listen, Sanders’ comment reeks of an entitlement those players haven’t earned yet. They were certainly standouts at Colorado last season, but better players have come and gone without being able to leverage their way to an ideal draft destination.

However, just because players haven’t been able to leverage where they go as much in the past doesn’t mean it shouldn’t and won’t happen more in the future. We’ve been conditioned to accept the draft as a legitimate process to determine where people get to work, but the more power college players gain through NIL and brand deals, the more we could see the tide shift. There isn’t a more ideal situation to help push that change than having one of the NFL’s greatest players with a star quarterback as a son and a two-way defensive back as his star pupil.

Manning knows all about that and appeared to approve the message, with a tweet saying “I love me some Deion.”

All of this falls apart if Shedeur and Hunter don’t put up good enough film in 2024. But if they do their part, this will be something to monitor going into next year.

Colorado still waiting on television deal for spring football game

Colorado is still waiting on a television deal for its spring game

During a press conference earlier this week, head coach Deion Sanders told the media that the Colorado Buffaloes are still waiting on a television rights deal for their 2024 spring football game on April 27.

ESPN, which went live from Folsom Field last April, will be prioritizing the NFL draft, but Fox (or Fox Sports 1) and the Pac-12 Network remain options. However, settling for the Pac-12 Network wouldn’t be ideal with Colorado returning to the Big 12 Conference this summer.

Here’s Coach Prime’s full quote from Wednesday:

“We’re still waiting on television. We know ESPN is dealing with the draft and we’re waiting on probably Fox and still Pac-12 (Network) to see what they’re going to do so we can announce this thing and get these tickets sold out. We’re going to sell out the spring game.”

Regardless of who broadcasts the game, Sanders expects to sell out Folsom Field for the second consecutive spring. Last year, 47.277 fans witnessed Colorado’s spring game and ESPN drew over half a million viewers.

Fellow Big 12 programs West Virginia, Baylor, Houston and Texas Tech will each have their 2024 spring game televised on ESPN+.

The Buffs held their first spring practice on Monday and will enjoy this upcoming week off for spring break.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Coach Gard gets a high-profile shoutout following Purdue win

Coach Gard gets a high-profile shoutout following Purdue win

The Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team took down Purdue, 76-75, in overtime in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament Saturday. Head coach Greg Gard’s postgame speech went viral after the contest, which prompted a shoutout by none other than Colorado football head football coach Deion Sanders.

In the victory, Wisconsin was called for 28 fouls compared to Purdue’s 17, leading to the Boilermakers attempting 32 free throws. This led to Wisconsin big men Steven Crowl, Tyler Wahl and Nolan Winter fouling out.

IT’S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY’s NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize.

The fouls in particular led to a funny moment in the locker room following the win and Coach Prime was one of the many viewers who enjoyed what they saw from Greg Gard.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzzyj3n3jt6m7 player_id=none image=]

LOOK: Deion Sanders applauds Wisconsin HC Greg Gard after Badgers big win over Purdue

Deion Sanders praised Wisconsin HC Greg Gard Sunday night:

Wisconsin basketball was all over the headlines this week.

The team quickly went from one of the nation’s coldest, with only three wins in its last 11 games, to one of its hottest after a Big Ten Tournament run of a blowout win over Maryland, a comfortable win over Northwestern, an electrifying upset win over top-ranked Purdue and then a narrow loss to Illinois.

Saturday’s upset of Purdue was the talk of the nation. Many discussed the whistle given to Boilermakers star big man Zach Edey, while others celebrated the Badgers returning to the pantheon of the nation’s elite.

One focus of praise and celebration has been head coach Greg Gard. Not only is his team back to playing terrific basketball while he pushes the correct coaching buttons, but he also went viral with his postgame speech after the win over Purdue.

“Raise your hand if you fouled out,” Gard asked the team as he applauded their fight and effort — which saw the team’s top big men all raise their hands.

The speech and that comment went mainstream enough that Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders weighed in on X on Sunday night:

Wisconsin now prepares to face James Madison in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Badgers got a tough first-round draw, but do have a manageable path to make a deep run if the stars can align.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

[lawrence-related id=72974,72982,72962,72933]

LeBron James rocks Deion Sanders-inspired Nike shoes at 2024 NBA All-Star Game

LeBron James paid tribute to Deion Sanders at the NBA All-Star Game

Like almost every other NBA All-Star weekend of the last two decades, the 2024 All-Star game lulled on with the league’s best players running up the score against poor defensive effort at best. Another constant was the appearance of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who wore Deion Sanders-inspired shoes during his 20th All-Star Game.

As captain of the Western All-Stars, King James rocked a sneaker mashup of his newest Nike LeBron 21s and Sanders’ Air Diamond Turf Max ’96s. The low-top model took off James’ signatures while the design featured Sanders’ iconic triangular black and white clash accompanied by a couple of subtle gold swooshes.

According to seasoned sole collector Nick DePaula, James wore the shoes in recognition of his “Prime Year,” with this season being the 39-year-old’s 21st NBA campaign. Sanders wore No. 21 during his NFL playing career.

While Sanders and James have continuously shown each other respect, especially as of late with Coach Prime leading the Colorado Buffaloes, this gesture may have taken the cake.

James finished with eight points, four rebounds and three assists in his team’s 211-186 loss to the Eastern All-Stars.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Ray Lewis speaks on why Deion Sanders will find success next season at Colorado

Ray Lewis believes Deion Sanders will find success next season in Boulder

The Colorado Buffaloes are cool again. After nearly 20 years of struggles, blue-chip prospects are flocking to Boulder again thanks to head coach Deion Sanders.

After completely flipping CU’s roster last year, Coach Prime has loaded up on talented transfers and high school commits this offseason. In turn, he has brought hope that winning football can be played again under the Flatirons.

It’s easy to see why players are drawn to Coach Prime, but it’s always nice to hear another Pro Football Hall of Famer praise Sanders. Romi Bean of CBS Sports caught up with former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis last week ahead of the Super Bowl and asked him to speak on why Coach Prime will be successful at Colorado:

“Because what kids want to do, he’s (Sanders) done,” Lewis said. “No disrepect to coaches, but most coaches have never done what they are trying to tell a kid to do. He’s ran every race there is to (run) — the ups, the downs, the goods, the bads, all of that. And now you know his only reason for doing it is he must sharpen the iron. That’s why we do what we do, right? The game is just the product. The process is taking these young men and making them men, teaching them the fabric of what a man’s supposed to be and what a man’s supposed to stand for. That’s why he’s always going to be successful.”

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.