If Deion Sanders can shock the world in Game 1, imagine what he can accomplish with Colorado in the years to come
Of all the things Deion Sanders said after Colorado’s stunning 45-42 win at TCU on Saturday – and he rightly said a lot – perhaps the most intriguing is the following.
“We’re going to consistently do what we’re doing because I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere,” Coach Prime preached.
“I’ll make myself comfortable in a moment,” he continued. “I’ll make myself comfortable in a moment.”
It took Deion Sanders nine months, a rushed recruitment cycle, and a single game to make 2023 — at least temporarily — the season of Prime, Boulder, the Buffaloes, We Comin’ and I Ain’t Hard to Find” and “Do you think so?”
Nebraska is now on the schedule for Saturday. Fox broadcasts it. Everyone pays attention.
Among the millions who will tune in again, or the millions more who will continue to watch Coach Prime-produced gameplay and locker room clips on YouTube and TikTok, will not only be potential high school recruits, but current college stars as well who watch college football’s wildest show.
Sanders says Colorado has already arrived, and maybe they have, too. No one should doubt this man’s ability to accomplish what conventional wisdom once thought impossible: become the greatest defensive back of all time, play two professional sports at the same time, and perhaps have a team with an 1-11 record and only one winning season for 17 years, he’s been an overnight national contender.
But while the focus is on the upcoming Cornhuskers challenge, this is just the beginning, and that’s what makes the Prime Effect so alluring.
As good as Colorado’s roster is, Sanders didn’t dominate the transfer market last offseason. His best work was bringing the best of his roster from Jackson State — sons Shadeur (quarterback) and Shilo (safety), two-way star Travis Hunter, running back Sy’veon Wilkerson, and so on.
Deion has snagged 53 players from the portal and obviously many of them are capable of playing at a high level, but it’s not like he’s singled out starters from SEC or Big Ten powers.
Still.
His new high school class, meanwhile, included only two high-profile recruits. Cormani McClain was the nation’s highest-rated Florida cornerback transferring from Miami. Dylan Edwards was a talented running back from Kansas who broke his commitment to Notre Dame. Both starred on Saturday.
That aside, however, Colorado signed a slew of two- and three-star recruits, befitting a ragtag group in a traditionally losing program. Currently there are only nine verbal commitments from the year 2024. There are two four-stars – Aaron Butler, an athlete from California who everyone wanted, and Brandon Davis-Swain, a defensive lineman from Michigan who was previously engaged at Notre Dame.
But that’s it. Until now.
Anyone who has watched Colorado march into Fort Worth in those white and gold uniforms, has seen Sanders answer any doubts that his team can play with innovation, discipline and toughness, has witnessed the hype and excitement , must understand that more and higher rated recruits will come, at least for a visit to the now sold-out Folsom Field.
This is a uniquely charismatic man, a marketer with almost no equal and makes it seem like he and his players are having more fun than anyone. That always works.
Sanders now has a proof of concept. His success wasn’t just the result of his coaching work at the underfunded SWAC. In Hunter he has the country’s most exciting player on his roster and he can show athletes that he can make them shine on both sides of the ball.
With just one win, he has an even bigger chance to sell himself, sell the culture, sell the madness of it all.
Prime doesn’t work like other trainers. He’s not going to criss-cross the country standing on the sidelines of high school or arguing hard why anyone should sign with him. He prefers to preach on social media. He prefers to offer a chance and challenge someone smart enough to take it. For a man who’s never been afraid to talk, he’d rather show than tell.
And Colorado showed itself.
Who knows how many games the Buffs will win this season, but consider the following.
If it once seemed impossible to flip an entire program and play like they did on Saturday and Sanders did that, then what is considered impossible in the second or third year that maybe just isn’t?
Colorado raids SEC rosters? Will Colorado Get Five Stars in December? Colorado beats famous powers straight for talent? Colorado as a national contender?
How about if Sanders was content to stay in the Rocky Mountains because it doesn’t matter that much where and what league he trains in because he’s uniquely the show.
“I’ll make myself comfortable in a moment,” said Coach Prime.
College football might want to take that as a warning.
