Colorado HC Deion Sanders: 'We will not settle for mediocrity'

Deion Sanders has to know he has quite an uphill battle at Colorado. The Buffaloes were 1-11 last season and they haven't had a full-season winning record since 2016.

There's a lot that has to change at Colorado in order for the football program to have real success, but the school clearly felt bringing NFL legend turned college head coach Deion Sanders was the first step in that process.

Now, per Sanders himself, it comes down to changing expectations in Boulder.

"It's a whole different level of expectation around here, and you got to be able to play the game," Sanders recently told ESPN. "So a certain level that might have been welcome, that level is no longer welcomed here. It's a whole different game now."

As mentioned, Colorado's last winning season was in 2016. Before that, the Buffs' last winning season was in 2005. That's only two winning seasons in nearly 20 years (plus a 4-2 record in the shortened 2020 season), which underscores just how much work Sanders has to do.

From his perspective, though, Colorado offers a ton of coaches, players, and students alike.

"This place is beautiful," Sanders explained. "And I'm pretty sure, with the lack of success, is people get complacent around here. They don't understand the beauty and the diamond you have, and they just walk around fulfilling obligations for a job, instead of being happy, enthusiastic and just proud to be in this position."

Sanders is proud to be with the Buffaloes at first blush, and now the program has to hope that he can put Colorado back on the map as he did for Jackson State University of the SWAC. 

Sanders went 27-6 at JSU in three seasons and he made his hay on the recruiting trail. Sanders was able to snag 2022's No. 1 overall recruit, Travis Hunter, for the Tigers. Hunter followed Sanders and is set to play for Colorado next season.

"We will not settle for mediocrity," Sanders said. "It is what it is. You're going to get on this program, or you're going to get up out of here. We plan on winning and we don't have time to procrastinate."