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Deion Sanders Shows No Leniency After Enforcing Strict Rules

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Borba | Last updated Aug 21, 2025 4:24 PM ET

Heading into what will be his third season as the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, Deion Sanders is looking to not only build off the team's 9-4 record in 2024 but also continue to build a strong culture.

The 58-year-old Pro Football Hall of Famer and College Football Hall of Famer has made it abundantly clear throughout his tenure in Boulder that he values producing good men just as much as he values on-field results.

Something he frequently reminds his players of, and also something he en forces with strict rules for them to follow off of the field.

Deion Sanders Enforces Strict Rules for Players to Follow

In a recent Well Off Media video, Sanders was shown talking to the team as they prepare for a Week 1 matchup with Georgia Tech and a return to campus for school to start. Sanders made it clear he wants the players dressed appropriately, while also being prepared and engaged for class.

"No slides," Sanders said. "If I see you with them...I'm gonna send people to campus...If I see you with slides on campus, it's gonna be a problem. If I see you with a hoodie on in class, or some headphones on in class, it's gonna be a problem. If I see you sitting in the back of the classroom, it's gonna be a problem. Do we understand that?"

Deion sets dress code policy for his players attending class

"No slides. ... If I see you with a hoodie or headphones on in class, there's gonna be a problem."

(via @DeionSanders, @DeionSandersJr) pic.twitter.com/vQlZHoMXCs
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 21, 2025

Sanders also fired off rules for those with online classes, demanding that they avoid being shirtless, wearing "wife beaters" and walking around while class is ongoing.

Deion Sanders Looking to Prevent Problems That Colorado Had Last Season

Last April, Sanders received an email from a professor claiming that they had "never felt so disrespected" in their 10 years of teaching than they did when instructing some of the players on the team.

The professor cited the fact that players frequently missed class, disrupted class or were simply not paying attention.

Sanders' strict rules when it comes to academics clearly have paid off, as the team posted back in May that the players recorded the second-highest GPA in program history. The highest GPA came in the semester before, as the team posted a 3.011 GPA.

While players might not realize it, there seems to be a correlation between high performance in the classroom and on the field.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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