Deion Sanders made a quick impression as head coach at Colorado during his first address to the team.
Deion Sanders telling the CU Buffs football team that he’s bringing his own luggage, and that they better hit the portal. This is crazy pic.twitter.com/004LUKiTr2
— College FB Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) December 4, 2022
"I'm bringing my luggage with me. And its Louis [Vuitton]," said Sanders with his signature flair. He wasn't actually talking about his checked bags at the airport, but the fact that he's got upgrades on the way, and Colorado players should plan accordingly.
His blunt speech rubbed some the wrong way.
I'm sorry—this is EVERYTHING that grosses me out about big-time college sports. He literally tells these guys to leave, then has them chant his insanity. https://t.co/4ACDLE6pnT
— Jeff Pearlman (@jeffpearlman) December 5, 2022
Me nodding knowingly as Deion Sanders tells me I suck https://t.co/YrMTMd7NM4
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) December 5, 2022
Jeff Pearlman, author of "Bo Jackson: The Last Folk Hero," said the speech by Sanders "is everything that grosses me out about big-time college sports." A big aspect of college coaching is developing players to become the best versions of themselves. Sanders telling players they may want to enter their names into the transfer portal could be viewed as being too dismissive.
Others showed more support for the sentiment.
He’s telling the players the truth. The team was 1-11 and mostly not competitive in every loss. Sanders is going to reshape the roster. I think players appreciate the honesty https://t.co/Zb8jNGuGZt
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) December 5, 2022
He’s on point with the promises! No threats just promises exactly how I would of addressed them! If you scared go to church! … I mean the portal! I’m bringing in the players with or without you! @DeionSanders I can dig it! https://t.co/H1qHgfBnFo
— Coach Jason Brown (@TheRealCoach_JB) December 5, 2022
Sanders' point appears to be that any player satisfied with the team's 1-11 record in 2022 shouldn't let the door hit them on the way out. While an abrasive tactic, it shows Colorado is beginning to operate with the same kind of logic as every top team in the transfer portal and NIL era.
A tweet Sanders sent last month should have left no one surprised by his transparent comments in front of his new team.
If yo child is extra sensitive and don't like to hear the Truth I'm not the coach for him. #CoachPrime
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) November 26, 2022
The athletic department didn't bring Sanders to Boulder to be a cheerleader. He was hired to transform a moribund program. Sanders has always been brash, and it's worked out well for him so far. He was honest in both his assessment of the current roster and college football's evolving landscape. The truth isn't always convenient.
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