He’s not the hero Boulder deserves—but he is the one it needs right now.

After a week of speculation, University of Colorado Boulder athletic director Rick George named Deion Sanders the Buffaloes’ head football coach on Saturday, December 3. The high-profile hiring comes on the heels of a pitiful 2022 campaign in which the Buffs ranked dead-last in the Pac-12 with a record of 1–11 (1–8 in-conference). The bottom dwellers eked out a 20–13 overtime win against the California Golden Bears on October 15 to stave off a winless season but were otherwise terrible, losing by more than 32 points on average.

https://twitter.com/CUBuffsFootball/status/1599243035518197760

Admittedly, the hiring seems a bit ridiculous—perhaps because Sanders himself is something of an oddball—but there is resounding optimism in Boulder and an underlying belief that Coach Prime will rescue the Buffs from two decades’ worth of mediocrity. It’s only been two days, and if the buzz around the program is any indication, we are in for a ride.

Twoish Days of Prime Time

Saturday, Nov. 26

Fox Sports reports that the University of Colorado has offered its head football coach vacancy to Deion Sanders without mentioning any sources.

Monday, Nov. 28

Sanders confirms that he has received an offer to be the head football coach at the University of Colorado while on a teleconference for the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game participants. “I’m not going to sit here and tell all my business, but they’re not the only ones,” he adds.

Wednesday, Nov. 30

Football’s most wanted man says he will select where he’ll coach by Sunday. It is believed he’s choosing between the University of Cincinnati, the University of South Florida, and the University of Colorado.

Saturday, Dec. 3

The University of Colorado announces that it has hired Sanders as its head football coach.

Sunday, Dec. 4

Deion Sanders posts a video of himself (sitting casually in a white leather armchair) sharing with his football team at Jackson State University that he will be accepting a different coaching opportunity. In the caption, he declares that he’s bound for Colorado. One highlight of many: “It hasn’t been too many times where I was meant to stay right and I took a left (maybe a couple marriages).”

 

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His son (and media manager of sorts), Deion Jr., posts another video, comparing the elder Deion to Tony Montana of Scarface.

https://twitter.com/CUBarstool/status/1599478955861749761

Around 2 p.m., Sanders is introduced at a press conference with more glitz and glam than a Ciara concert. Chancellor Phillip P. DiStefano alludes to updating the transfer requirements at the university, which would allow for better recruiting, and athletic director Rick George tears up as he gives something resembling an acceptance speech. In front of university administration, Sanders hypes the crowd, which includes journalists, players, and even congressman Joe Neguse.

https://twitter.com/shannonsharpeee/status/1599510085583392768

Incidentally, Sanders also names a starting quarterback: his son Shedeur, who isn’t even enrolled at CU.

After the presser, Sanders holds a team meeting with the players, which is also recorded.

https://twitter.com/CollegeFBPortal/status/1599541937140535296

Later in the day, the terms of Deion Sanders’ deal are revealed: five years, $29.5 million. He is set to earn $5.5 million in his first year with $200,000 raises each subsequent year. Prior to the hiring, the highest-paid head football coach in University of Colorado history was Karl Dorrell, who made $3.6 million and was fired on October 2.

When asked how CU drummed up the finances for Coach Prime, athletic director Rick George says, “We don’t have the money yet, but I know we’ll have it, so I’m not worried about that piece.”

Monday, Dec. 5

Alums, fans, and Buff Nation are pumped.

https://twitter.com/RyanGreeneDNVR/status/1596956704276590592

Meanwhile, recruiting has already begun.

https://twitter.com/SwavyMo/status/1599534930064998400

At least for now, the future in Boulder is bright.