Deion Sanders' name has been synonymous with football excellence and charisma but now he's the face of college football. As he approaches his second year as coach of the Buffaloes, Sanders’ transition from an illustrious Hall of Fame playing career to a coaching role has been under intense scrutiny. Coach Prime has brought significant attention to Colorado's program, even if his coaching credentials are still a topic of debate among analysts and fans alike.
“First of all, he is a celebrity but he’s not a celebrity as a coach. To me, Deion, it’s all about what he did previously and I think that’s why I give him a lot of credit for calling himself Coach Prime. Because that puts the emphasis on being a coach,” Finebaum said about Sanders’ nickname. “But listen, he is an industry-created coaching celebrity. What happened last year was generational, but it was mostly forced and created, and it was really in many ways illegitimate.
“He really never beat anyone of consequence, but that didn’t stop us from talking about it," Finebaum said. "By the way, I’m guilty. I was on those shows as you were. But it felt surreal and I’ll never forget being asked, I think Steven A. Smith asked me in the second week of the season "hey, do you think they’re a playoff team?" I had a hard time answering with a straight face, because I think he had just been out there and he believed in it. But that was never real.
Despite the skepticism, Sanders' influence in college football is undeniable. His presence has transformed the Buffaloes into a nationally relevant program, bringing in top talent and making Colorado a frequent topic of discussion in the college football community. This attention, while sometimes seen as superficial, can have lasting benefits in recruiting and program visibility.