Right now, there’s more at stake for the Colorado Buffaloes than just how they will rebound from a 0-3 start in Big 12 conference play on Saturday at home against the Iowa State Cyclones. There’s the matter of the “Coach Prime” effect in Boulder and if it can survive Deion Sanders’ continuing health issues.
After admitting after Saturday’s loss at Texas Christian that he was once again dealing with blood clots and had a doctor’s appointment on Monday “to see what time it is,” there has to be some thought in Boulder about what might happen if the 58-year-old Sanders has to step away from the sidelines to focus on his health. Will CU still be a destination for elite recruits if Sanders isn’t coaching?
That’s a hard question to answer, but one that has to be at the forefront of many minds in Boulder before Tuesday’s news conference, where Sanders is expected to give a health update.
Colorado has sprung to the front of college football headlines since hiring Sanders before the 2023 campaign. Through the first six weeks of this season, CU games have had national viewership, with four of the games shown on ESPN and reportedly drawing the second-most television viewers of any college, trailing only Oregon. It’s high praise for a team that has started the season 2-4, but it’s further indication that Coach Prime and the aura around him drives eyeballs.
“Deion Sanders’ stature transcends sports, and his hiring elevates not only the football program but the university as a whole,” CU Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano said at the time of Sanders’ hiring. Now, what happens in Boulder if that stature isn’t roaming the sidelines?
Sanders admitted on Saturday that his leg was “throbbing” and that continues what has been a worrisome path for the head coach in recent years. This summer, he announced he had undergone surgery to remove his bladder after doctors discovered a tumor. He previously had blood clots in his legs, undergoing emergency surgery in 2023 to treat the condition.
There’s no question that Deion Sanders is tough. However, even the toughest individuals must step away sometimes to take care of themselves.
That could potentially happen in Boulder, and if it does, Colorado needs to have a plan in place to keep the Coach Prime effect from fading into the Flatirons that surround the campus. It won’t be easy without the man in the spotlight, but it’s one of the most important things CU must consider in light of Sanders’ health and what could come next.
Sanders has taken CU to a new level of interest around the country. Now it’s up to the school to figure out if there’s a way to keep that interest moving ahead with an underperforming team and a head coach who may eventually have to choose his health over his job.
