Centennial State News

In a Dec. 4,  press conference, Colorado University Boulder Football coach Deion Sanders vowed to give student athletes what they want, and to out-recruit the competition.

“The kids, they want exposure, they want to be on television, they want the (big) lights and action — we’re going to give them that,” Sanders said. “We’re going to give them the followers, we’re going to give them the attention, we’re going to give them the love and the support. And we need each and every one of (the CU donor base). Because the caliber of players that we’re getting ready to bring to you, they’re going to want something.” The announcement went out on Dec. 3. Deion "Prime Time" Sanders has been hired as the head coach for the Colorado Buffaloes.

"There were a number of highly qualified and impressive candidates interested in becoming the next head football coach at Colorado, but none of them had the pedigree, the knowledge and the ability to connect with student-athletes like Deion Sanders," Athletic Director Rick George said, according to the university's website. "Not only will Coach Prime energize our fanbase, but I’m also confident that he will lead our program back to national prominence while leading a team of high quality and high character."

“I’m excited to announce that from the administration’s standpoint, we are working to give coach, and all of his student-athletes, the tools they need to succeed,” CU chancellor Phil DiStefano said, according to the university's website. “In conjunction with our faculty partners, we are updating some of our transfer-credit review processes with a program that seeks to enhance … for all prospective transfer students — students and student-athletes — expedited assessments of transfer ability and academic credits from other institutions to be accepted at CU-Boulder.”

Sanders' first game as head coach for the Buffaloes will be next Sept. 2 at TCU, currently ranked third in the College Football Playoff standings. His first home games follow on Sept. 9 against long-time rival Nebraska, with in-state rival Colorado State on tap the following Saturday. Those two foes open the 100th season of CU's historic Folsom Field.