Colorado coach Deion Sanders has turned into one of the defining figures of this college football season.
Coach Prime has captured the spotlight in a way few college coaches have in the past few years, and he’s also become one of the game’s best quotes.
Sanders spoke with For the Win earlier this month as part of his work to promote California Almonds.
He shared not only about how Colorado has navigated such a unique season, but on how he’s grown as a coach and how he relates with his team.
We’ve got five key takeaways from our chat with Sanders from our conversation.
1
Where Sanders has grown the most as a coach this season
“Patience,” Sanders said with a laugh. “It’s been two years since my staff that we brought over has sustained a loss in a regular season game. We hadn’t lost in two years, and we won four [state titles] in high school… we’re accustomed to winning.
“So just dropping games and not coming out on top, that’s kind of tough for us to fathom because we know what we possess. We’ve just got to make sure we consistently get like-minded people in the coaching positions, in the management positions, as well as the young men that are playing on the field that are like-minded so we can continuously do what we do.”
2
How he balances being Shedeur Sanders' coach and dad
“Shedeur, being a quarterback… I can’t say it really is a balance because that’s all we know,” Sanders said. “He’s never played for another coach in his life. He’s never been on the field without me until I sustained a blood clot to my leg and missed four games in Jackson, so that was the first time in his life that he was on the field without me.”
3
On his recent health scares with blood clots in his leg
Sanders has recently had multiple surgeries to address blood clots in his legs and other issues.
“We’re all faced with challenges,” Sanders shared. “Whether it be health-wise or financial challenges or spiritual challenges or challenges from your kids or from family members, we’re all faced with challenges. It’s how you deal with them. I’m rocksteady. I trust God so much that I don’t flinch because I can’t say, ‘God, why me?’ I’m living in this home. I’m driving these cars. I’m in this wonderful position looking at mountains, and then I say, ‘God, why me?’
“We don’t win a football game or my leg is… I’ve got blood clots and whatever, you can’t do that. You’ve got to be consistent with your relationship and how you view life.”
4
How he approaches coaching players from this particular generation
“You’ve got to be consistent,” Sanders said. “We always say this generation is different. You know why they’re different? Because you’re different. Because the parents are different. Because the teachers are different. Because everyone they come into contact with are different, and they rarely get the opportunity to witness consistency and morals and values and accountability.
“Back growing up in our days, that’s what it was, and love and respect. That’s what it was. So we’ve got to get back to those ways. Then we’ll see the consistency of the young men and young women that we desire.”
5
Why Sanders has partnered with California Almonds
“It’s been a blast; it’s been phenomenal,” Sanders said of his partnership with California Almonds. “I’m sitting over here, eating them at my desk right now because it’s something that I enjoy. It’s a brand that I really recognize, and I utilize on a daily basis, especially when I’m coming right off the field to replenish and trying to get myself back going.
“I love the relationship. I love the creativity that we displayed in the spot that we did together, and I love every minute of it. I really do.”
