Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders is facing mounting criticism over his game management and recruiting tactics. The team's performance took a hit after an initial three-game winning streak, with eight losses in the following nine games. Sanders' conflicting statements about player recruitment, first opposing the idea of buying players, then requesting additional funds from boosters, has caused confusion among potential recruits. This, coupled with the team's poor performance, has led to the loss of high-level recruits, including a third high-level recruit, and high school commitments, jeopardizing the program's future. Despite the disappointing 4-8 season, Sanders was named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, a decision that sparked controversy and led to speculation about AI bots influencing the selection. The demotion of assistant coach Sean Lewis and predictions from Pac-12 coaches about Sanders' struggles in recruiting top assistants have added to the concerns. The debate over whether Sanders needs to focus more on being a coach than a celebrity continues to grow.
Sports Illustrated bizarrely name Deion Sanders as their 'Sportsperson of the Year' for 2023... despite his high-profile Colorado football team losing eight of their last nine games! https://t.co/GuERbN3b0G https://t.co/c2ah2W4poW
SI PICKS SANDERS #DeionSanders Wins Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Award https://t.co/P6Occx8svg https://t.co/VMS3WlTT8c
Why is Colorado continuing to lose their high school commitments? @AriWasserman points to Deion Sanders' approach to recruiting. "At a certain point, Deion Sanders is going to have to stop being a celebrity and he's going to have to start being a coach." https://t.co/FhTyuyvLAz
Deion Sanders is Sports Illustrated’s 2023 Sportsperson of the Year The charismatic Colorado coach appeared to be authoring instant turnaround for fallen college football program before sudden surge in losses https://t.co/YGsEX2yPv0
'Was Written by AI': Sports Illustrated Gets Ripped to Shreds for Naming 4-8 Coach Deion Sanders 'Sportsperson of the Year' https://t.co/GhU4lwLfh4
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year https://t.co/PpBPewhkz3 via @USATODAY
Deion Sanders is SI’s Sportsperson of the Year despite Colorado’s last-place finish https://t.co/a93cLUmMLT https://t.co/97piouJFMW
Sports Illustrated names CU Buffs coach Deion Sanders Sportsperson of the Year https://t.co/j5jFX68yk4
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year https://t.co/gpLPrXIsjQ
Deion Sanders is a fascinating guy. I loved watching him play. He's uniquely him, and good for that. But Sportsperson of the Year? Was a 4-8 season that much of a Colorado miracle? Have the AI bots completely taken over Sports Illustrated?
Sports Illustrated’s 2023 Sportsperson of the Year: Deion Sanders. https://t.co/NrMDUQHyup
Pac-12 coaches who spoke to The Athletic predicted Deion Sanders would have a hard time recruiting top assistants this offseason after demoting Sean Lewis. What else did the coaches say about Sanders and the future of Colorado? More insight: https://t.co/bjD5Y6P8te https://t.co/QlFA0KJM4f
Pac-12 coaches who spoke to The Athletic predicted Deion Sanders would have a hard time recruiting top assistants this offseason after demoting Sean Lewis. What else did the coaches say about Sanders and the future of Colorado? More insight: https://t.co/bjD5Y6P8te https://t.co/I2zNe4Q6Cz
Deion Sanders' three biggest mistakes and accomplishments in first year at Colorado https://t.co/E2MxIYPs9u via @USATODAY
Deion Sanders' three biggest mistakes and accomplishments in first year at Colorado https://t.co/J1MQISRs9X
Deion Sanders loses third high-level recruit after Colorado’s season ended in thud https://t.co/S5eJe9q7iu https://t.co/7jVy3ZFe6K
Coach Prime swore that his Colorado Buffs wouldn't "buy" players. Four days later, Deion Sanders asked #CUBuffs boosters for more money to lure top-flight talent. No wonder recruits are confused. @DPCollegeSports column: https://t.co/LfGP3rGIvN #GoBuffs #SkoBuffs #Pac12
Deion Sanders and Colorado lose top recruits https://t.co/biex60xCtw
A Heisman Trophy issue, plus Deion Sanders’ Colorado football recruiting missteps https://t.co/Z3M2KoTrat
He swore that his Colorado Buffs wouldn't "buy" players. Four days later, Deion Sanders asked #CUBuffs boosters for more money to lure top-flight talent. No wonder recruits are confused. @DPostSports column: #GoBuffs #SkoBuffs #Pac12 https://t.co/LfGP3rGIvN
Deion Sanders at Colorado: Memorable Year 1 moments as Coach Prime leads Buffs to up-and-down season in debut (via: @DavidWCobb) https://t.co/D7Rk80KRxI
"There's reason to be concerned." Why Deion Sanders' recruiting doublespeak has the Colorado Buffs sounding more like the Colorado Bluffs, new from The @DenverPost: #CUBuffs #GoBuffs #Buffs #SkoBuffs #NCAA #Big12 #Pac12 #Colorado https://t.co/LfGP3rGIvN
He vowed that his Colorado Buffs wouldn't buy players on the open market. Four days later, Deion Sanders asked #GoBuffs boosters for more money to lure top-flight talent. No wonder recruits are confused. @DenverPost column: #CUBuffs #SkoBuffs #Pac12 https://t.co/LfGP3rGIvN
Deion Sanders’ poor recruiting results are a major issue for Colorado’s build https://t.co/lggxDTWqH1
"There's definitely reason to be concerned." Why Deion Sanders' recruiting doublespeak has the Colorado Buffs sounding more like the Colorado Bluffs, new from @DPostSports: #CUBuffs #GoBuffs #Buffs #SkoBuffs #NCAA #Big12 #Pac12 #Colorado https://t.co/WdCl5DQuFj
Deion Sanders declared that his Colorado Buffs wouldn't buy players on the open market. Four days later, he asked #GoBuffs boosters for more money to lure top-flight talent. No wonder recruits are confused. @DPCollegeSports col: #CUBuffs #SkoBuffs #Pac12 https://t.co/LfGP3rGIvN
NEW: "There's definitely reason to be concerned." Why Deion Sanders' recruiting doublespeak has the Colorado Buffs sounding more like the Colorado Bluffs, up now from @DPCollegeSports: https://t.co/LfGP3rGIvN #CUBuffs #GoBuffs #Buffs #SkoBuffs #NCAA #Big12 #Pac12 #Colorado
NEW: "There's definitely reason to be concerned." Why Deion Sanders' recruiting doublespeak has the Colorado Buffs sounding more like the Colorado Bluffs, up now from @DPostSports: https://t.co/LfGP3rHgll #CUBuffs #GoBuffs #Buffs #SkoBuffs #NCAA #Big12 #Pac12 #Colorado
NEW: "There's definitely reason to be concerned." Why Deion Sanders' recruiting doublespeak has the Colorado Buffs sounding more like the Colorado Bluffs, up now from The @DenverPost: https://t.co/LfGP3rGIvN #CUBuffs #GoBuffs #Buffs #SkoBuffs #NCAA #Big12 #Pac12 #Colorado
After starting the season with three straight wins, Deion Sanders’ Colorado team lost eight of its last nine games including six straight losses to close out Coach Prime’s first season in Boulder. Losses on the field are turning into losses on the recruiting trail as well and… https://t.co/4XvZCQVD0M https://t.co/n63taBUi60
BRUNCH LINK: Coach Prime is a 5-star recruiter, 5-star celeb & a 2-star game-manager. Until the Deion Sanders exorcises those game-management demons, his #CUBuffs are staring at more Ls like Utah. @DPostSports col: #GoBuffs #SkoBuffs #NCAA #Colorado https://t.co/i6dB7W2bvV
NEW: He's 5-star recruiter, 5-star celeb & a 2-star game-manager. Until Colorado coach Deion Sanders exorcises those game-management demons, his #CUBuffs are staring at more losses like Utah. @DenverPost column: #GoBuffs #SkoBuffs #NCAA #Colorado https://t.co/i6dB7W2bvV
NEW: Deion Sanders is a 5-star recruiter, 5-star celeb & a 2-star game-manager. Until the Colorado coach exorcises those game-management demons, his #CUBuffs are staring at more losses like Utah. @DPostSports column: #GoBuffs #SkoBuffs #NCAA #Colorado https://t.co/i6dB7W2bvV
NEW: Deion Sanders is a 5-star recruiter, 5-star celeb & a 2-star game-manager. Until the Colorado coach exorcises those game-management demons, his #CUBuffs are staring at more Ls just like Utah. @DPostSports col: https://t.co/F0xFerEBy6… #GoBuffs #SkoBuffs #NCAA #Colorado