Colorado head coach Deion Sanders can add another achievement to his résumé. On Thursday morning, he was officially named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year.
Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated had this to say about Sanders: “In less than a year, Coach Prime has not only transformed a moribund Colorado football program. He’s also breathed fresh life into the campus and transformed a community.”
Sanders essentially took over a program that was a bottom feeder in the Pac-12 and turned it into a team that’s must-see TV.
While the Buffaloes certainly came up short down the stretch, there’s a ton of hype surrounding the program. After all, they have a star quarterback in Shedeur Sanders.
Coach Prime is here, and he’s just getting started
Deion Sanders is SI’s 2023 Sportsperson of the Year! https://t.co/Xebtm9bmNZ pic.twitter.com/Sdt500V93u
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 30, 2023
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It’s also worth noting that Colorado lost a handful of one-possession games this season. If they made a few more plays here and there, it’s possible the Buffaloes would’ve been bowl eligible.
“The Oregon game, I’ve forgotten it,” Sanders said. “I’ve moved past it. The others stay with me. Three points, seven points—details, consistency. We want to win now.”
We’ll see if Sanders ends up being much more successful in Year 2.