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BOULDER, Colo. — Deion Sanders mentioned Monday {that a} report stating Colorado has provided him its head-coaching job is true and that he additionally has acquired curiosity from different faculties.
The Jackson State soccer coach did not say whether or not he is contemplating any of the alternatives, together with attempting to show across the Buffaloes’ beleaguered program.
Sanders did not specify in a teleconference for the Southwestern Athletic Convention championship recreation individuals who else has reached out in addition to Colorado, saying, “I am not going to take a seat right here and inform all my enterprise, however they are not the one ones.”
The college hasn’t commented on any candidates to exchange Karl Dorrell, who was dismissed in October. Interim coach Mike Sanford completed out the Buffaloes’ 1-11 season.
On Saturday, Fox Sports activities reported with out citing sources that Colorado had provided Sanders the job.
The Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer has guided Jackson State, a traditionally Black faculty that performs within the second tier of NCAA Division I soccer, to an 11-0 mark this season. The Tigers host Southern within the SWAC championship Saturday.
Referred to as “Prime Time” throughout his enjoying profession, the magnetic Sanders prefers “Coach Prime” nowadays. He mentioned the provide to educate the Buffaloes is not a distraction.
“To another person that hasn’t been that dude, it is intoxicating. I have been ‘Prime’ for a very long time, dawg,” Sanders mentioned with amusing. “Consideration ain’t nothing new to me. Like, come on. I am not being braggadocious — that is a beautiful phrase, is not it? I simply got here up with that — however this is not new to me. Being within the highlight is not new to me.”
Whoever takes over in Boulder has their work minimize out. The Buffs went 1-8 within the Pac-12 and concluded their gloomy season with a 63-21 blowout loss to No. 12 Utah at Folsom Subject on Saturday.
Earlier than the season, Colorado misplaced a number of starters by means of the switch portal, an space Sanders might certainly shore up ought to he settle for the Buffaloes’ job.
Employed by Jackson State in September 2020 after teaching his sons at a Texas highschool, Sanders referred to as the match “a match made in heaven.” He shortly lifted the varsity in Mississippi’s capital to SWAC champion in a single calendar yr.
The Tigers adopted up a 4-3 end in a pandemic-delayed spring season with an 11-2 exhibiting final fall, a exceptional soar led by Sanders’ son Shedeur Sanders at quarterback. They misplaced to South Carolina State within the Celebration Bowl.
Jackson State’s efficiency was important past incomes its first convention title since 2007. A program that has produced Corridor of Famers similar to Walter Payton, Lem Barney, Jackie Slater and Robert Brazile was related once more amongst traditionally Black schools and universities, and Sanders was decided to maintain it that approach.
Sanders has additionally scored on the recruiting path, touchdown five-star defensive again Travis Hunter and four-star receiver Kevin Coleman for this yr’s unbeaten squad. Sanders informed The Related Press in an October podcast that each gamers selected JSU as a result of he and his workers will put together them for careers within the NFL.
But Sanders has famous that faculties similar to Jackson State stay at an inherent drawback in recruiting.
“So now it is changing into an choice,” Sanders mentioned of prime recruits selecting HBCUs. “However it’s not really a balanced choice due to services, due to the housing. Due to all of the aesthetics at HBCUs. We’re underfunded and neglected. So, it isn’t the identical.”
Sanders’ success in lifting the championship subdivision program’s profile — to not point out drawing consideration to Black faculty soccer and the challenges JSU and different applications face in fielding applications — sparked hypothesis about Energy 5 faculties pursuing him for teaching vacancies.
Even earlier than Sanders took the Jackson State job, he met with officers at Energy 5 faculties about their teaching vacancies and impressed along with his preparation.
Sanders was an All-American at Florida State earlier than a stellar NFL profession with 5 groups that included the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. He received a Tremendous Bowl every with the Niners and Cowboys.
The 55-year-old — or whoever the brand new coach could also be — would step right into a Colorado program that is a good distance from its glory days underneath Corridor of Fame coach Invoice McCartney, who led CU to a nationwide championship after the 1990 season.
The Buffaloes have had just one full-length profitable season since becoming a member of the Pac-12 in 2011.
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