When Deion Sanders compared scrutiny he faced at Colorado with his experience at HBCUs and Power Five schools

Deion Sanders, head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, talked about his straightforward approach to criticism after taking on the Colorado Boulders coaching job in 2023. He said his career as a player and coach had been marked by similar scrutiny.

Ahead of his debut as Colorado's head coach, on Sept. 2, 2023, Sanders had a one-on-one interview with ESPN's Troy Aikman.

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Sanders faced significant criticism from his fellow coaches such as Brett Venables and Pat Narduzzi during his first offseason, particularly regarding the large number of player transfers and roster changes.

Sanders shrugged off the criticism in the interview:

“It happened like that at HBCUs, it happened like that in high school, it happened like that in youth football. This ain't no different, it's just a different level."

"Same devil, just a different level"

To build a competitive team quickly, Sanders brought in 46 transfers from other four-year colleges. This included nine players from Jackson State, where he had coached between 2020-23. The new additions as part of his rebuild also included 17 recruits from high schools and four players from junior colleges.

Sanders was announced as coach of Colorado on Dec. 4, 2022. It was right after leading Jackson State to a Southwestern Athletic Conference title.

Sanders' move was significant as it marked a rare moment for Black coaches in Power Five programs. College football coaching at the Power Five level remains predominantly white. However, Sanders' hiring was a step toward diversifying those ranks. As of 2022, the P5 head coaching positions still showed a lack of diversity.

Sanders’ departure from Jackson State also left an impact. During his time there, his team brought national attention to the program. He also maintained the importance of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in football.

Sanders' presence in Colorado has been a significant moment for the program. However, on the other hand, it has not been without its share of challenges. After a promising 3-0 start to the season, the Buffaloes lost 31-28 to Kansas State. This defeat halted their momentum. The game also marked the return of Sanders' son, Shilo Sanders following a broken forearm injury sustained against Nebraska in Week 2.

Deion Sanders analyzes Shilo Sander's performance

Shilo's performance in the game drew sharp criticism from his father and coach. Shilo struggled in his return, particularly with tackling. His father, Deion Sanders, did not hold back in his critique.

"I thought he played horrible," Sanders said.

"I thought he was rusty. He was coming up trying to make the play, but open field, one-on-one tackle, with that kind of back, that ain’t an easy task."

Despite the criticism, Shilo expressed his determination to improve. In an interview ahead of Colorado’s Week 8 matchup against the Arizona Wildcats, he acknowledged his poor performance and expressed his readiness to bounce back from a matchup he proclaimed to be the "worst game" of his career.

Also read: Deion Sanders delivers eye-opening speech to fire up Colorado players after huge setback: "Fans only blow when you hot”