Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes football program have been no stranger to controversy this year. Colorado lost more players to the NCAA’s transfer portal than anyone. Coach Prime and the Buffaloes football program have also banned a local Denver Post reporter from asking questions.
So, it’s not surprising that Sanders and his program have been taking serious heat, especially from ESPN’s Paul Finebaum.
“This is a trait of Deion Sanders,” Finebaum said. “He wants to have it his way and I find him to be a bully and a hypocrite. And quite frankly, as someone who has been a fan of his throughout his entire career, even at Colorado, I am mortified by his actions.”
While criticism of Sanders and Colorado is valid, the former NFL star turned head coach is also deserving of serious praise for a recent move with his players.
This week, Deion Sanders partnered with a bank to open savings accounts for Colorado football players with children.
Colorado’s NIL collective, 5430 Alliance, had been working on a partnership. They were able to work with Elevations Credit Union to get savings accounts with $2,121, a nod to Sanders’ signature number, for every Colorado player with a child.
“By the time the baby is 18, the baby will be straight and have a head start on life,” Sanders said. “That’s what we need. Imagine if you had 100 grand dumped on you when you were 18. … Let’s pave the way, let’s lay it out so the child has an advantage in life.”
Colorado players were understandably thrilled by the move.
“It made my whole day. I was like, ‘This is amazing. This is crazy,’” Reggie Calhoun Jr. of Colorado’s collective said. “To have a coach talking about building men and see him put the work in and put actions forth, it changes the way you view coaching in the college sports world.”
He added: “They’re appreciative. Grateful. The smiles and the thank yous and gratitude was all worth it.”
Well done, Deion.
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