The CU Buffs for years have been a shell of what they once were in the 80’s and 90’s. Once a powerhouse and often lumped into conversations with great college teams like Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Miami, the Buffs began to fall off the national NCAA map in the late 90’s and their fall continued through 2022 when they won a single game last season.
Colorado was once third in college football for having the most active players in the NFL. In the 80’s Colorado gained it’s elite football program notoriety under Bill McCartney who led the Buffs to first National Championship in 1990 when they defeated Notre Dame 10 – 9.
After years of sub-par mediocrity from the program they once were, Colorado’s athletic director said enough, and made one of the most controversial decisions in CU Buffs Athletics history, he reached out to a man well known among the football community for his tenacity and determination.
Shortly after the end of CU’s dismal season the University of Colorado hired Coach Deion Sanders (Coach Prime) to try and bring the schools football program back to its once elite status.
On Saturday the Coach Prime led CU Buffs were on primetime television in Dallas Fort Worth to face last season’s runner up to the National Championship, Texas Christian University. In the weeks leading up to the game critics and sports writers blogged, podcasted and shared their thoughts about how Coach Prime’s unorthodox approach by practically overhauling the entire team was the biggest mistake by any coach in history.
Vegas agreed as they had the Buffs as three touchdown underdogs heading into Saturday’s game. But Coach Prime and his newly developed squad of young talent were out to show the world why they were wrong about Coach Primes approach.
In front of millions of viewers across the country, the CU Buffs went out and out-worked and out-hustled a team that was supposed to beat them by three touchdowns. The result was much different than anyone expected. CU struck first with a touchdown, added 10 more in before the half and went on to defeat TCU 45 – 42 in what many are calling one of the biggest upsets in College Football.
To add insult to all of Coach Primes nay-sayers, his son Shedeur Sanders broke a school record by throwing for over 500 yards in a single game. Additionally, Saturday’s game was the first in school history to feature four receivers with over 100 yards receiving.
Wide receiver Travis Hunter is in talks for the Heisman after just one game with 11 receptions for 119 yards and one interception. We can’t leave out Coach Prime’s other son Shilo Sanders who led the team in tackles (9 tackles, 1 assist).
This week CU will host the Nebraska Cornhuskers to hopefully rekindle an old rivalry. Both organizations are similar in that both have first year coaches who are looking at turning their football programs around. Last week Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule debuted in his first game where he lost a close one to the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
This week coach Rhule looks to get his first win over the newly ranked CU Buffs in a hostile environment for Corn huskers fans and faculty.
