Coach Prime delivers words to college football’s wasteland

“Fired up” is an example of informal language. A more formal way to say this would be “energized.”
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Part politician, part preacher and part pitchman, Deion Sanders energized a crowd of alumni, boosters, former players and other VIPs celebrating his hire as Colorado’s coach on Sunday.

He promised that motivational sayings will soon adorn the walls inside the complex at Folsom Field and vowed to lead the bedraggled Buffaloes back to prominence after going 27-5 in three seasons at Jackson State.

“I have the best coaching staff assembled, some of the best scouts, some of the best kids that we’re recruiting, some already coming on the way as I speak,” Sanders told the crowd of hundreds who whooped and hollered at his answers from among the dozens of reporters at his introductory news conference.

“Now that I’m here, I see it, I understand it, I can grasp it, I can touch it, I can feel it, I can taste it,” Sanders added. ”
“All you want is the opportunity to win — I truly understand what you want.” In order to compete. To be in control. To be part of the elite. It is my goal to be one of the best.

“And darn it, I’m gonna give you that.”

He reminded everyone that he first had to finish some work in Jackson, Mississippi.

Sanders said that he would coach the unbeaten Tigers in the Celebration Bowl (the championship for historically Black college football programs) on December 17th.

Then, he said, he could turn his attention entirely to resuscitating the Buffaloes.

“I can multitask and focus,” Sanders, the former NFL and major league superstar and the only athlete ever to play in both the Super Bowl and the World Series, said assuredly.

“Bringing you back to where you know you should belong is my job, my occupation, my business, and my dream,” Sanders said. According to a person with knowledge of Sanders’ contract, it is worth $29.5 million over five years with annual incentives starting at $5.5 million in the first year. Incentives offered yearly include $150,000 for six wins, $100,000 for each win after six, $150,000 for a bowl berth, and $200,000 for a New Year’s Six bowl invitation.

An extra $750,000 would be Sanders’ if he won a national title like CU did under coach Bill McCartney following the 1990 season.

Sanders is already assembling his staff, scouting the transfer portal, and reaching out to five-star high school recruits to help him fix a program that has just one winning full-length season since joining the Pac-12 in 2011.

Sanders asked his son, Shedeur, to stand up at one point.

He told the audience, “This is your quarterback,” and it replied with one of its biggest cheers.

Recent developments will help Sanders lure top-level athletes expected to cascade onto campus.

The school recently launched a collective for donations that will create a pool of money so that Colorado can compete with its conference rivals for name, image and likeness deals.

A move that will allow Sanders to compete with established football powerhouses across the country, the university also relaxed its rules regarding transfer credits.

“A game changer,” said former Buffaloes and NFL standout tight end Daniel Graham with admiration. ”
Now we are able to compete with all the other universities. “Now that we’ve won the championship, we’ll be able to get some big-time transfers in here,”

Sanders told his players after Jackson State defeated Southern 43-24 in the Southwest Athletic Conference championship Saturday night.

He flew to Boulder, toured the football facilities, and then toured the picturesque campus stadium. Despite having two toes amputated last year due to blood clots, he walked onto the field.

This situation is wonderful. “This city is unbelievable,” Sanders said. Under new coach Sanders, CU fans are hoping for a quick turnaround, much like Southern California saw when they went from 4-8 to 11-2 in one season under new coach Lincoln Riley. Sanders provided a promise, but he didn’t give a timeline.

“It may not happen as quickly as you may desire it to,” Sanders said, “but it’s going to happen.”

“We are going to win. It’s inevitable. I don’t want to put a timetable on it, but it’s going to happen.”

“I’m just old school,” said Sanders, who has transitioned from “Prime Time” as one of the best dual-sport professional athletes ever to “Coach Prime.”

After we finish this work, I just want you to know we’re on the way. To win, not to compete. To show out, not to show up. To be the absolute best, not just among the rest. We are coming into work. We’re not going to play. We’re coming to kill, not to mess around. ”

Believe baby, we’re coming. “You’ve got to feel that energy inside of you,” Sanders continued. “We’re coming.”

“When you get to the stadium, get there early because by the time kickoff comes, we’re coming for you.” Do you understand it? Can you feel that? I’m so pumped for this event! I can’t wait for it to start. We’re going to do great! “You have no idea what you blessed me with, the opportunity that you give me,” he said. “I feel like I owe you.”

“I will work for you every day. I’m going to try hard for you. I will develop for you. I’m going to commit to you. I’m going to do things that others wouldn’t do. “Baby, we’re coming. So anybody asked you something about, ‘When is he coming back?’ You say, ‘I don’t know, but I know he’s coming.”