Coach Prime effect in full force at Colorado spring game

Look at how packed Folsom Field is for Deion Sanders’ first spring game in charge at Colorado.

It is amazing how much a year’s difference can make for the overall health of one college program.

The Colorado Buffaloes were a complete afterthought with Karl Dorrell leading the way. CU fired him midway through last season, ahead of what ended up being a 1-11 campaign for the Pac-12 doormat. Colorado was arguably the worst team in the Power Five a season ago, but that did not stop Deion Sanders from taking the job after a terrific run at the HBCU level leading Jackson State.

Coach Prime has yet to coach the Buffs in a game that counts, but this spring game turnout at Folsom Field is nothing short of spectacular.

Colorado has long been one of the most apathetic fanbases in major college football, so this is certainly a sight to behold. The bigger question is if Coach Prime will be able to sustain this level of intense enthusiasm throughout his tenure at CU, no matter how short or long it is. We shall see!

Deion Sanders is already changing the entire dynamic of Colorado football

Look. The Buffs went 1-11 a season ago for a reason. They were largely devoid of talent. Yes, a lot of that had to do with the university making it incredibly difficult for players to transfer in because CU wouldn’t accept just any academic credits. But you know what? Coach Prime is the perfect coach to change your ways for. He is arguably the coolest human to ever lace up a pair of cleats.

As for what to expect out of the Buffs this fall, I think a realistic goal for them is to achieve bowl eligibility at 6-6. The Pac-12 is not one of the better Power Five conferences, but it still has plenty of great teams at the top and middle of it. Truth be told, bottom-feeders like CU, Arizona and Arizona State could be looking up. At least Cal and Stanford will continue to be mostly dreck again.

Ultimately, Sanders is a football thermostat; he changes the temperature of the room. It may be an odd fit in some regards at Colorado, but I think this is going to be a healthy marriage for both parties while it lasts. Sanders played with a lot of the former Buffaloes stars who shined under the Bill McCartney in the 1980s and early 1990s. He can be the one to help return CU football to glory.

For now, let’s just sit back and enjoy the fact that the Mountain Time Zone is the new Prime Time!

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