In the days since Jimbo Fisher was sacked as head coach at Texas A&M, high-profile college football coaches throughout the country have been speculated as possible replacements for one of the league’s top coaching positions.
This rumor made its way all the way to Boulder, Colorado, where former Dallas Cowboy and current Colorado coach Deion Sanders is in his first season as an FBS head coach.
Some analysts — ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith chief among them — have tabbed the Hall of Fame cornerback as a potential successor to Fisher. They want to see “Coach Prime” head to the SEC, with Smith saying, “That needs to happen.”
But when asked about the rumors during his weekly news conference, Sanders dismissed talking about it and focused on his team’s upcoming game against Washington State.
“I want to win a game. You think I sit down and think about that kind of stuff?” Sanders said. “Come on. I’m good. We gotta win. Let’s focus on this week.”
Sanders and Colorado (4-6, 1-6 Pac-12) exploded in their 2023 season-opener by beating national championship runner-up TCU on the road. Since starting 3-0, the Buffaloes have lost six of their last seven games.
Growing pains are not uncommon in a first year under a new head coach and after winning just one game in 2022, the program seems content with where they are headed.
Before joining Colorado, Sanders coached FCS program Jackson State for three years, compiling a 27-6 record and going two straight seasons undefeated in SWAC play.
With Sanders still early in his college coaching career, there’s uncertainty about how long he might stay in Boulder, particularly when he’s being sought after for the quick improvement he’s brought to the schools he’s been at.
Sanders was asked what he would tell a concerned parent of a player about the prospect he wouldn’t stick around and he called upon what he’s said all along.
“I’d tell them what I told them when I came here: I’m here. I’m here,” Sanders said. “My mother is here. My sister is here. My dog is here. My daughter is here. Three of my sons are here. And my other daughter comes out for every home game. I get mail here. I pay taxes here. I’m here.”
Sanders, like most coaches, never completely dismissed the idea. However, considering that Texas A&M has stated that they want to select their next coach by Dec. 4 — when the transfer portal opens — Sanders is unlikely to be headed to Texas anytime soon.
