Sports
What legacy will Deion Sanders leave in Colorado?
Beginning his tenure at historically Black Jackson State, where he revitalized a struggling program, Deion Sanders has left his mark on college football.
He did this through smoke and mirrors, capitalizing on a recent trend in college sports using the transfer portal and a reputation, image and likeness that allowed athletes to make their very own business deals.
Does this approach work? Will Sanders work? What legacy will Sanders leave in Boulder, Colorado?
On Sept. 7, Colorado was routed by Nebraska 28-10. Critics immediately predicted doom, saying the wheels were falling off and Sanders was a showman and nothing more. Local media criticized quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ 30-carat diamond watch, his Maybach deals and the National League. The Nebraska game was billed as a referendum on Sanders’s running of a program that relies heavily on transfers. After the loss to Nebraska, Colorado had lost seven of its last eight games under Sanders and had been outscored 265-181 by opponents.
But every week later, after a masterful performance by Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver/linebacker Travis Hunter, the narrative modified once more and would proceed to vary throughout the season. Sanders threw 4 touchdowns, Hunter caught two and in addition had an incredible game on defense, intercepting one pass. Colorado went on the road and beat Colorado State 28-9.
It was Colorado’s first win of the season, a far cry from the dramatic double-overtime victory at Folsom Field in 2023. It was a loss that reestablished Shedeur Sanders as a top NFL prospect. The game also established Hunter as a Heisman Trophy favorite as a dynamic two-way player.
We’ve tried to know, greater than another college coach, who Deion Sanders is. Is he an incredible coach? What makes him an incredible coach? Just wins and losses? Impact on players’ lives? Impact on the faculty community?
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Big-time college football has not been kind or welcoming to African-American coaches. Even as these programs thrive on young black bodies, black coaches do not need equal access.
Finding and keeping that job was an uphill battle, so in her own way, Sanders carries a message of possibility.
Colorado has already won as many games under Sanders (five) as they did in 2021 and 2022 combined. For now, Sanders, often called Coach Prime, is constructing a status week by week, game by game — not a legacy yet, but greater than a blip.
The narrative will change again when Colorado opens its Big 12 schedule by hosting Baylor at Folsom Field. And the narrative will change the week after that, and the week after that, and the week after that, until Colorado either earns a bowl bid or doesn’t. And then there’ll be the wait for the postseason, when Sanders will announce whether he’ll stay in Colorado or take a job at a spot like Florida State, where he shined as a student but was omitted for a training job.
Whether Sanders stays or goes has been a subject in every aspect of the university, even amongst academics. That’s because he has had such great influence on all parts of the university.
Will Sanders need to proceed coaching after the departure of Hunter and his sons Shedeur and Shilo at the top of the season?
“I hate to say it, but I would say I’m 60/40 he’s not coming back,” said Jared Browsh, an assistant professor at Colorado and director of the Critical Sports Studies Program in the Department of Ethnic Studies. Browsh describes himself as a cultural historian who studies the political economy of sports and the connection between culture, money, power and identity in the United States and world wide.
There isn’t any denying that Sanders’ presence in Boulder will have a short-term impact.
“The economic impact is just mind-blowing,” Browsh said. “I couldn’t have imagined it. The first-year estimates are $300 million to $500 million for the regional economy. And then the donations to places on campus like the Center for African and African American Studies, but also the donations to support scholarships, the donations to support development, are significant, as are the sell-outs and people coming to Boulder to be part of that energy.”
He also noted the energy and enthusiasm Sanders continues to bring to the college. Browsh, a Philadelphia native, said a lot of his friends in his hometown follow Colorado football due to Sanders’ aura.
“Friends in Philadelphia who couldn’t point to Boulder on a map regularly post about him, whether it’s promotional videos, his press conferences, what his sons are up to,” Browsh said.
“Then you go from being average to being a regular on prime-time and being number one all-time.”
Browsh didn’t have much contact with Sanders, but he had plenty of Sanders players in his class. All this talk concerning the variety of transfers coming into this system can create the impression that players aren’t serious about getting an education. Browsh said that hasn’t been his experience.
“Especially since I usually teach in the summer, a lot of transfer students come in during that time to catch up on some of their credits,” Browsh said. “I’ve always been very fortunate and had great experiences with student-athletes from that standpoint. But the student-athletes he brought in were just really high-quality young men. And I can’t say enough good things about the classroom experience as a faculty member.”
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None of which may be enough to maintain Sanders in Boulder if the season doesn’t pan out, especially given local criticism and scrutiny and even debate amongst faculty.
“Never in the history of the school has an African-American man been the face of the university who is himself,” Browsh said. “Not only am I here, but I am here as myself.” And I feel that authenticity has obviously hurt some people. I just think that, especially if things don’t change in terms of the wins and losses, and he continues to get more negative criticism, I truthfully wouldn’t blame him if he just said, ‘I’m going to maneuver on and find other opportunities.’”
“I think I’m leaning toward him not coming back because as a coach. All he really knows is his bond with his sons and his closeness with Travis. And I imagine if we end up 4-8 again or don’t make the bowl game, you’re going to start complaining.”
Which raises the query again, what legacy will Sanders leave, whether he leaves at the top of the season or after five seasons. How will he be remembered?
He’s great in (or quite for) the media, but is he great as a coach? That will be reflected in the team’s record and postseason performance. Making the College Football Playoff could be an enormous accomplishment, just making it to the bowl game could be an enormous accomplishment. The playoffs will expand to 12 teams this season. If Colorado gets an at-large bid, Sanders’ legacy is ready. Colorado’s last bowl game was a 55-23 loss to Texas in the 2020 Alamo Bowl.
While Colorado’s performance against Nebraska made it seem to be Colorado wasn’t close, the Buffaloes’ comeback performance against Colorado State provided hope, and that is exactly what Sanders has done in his two seasons at Colorado. Provide hope.
“I think the university needs him more than he needs the university,” Browsh said. “But there are still corners, including the press, that could convince him that he would be better off somewhere else.”
Colorado football under Sanders continues to be a rollercoaster ride of steep climbs and breathtaking falls. But this season, the stakes are a bit higher. Coach Prime isn’t just coaching for wins and losses, he’s coaching for his legacy.
NFL Hall of Fame receiver and podcast host Terrell Owens has signed with a talent agency to further strengthen his claims within the entertainment game.
According to , Owens was signed by SMAC Entertainment, headed by host and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and his business partner Constance Schwartz-Morini.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz has also joined SMAC Entertainment.
“We are excited to add TO and Jordan to the SMAC family. They are both at the top of their game and set the standard in their industry,” Schwartz-Morini said in a written statement. “TO and Jordan have already brought an infectious energy to our team, and we are excited to help them realize their vision for careers in media, business and branding.”
A five-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, Owens played for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. In 2018, he was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A member of the 2000 NFL All-Decade Team, Owens finished his profession with 1,078 catches for 15,934 yards, 14.8 yards per catch and 153 touchdowns, rating third all-time in receiving yards and touchdowns.
Since retiring from skilled soccer in 2012, Owens has already made several moves. He has appeared in several movies and tv shows, including “,” and in addition had his own reality show, “, on VH1.
He currently co-hosts the podcast with former NFL player and sports analyst Shannon Sharpe.
SMAC Entertainment is home to stars similar to rapper and actor Common, Wiz Khalifa, Strahan, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and current NFL players similar to Stefon Diggs and DK Metcalf.
Sports
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker brings an NBA championship desire with his Olympic experience
The gold medal went to the USA Basketball team. Mission completed on the 2024 Paris Games. U.S. men’s basketball coach Steve Kerr just answered his final query during his final news conference on Aug. 10 after his team defeated France within the gold medal game.
However, before leaving the stage of the press conference in Paris, Kerr stopped to deliver an unsolicited message to media around the globe.
“Devin Booker is an amazing basketball player. Nobody asked about him. He was our unsung MVP. I just desired to say that,” Kerr said.
The “underrated MVP” compliment meant so much to the Phoenix Suns guard.
“It meant everything. No one really asked him,” Booker recently told Andscape. “That was probably something that was weighing on his mind throughout the entire process. A 12 months ago I said what I desired to do for this team and what we desired to do for the country.
“It was a lot larger than all of us. Survival was something we’d discuss for the remainder of our lives.
The USA Basketball team was centered around NBA star icons LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. There has also been some discussion amongst media and fans in regards to the lack of playing time for Jayson Tatum and, to a lesser extent, Tyrese Haliburton. Lost within the shuffle was the all-around, unselfish play of sharpshooter Booker wearing the armband.
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Booker was fourth in scoring for the U.S., averaging 11.7 points, 3.3 assists and a couple of.2 three-pointers made early in all six Olympics, and likewise had the perfect plus/minus (plus-130) for an American. Kerr was impressed with Booker’s deal with a difficult defense, regardless that he is thought for his offense, ball movement and the way he has adjusted to not being one in every of the highest options on offense.
“I just understood what was at stake,” Booker said. “I’m proud to be from this country. I’m happy with playing basketball. Even though it wasn’t invented in America, we dominated for a very long time. Obviously the world is incredibly talented and the sport is growing, however it was just one other message to allow them to know who we’re.
Booker said he also learned in regards to the preparations from his all-star team, watching the preparations on and off the court. The 28-year-old added that he gained lifelong friendships.
“It’s cool to see that everyone has their own issues,” Booker said. “In my 10 years in the NBA, I’ve learned that you have to choose what you can use for yourself. But the level of detail, the attention to detail, the intensity – it’s all consistent across the board.”
As for Durant, Booker said the bond between the 2 Sun stars “is close and grows stronger every day.” They live about five minutes from one another within the Phoenix area and commonly spend time at home and on the road. Most recently, Booker had to steer the Suns without Durant, who was sidelined with an injury.
The amazing Durant averaged 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and three.4 assists, which were tops for the Suns. However, the 14-time NBA All-Star has been sidelined since November 8 with a left calf strain. Suns players Bradley Beal (calf) and Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) were also sidelined. The Suns are 1-5 without Durant, which incorporates 4 straight losses.
Booker and Suns sans Durant’s next rivals shall be the New York Knicks on Wednesday evening (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET). Over the last six games, Booker is averaging 24.1 points, shooting 43.2% from the sphere and making 16 of 43 three-pointers. Suns guard Tyus Jones said there was numerous pressure on Booker offensively due to the injury.
“We’re asking a lot of Book,” Jones said after Monday’s 109-99 loss to the visiting Orlando Magic. “It’s numerous pressure for him. We are very focused on it. They are physical with him, holding him and grabbing him, throwing two or three bodies at him all night long. So he’s got so much on his plate and we just need to proceed to seek out ways to get him open within the moments we will and proceed to assist him when other players are taking shots and making plays.
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Booker currently has two Olympic gold medals, 4 NBA All-Star appearances and one NBA Finals appearance. The only thing missing from the Suns’ second-leading all-time scorer is an NBA championship. Since the Suns joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1968, they’ve yet to win a title.
After experiencing the joys of winning a gold medal, Booker as an NBA champion wants the gold Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy much more.
“Most of the guys that were there did it,” Booker said of his Olympic teammates who were NBA champions. “They were champions. This is standard for them. Anything lower than that, they need nothing to do with it. It’s contagious…
“That’s all I want. That’s all I want.”
After months of introducing the players and coaches who will participate in its inaugural season, the brand new Unrivaled 3-on-3 women’s basketball league announced its team rosters and coaching assignments on Wednesday.
Founded by WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, Unrivaled consists of six teams of six players each. The league was created to offer WNBA players with a substitute for playing overseas in the course of the offseason.
Although initially announced as having 30 players, the league has since expanded to 36, which Collier attributed “above financial forecasts”. The league has announced 34 players publicly up to now.
The inaugural season of Unrivaled will begin on January 17, 2025, with all games going down in Miami. Here are the official teams for the inaugural season, as well season schedule.
Vinyl Basketball Club:
– Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon
Rose Basketball Club:
– Coach: Nola Henry
Mgła basketball club:
– Coach: Phil Handy
Lunar Owls Basketball Club:
– TBD: wild card
– Coach: DJ Sackmann
Phantom Basketball Club:
– TBD: wild card
– Coach: Adam Harrington
Laces Basketball Club:
– Coach: Andrew Wade
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