Deion Sanders sets firm rules for Colorado players while on campus, in class

Deion Sanders isn’t only demanding excellence from his team on the field, but in the classroom as well. On Wednesday, a video surfaced of the Colorado head coach laying out his rules and expectations for his team with the school year beginning.

“No slides. I’m going to send people to campus tomorrow, if I see you with slides on campus, it’s going to be a problem,” Sanders said. “If I see you with a hoodie on in class with some headphones on in class, it’s going to be a problem.

“If I see you sitting in the back of the classroom, it’s going to be a problem. Do we understand that? And if you’re online and you have online classes, and you don’t have a shirt on or you got a wife-beater on or you have something stupid on and causing distractions, or you’re walking around during that online session, there’s going to be a problem.”

Sanders isn’t the first coach to focus on getting the details right. Legendary UCLA men’s basketball head coach John Wooden would begin the first practice of each season by teaching his players how to put on their socks and shoes.

The last thing Wooden needed was a player developing a blister and missing time. Likewise, Sanders wants to be able to focus on Colorado’s play on the field without worrying about his players’ academic issues.

After all, Sanders has a tall task ahead of him on the gridiron this fall. Colorado lost quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter to the NFL this offseason. With the players gone, Deion Sanders must find a new way to guide the Buffaloes to victory.

He has no shortage of new weapons at his disposal. The program reeled in 31 transfers this offseason, along with 14 freshmen.

The fresh faces have massive shoes to fill. Colorado posted a 9-4 record last year and were in College Football Playoff contention until the end of the regular season. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum revealed what he believes would be a successful season for Colorado in the 2025 campaign.

“Seven or eight wins would be considered very good, and I think getting to a bowl game,” Finebaum said. “The most important thing right now is his health. And I know that’s a common feeling of all of us here, but he has a lot more important things to deal with than just not coaching his son.

“I think the public is watching him and cheering for him, perhaps like they have never before. So, I don’t think the curve is going to be nearly as steep as it was last year when he had Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders.”