While the initial story seemed to be nothing more than an awkward moment with Deion Sanders simply being Deion Sanders, things got out of hand quickly with one member of the local media.
On Friday, ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura reported that the Buffaloes banned Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler from asking Colorado head coach Deion Sanders questions.
“After a series of sustained, personal attacks on the football program and specifically Coach Prime, the CU Athletic Department, in conjunction with the football program, have decided not to take questions from Denver Post columnist Sean Keeler at football-related events,” the athletic department told ESPN. “Keeler is still permitted to attend football-related activities as a credentialed member of the media, and other reporters from the Denver Post are welcome to ask questions of football program personnel made available to the media, including coaches, players, and staff.”
A representative from the Colorado athletic department told media members that the Buffaloes took issue with Keeler referencing Sanders as “Deposition Deion,” the “Bruce Lee of B.S.” and a “false prophet,” as well as his use of phrases like “Planet Prime,” “the Deion Kool-Aid” and “circus.”
The original issue stemmed from Colorado head coach Deion Sanders trading blows with a local reporter, resulting in an awkward press conference situation in Boulder. The Denver Post’s Sean Keeler started by wishing Sanders a happy summer but was quickly interrupted by Sanders attacking him over some “negative press.”
Coach Prime started off hot in 2023, leading Colorado to win their first three games against TCU, Nebraska, and Colorado State. Shortly after, however, they underwent a drastic nosedive. Sanders’ squad dropped seven of its last eight games, finishing with an overall record of 4-8 in the first year of the Coach Prime era.
In addition to their catastrophic finish in 2023, Sanders built one of the worst offensive lines in all of college football. Sanders’ son, Shedeur Sanders, was the most sacked quarterback of any Power Five signal caller, with 52 sacks surrendered on the year. Despite many issues on the OL, Sanders was able to prove himself through the air by breaking the school’s single-season passing record with 3,230 yards.
The viral moment garnered backlash from many members of the media, including longtime analyst Jason Whitlock who called Sanders a “thin-skinned fraud” and “softer than baby poop.”
With the start of Colorado’s season just five days away, soon enough, headlines surrounding the program in Boulder will likely focus on action on the field instead of off.
