Coach Deion Sanders issues stern warning to his athletes about academic responsibility

In response to a wake-up call from a University of Colorado professor, football coach Deion Sanders issued a stern warning to his players regarding academic responsibility before the upcoming season.

While the Buffaloes started off last season on a roll, their season ended in disappointing fashion as the team finished with a 4-8 record. While the team is rightfully concerned about turning around those results on the field this year, Sanders is determined to turn around results in the classroom as well.

Sanders received a letter from a frustrated professor, who, after teaching some of the coach’s players, called this past semester “extremely challenging” in his letter.

“I have never felt so disrespected in my ten years of teaching. Students do not follow even minimally, and it slows down my class so much. They make it clear that they don’t want to be here and have very little personal responsibility,” the letter reads.

Sanders took the letter to heart and admonished his team by reading it out loud to them, adding his thoughts in the process. 

“It bothers me to the fact that we are not only a football team, but we try to prepare you for life. We are trying to get you ready to live in that land, right after this one.” 

Sanders further lamented his players’ not actively “showing up” wherever they are, whether on the field or in the classroom. 

“You present, but you ain’t really there. You are on the field, but you ain’t doing nothing. You are in a relationship, but you ain’t got no love. You are at the mall, but you ain’t got no money. Got a lot of ability, but no darn talent. Because you don’t think.” 

Sanders also served his team and coaches a heavy dose of reality regarding how few of these athletes can afford to focus solely on athletics. 

“I’m a little frustrated. I’m a little angry right now, because … we got youngsters that’s all-in on one side of the game. Ninety percent, or 95%, of your roster ain’t going pro. So, coaches, we got to emphasize education, we got to emphasize life, we got to emphasize the next step, the next elevation, if it doesn’t work.” 

Well Off Media shared a clip of Sanders reading the letter to his team, which was later picked up by ESPN College Football’s official YouTube channel. Sanders’ son, Deion Sanders Jr., manages Well Off Media’s content.  

“You gonna get something out of this,” Sanders told the team. “You gonna be a man or you’re going to be a great football player. Since you choose not to be a great football player, we gotta make you a man.” 

Sanders expressed his frustration but tried to end the admonishment on a high note. 

“Today was not wonderful, but I would be derned if I allowed these kids to get out of here without something. Because this life is getting ready to live, you gotta win with your mind, not your athleticism. Student-athlete, athlete-student – I don’t care how you say it. You gonna get something before you leave here. God bless!” 

With star quarterback and coach’s son Shedeur Sanders returning for his senior season, the Buffaloes are poised to make an impact in their return to the Big 12 Conference this fall. The team enters week three of its spring practices in Boulder this week in preparation for its Black and Gold Spring game on April 27.