Deion Sanders explains why he wasn't surprised by the attention Colorado got in 2023

Deion Sanders expects that he will garner attention wherever he goes. The was certainly the case in 2023 as he made the transition from HBCU Jackson State to becoming the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.

Sanders was the talk of the country at one point last season after leading Colorado to a 3-0 start, already triple the one win it had prior to him taking over. The Buffaloes proceeded to go 1-8 over their final nine games, though four of those losses were decided by a touchdown or less.

The interest never seemed to fade in spite of how relatively insignificant Colorado was in the grand scheme of things. People still wanted to know how Sanders was adjusting to Year 1 in charge of a Power 5 program.

The coach recently spoke with Joel Klatt, a Colorado alum, saying he has always expected the spotlight to be on him.

“The surprise was not being able to sustain the continuation of the feeling of those moments that we not only gave ourselves, but we gave the multitude around college football,” Sanders said. “…I think like that. We think like that. The staff thinks like that. Usually, I wear this shirt that says ‘I believe.’ We really do. We say it in the book, ‘you’re either a belief or a believer.’ I just happen to be a believer.”

Colorado is set to make the move to the Big 12 in 2024, marking its return to the conference after a 13-year stretch in the Pac-12. The Buffaloes were previously members of the Big 12 and dating back to the Big 8/7 from 1948-2010.

Colorado won one conference title but competed in four Big 12 Championship games during its membership from 1996-2010. They also won five Big Eight Conference titles from 1961-95.

The Buffaloes enter this season with one of the top players in all of the NCAA with Shedeur Sanders at quarterback. Shedeur got off to a blazing start but cooled off over the remainder of the year and finished with 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Colorado once again saw the most activity in the transfer portal this offseason as 44 players left the team while 41 new faces transferred in. That puts them at No. 2 overall according to On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings.

That should have plenty of eyes on Deion Sanders and Colorado in 2024, as was the case this past season.