Paul Finebaum evaluates what Deion Sanders accomplished in Year 1 at Colorado, what's next
Deion Sanders was on top of the college football world the first month of the season. But since the 3-0 start for Colorado, the Buffaloes went 1-7 in the next eight games.
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum was amazed at the way Sanders and the program owned the sport for a month-plus, but reality set in. The team was still rebuilding despite the glitz and glamor.
When Finebaum joined Tuesday’s edition of First Take, he was asked about Sanders’ future as head coach of the program and whether or not he could take his talents elsewhere.
“Yeah, I think the worst thing was also the best thing for Deion and I’m not blaming you two, but I am blaming you two,” Finebaum told Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe. “I sat here 10 weeks ago and you guys saw what was happening. I mean, I’m watching on TV, you’re on the sidelines, you brought it here, and we all started talking about are they a playoff team. No they’re not a playoff team. Are they a bowl team? Maybe.
“But he had so much to overcome and I think because of his magnetism and charisma and what he brought to that program, they were able to beat TCU, they were able to turn games that they probably shouldn’t have done. But then the reality struck.”
Sanders came from Jackson State to make it to the Power Five level. However, Finebaum argued Sanders needed a different school in a different part of the country where it wasn’t such a monumental task to have success.
“I said it a year ago, I didn’t want him to go to Colorado,” Finebaum said. “I thought he needed a better place. I think he’s okay there. But the hill is too tall. And you know, (Texas) A&M, I don’t think is a possibility. But there’s a job there for him, I think he needs to spend another year from a credibility standpoint, try to build it and then make a valued judgment.
“I talked to coaches all the time at good schools who end up losing to a school like Georgia and go ‘I don’t know what else I can do. I mean, they’ve got five stars in the starting lineup and they’ve got five stars at the second team. Deion, you can’t do that one year in college football, you can’t play elite teams, and succeed.”
Deion Sanders in a conundrum regarding future at Colorado
If Sanders can give it the 2024 season and have a better year, such as a bowl game and additional success when Colorado moves to the Big 12, then maybe another job is an option.
Would it be a better job? On the surface, yes. Finebaum believes Sanders would have full control of his options after another year in Boulder.
“So I think he’s in a conundrum,” Finebaum said. “I think it would be a bad look if he just bailed, but I think if he gives it two years and by the way, his best players couldn’t leave with him anyway after one year because they’ve already made the move, then I think the world is his oyster. I think he could go anywhere.”
As far as those celebrating Colorado taking a nosedive this season, and seeing Sanders struggle, Finebaum doesn’t understand it.
“I don’t like the schadenfreude going on right now where everybody is gleeful when they see Colorado getting their head bashed,” Finebaum said. “And it’s the petty jealousy that everyone in the industry has, or almost everyone has, toward Deion. I think he’s generational. I think he owned the first five weeks of his college football season, which is pretty remarkable for a program that’s not even going to make a bowl game.
“Yeah, the wheels fell off. But you guys knew that, you were standing there on the sideline, you could look ahead six, eight weeks and figure this thing out for yourself. And I know you did.”