Deion Sanders told us and he's proving his mad scientist experiment at Colorado was no gimmick

Despite low expectations and all manner of skepticism, Deion Sanders was steadfast all offseason that he has the recipe to cook up something special at Colorado. 

In his opening introduction to a 1-11 team — one that no longer resembles most of the players he spoke to that day  — Sanders told them, “I’m coming. Not to compete. But to win. Not to show up. But show out. Not to be amongst the rest. But the best. I’m coming. I’m coming to restore. To replace. To reenergize.

“It’s going to be a different place. A different feel. A different attitude. A different energy. A different work ethic. A different want. A different hunger. A different desire. A different need. A different capacity. I’m coming.”

No lies told. 

Coach Prime talked the talk and his rebranded Colorado team — with close to 70 new players on the roster — walked the walk Saturday, stunning No. 17 TCU 45-42 behind transcendent performances from his ‘Louis luggage’ Travis Hunter and son quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Freshman tailback Dylan Edwards, a former Notre Dame commit who flipped to Colorado when Deion Sanders took the job, scored four touchdowns, while four receivers, including Hunter, had over 100 yards. 

“We told ya we coming. We coming,” Coach Prime said. 

“You thought we was joking but we keep receipts.”

I’ve been neither a Deion Sanders skeptic or apologist. I thought his roster reckoning was bold, but I believed long-term, that he would build the Buffs back into a winner. I simply didn’t see Saturday’s performances coming in Game 1. 

Oops.

Not since the debut of the iPhone has something with this much hype delivered on Day 1.

Despite essentially punting on spring practice — 50 new players on the roster during the second transfer portal window — Colorado was the better coached and conditioned team Saturday. 

While TCU had boneheaded penalties (10 for 78 yards), sloppy turnovers and missed tackles, Colorado executed a brilliant gameplan by OC Sean Lewis, who used torrid tempo and pocket manipulation to completely flummox the Horned Frogs’ 3-3-5 defense. 

Sanders looked like he was Chauncey Billlups at point guard for the Buffs, completing 38 of 47 passes for 510 yards and four touchdowns — the first 500-yard game in school history. He routinely found Hunter and Jimmy Horn on seams and crossers with accuracy and precision or would flick the ball out quickly to Edwards, whose four touchdowns (three receiving) were as many as any Colorado offensive player had the entire 2022 season. 

The Buffs’ undersized OL held up, too, with Lewis protecting the unit by calling a barrage of quick passes. Colorado’s defense nearly ran out of gas at the end, but they got a stop on TCU’s final drive to secure the upset. 

“We definitely got some stuff to clean up,” Sanders said. 

Travis Hunter: ‘He is him’

One thing Colorado won’t have to worry about the rest of the season are folks sleeping on Sanders’ potential at quarterback or Hunter’s ability to star on both sides of the football. 

To call Travis Hunter’s performance Saturday extraordinary shortchanges the former No. 1 overall prospect’s FBS debut. The two-way star was the best player on the field in Dallas, playing over an astounding 130+ snaps a receiver and corner in 110-degree heat. 

“We got a hot tub on the plane for him,” Sanders said. 

Hunter had 11 catches for 119 yards, as well as a pick in the red zone to stop a TCU scoring drive, three tackles and two other PBUs. He also had an insane touchdown wiped off the scoreboard because replay reviewed that he didn’t complete the catch. 

“He is him,” Sanders said of Hunter at halftime Saturday. 

“We missed him on two deep balls. If we hit those, the Heisman is in his crib chilling right now.”

That invite to New York City might still come anyway. 

What to make of Colorado the rest of the 2023 season?

This is why Deion Sanders to Colorado was different. He had the nation tuning into a previously 1-11 team just to see how his mad scientist experiment would work, and he proved his plan wasn’t some gimmick or fraud from the start.  

Colorado is going to be super fun all season. 

How many games does that mean the Buffs will win? I don’t know. They’ll probably be favored against Nebraska next weekend, but they still also play a grueling schedule in the Pac-12. 

But most, including yours truly, was skeptical they would be competitive in Year 1. Just too much change. Too much uncertainty. Throw those notions out the window now.

The Buffs have a legit trigger-man at QB, speed at every skill position and an unbelievable two-way talent in Travis Hunter. 

Most importantly, they have a head coach — and a couple of really good coordinators — who know what they’re doing. 

Deion Sanders is coming all right, and if you thought the Coach Prime infomercial was already overplayed, you haven’t seen anything yet now.