Hope is in the house: Colorado spring game is audition for present, future of Deion Sanders' program

Don’t ever discount the power of personality or the cult of celebrity. 

Colorado was once a proud football program that had become one of the most downtrodden teams in the country over the last 20 years, with 15 losing seasons including a dismal 1-11 showing in 2022. 

And yet, in a single offseason, the Buffs’ deep hibernation of dormancy has been vigorously awoken by the personality and pizzaz of new head coach Deion Sanders.

Primetime at Red Rock is real. 

Without ever coaching at a game yet at CU, Sanders has seemingly done the impossible — make a forgotten Colorado program relevant again. The Buffs are the only spring game nationally televised this year (3 p.m., ESPN on Saturday), and they recently snapped a 27-year sellout drought — with fans gobbling up season tickets to see Coach Prime’s team in Year 1. 

“Hope is in the house,” Deion Sanders said earlier this offseason. Hope is in the air. Hope is in the city. Hope is in the community.”

The former Jackson State head coach has certainly infused the Boulder community with hope this spring, but he’s looking to do more than simply sell a dream. Sanders plans to win at CU, and despite inheriting a significantly daunting situation, the goal is for the program to make a major move in Year 1. 

The only way that’s possible though is if Deion Sanders really did bring enough “Louis” with him this offseason. During his introductory meeting with his new team, Coach Prime told a group that lost its final four games by an average of six touchdowns — that he was “coming” and “we’ve got a few positions already taken care of because I’m bringing my luggage with me. And it’s Louis.”

He delivered on that promise with a harsh roster reckoning.  

Close to 25 players have left the program, with Sanders saying recently, “We don’t weed anyone out; they weed themselves out.” He signed a Top 35 recruiting class, headlined by flipping 5-star corner Cormani McClain from Miami. He brought in 27 transfers, including his son Shedeur Sanders, the team’s projected starting quarterback, and former No. 1 overall recruit Travis Hunter. 

More attrition and roster culling are expected after CU’s spring game, with Sanders looking to hit the portal for even more help. 

“The team that we’re playing with now is not the team that we’re going to play with in Texas the first game (at TCU in Week 1),” Sanders said last week. 

“Do I need to say any more? It’s gonna be a lot of new faces, a lot of new attitudes, a lot of new understandings and a lot of new wants and desires and you’ve got to have it.”

While the Buffs present will be on display Saturday, Sanders’ “hope is in the house” is also about the future. 

Colorado’s spring game will not only serve as an evaluation opportunity for his 2023 team — like do the Buffs need more help along the offensive and defensive lines if they want to come anywhere close to making their first bowl game since 2016? — but also a Help Wanted ad to some of the best 2024 recruits — that immediate playing time is more than available. 

The Buffs are set for a massive recruiting weekend, hosting multiple 5-stars and several prospects committed to SEC powers. They’ll play host to the top two overall prospects in the On3 rankings in Dylan Stewart and Williams Nwaneri. They’ll also welcome the No. 1 tight end, per On3, in Jaden Reddell, as well as 4-star linebackers Sterling Dixon (Alabama) and Xavier Atkins (LSU), among others. 

“This weekend is going to be phenomenal,” Sanders said. “(Lots) of guys we hope to sign, hope to get a commitment when they come on this trip and see how beautiful this city is and this university is. We’re happy.”