Sports Illustrated magazine has recognized Deion Sanders as its “Sportsperson of the Year” after his first year as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes football program, despite having one of the worst records in college football.
Sanders was hailed as the great new thing in football when his team won a few games early out of the box. But the Buffaloes then foundered and won only one game out of their last nine. The team ended the season with a 4-8 record, ended up in last place in the Pac-12, didn’t beat a single team with a winning record, and didn’t even have enough wins to be invited to a bowl game.
Despite these failures, SI still hails Sanders as “Coach Prime” and insists that he is “just getting started.”
Coach Prime is here, and he’s just getting started
Deion Sanders is SI’s 2023 Sportsperson of the Year! https://t.co/Xebtm9bmNZ pic.twitter.com/Sdt500V93u
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 30, 2023
“In less than a year, Coach Prime has not only transformed a moribund Colorado football program. He’s also breathed fresh life into the campus and transformed a community,” the magazine gushed in its November 30 article.
It is an interesting take for a coach and a team surrounded by a lot of hype that has not been realized on the field.
The high praise for Sanders seemed a bit off to many on social media, especially in light of his dismal ending record. It was as if Sports Illustrated had written its story before the season even began.
When did voting stop? October 1st?
— Dylan Wilkerson (@wilkersonadylan) November 30, 2023
Going 4-8 and finishing last in the PAC 12 gets you this award?
— Kev (@2KEVlN) November 30, 2023
I guess they just hand this award to anyone now
— Aidan Gallardo (@aidangallard0) November 30, 2023
Awww, he got a Participation Trophy.
— Dave (@davespace_) November 30, 2023
They went 4-8. Recruits are de-committing. Assistants are leaving. What’re we doing here?
— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) November 30, 2023
I seriously had to check & see if this was a parody account… pic.twitter.com/BkRF0Y1mFU
— Bobby (@BobbyWilson1004) November 30, 2023
Didn’t beat one team with a winning record, went 1-8 in Conference play and finished the season losing 6 games in a row. Seems legit. pic.twitter.com/T3GtzHu5Bv
— PUBLORD (@publordhodl) November 30, 2023
Didn’t beat one team with a winning record, went 1-8 in Conference play and finished the season losing 6 games in a row. Seems legit. pic.twitter.com/T3GtzHu5Bv
— PUBLORD (@publordhodl) November 30, 2023
Was this written by AI or a real human?
— Penn State FB Thoughts (@PSU_FB_Thoughts) November 30, 2023
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