"If you smell smoke on any floor, that will be your last puff": Coach Prime issues a blunt warning for Colorado players

Colorado is in the Alamo Bowl and, under Deion Sanders, is celebrating an outstanding 2024 season. But that doesn't mean the man known as Coach Prime is easing off from taking care of business.

Sanders' Buffaloes are about to face BYU in the Alamo Bowl. Despite his pro-player reputation, the coach used the occasion to lay down the law for his athletes.

"If I smell smoke on any floor, or if I get somebody that tells me that somebody's smoking on that floor, that will be your last puff ... I want you all to have fun, but let's do it right. Don't jeopardize your moments over something stupid."

Deion Sanders as a disciplinary force over his players is a bit of a surprise. As a player, Sanders was an absolute legend but was not especially noted for his discipline.

His decision to become a coach was not universally hailed as a brilliant idea. But Sanders is a born self-promoter and has seen his career as a coach grow under a white-hot spotlight of attention.

He coached high school before deciding to take over the downcast Jackson State program in 2020. Jackson State is a HBCU and hadn't been particularly relevant in college football. But Sanders' arrival brought attention and great players, most notably Travis Hunter, who chose the FCS Tigers despite being one of the top prospects in the nation.

Sanders went 27-6 at Jackson State and then moved on to Colorado after the 2022 season. The Buffaloes were coming off a 1-11 season and were projected near the bottom of the Big 12.

Coach Prime improved the team to 4-8 in 2023 and then to 9-3 in 2024. With his son, Shedeur, and transfer Hunter, the Buffs became one of the most interesting shows in college football. But everyone wasn't thrilled.

Deion Sanders and controversy

Sanders wasn't always popular at Colorado. He seemingly ran off large numbers of players and used the transfer portal almost like the waiver or free agency system in professional football, bringing in players at historic rates. The Netflix series "Coach Prime" chronicled Sanders' time with the Buffaloes.

He has sometimes had an uneven relationship with the media, being critical of writers to an extent that drew attention. For instance, SEC personality Paul Finebaum criticized Sanders for his treatment of the media earlier in 2024.

The 9-3 Buffs are preparing for the Alamo Bowl and BYU after coming up just shy of the College Football Playoff. The game will be Colorado's first bowl since a 2020 appearance in the Alamo Bowl.

The Buffs haven't won a bowl game since 2004. Sanders is obviously taking the game seriously, and his comments make clear that he expects the same from his players.

What do you think of Coach Prime as a disciplinarian? Share your take below in our comments section!