When Deion Sanders urged his players to get proactive during his inaugural speech at Colorado

When Deion Sanders took on the role of Colorado’s head coach, his vision for the team’s future was clear from the start. He was named head coach on Dec. 4, 2022, after leading Jackson State to a SWAC title.

Sanders wasted no time setting the tone for the young players in Colorado. He spoke about the importance of maximizing opportunities, particularly for young athletes who had their entire careers ahead of them.

On Dec. 5, 2022, Deion Sanders delivered a powerful speech to the team, which was captured on video by his son, Deion Jr. The speech was later shared on YouTube and quickly spread across various platforms:

“I actually lined up with that police, and I had to stop to leave, and I have a problem with young men with everything in front of them. Don’t believe me. That’s a problem. Tremendous problem.”

His words were a call to action for his players to believe in themselves and the process ahead.

“Because you can rest with your mama, you can rest with your father, your friends, your loved ones, your homies,” Sanders continued. "Anybody who looked out for you, you have the ability and opportunity to do that. But you got to believe me.”

Colorado’s football program, once a powerhouse, had been through a rough phase with only two winning seasons since 2005 and a challenging 1-11 finish in 2022.

But Sanders embraced the opportunity to bring the Buffaloes back to their former glory.

“There’s a spirit around this team, around this school, that is not traditional,” Sanders shared. “In some kind of way, you guys have accepted it, and you’ve begun to be complacent with it.”

He pointed out that certain players were absent from the meeting. By saying this, he signaled that he was only interested in working with those who were fully committed. For Sanders, the future of Colorado football was all about accountability and discipline.

The coach was clear that significant changes were coming. Sanders wasn’t afraid to make tough decisions for the betterment of the team. However, he encouraged players to explore other opportunities if they felt they couldn’t meet his high expectations.

“I’m coming,” Sander told the players. “And when I get here, it’s gonna be change. So I want you all to get ready to go ahead and jump in that (transfer) portal and do whatever you're gonna get.”

Discipline was at the core of Sanders’ philosophy. He implemented strict team rules, including a ban on earrings, hats, and hoodies in meetings.

Sanders’ arrival at Colorado brought renewed hope to a program that had seen five different head coaches since 2018.

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Things that Deion Sanders shared later in the meeting

Throughout the process, Sanders’ son Deion Jr. documented his journey, capturing team meetings and behind-the-scenes moments. Sanders praised his son for managing the production efforts.

“He's been a one-man machine,” Sanders said, acknowledging the hard work that went into showcasing the team’s progress.

Soon, Bucky would have more help to continue documenting the program’s transformation.

In the meeting, Sanders also shared that he would coach Jackson State one last time in the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17 before fully committing to Colorado. He confirmed that his son, Shedeur Sanders, a talented quarterback from Jackson State, would join him in Colorado.

“Yep, about 10 more of them coming,” Sanders said confidently, referring to the new players he intended to bring in. “And they dogs. And they gonna hunt. And they gonna eat.”

Sanders’ words reflected his determination and high expectations for the future of Colorado football.