Ben Shelton makes feelings known on Colarado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders and his legacy amid BYU blowout criticism

Ben Shelton recently made his feelings known on Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders facing backlash over a humiliating blowout against BYU Cougars in the Alamo Bowl. Colorado lost 14-36 to BYU on Sunday, December 29, at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

In what was supposed to be a dreamy farewell for Buffaloes' stars Travis Hunter, Shilo Sanders, and Shedeur Sanders, their side collapsed, committing one error after the other in the final game of the season.

Following the loss, coach Sanders' execution came under the scanner from fans and pundits alike.

"BYU is no pushover, but the effort was unacceptable," Shannon Sharpe, an otherwise admirer of Sanders, said. "You give up a punt return for a touchdown, an onside kick early-this team didn't look ready. That falls squarely on Coach Prime."

However, NFL insider Jordan Schultz offered a different opinion. Schultz took to Instagram and defended Sanders, aka Coach Prime, listing the coach's distinguished acheivements in 2024:

"Haters will always hate. But here are the undeniable facts about Deion Sanders and Colorado this season: Only the second 9-win campaign in two decades, Heisman Trophy, as well as the Belitnikoff, Bednarik and Lott Award winners, Potential No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the NFL Draft, Folsom Field attendance record for the second straight season under Coach Prime"

Ben Shelton, the World No. 21 in men's tennis, shared Schultz's post on his story, reacting:

"How to run a progam!!"

Image: Ben Shelton's Instagram

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Ben Shelton: "Thought tennis was a boring sport, football and basketball and baseball were the cooler sports"

Ben Shelton (Getty)

Growing up, Ben Shelton was more fascinated by football, basketball, and baseball than by tennis. He revealed the same during a recent interview:

"I thought tennis was a boring sport, football and basketball and baseball were the cooler sports to play in America. So those were the ones that I was obsessed with when I was little. But here we are," he said (via The Guardian).

Shelton took up tennis professionally in August 2022 and had a breakout season in 2023, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and semifinals at the US Open. The 2024 season, however, wasn't as fruitful for the American.

"I'm not the complete player that I want to be yet, and so I'm OK with taking what some would call a step backwards to continue to improve," he added.

Shelton will start his 2025 season at the ASB Classic in Auckland, where he is the top seed. The ATP 250 event will start on January 6.