Rtrip Dunc

At what point do the negatives of Deion Sanders’ tenure at Colorado outweigh the positives? Four seasons in, we’re looking at a 19–26 record, embarrassing in-game mismanagement, one of the most undisciplined teams in college football, and increasingly ridiculous press conferences filled with failed gotcha moments and confrontations with reporters. And in 2027, Deion Sanders will collect $11 MILLION. For what, exactly? He doesn’t travel to recruit. He doesn’t call offensive or defensive plays. His most visible contributions on Saturdays seem limited to motivational speeches, sideline theatrics, and looking bewildered when things inevitably go wrong. But perhaps the most embarrassing part of this entire experiment isn’t even happening on the football field. It’s Uncle Neely and the propaganda circus surrounding this program. Christopher “Uncle Neely” Neely has enjoyed extraordinary access to Colorado football while operating what increasingly resembles a personal public relations campaign for Deion Sanders. Every embarrassing loss needs an excuse. Every legitimate criticism gets dismissed as hate. Every question about accountability turns into another lecture about how grateful Colorado fans should be that Coach Prime decided to come to Boulder. That’s not objective football analysis. That’s propaganda. And the $50,000 controversy perfectly illustrates the problem. Neely publicly suggested Sanders had offered critics money to stop mentioning him, creating a national controversy that Sanders later had to explain away as a joke. Why does someone with this level of access continue to generate distractions for a struggling football program? The uncomfortable question is whether Colorado has allowed the line between legitimate media coverage and a coach’s personal promotional operation to become completely blurred. Meanwhile, fans are constantly reminded of the financial miracle Deion supposedly brought to Boulder. Let’s examine that. Colorado’s football ticket revenue dropped from $31.2 million in FY2024 to $24 million in FY2025. The athletic department relied on $43.5 million in university support and student fees in FY2025 and projected a $27 million deficit for FY2026. And while the Boulder Chamber estimated $146.5 million in regional economic activity from CU football in 2024, that figure isn’t university profit or money deposited directly into the city’s coffers. Boulder’s own finance department acknowledged that the initial Prime Effect wasn’t enough to materially offset the city’s broader sales-tax stagnation. Colorado was a major research university long before Deion Sanders arrived. Boulder was a thriving college town long before anyone started selling Coach Prime merchandise. Nobody disputes that Sanders brought publicity, excitement, a Heisman Trophy winner, and a nine-win season. But publicity isn’t a substitute for coaching. Economic-impact estimates aren’t a substitute for financial accountability. And a personal hype machine isn’t a substitute for building a disciplined, sustainable football program. At some point, the university needs to stop evaluating Deion Sanders as a celebrity attraction and start evaluating him as an $11 million football coach. The results, the discipline, the recruiting approach, the embarrassing media circus, and the refusal to acknowledge obvious shortcomings all deserve scrutiny. Colorado football should belong to the university, its players, its alumni, and its fans. Not to Deion Sanders, Uncle Neely, or an army of people whose primary interest appears to be protecting a brand. The publicity was great. The experiment has run its course. Rip the fucking Band-Aid off and go get Jason Eck. Colorado needs a football coach, not an $11 million celebrity appearance surrounded by a propaganda department.