Colorado Buffaloes: The Question of Culture

© Alex Blackburn/College Football Dawgs

The Colorado Buffaloes are a media darling, or a media villain, depending on who you ask. From EA Sports rating Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter as some of the top players in the College Football 25 game to coach Deion Sanders and his sons providing constant viral material.

However, how do the Buffaloes stay focused on the upcoming football season, given that they went 4-8 last year? Obviously they're looking to improve, especially with moving to the Big 12 Conference. Setting the tone is incredibly important and remaining focused on making that happen will be the name of the game for the Buffaloes.

Cutting Out the Noise

Sanders, otherwise known as "Coach Prime," has caught a lot of flack for bringing some unnecessary and perhaps unwanted attention to the Colorado program. He's arguably the most divisive figure in college sports right now who has been the cause of much controversy.

Not only that but the controversial nature has been passed on to his sons, Shedeur, Shilo and Deion Sanders Jr. All three have made statements that have ruffled feathers, caused controversy, and overall, have brought a massive amount of attention to both them and their program.

Rumors of nepotism, allegedly driving players out of the Colorado program and causing a sense of toxicity to surround the Buffaloes have been the story of the Sanders-led Buffaloes, but that's just it. To the general public, these are truly just rumors, so how do the Buffaloes cut out the noise?

"Winning is what we're here for," Sanders said during the second day of the Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas. "As far as the focus and intention, ever since I stepped into Florida State in '85 it's been like that for me. This ain't new to me."

Deion has long since been a media figure of high controversy and high attention and he seems to be passing down that experience and expertise in balancing the media attention and football. That it won't take away from being his genuine, honest self.

A Colorado Buffaloes 'Family'

Sanders and his sons have made it clear that they are going to be their truest, most authentic selves. Nothing is going to change that and the focus still remains clear: Walk the walk and talk the talk. Work to set the tone this year and win games and the rest will follow.

Addressing the Sanders family though and the rumors of "nepotism," Shedeur was candid in talking about what it means to have his father as coach:

"He taught me how the world works, really, being his son, and him being there for me, to be able to ask any question to him," Shedeur said. "He did everything I want to do. But I always play with him like I'm going to do it better. But he did everything I want to do, so it's a blessing to have a man like him in my corner."

Shedeur said he takes his father's experience in the industry as a learning opportunity, and judging by Deion's quotes from earlier as well as the overall feel of the program, Deion wants his players to learn from his experiences too.

While it may not seem like it at face value, the Sanders family recognize that football is a team effort, and when talking about family, the Colorado Buffaloes are united in their effort to be a team, a family. Take for example, Nate Robinson's son, Nahmier, who plays for the Buffaloes. Sanders made sure to check in on Robinson after knowing of some of the struggles he was having in his personal life.

For players still with Sanders, this seems to be the norm. Colorado players that are still with the program have sung the praises of unity, hard work and being held accountable. A "You're with us or against us" attitude, there is almost a family vibe to the program, but what of the players who chose to leave?

'The Detractors'

Colorado has had a massive amount of transfers come in, ranking as the No. 1 transfer class in the Big 12 as well as the No.8 class in the country for 2024. However, they also have a lot of transfers leaving. Nearly 61 percent of their 2023 class has already departed the program, and when Sanders came into the program that year, many players that were with the Colorado program the year prior left as well.

Why is that? Seemingly, a slew of reasons, but mainly due to the Sanders family exhibiting allegedly toxic behaviors toward players that were seemed as "undesirable," that weren't bought into the Colorado program or that simply just "didn't fit the bill" of a Colorado player.

"He was destroying guys' confidence and belief in themselves," former Buffalo Xavier Smith stated to The Athletic's Max Olsen. "The way he did it, it could have been done with a little more compassion."

Sanders has downplayed and even outright denied these allegations, with his sons going on the attack toward players that chose to leave the program.

"I don't even remember him to be honest...Bro had to be very mid at best,” Shedeur responded in a tweet toward Smith.

With these types of responses, it's easy to see why so many see the Colorado program as toxic and bad for players. However, given the comments made by current players, is this just a matter of bad relationships being established or former players being bitter and "not bought in?"

Boom or Bust?

In the end, there's two sides to every story and what really matters is the quality of play that we will see on the field. If Sanders and company can't back it up, it will be chalked up to a toxic environment that they've established at their program.

If they end up winning though and surprising doubters, it will be chalked up to the competitive, "tough love" environment that Sanders has established at the Colorado program. Colorado is arguably the most "boom or bust" program in college football this year, and with pundits, players, fans and coaches alike all on different sides of the aisle regarding them, it's easy to see why. The 2024 season will be a true litmus test for this program and its culture.