Colorado AD endorses Deion Sanders amid mass exodus: ‘I have confidence in him’

Deion Sanders has shaken up the culture in the colorado university just a few months after starting the program in Boulder.

Sanders was hired to return victory to a program that has won double digit games only once since 2002.

But it did so by completely rebuilding the roster, with 57 players entering the transfer portal since Sanders became head coach, according to a school spokesperson.

COLORADO BUFALOS HAVE 18 PLAYERS ENTER TRANSFER PORTAL AFTER SPRING GAME

Thursday, Colorado athletic director Rick George. supported Sanders as he tries to build a winner in Boulder.

«I have confidence in him and his staff, and they know what they’re doing,» George told ESPN after the Pac-12 spring meetings. «He’s been very honest and direct. He’s been very open about it in public and in private. He’s trying to build a winner in Colorado, and this is his way of doing it.»

Sanders made it clear from the moment he stepped foot on campus that changes to the program were on the way.

In his first meeting with the returning players, Sanders told them to «go ahead and jump into that [transfer] portal» while bringing players with him from Jackson State.

While some players left the program voluntarily, the NCAA provides that first-year head coaches may remove players from the roster, although the university must honor the request. scholarships for players.

Deion Sanders, CU’s new football coach, and athletic director Rick George, right, chat at the Arrow Touchdown Club during a press conference on December 4, 2022 in Boulder, Colorado. (Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

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«When [Sanders] he came in for the first time, he said, ‘There’s a lot of people here who may not be here,’ because he evaluated and looked at the talent on our team,» George told ESPN. «He just said it publicly, where a lot of people don’t. We are not the first to do this. The NCAA rule says you can have those discussions. If a student-athlete wants to stay, he can stay. The university has to pay for them, they don’t have your scholarship limits and they’re not on the team.»

Sanders made headlines last week when offensive lineman Travis Gray revealed the way he was cut from the team.

Gray received a text from offensive line coach Bill O’Boyle the day after Colorado’s spring game, asking him to come to the team facility to meet with Sanders.

«He was walking with me and he said, ‘Hey, dude, you’re going to be cut today. I’m sorry to tell you this. I didn’t want you to hear it from Coach Prime. I wanted you to hear it from me. I didn’t want to cut you, but we had to cut five linemen offensive, and you were the last one,'» Gray told The Athletic on Tuesday night.

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Gray walked into Sanders’ office and received the news that he would no longer be a part of colorado football team.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders plays for fans in the first half of the team’s spring practice NCAA college football game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, in Boulder, Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

«I was like, ‘Oh, God.’ I saw the bad cup in his face,» Gray said. «He told me, ‘You’re 6-foot-8 and 320 pounds. I know in my heart that a school will pick you up at the gate when you walk in. Make your weaknesses your strengths and keep making progress. I hope you have a great time. future, it just won’t be here at the University of Colorado.'»

Colorado is coming off a 1-11 season, its worst record since 2012.

And while some question the way Sanders is rebuilding the roster, George is fully behind Coach Prime.

«Coach is doing what he thinks is best for this program,» George said. «I support that. The rule exists for a reason. It gives us the ability to do those kinds of things. Any student-athlete who doesn’t want to leave, we will honor their scholarship. We will pay for it and we have.»