Colorado Daily

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Colorado Daily – Spring/Summer – 2025

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July 2nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Daily Camera previews Utah: Every skill position player for the Utes will be new

From the Daily Camera … A top team for several years in the Pac-12, Utah came into its first season in the Big 12 as the projected champion. Instead, after a 4-0 start, the Utes went 1-7 the rest of the way. That included a seven-game losing streak, the longest for the program since 1986.

This summer, BuffZone is previewing each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2025 season and in this installment we look at Utah, which is aiming to get back track and hosts the Buffs on Oct. 25 in Salt Lake City.

Entering his 21st season as head coach at Utah, Kyle Whittingham has built a reputation as one of the best coaches in the country. The 2024 season didn’t go well, but he’s never stayed down for long. Last year was just his third losing season, and with four one-score losses, the Utes weren’t far from landing in yet another bowl game.

There will be a lot of new faces for the Utes this year, but that may be a good thing.

Most notably, the Utes aren’t pinning their hopes on quarterback Cam Rising any longer. Rising may forever be a Utes legend after leading them to back-to-back Pac-12 titles and Rose Bowl appearances in 2021 and 2022, but he missed the entire 2023 season with an injury. A seventh-year senior in 2024, he played three games before another season-ending injury that changed Utah’s outlook once again.

Without Rising, Utah’s offense has struggled mightily the past two years, including ranking 102nd in scoring (23.6 per game) and 115th in yards (329.8 per game) last year.

Former BYU quarterback Jason Beck is the new offensive coordinator after directing an explosive offense at New Mexico last year. The Lobos averaged 33.5 points per game (24th nationally) and 484.3 yards (fourth), with sophomore quarterback Devon Dampier leading the way.

Utah plucked not only Beck, but Dampier and running back NaQuari Rogers from the Lobos.

The Utes’ top five rushers and top six receivers from last year are gone, but Dampier, Rogers and Washington State transfer running back Wayshawn Parker will inject some life into the run game.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 1st 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Daily Camera previews Iowa State: Cyclones in search of first conference title since 1912

From the Daily Camera … Last year, Iowa State reached the Big 12 title game for the second time in the last five years, but was thumped by Arizona State, 45-19.

Although the Cyclones are still seeking their first conference title since they were Missouri Valley co-champs in 1912 (and 1911), last year was a banner season. They set a program record with 11 wins (previous mark was nine) and head coach Matt Campbell continues to put his team in a position to win.

Despite losing several key players from last year’s run to the title game, Iowa State returns quarterback Rocco Becht, several starters on the offensive line and six starters from a defense that was solid.

Top receivers Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins are now in the NFL (both drafted by the Houston Texans). That duo combined for 167 catches and 2,377 yards, so they’ll be tough to replace.

However, Becht is entering his third season as the starting quarterback and he has some new weapons. Transfers Chase Sowell and Xavier Townsend highlight the receiving corps, while there is a deep group of tight ends.

Top two rushers Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III are both back. Hansen rushed for 752 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Sama rushed for 587 yards and two scores.

A year ago, the Cyclones averaged 31.1 points per game (seventh in the Big 12). With Becht at the helm, it’s a good bet they’ll continue to be able to score around 30 points per game.

Defensively, the Cyclones gave up just 22.9 points per game (fourth in the Big 12), but were torched late, in the loss to ASU and in a 42-41 win against Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

Linebackers were hit hard by injury last year, but Iowa State will get Caleb Bacon back. He was injured in the opener and missed the rest of the year. Kooper Ebel (69 tackles) returns after finishing third on the team in tackles.

Up front, Iowa State was able to hold onto nose tackle Dominique Orange, but they’ll rely on some transfers to bolster that group.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 30th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU to take both quarterbacks to Big 12 Media Days (July 9th for CU) 

From the Big 12 … Big 12 Announces Attendees for Football Media Days Powered by Microsoft Copilot

IRVING, Texas -The Big 12 Conference has announced the student-athlete attendees for the Big 12 Football Media Days powered by Microsoft Copilot next week at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Big 12 Football Media Days will take place on Tuesday, July 8 and Wednesday, July 9 at the Dallas Cowboys’ global headquarters. Both days of the event will be broadcast live in their entirety on ESPNU and ESPN+, with portions of the day broadcast live on ESPN2 for the first time ever. Additionally, the event will broadcast on Big 12 Studios from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT.

Wednesday, July 9

Colorado
QB Julian Lewis
QB Kaidon Salter
OL Jordan Seaton
DB DJ McKinney
K Alejandro Mata

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June 29th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime rehabilitating in weighted vest, promises to return to job soon

From USA Today … Colorado football coach Deion Sanders has been rehabilitating in a weighted vest with the help of his son Deion Jr. as he tries to come back from an unspecified health issue and return to his job in Boulder.

Sanders, 57, provided two recent updates on Instagram, including one on Saturday that showed him wearing a weighted vest next to Deion Jr.

“Every little step I take My son @deionsandersjr has been there so we’ve decided to keep on stepping!” Sanders wrote in the post Saturday. “#CoachPrime coming to a stadium sold out soon.”

In another post from June 26, he used his situation to promote an energy drink sponsor in the same vest.

“1 step closer Everyday,” he wrote. “I’m Walking it out! Our Team is working their butts off therefore I’ve got to match that (fire) they have!”

The timing of his return to campus remains unclear, but he is scheduled to appear at a Big 12 Conference media event in Frisco, Texas on July 9th.

… Read full story here …

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June 28th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Daily Camera previews TCU – Sonny Dykes: “I love where we are right now as a team and as a program”

From the Daily Camera … TCU may not be a national title contender like it was in 2022, when it went 13-2 and lost in the championship game. But, the program isn’t sputtering like it was in 2021, prompting administration to move on from long-time coach Gary Patterson.

The Patterson era (2001-21) was sensational for TCU and was a big reason the program was in position to leave the Mountain West Conference for the Big 12 in 2012. In the last four years under Patterson, however, TCU went 23-24.

Dykes is 27-13 through three years and the 2025 version of the Horned Frogs could be a contender for the Big 12 title.

“I love this team. I love where we are right now as a team and as a program,” Dykes said to TCU media a week ago. “We like our team, I love the work ethic of the team, I love the makeup of the team. It’s a deep team, but we haven’t done anything.

“I think we’re a lot further along than we’ve ever been, just with the way the guys have trained and the buy-in and what we’re doing now with our players and how we’re doing it. I think we’re constantly trying to build a better mousetrap and I feel like we’re getting there.”

The magical 2022 season was followed by a 5-7 campaign in 2023, a year that saw three losses by three points (including the opener against CU). The Horned Frogs got back on track last year, though, in going 9-4.

Several key players from last year are gone, but quarterback Josh Hoover returns. He was reportedly offered more than $1 million by Tennessee, but chose to stay at TCU, where he threw for nearly 4,000 yards last year as a sophomore.

“I love Fort Worth, I love TCU,” he told local media recently. “I see TCU as a top program and that’s why I came here. I came here to win a Big 12 championship.”

To do that, he needs some people around him to step up.

TCU’s top three receivers graduated, but there’s still talent, led by Eric McAlister (39 catches for 762 yards), and transfers Jordan Dwyer and Joseph Manjack IV. The run game has to improve, though. The Horned Frogs were 112th nationally with just 113.9 yards per game on the ground.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 27th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Kickoff luncheon set for August 15th 

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June 26th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU unveils “Buffs Premier”, a new fan engagement and membership program

Press release from CUBuffs.com … Coach Prime changed the game. Now it’s the fans’ turn. Today, University of Colorado Boulder Athletics, in partnership with fan experience leader  Two Circles, unveiled Buffs Premier, a first-of-its-kind fan engagement and membership program fully owned and operated by a college athletics department. This groundbreaking platform is designed to fuel fan passion and elevate athlete support, offering insider access, personalized experiences and a direct way to invest in Colorado student-athletes.

From exclusive content and custom gear delivered to fans’ doorsteps to VIP moments with coaches and players, Buffs Premier is built to reward loyalty and strengthen the connection between Buffs fans and their teams. Starting at $39.99/month, fans can choose from three tiers – Black, Silver, and Gold – and become Founding Members, unlocking early rewards and receiving the first Buffs Premier Box. Revenue generated will be invested back in student-athletes and will enable Colorado to continue to compete at the highest levels of college athletics.

Key Benefits Include:

• Revenue reinvested into student-athlete programs across all sports;
• Access to exclusive content, personalized messages from CU Athletics leadership, coaches and players;
• Custom gear, signed memorabilia and limited-edition merchandise drops;
• VIP experiences including unique game-day experiences, behind-the-scenes tours and virtual roundtables;
• Sweepstakes;
• Special access to purchase tickets to select CU football home games;
• The opportunity to build a stronger, more competitive athletics program, one that attracts and champions the best student-athletes in today’s evolving college sports landscape.

Rick George, Athletic Director at Colorado, said: “Buffs Premier brings the CU Buffaloes to our fans, students, and alumni like never before with perks and access to all of our programs, including our nationally recognized football team. I’m excited that CU Athletics is partnering with Two Circles on this initiative, which is the first of its kind in collegiate athletics and represents a new bar in fan engagement and student-athlete support.”

Two Circles, known for delivering transformative fan engagement for organizations including the NFL, Premier League, College Football Playoff and EA Sports will operate Buffs Premier through Two Circles College, its collegiate division focused on fan growth and sustainable revenue.

Nick Garner, Executive Vice President/Two Circles College, said: “Buffs Premier isn’t just about perks. It’s about genuine connection. Colorado is building something truly special – a loyalty platform that treats fans like insiders and partners in the program’s success. It also tackles one of the biggest challenges in college athletics: growing sustainable revenue while enriching the fan and athlete experience. Under Rick’s leadership, this is a huge step forward that honors CU’s legacy, energizes the next gen of Buffs fans and sets a new standard for engagement in college sports.”

Fans can sign up now to get updates and be the first join Buffs Premier at buffspremier.cubuffs.com.

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About CU Athletics
The University of Colorado, located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder, began intercollegiate competition in the spring of 1890, and 134 years later the school sponsors 17 varsity programs on the NCAA Division I level.  The school sponsors men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s skiing, women’s soccer, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field, and women’s volleyball.  Known as the Buffaloes since 1934, the school has won 30 national championships, over 200 conference championships and boasts more than 150 individual NCAA Champions.

About Two Circles
Two Circles grows audiences and revenues for the world’s leading sports and entertainment organizations by knowing fans best. From 13 international offices (Amsterdam, Bern, Cologne, Kansas City, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Miami, New York, Paris, Riga, Stockholm and Vancouver), Two Circles manages billions of fan data interactions on behalf of over 950 clients around the globe, with more insight into fan behavior and desire than any other organization.
The business uses this fan data to grow the volume and value of fan relationships across all channels, to increase revenue across media rights, sponsorship, ticketing, retail and licensing. Two Circles partners with organizations across the world of sport and entertainment, including the NFL, the Premier League, Wimbledon, EA Sports and UEFA.

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June 25th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU announces naming rights deal (for Byron White Stadium Club)

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado Athletics and Buffalo Sports Properties have secured a new partnership with BOK Financial, introducing the top 25 financial services company as the “Official Banking Partner of the Buffs” in a multi-year agreement.

The partnership provides for category exclusivity and makes BOK Financial Colorado’s first naming rights partner for the Byron White Stadium Club.

“Like Colorado Athletics, BOK Financial is the gold standard and we are so happy to be entering into a partnership with a national institution so committed to our community,” said CU Athletic Director Rick George. “In addition to being the first naming rights partner for the Byron White Club, I’m incredibly excited for BOK Financial’s engagement with our great fans and students.”

As a part of their commitment to connecting with Buffs fans and students, BOK Financial now serves as the presenting sponsor of Colorado’s student section for home games at Folsom Field and the CU Event Center.

The partnership also delivers various traditional and digital assets, including intellectual property rights for the use of official Colorado Athletics logos and marks, prominent static signage, LED signage and digital sponsorship placement.

“We are so proud to partner with Colorado Athletics and the Buffs, particularly on the stadium club honoring legendary Buff and Supreme Court Justice Byron ‘Whizzer’ White,” said Stacy Kymes, BOK Financial president and CEO. “We look forward to being part of the rich history and celebrated traditions of Colorado’s athletic program.”

For more than a century, BOK Financial has fueled the success of consumers, businesses and wealth clients nationwide from operations focused in eight states in the Midwest and Southwest. The financial services company has 14 Colorado locations—including a banking center near the Boulder campus at 2025 Pearl St.—as well as a network of hundreds of surcharge-free ATMs across the state.

“We’re thrilled to welcome BOK Financial to the Buffs family and to see the remarkable commitment they are making to Colorado Athletics,” said Andrew Popchock, General Manager of Buffalo Sports Properties. “We’re proud to connect our fanbase to a highly regarded banking partner that combines nationwide resources with local ties to our community and state.”

Buffalo Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the media and technology company powering college athletics – is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Colorado Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Buffaloes.

About BOK Financial 
BOK Financial Corporation is a $50 billion regional financial services company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma with $114 billion in assets under management or administration. The company’s stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the Global Select market listings (BOKF). BOK Financial Corporation’s holdings include BOKF, NA; BOK Financial Securities, Inc.; and BOK Financial Private Wealth, Inc. BOKF, NA’s holdings include TransFund and Cavanal Hill Investment Management, Inc. BOKF, NA operates banking divisions across eight states as: Bank of Albuquerque; Bank of Oklahoma; Bank of Texas; and BOK Financial in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri; as well as having limited purpose offices in Nebraska, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Tennessee. Through its subsidiaries, BOK Financial Corporation provides commercial and consumer banking, brokerage trading, investment and trust services, mortgage origination and servicing, and an electronic funds transfer network.

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June 24th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Georgia Tech game a designated “Stripe Out” Game

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June 23rd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Daily Camera previews BYU: Cougars coming off of an 11-2 season

From the Daily Camera … Projected 13th in the Big 12 going into last year, BYU started 9-0, vaulting to No. 6 in the country. Although two late losses cost them a spot in the conference title game, the Cougars finished 11-2, capping the campaign with a blowout of the Buffs in the Alamo Bowl.

“Maybe everybody should just predict us to be way down at the bottom again (this year),” head coach Kalani Sitake joked during an interview with BYU TV this spring.

That won’t happen, but Sitake said his team is ready to handle higher expectations. Early predictions don’t have BYU among the top contenders in the Big 12 but certainly much higher than last year.

“I’m not worried about it. The guys came with a different mindset in January,” Sitake said.

BYU is no stranger to success or lofty expectations. From 2005-22, the Cougars played in 17 bowls and posted seven 10-win seasons.

After joining the Big 12 in 2023, BYU went just 5-7 (2-7 in the Big 12) and lost its last five games, but that proved to be a blip, as it was back on track last year.

The 11-win season in 2024 didn’t satisfy the Cougars, though. Not when the Big 12 title game and possible spot in the College Football Playoff was within grasp until two close losses (by a combined nine points) in November.

“I think (the players) saw what was close and attainable, and they see the differences we’ve got to do to make up the difference,” Sitake said. “They kind of see what we’ve got to get after.

“We did some really hard work last year to get to this point, but that’s not why we did it, just so that we could have one year. We’ve got to build something and create momentum. The way I see the guys taking to the offseason, it’s been nice. It’s gonna be fun.”

A key to the season for BYU is the availability of senior quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who had a big year in 2024 but is now facing some legal issues.

Last month a civil lawsuit was filed against him, accusing Retzlaff of sexual assault. Although Retzlaff hasn’t been criminally charged, the legal issues could impact his future with the Cougars. BYU hasn’t commented, so it’s unclear on whether or not Retzlaff will play.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 22nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Travis Hunter first non-quarterback to get entire signing bonus ($30.57 million) paid up front

From ESPN … Receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter signed his four-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday evening, the team announced.

The deal — worth $46.65 million fully guaranteed — includes a $30.57 million signing bonus paid up front.

Hunter is the first non-quarterback not drafted first overall to get his signing bonus entirely up front, according to his agents, Adie von Gontard and Ray Haija of Young Money APAA Sports.

Hunter was the last of the top 10 draft picks to sign his contract. Only two first-round picks remained unsigned: Cincinnati edge rusher Shemar Stewart (17th) and Denver cornerback Jahdae Barron (20th).

The Jaguars traded four draft picks — Nos. 5, 36 and 126 and a first-round selection in 2026 — to the Cleveland Browns to move up three spots to choose Hunter second.

Jacksonville plans to play Hunter on both sides of the ball, as Colorado did when he won the 2024 Heisman Trophy. Hunter spent the bulk of OTAs and mandatory minicamp working on offense but did devote at least one full practice to defense.

Hunter practiced on both offense and defense on the final day of the team’s three-day minicamp, which coach Liam Coen said is the plan for the rookie during training camp.

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Daily Camera previews Wyoming – Cowboys coming off of a 3-9 season

From the Daily Camera … In 10 years under Craig Bohl (2014-23), the Cowboys went 61-60 and played in bowl games in six of his last eight years.

A year ago, Wyoming went 3-9, but Jay Sawvel, the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator for four years before taking over as head coach, brings back a lot of core players. He said in spring that after the season, he had a top-10 list of players he hoped to keep from leaving for the transfer portal and nine of them are returning to Laramie.

“We have the makings of a good football team,” he said after the Cowboys’ spring game in April. “We have to get a lot better in certain areas, but when you look at it and you go, you’ve got your pieces of a great tight end group that we have, our two leading wide receivers back, our quarterback back, our offensive line back in a sense. We have a stocked room at defensive tackle right now.”

On offense, there is optimism in part because of the return of quarterback Kaden Anderson. A redshirt freshman last year, he played sparingly in the Cowboys’ first eight games and then took over as the starter.

This year, Anderson comes in as the clear starter. So much so, in fact, that Evan Svoboda, who started nine games at quarterback during the 2024 season (1,318 yards, five TDs, eight INTs), is now playing tight end.

Wyoming ranked 123rd nationally in scoring (19.3 points per game) last year but should improve upon that with so much back on offense. John Michael Gyllenborg is a top tight end in the Mountain West; and receivers Jaylen Sargent (team-high 480 yards) and Chris Durr (team-high 31 catches) are back.

Also back is leading rusher Sam Scott, who finished with 435 yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry, despite making just four starts. The Cowboys would like to get more out of the run game, though, and added transfers Terron Kellman (Charlotte) and Max White (Iowa).

Four of the five starting offensive linemen are back, including Jack Walsh, a second-team all-conference guard in 2024 who is moving to center.

Defensively, only one full-time starter (nose tackle Ben Florentine) is back, but Wyoming likes the pieces it has this year.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 21st

… CU in a few minutes … 

Daily Camera previews CU’s first Big 12 game – at Houston 

From the Daily Camera … Houston is entering its third season in the Big 12 and its second under Fritz. After back-to-back 4-8 seasons, the Cougars made a lot of changes. Fritz brought in new coordinators on offense and defense, and nearly 30 transfers have joined the team.

“I liked how we installed our offense and defense and kicking game throughout the spring,” Fritz said during an interview with 365 Sports last month. “I like the addition of the kids that we had to work with us in spring football, and I like the addition that we had with some guys we’ve signed here (since spring). I think these guys have got great ability and competed at a high level, and they were position needs for us.”

The Cougars were solid on defense last year, ranking 25th nationally in yards allowed (324.8 per game) and 40th in points allowed (22.9 per game). They were dreadful on offense, though, ranking 132nd in scoring (14.0) and 128th in yards (288.1). Five times they finished with 10 or fewer points, including back-to-back shutouts.

“Obviously in year one in the Big 12 we were not very good on offense and we weren’t very good on the offensive line in particular,” Fritz said. “That was an area we had to address, and we addressed that in December and picked up five guys (on the line) who had started Division I football and had done a good job at the different places they were at.”

For Fritz, the changes started with hiring Slade Nagle as his new (and old) offensive coordinator. Nagle worked for Fritz at Tulane from 2016-23 but spent last year as the special teams coordinator/tight ends coach at LSU.

“Slade was with me at Tulane and did a fantastic job there,” Fritz said. “I was fortunate enough to get him back over here. I liked how he called games for us at Tulane.”

Houston also upgraded at quarterback by landing Conner Weigman, who started 13 games in three years at Texas A&M.

With games against Stephen F. Austin and at Rice to open the year, Houston is set up for a good start before CU comes to town. Fritz is hoping some lessons learned last year turn into some more success this year.

“In the Big 12, everybody is pretty good,” he said. “I was impressed with the league in my first season of competition. Just a very, very competitive league, from top to bottom. … A distinct difference from Group of Five football that I was involved with, without question.”

… Read full story here …

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June 20th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Future schedules may make current Week 0 the new Week 1

From CBS Sports … In an effort to curtail additional wear and tear from an extended college football season, college leaders are considering an earlier kickoff date that would move the beginning of the year from Week 1 to what is now Week 0, CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello confirms. According to NCAA bylaw 17.11, universities wishing to play during Week 0 ahead of the more traditional Week 1 of Labor Day Weekend must be granted a waiver, but bringing back an earlier kickoff date as a permanent fixture is gaining steam as the entire college football calendar is examined.

“Eliminating waivers across all NCAA areas” has been primary talking point in recent years, per Yahoo Sports, but that involves difficult-to-navigate bureaucratic red tape. With the expanded College Football Playoff and litany of bowl games in addition to the recruiting calendar in December, the 2025 college football season begins in late August and goes through Jan. 19, 2026 with the national championship.

FBS teams play a 12-game regular-season schedule, followed by the opportunity of a 13th contest during conference championship weekend and then more games during the postseason. Theoretically, re-incorporating Week 0 — making it a new Week 1 — would provide more time for an additional open date during what amounts to a grueling 4.5-month schedule. The Football Champion Subdivision (FCS) is expected to formalize a proposal permitting its schools to play Week 0, adding a 12th regular season game beginning in 2026.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 19th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Daily Camera previews Delaware Blue Hens

From the Daily Camera … After winning the D-II title in 1979, Delaware jumped to I-AA in 1980 and was routinely in the playoffs, including four times from 2018-23. The Blue Hens reached the I-AA/FCS title game four times, winning the championship in 2003.

Ineligible for the playoffs last year because of the transition to the FBS, Delaware still went 9-2 and will now join Conference USA with hopes of maintaining its winning ways.

“Thanks to our recently opened Whitney Athletic Center and improvements to Delaware Stadium and other facilities, we are confident that we have the infrastructure in place at UD to compete with the very best in college football and simultaneously witness the growth of our other intercollegiate programs in the department,” athletic director Chrissi Rawak said during a press release announcing Delaware’s move on Nov. 28, 2023. “UD Athletics continues to ascend, and Blue Hen football is prepared to take the next step and lead the way.”

C-USA has been the landing spot for recent programs moving up from the FCS. Last year, Kennesaw State went 2-10 in its first FBS season. In 2023, Jacksonville State went 9-4 and Sam Houston 3-9 in their jump from FCS to C-USA. This year, Missouri State joins Delaware in the move from the FCS to C-USA.

How the Blue Hens fare remains to be seen, of course, but they are bringing back several veterans to help head coach Ryan Carty in the transition.

Carty, who has led Delaware to at least eight wins in each of his three seasons, has some experience at quarterback, but it’s unclear who will start.

Senior Zach Marker and junior Nick Minicucci are battling for the job, and it’s possible both will play. Marker, who began his career in junior college, has made six starts in his two years at Delaware and appeared in just four games last year before redshirting. Minicucci has made six starts in his career, five of them last year.

Although three different quarterbacks started last year, Delaware ranked 12th in the FCS in scoring (34.9 points per game) and 11th in total yards (434.9 per game). The Blue Hens were top 30 in both passing and rushing.

Despite losing their top receiver and rusher, the Blue Hens have some talent ready to emerge. Running back Jo’Nathan Silver (462 yards, 4 TD) and receivers Jake Thaw (41 catches), Max Patterson (25 catches) and Ja’Carree Kelly (17 catches) are looking for breakout seasons.

Former CU tight end Caleb Fauria returns to Folsom Field after earning third-team all-conference honors last year with the Blue Hens, who also return three starting linemen.

Defensively, Delaware was 19th in the FCS in points allowed (21.0) and 21st in yards allowed (319.6) in 2024 and was especially stingy against the run, ranking ninth (107.0).

A unique defense with three linemen and three safeties, the Blue Hens return seven starters, including all three safeties; that group is led by KT Seay. Nose tackle Keyshawn Hunter, linebackers Gavin Moul and Dillon Trainer, and defensive end Noah Matthews (a transfer from Kentucky) are key players, as well.

… Read full story here …

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June 18th

… CU in a few minutes …

First sellout of the season: Parents’ Weekend v. Wyoming tickets are gone

From CUBuffs.com … The first one is officially in the books.  The Colorado Buffaloes will once again celebrate Family Weekend in front of a packed Folsom Field as the football game against Wyoming is officially sold out, the first sellout of the 2025 season.

In the Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders Era, CU has sold out more games than any two-year stretch in school history, 10 games,  and the first sellout for 2025 is coming about a month before the first sellout was announced for the 2024 season. At this pace, opportunities for fans to see the 2025 Buffaloes at iconic Folsom Field will soon be limited.

Other games are selling fast, including CU’s season opener against Georgia Tech, a Friday Night Lights game on August 29 to kickoff the season.  Demand for the Georgia Tech game is greater than any season opener in the last five years except the 2023 Nebraska game, which was Coach Prime’s first game and just the second time Nebraska visited Folsom after the two parted ways as conference rivals.

While it’s the first match-up against the Yellow Jackets, the two have a shared history of the 1990 National Championship.  CU won the consensus national championship but Georgia Tech was crowned champions in the coaches poll that season.

Single game inventory has also decreased due to a 13 percent rise in the season ticket base, and season tickets have also sold out.

Two other big home games will also happen in September with Delaware playing its second-ever FBS game in Boulder on Sept. 6 in a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.  New conference rival BYU will also visit Boulder on Sept. 27 in an Alamo Bowl rematch with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m.

CU’s remaining home schedule includes matchups against old Big Eight and Big 12 rival Iowa State (Oct. 11), which is also showing a high demand, a Homecoming matchup against vs. Arizona (Nov. 1), and senior day match-up against Arizona State (Nov. 22).

For more information on single-game football tickets, including premium seating and group opportunities, please visit CU’s ticket information center.   Tickets for Wyoming are available on CU’s secondary ticket partner, SeatGeek.

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June 17th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Daily Camera previews CU’s opener against Georgia Tech

From the Daily Camera … Although the programs have been linked for 35 years, since splitting the national title in 1990, CU and Georgia Tech have never met on the football field. Their first meeting will be intriguing, as the Buffs look for a hot start with some new weapons and the Yellow Jackets aim for a win in what could be their best season in nearly a decade.

While Tech won’t be a top-5 team, Haynes is a much better and more seasoned player than the last time he came to the Centennial State. After three seasons at A&M, King is entering his third season with the Yellow Jackets, who could be a sleeper in the race for the ACC title.

Georgia Tech is entering its third full season under head coach Brent Key, a former Yellow Jackets offensive lineman who has brought some energy back to the program. Tech didn’t reach bowl eligibility in four years under previous head coach Geoff Collins, but has gone to two consecutive bowls with back-to-back 7-6 seasons under Key.

This year, they are led by King, a talented dual threat who had a nation-best touchdown-to-interception rate of 7-to-1 (14 TDs, 2 INT) and also ran for 11 scores last year. He has rushed for at least 500 yards in back-to-back seasons.

Now a third-year starter, King has several weapons around him, too. Tech returns leading rusher Jamal Haynes, top receiver Malik Rutherford and first-team All-ACC right guard Keylan Rutledge.

Although three offensive linemen need to be replaced, Tech appears to have the tools to possibly be better offensively after finishing top-60 nationally in scoring (28.9 points per game), total yards (424.5), rushing (187.0) and passing (237.5).

Defensively, they were solid last year, giving up 25.2 points (67th nationally) and 342.8 yards (42nd) per game. The Yellow Jackets brought in new coordinator Blake Gideon from Texas (where he was the safeties coach) and bolstered the defense through the portal, so there is hope for improvement on that side of the ball.

… Read full story here …

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June 16th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Single Transfer Portal Window (January) concept gaining traction

From The Athletic … The Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee is expected to have a deep discussion on a single portal window. The hope is to come out with a recommendation and begin a path to solidify a change before the upcoming season.

“I’m confident we’ll get there,” committee chair and Buffalo athletic director Mark Alnutt told The Athletic.

But when would that single window be? And what would it mean for players and teams?

According to several people involved in the process, granted anonymity in order to describe the state of discussions before a formal decision, early January is the option with the most momentum; one person described it as an 80-20 split. At its annual convention this January in Charlotte, the American Football Coaches Association proposed the window run Jan. 2-12 beginning in 2026, following a unanimous vote of dozens of FBS head coaches in attendance.

That date would allow most schools to finish the season with their full team, a response to rising numbers of opt-outs from bowl games and even College Football Playoff teams losing players off their roster. It would also help set teams in place heading into spring practice, especially as rosters begin to shrink with the House settlement roster limits.

“I want January,” Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire said. “I want to get my team, and I want to roll and get ready for winter conditioning, spring football, and take that team into the fall.”

The institution of a transfer window only restricts when players can enter the portal. They aren’t required to pick a new school in that time, though their prospective schools’ academic calendars may create a deadline.

One player agent, granted anonymity to discuss his work with players, told The Athletic he prefers January and tells his clients to avoid the spring portal anyway unless they’re an elite athlete. The agent was concerned that a later portal could cause kids to check out and create a limbo period, or that it would open up even more opportunities for springtime tampering.

Not everyone is on board with a January portal window. Multiple people involved in the process said some power conference schools prefer spring, especially those whose academic calendars run on a quarter system and start class earlier in January, before the portal closes.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 14th

… CU in a few minutes … 

RB Dekalon Taylor: “I feel like I can add a lot of value, just off my speed and agility and my vision”

From the Daily Camera … Living in San Antonio, as a student at the University of Incarnate Word, Dekalon Taylor wanted to see the Colorado Buffaloes in person during the Alamo Bowl in December.

“Tickets were just way too high for me, so I ended up watching it on TV,” Taylor said.

He never envisioned that just a few months later he would be joining the Buffs.

“It’s crazy how the tables turn,” he said.

After a stellar season at UIW last year, Taylor entered the transfer portal and committed to the Buffs last month. He’s now going through summer workouts, but talked with BuffZone before those workouts began.

“I chose Colorado just for the fan base, as well as the coaching staff and what they have to offer, all the vets on the staff,” Taylor said. “They’ve been in the position that I’m trying to get to, and that’s the NFL, so why not go to the best?”

CU running backs coach Marshall Faulk, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, and assistant running backs coach Johnnie Mack reached out to Taylor when he hit the portal.

“They were very interested in me and my play style,” Taylor said. “We talked about the things I could work on, things that I’m really good at, and overall, I feel like they could develop me the best. … I feel like I can add a lot of value to that room, just off my speed and agility and my vision.”

… Continue reading story here …

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June 11th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime: “I can assure you that everything is okay and will continue to be so”

Tweet from Coach Prime … Wow, I am truly blessed for the abundance of well wishes, for all the thoughts and all of the prayers. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I can assure you all that everything is OKAY and will continue to be so. God got me like no other. I have so much more work to do to Glorify God so please believe God got me! I’m excited to get back to Colorado to be at home with my staff, team & all associated to our program. When we arrive back to Boulder you will be updated on everything. . Until then, I’M COMING BABY, #CoachPrime

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June 10th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime’s health drawing national attention 

… Note … During an interview with DNVR this past Friday,  Christopher Neely of Thee Pregame Show shared his thoughts on the situation. “He’s doing good, man,” Neely said of Sanders. “One of the things we ended spring saying was this was the most energetic and enthusiastic Coach Prime I’ve been with him, going back to the spring COVID season.

“As you say him tell Asante, he had a little setback. But nothing that with rest, he can’t overcome. I FaceTimed with him the other day. When he is home, people get a to-do list. Please know he is still the head coach of this football program as he takes some time off. But he is still engaged, energetic.”

From ESPN …  Colorado coach Deion Sanders has been ill and out of the office recently, a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.

Sanders has been at his estate in Texas dealing with an “unspecified health issue” as the school’s annual summer football camps began last week, according to a report in USA Today. A timetable for his return is unknown, but on Sunday, his eldest son, Deion Sanders Jr., appeared on a YouTube livestream from the Texas home and said his father was “feeling well.”

“He’ll tell y’all soon enough what he’s going through, what he went through,” Deion Jr. stated, according to USA Today. “When we get back to Boulder, I don’t know. I’m waiting until my dad leaves. When he leaves, then I’ll go. Until then, I’m going to sit here with him.”

Sanders, 57, canceled his speaking engagement scheduled for June 8 in Florida at the Sickle Cell Disease Research and Educational Symposium. The organization posted the update on X: “Due to an unavoidable last-minute scheduling change, our originally scheduled Foundation Keynote Speaker, Deion Sanders ‘Coach Prime,’ is unable to attend. We are grateful for his support and look forward to future opportunities to welcome him.”

Sanders has dealt with health issues before. In 2022, he had two toes on his left foot amputated because of blood clots that developed from a previous surgery. In 2023, Sanders had a procedure to relieve clots in both of his legs and missed Pac-12 media day.

In late May, Sanders mentioned a health issue in a podcast with former NFL cornerback Asante Samuel, according to USA Today, but didn’t provide details.

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Video of artificial turf installation at Folsom Field

From YouTube, courtesy of 9News in Denver (thanks to CU at the Gamer Shay for finding the video) …

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June 9th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Rick George on House settlement: “We’re all in. We’re going to be very aggressive”

From the Daily Camera … As the future of college athletics goes through a dramatic change, the University of Colorado is prepared to go all-in.

On Friday, district judge Claudia Wilken in Northern California approved the House v. NCAA settlement, which will allow schools around the country to directly pay student-athletes through revenue sharing beginning July 1.

The settlement is a landmark change in college athletics and one that CU is ready to embrace.

“We’re all in,” CU athletic director Rick George told BuffZone in a recent interview. “We’re going to be all in, and this is going to be a group effort. … We’re going to be very aggressive, going out and looking at revenue streams, and obviously our donations that we get from donors is an area that we’re going to emphasize.”

Schools can pay student-athletes up to $20.5 million during the 2025-26 school year, to be divided among different sports. It’s widely expected that football and men’s basketball teams – the two sports that generate the most revenue – will receive most of that money.

While schools don’t have to reach the cap (which is expected to increase every year), George said CU plans to hit the cap. George and his administrative team have been working for nearly a year to be ready for the July 1 start date, including how to earn the money and how to allocate the funds. CU is still figuring out a plan of how to allocate money to different sports.

“It’s a challenging time for our peers and for us, because you just don’t have $20.5 million lying around,” George said. “So it’s going to require some difficult decisions and we’ve just got to be willing to make them. But our goal in all of this is that we want to compete at the highest level, so we’re going to participate at the highest level.”

… Continue reading story here …

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June 7th

… CU in a few minutes …

**CU posts FAQ about the House settlement and its affects on CU athletics**

From Rick George …

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From CUBuffs.com …

Q: What is “The Settlement”?
A: The Settlement is a $2.8 billion antitrust class action settlement that resolves  In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (a consolidation of House v. National Collegiate Athletic Association and Carter v. National Collegiate Athletic Association) and Hubbard v. National Collegiate Athletic Association as approved by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Although the settlement officially includes all three antitrust suits brought against the NCAA, it’s commonly referred to as just “The House Case”

Q: What does the Settlement mean for CU? 
A: The Settlement enables athletic departments, like CU’s, to share its revenue with student-athletes, via direct compensation, in exchange for a license to use their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. The Settlement has created a cap of $20.5 million per university each year that can be paid to student-athletes. These funds are separate from, and in addition to, the benefits CU already provides student-athletes like tuition, meals, room & board, health care, etc.

Q: Why is the annual compensation cap set at $20.5 million?
A: $20.5 million is 22% of the average revenue generated by all institutions (plus the University of Notre Dame) within the ‘Power Five’ conferences – the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC. This cap is set to increase by 4% each school year and will be recalibrated every three years. It’s up to each school to determine how much to spend within the cap and how to divide up their cap dollars amongst sport programs.

Q: Does every NCAA school have to participate in revenue sharing?
A: Only institutions named as defendant conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC) in the Settlement are required to participate in revenue sharing. Participation is permissive for all other conferences.

Q: Will CU share its revenue up to the $20.5 million cap?
A: Yes, it is our intention to distribute the maximum allotted compensation to student-athletes each year.

Q: Is this additional money coming from the University or student tuition?
A: Revenue sharing funds will be paid out of the Department of Athletics budget and not from University tuition or state/federal funding. This is why support from CU fans is more vital than ever to ensuring our student-athletes have the resources needed to succeed.

Q: How will revenue be distributed? 
A: The Settlement does not dictate how an institution must disburse revenue sharing funds, so methodology and execution will vary between schools. CU Athletics will use a revenue-based, unbiased and nondiscriminatory model in which the programs that generate the most revenue will receive the majority of the revenue-sharing. Based on this budget, the sport program determines the amount of compensation each student-athlete receives. The student-athlete will, then, be offered a licensing agreement.

Q: Will every CU student-athlete sign a licensing agreement?
A: The compensation amount and term length will vary, but every CU student-athlete, regardless of sport, will have an opportunity to participate in revenue-sharing via an institutional licensing agreement.

Q: Does this mean student-athletes are now CU employees and can be cut if they don’t perform? 
A: No. A revenue sharing licensing agreement is not tied to athletic performance or results. It enables the Athletic Department to use a student-athlete’s NIL rights to market and promote individual sports, the Athletic Department, and the University. Student-athletes will still be required to remain academically and athletically eligible in order to compete.

Q: How will CU Athletics use the student-athletes’ NIL Rights?
A: CU Athletics will compensate student-athletes for a license to include their name, image and likeness in all of the marketing, promotion and publicity activities our fans are used to. This includes team posters, social media features, in-venue videos as well as a number of appearances such as Buff Belles, the Pearl Street Stampede, and team autograph sessions.

Q: How does revenue sharing compensation impact athletic scholarships?
A: Student-athletes will continue to sign institutional Financial Aid Agreements, at an amount determined by the sport program. This aid covers things like tuition, fees, room and board. Financial Aid Agreements exist separately from, and are governed by different rules than, the new licensing agreements that student-athletes will sign.

Q: Is CU cutting any sports?
A: No.

Q: Is CU cutting scholarships for any sports? If so, which sports and why?
A: The House settlement will replace scholarship limits with roster limits. We have been evaluating our rosters in order to best meet the roster limit requirements outlined in the agreement. Some of our Olympic sports will be impacted with roster reductions. All decisions regarding roster sizes are dictated by Title IX requirements.

Q: Will there be “Walk-Ons” anymore?
A: Some CU sport programs will be able to have non-scholarship student-athletes participating on their team if they are within that sport’s roster limit.

Q: What about former student-athletes?
A: A significant piece of the Settlement is back damages to be paid by the NCAA to former student-athletes who competed from 2016-2024. To learn more about this part of the Settlement, visit collegeathletecompensation.com

Q: Can student-athletes still engage in NIL deals on their own?
A: Yes. In addition to a student-athlete’s institutional licensing agreement, they are still able to engage in individual NIL deals with third parties. These deals are now subject to review and approval through a national clearinghouse, which requires the third party to disclose their association to the University, prove a valid business purpose and provide payment within a fair range of compensation. A student-athlete could face eligibility ramifications for accepting a deal that is not approved by the Clearinghouse.

Q: When a student-athlete has their own NIL deal, does that count towards CU’s revenue sharing cap?
A: No. When a student-athlete earns compensation through an individual NIL deal with a third party, these funds are considered ‘above cap’ and do not impact the student-athlete’s licensing agreement with CU nor count towards CU’s ‘spending’ within the $20.5 million annual limit.

Q: What’s happening to Collectives?
A: Collectives (booster groups that support a specific institution through engaging in NIL deals only with those student-athletes) may still exist throughout the country. Just like any third party, though, the deals a Collective offers to student-athletes will be subject to scrutiny via national clearinghouse. As part of the clearinghouse process, a Collective will have to disclose their association to the University and prove that their entity has a valid business purpose (beyond just student-athlete NIL deals).

Here at CU, in order to increase efficiency and oversight, we have brought the responsibilities previously undertaken by Collectives in-house.

Q: How do businesses get involved with CU student-athletes? 
A: The NIL Office within CU Athletics educates third parties, operates the Buffs NIL Exchange and helps facilitate NIL deals between businesses and student-athletes. For more information or if you’d like to get involved, email: BuffsNIL@colorado.edu

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June 6th

… CU in a few minutes … 

CU Kickoff Luncheon set for August 15th

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June 5th 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Jordan Seaton to conduct a football camp in his hometown of Washington D.C. 

From Athlon Sports … As the Colorado Buffaloes transition into the post-Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter era, sophomore offensive tackle Jordan Seaton has quietly climbed into the spotlight.

A consensus five-star recruit out of IMG Academy, Seaton exploded onto the scene in 2024 as the first true freshman to start at left tackle in school history.

Now, off the field, Seaton is making moves to solidify his star status.

Wednesday, Seaton appeared on Reach The People Media’s YouTube channel to reveal his next big move: hosting his own football camp back in his hometown of Washington, D.C.

“Yeah, ’cause I’m going to have a camp back home and I need all the young lions,” Seaton said. “This ain’t no typical, you know, like your average camp. This is a one-on-one, what’s in the bag, elite football camp. Like, put your family on the map. Put your name on the map. Put your city on the map.”

With both Sanders and 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Hunter having moved on to the NFL, Seaton has quickly emerged not only as a cornerstone of Colorado’s offensive front but also as an unlikely face of leadership in Boulder.

… Read full story here …

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June 4th

… CU in a few minutes … 

Judge in House case extends time to appeal perilously close to start of 2025-26 academic year 

From CBS Sports … The marathon legal battle regarding player compensation and the makeup of college athletics in a landmark, multibillion-dollar antitrust case took another turn Monday night.

A federal judge granted attorneys involved in the $2.8 billion settlement an extension to to file “summary judgement and Daubert briefing.” With both sides still waiting for a final judgement and the original deadline coming on June 6, the new June 27 date provides proper time for a potential appeal. It also pushes the timeline for a potential resolution even closer to the expected start of revenue sharing payments to athletes on July 1.

Both sides came to a compromise on tweaking the aspect of roster limits in the settlement on May 7, which they hope will convince a federal judge to grant final approval. The judge twice voiced concerns over proposed roster limits, a small but significant aspect of the deal that will enable schools to pay athletes a portion of their media revenues, capped at $20.5 million.

Under the compromise, schools would be allowed — but not required — to reinstate players who were cut from rosters during the 2024-25 academic year without those players counting against new roster limits set to be implemented July 1. Purged players exempt from roster limits can also transfer to new schools.

The key language in the brief, however, is that roster-limit exceptions are to be made at a school’s discretion. It remains to be seen if the brief will satisfy Judge Claudia Wilken of the Northern District of California, who specifically asked attorneys to “grandfather” all players into the deal, after twice delaying a decision on whether to approve the settlement in April.

“In other words, there are no guarantees that designated student-athletes will get or maintain roster spots,” the NCAA and power conference’s counsel wrote in a supplemental brief Wednesday. “But that does not adversely affect any injunctive relief class member.”

High school seniors who were promised scholarships that were later rescinded because of the proposed roster limits will also be exempt.

Now, college athletics waits – again – for a decision from federal court. Wilken gave preliminary approval in October, speaking in favor of most aspects of the deal. However, she has twice delayed final approval because of language tied to roster limits, which could lead to an estimated 5,000 players being cut from sports across the NCAA.

Several objectors testified April 7 against replacing scholarship limits with roster limits at a settlement hearing in the District Court of Northern California. In a brief filed April 23, Wilken ordered attorneys to develop a plan to “grandfather” current players into the agreement, allowing schools to temporarily exceed new limits as part of a phase-in solution for rosters. A two-week negotiation ensued.

If Wilken is not satisfied with the parties’ resolution and declines final approval, the case may advance to trial, a daunting prospect for the NCAA, which has been bludgeoned legally over student-athlete compensation and lambasted by the Supreme Court over the last five years. If the NCAA and power conferences lose in trial, the parties could be liable for $20 billion in damages.

… Continue reading story here …

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June 2nd

… CU in a few minutes … 

Coach Prime: Health issues have cost him 14 pounds; out of the media spotlight for the past month

From Athlon Sports … Former NFL All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel recently sparked debate after declaring on social media that he belongs in the same all-time tier as Hall-of-Famer Deion Sanders.

The online back-and-forth led to Sanders joining Samuel on the ‘Say What Needs to Be Said’ podcast on Friday night. The two former stars tackled rumors of a rift and shared insights on cornerback play in today’s game.

However, the tone of the hour-long episode shifted at the end when Sanders opened up about ongoing health concerns. He revealed unexpected weight loss and hinted at a health issue, calling it “on another level.” Cue to the 1:00:13 mark.

When Samuel asked if fasting was involved, Sanders replied by saying it more serious. He noted this was his first public appearance since a press conference on April 22, adding that he needed to go on the podcast for a boost.

“I’ve done no media. I’ve done nothing for a minute, Sanders admitted. “So coming on with you is something. I ain’t been in front of nobody for a minute. I lost about 14 pounds. I’m coming back, but I needed this.”

… Continue reading story here …

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