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Deion Sanders hasn’t set more than a foot wrong since becoming a head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.
Sure, his methods are unconventional, but after winning just one game a year ago, the Buffs are already 3-1 and spent last weekend ranked inside the top 25 in both the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll.
But Sanders is still relatively new to coaching on the college level. This is just his fourth season in college football and his first at the FBS level.
So it appears he’s still learning the ropes with regards to what he can and can’t do or say.
Which brings us to Monday, when he spoke about five-star freshman cornerback Cormani McClain.
“Study and prepare. Be on time for meetings, show up to the darn meetings,” Sanders said when asked why McClain hadn’t played much in the first four games. “Understand the scheme. Understand what we are doing as a scheme. Want to play this game, desire to play this game, desire to be the best in this game, at practice, in the film room and on your own free time.
“You do know I check film time from each player upon the week so I can see who’s preparing, that’s not just about Cormani. So if I don’t see that you would be a fool to put somebody out there who’s not prepared. Can’t do it, won’t do it.”
That may sound a bit harsh. But most people understand where Sanders is coming from.
However, there’s one big issue. It appears Sanders may have admitted to an NCAA violation in his answer.
For those that don't know or have never been around a CFB program.. a player is limited, now, to 20hrs per week of athletic activities.
Say you have a in-season Mon-Sat. schedule during the week of: 2hr practice, 1hr film. Thats 15hrs.
Gameday: 4hrs
Recover 1hr
Thats your 20hrs…— Brett Lucas (@tharecruiterguy) September 26, 2023
College football players are limited to 20 hours of athletic activities a week.
Sanders states that he asks coaches to compile film hours on Thursday and see who is doing extra work beyond those hours, then using that to determine playing time.
Yes, this is common practice across the country. But you can’t say the quiet part out loud.
Nothing has come of it yet. But don’t be surprised if Sanders gets a call from the fine folks in the NCAA office. Or, at least, his compliance director is suddenly very busy trying to put out a fire.