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Three weeks into the 2023 college football season, perhaps no coach in the country had stock as high as that of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders.
Sanders had the Buffaloes, who went 1-11 a year ago, sitting at 3-0 and inside the AP Top 25.
Fast forward a bit and Colorado is now 4-5 and on the outside looking in at a bowl berth.
Sanders, who has never shied away from controversy, rocked the boat a week ago when he demoted offensive coordinator Sean Lewis in favor of former NFL head coach Pat Shurmur.
He made the move despite Lewis’ offense averaging over 30 points per game, and it didn’t sit well with most around the college football world.
Sanders’ decision appeared particularly misguided when his team put up just 52 yards and three points in the first half of a 26-19 loss to Oregon State on Saturday.
After the game, he offered an explanation for his bold choice.
“We’re not going to demean Sean Lewis. We’re not going to take that tone,” Sanders said. “Sean is a good man; I think he is a good play caller. We just needed change at the time. We needed to try something else at the time, and that’s what we did. I don’t look back on it. I don’t second-guess myself whatsoever, because there’s more to it than what you may know.”
Despite Colorado’s struggles against the Beavers, Sanders didn’t shy away from the move.
“I’m not going to disclose all my thoughts, man — my thoughts are my thoughts,” Sanders said. “Just know that I made the decision and I don’t stumble or stutter on it, and I’m not looking back. It is what it is, and that’s what it’s going to be. I make a decision to help this team win. You guys don’t know all the intangibles yet. You’re just looking from the outside of the crib, looking in.”
Either way, all eyes will be on Sanders and the Buffs the rest of the season.