Deion Sanders has always been about sharing valuable life lessons through coaching or social media. For his students or aspiring athletes, these lessons carry even more weight, as he expects them to apply his advice and deliver results. And a recent moment perfectly illustrated this approach.
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During Day 3 of Colorado Springs Ball practice, recorded by Well Off Media, Sanders was seen telling his team that he had moved their practice inside without prior notice because it was too cold outside. However, that decision came with something he expected in return.
Coach Prime said that he wanted their hard work in exchange. He also made it clear to his players that in life, when someone does something for them—like this gesture—it comes with an expectation. Nothing is truly given without something expected in return.
“Fellas, I checked the weather today, and it was a little cold, so I brought you inside. So, I did something for you. What do I want in return?” Deion asked facetiously. “When someone does something for you, what do they want in return?”
“Something back!” The team shouted in unison, before Sanders added,
“In life, you’re going to understand when somebody does something for you, they’re going to want something back. I want something back. All I ask for is work. The work that you put in is going to help [us] elevate to the next level.”
It may go without saying, but it’s a lesson some younger athletes need to hear. In an era where instant gratification is the norm, complacency can creep in. But if you want to play for Deion, he’s going to teach you about respect and the realities of life. It’s just who he is.
As Deion puts it, life is all about give and take. You can’t always take without giving something in return.
Coach Prime has an important task on his table. He needs to shape the next era of football in Boulder. And it all starts with instilling the right mentality in his players.
Deion’s new drill
Later on in the video, Coach Prime spoke to his team about a new team-building exercise that he’s going to start implementing. He explained that at the end of practices, players will have the opportunity to call out who they want to face in an Oklahoma drill.
It just goes to show how Deion continues to instill the right mentality in the new cohort. He wants his players to embrace competition and know who they want to challenge.
In conclusion, this is a crucial year for Deion and the Buffs. There will be pressure on him to build on last season’s results, which is why he’s getting his personnel ready. Few coaches in any sport communicate with their team as effectively as Deion. He’s a player’s coach through and through.
And, while Sanders has his critics, his resume speaks for itself. He turned around Jackson State, then Colorado, and developed two top-five draft prospects in Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter — all in just five seasons. Impressive would be an understatement.
