Tough Love

It’s hard to turn on the television or peruse social media without hearing from or about Deion Sanders. For those who may have been living under a rock, Deion, aka Coach Prime, was once a famous baseball and football player who is now the football coach for the University of Colorado. During his playing career, Neon Deion was an athletic and media spectacle. His athletic achievements are legendary, and his self-promotion and ego were beyond measure. Revered or reviled, everyone had an opinion.

Fast forward to 2023 and Coach Prime is once again in the limelight. And just like the old days, his presence and persona are controversial. He is coaching a team whose record was 1W-11L last year. (That’s one win and ELEVEN losses for those unfamiliar with football stats.) I’m not sure what it took to convince him to move to Colorado to coach The Bad News Bears but evidently he was intrigued by the challenge. I could be wrong but I don’t believe money was a motivating factor.

Deion rolled into town in his Lamborghini and immediately began dispensing tough love. He encouraged most of the players from the 2022 team to leave; he told the brave few who stayed they might regret their decision. He demands accountability, courtesy, chivalry, and proper clothing attire from every team member. He has explained he will not tolerate tardiness, disrespect, or failing grades. On more than one occasion, he has publicly stated his goal is to graduate men who will be successful in life, not just football. Bravado and brashness aside, his message and mentoring may not result in a winning season but it may produce some mighty fine gentlemen, and that’s a W in my book.