BOULDER — As Colorado wrapped its 11th practice of fall camp on a rainy, August day, there was cause for celebration. It was Deion Sanders’ birthday and his players brought out a cake and sang “Happy Birthday” to him after practice. Sanders blew out the candles and made a wish.
He must not be overly superstitious about that sort of thing because he was eager to share with his team and everyone at CU’s fall sports media day what his wish was. “I told them that I would want all these young men to be professionals in some capacity, not only off the field but on the field,” Sanders said. “Great fathers, great young men to their siblings, their mothers, their community and everything.
I just want them to add to everything that they touch. That’s my dream and my prayer for these young men.” But coach Sanders did more than celebrate his 57th birthday on Friday.
He also became a grandfather for the first time as his oldest daughter, Deiondra, gave birth to a baby boy. “That’s how good God is,” Sanders said. “Do you understand how beautiful that is, how much of a blessing that is?” Even that wasn’t the first thing on his mind with less than three weeks until the start of his second season with the Buffaloes.
His son, Shilo, had to remind him. Coach Sanders is laser focused on this all-important 2024 season, which will be his last coaching both sons, Shilo and Shedeur. The difference from last year to this year is evident every time he steps on the pract.