Deion Sanders Named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year
In just his first season as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, Deion Sanders has made a huge impact and reinvigorated the fanbase as well as the football program. For his efforts, Sanders has been named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated.
Taking over a struggling 1-11 Colorado team, Sanders quickly turned things around and brought excitement back to Folsom Field. The Buffaloes had a roller-coaster season, starting with a 3-0 record and becoming the talk of college football, before finishing with a 4-8 record after losing eight of their last nine games.
Sanders made his mark by overhauling the roster and utilizing the transfer portal to quickly rebuild the team, a move that drew both praise and criticism. Known for doing things his own way, Sanders once quipped, “Your opinion of me is not the opinion that I have for myself.”
The Buffaloes will be moving from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 next season, and Sanders is determined to continue the team’s upward trajectory.
Sanders will be featured on the cover of the December 15 issue of Sports Illustrated, marking the seventh time he has appeared on the cover of the magazine. Stephen Cannella, editor in chief of SI, praised Sanders as a “transformative figure” and a “new model for the modern college coach” in a statement.
Sanders’ impact goes beyond the field, as he has brought attention to the program and the university as a whole. With his kids, athletic director Rick George, and other supporters by his side, Sanders has proved that he is just getting started in his quest to turn the Colorado Buffaloes into a powerhouse in college football once again.