By Betty J. Slade | PREVIEW Columnist
A setback in Saturday’s game between CU Bolder and Oregon (6-42) didn’t discourage the confidence of this champion. Neither will he quit. The loss didn’t take away from who Deion Sanders is.
After a marathon weekend of watching interviews with Sanders, I’m ready to run to the top of Wolf Creek Pass or onto the Golden Peaks Stadium football field and shout, “Thank you, Lord, for a man of conviction.”
My Sweet Al asked, “How many more interviews are you going to watch?”
“All of them. Deion makes me want to win. He makes me want to keep pushing writers to write their hearts out.”
I’m amazed at the confidence this 56-year-old man has with a net worth of $45 million and two Super Bowl rings. I’ve come to the conclusion his confidence lies not with his fame or fortune, but with knowing the truth, loving the boys and building confidence in them.
Sanders is an American football coach and former professional football and baseball player. He’s the only athlete to compete in both the Super Bowl and World Series and now is dedicating his time to coaching the next generation of players.
Sanders was at the center of religious controversy for months before Colorado started its 2023 season. The parents argued they needed a coach, not a preacher.
With old-school teachings, he told the boys that nothing would be given to them and they had to work to get on the team. More than 70 boys quit before the season started.
In one of his interviews, he was asked why he would come to the University of Colorado Boulder, known for being a “party school”and very liberal.
He answered matter-of-factly, “God told me to come to CU and that’s why I’m here.”
He was asked, “Why did you quit Jackson State?”
“I didn’t quit; I finished the job. I’m at CU for the next chapter in my life. I’ve never been in Colorado, never skied, snowboarded, or any other thing, but I am obeying God. I’m here and ready to do business.” And yes, he means business. I love that dedication when he said, “I love these young men and I’m here to build character in them to be successful in life. It’s more than football.”
Ryan Gaydos, from Fox News, wrote, “The Freedom from Religion Foundation sent the University of Colorado a letter on Jan. 24 about Sanders’ references to Christianity and claimed they were contacted by residents who were concerned players were potentially being pressured to pray during their team meetings.”
The letter also pointed to one prayer in question, which read “Lord, we thank You for this day, Father, for this opportunity as a group. Father, we thank You for the movement that God has put us in place to be in charge of. We thank You for each player here, each coach, each family. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”
In 1 John 3:18,19, The Passion Translation, John writes, “Beloved Children, our love can’t be an abstract theory we only talk about, but a way of life demonstrated through our loving deeds. We know that the truth lives within us because we demonstrate love in action, which will reassure our hearts in his presence.”
In the Aramaic, the same verses can be translated, “By this we recognize that we are of the truth and it makes our hearts confident to deliver our hearts before he comes.”
I believe Sanders’ life says the same thing. He is not loving in abstract theory, but demonstrating his love in action, giving him reassurance that he is in the right place. He is delivering his heart to the young men of Colorado. He is not only teaching them how to win on the football field, but helping raise successful men of character.
Sanders is putting a new face on the college football program. He is bigger than college football. He’s generating more money for the athletic program and for the boys. Even the food in the cafeteria is better.
When asked about giving his own boys an opportunity and a quarterback position, he said, “I’m not giving them anything, they’re going to have to earn it.”
He knows 95 out of 100 won’t make it to the pros, but he’s giving them an opportunity to win in real life. He named several “old school” coaches who gave to him and now he’s giving back. I am reminded of Coach Garrison who coached our grandsons. After every game, he made the boys thank their parents for being there. He instilled “old school” teachings in them.
My own two kids, Al and Allison Wylie, are still members of the athletic Boosters’ Club, even 10 years after their boys graduated. Why? Because they love the boys. They are still giving back.
When the team went out on the road, Al and Allison would get up at four in the morning and make 100 burritos, heat them, wrap them in foil, store them in a big thermal cooler. At 6 a.m., with 100 burritos, they met the bus and sent their boys off with the rest of the team for an out-of-town game.
When my daughter was asked why they did this, she answered, “I wasn’t going to make two burritos for my boys when I knew the other 30 boys were hungry.”
Final brushstroke: It’s refreshing to see what Sanders is giving back to the next generation. He’s giving them “old school” training and he’s not apologizing for it. Sanders, a man of conviction and confidence, has just gotten started and I’ll be watching every Saturday. My Sweet Al is going to have to wait for dinner; I’ve got another hour on the last interview. The season has just begun.
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Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of The SUN.
