By Betty J. Slade | PREVIEW Columnist
I’ve continued to track Deion Sanders, the football coach for the University of Colorado-Boulder. When I worked for a website, I interviewed house, commercial and industrial painters. I asked questions until I found a story. Then I dug until I found the man behind the story.
One man has written his story on the hearts of Boulder’s citizens. When Sanders announced to the world, “We’re Comin’” and the angry parents threw a fit, wrote to the college and said they didn’t want a preacher but a coach, they missed out on a good thing.
They have moved on and taken their sons with them to another place. So sad for their boys, who could have learned how to be men and live a successful life.
When one man comes to town and changes the town, one would realize there must be something different about him. There is. He is standing on his convictions.
People say they want to be a part because they love to win. He’s got a new team. In a recent game there were two overtimes and they still lost by three. There were many penalties. The yellow hanky flew up at every play. There’s a lot of work to be done.
But it goes deeper than winning. I think people are hungry for truth, for right and wrong, for a leader who will take a stand, not cave or compromise to the nonsense and noise of the world.
The university’s admittance is up 41 percent for next year. People are wanting to be a part of this school. The town is bringing in millions in revenue. The stadium is breaking records of 56,000 fans at the games. The students at CU feel like they are in the midst of the biggest thing that has happened to their town.
Sanders is bringing the glitter with him. Gold earphones on his ears and a gold cross hangs on his neck. But there’s story behind the man — two toes amputated on his right foot from injuries from his football years. He doesn’t show the pain as he moves up and down the field in the bitter cold. I feel the pain in his limping and I understand when he has to sit down. His son took some brutal blows and I watched Sanders’ face. He held back the hurt in his heart. He knows he’s building young men, including his sons.
All the television stations are covering the games. Celebrities are flying into Boulder. He’s there because God told him to be there. You know how outlandish that sounds to others, but it’s giving him grit to meet the challenges of the Colorado Buffaloes.
It is reported that Sanders roughly makes $5.5 million annually to be the head coach at Colorado. A very large salary for a first-time Power Five head coach. He’s set to make $5.5 million in his first season as part of the largest financial package ever given to a Buffaloes football coach. He has changed the face of college football.
Yes, I am enthralled about these men who capture the world every weekend with their ability and commitment to make it happen on the field.
I’m following two football teams this season, the University of Colorado — Boulder and the Kansas City Chiefs. I was looking at “pretty man” tight end Travis Kelce before Taylor Swift entered the picture and is now cheering him on with his mother by her side. I listened to interviews and podcasts by his brother, Jason Kelce. I loved the commercial when the older brother arm-wrestled the younger and called him “pretty boy” and Travis Kelce yelled back “pretty man.” The arm came down and the younger won.
After losing his scholarship, Travis Kelce’s older brother helped him find his way out of drugs and a wrong lifestyle. He begged the coach to give his younger brother another chance. I found a story behind two brothers, playing against each other on different teams at one of the most important games of their lives, Super Bowl LII. Wearing both numbers and team colors, their mother held each son in her arms. She cried for the older brother and felt joy for the younger.
And what can I say about Patrick Mahomes, quarterback? He’s a swan, a graceful ballerina on the field. Bouncing up and down on pointed toes, rough around the edges, cheesy smile, but when he throws the ball, he’s in total control. He’s having fun. He’s making it look easy. He has done the work and brought art to the game on the football field.
Final brushstroke: It takes a lot to make something look easy. On the weekends we want to see the fun of the game. Behind success takes a lot of work. There’s usually a heartfelt and wrenching story that brings these boys into the limelight and makes the man behind the story.
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Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of The SUN.
