Deion Sanders Lauded by Ex-SEC Coach of the Year
As the Big 12 matchup looms between Colorado and Central Florida this weekend, Knights head coach Gus Malzahn expressed high praise for Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders.
“What I admire about him is that he does it his way. This is a deal where you look at college football as entertainment, and the juice and attention he brings to our league, I think is really good. He does it his way, and I’m an old high school coach, so I do it my way; I’m a little bit different, too. He has his team playing well, and he’s doing a good job.”
Malzahn in Season Four as UCF’s Coach
Malzahn is currently in his fourth season as head coach of UCF, following an eight-year tenure at Auburn from 2013 to 2020. In 2013, he earned the SEC Coach of the Year and the AP College Football Coach of the Year honors after leading the Tigers to a 12-2 record and a spot in the National Championship Game.
This season, he has guided the Knights to a strong 3-0 start and a No. 16 ranking in ESPN’s latest College Football Power Index. UCF aims to maintain its unbeaten streak when they host Deion Sanders and Colorado on Saturday. The Buffaloes improved their record to 3-1 last week with a 38-31 overtime victory against Baylor.
Malzahn’s praise for Sanders is notable as the Buffaloes head coach has faced criticism from local and national media regarding his coaching style. Despite Colorado’s disappointing 4-8 finish last season, Sanders believes his program is among the best in the country. His celebrity status as a former NFL star attracts significant media attention, which sometimes frustrates traditional college football fans who feel that a team with only four wins shouldn’t receive the same coverage as a top-tier program.
For someone with Malzahn’s experience—more than a decade as a respected college football coach—to speak positively about Sanders is important. While Sanders and the Buffaloes are certainly in the spotlight, Colorado hired the Pro Football Hall of Famer not just to uplift a struggling football program, but also to boost the school’s overall profile.
During Sanders’ first season in 2023, the six home games generated over ** $ 110 million** in economic impact, a remarkable achievement for a team that only won four games the previous year.
Malzahn understands that being a college football coach involves more than just winning games; it encompasses the potential to uplift an entire community. In Sanders’ case at Colorado, he has clearly made a significant impact already.
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