ESPN’s Paul Finebaum has sparked discussion about Deion Sanders’ future with the Colorado Buffaloes, suggesting that the head coach might want to consider moving on to a bigger job following this season.
After a rough start last year, Sanders has led Colorado to a 7-2 record, making the team bowl-eligible for the first time since 2020.
Finebaum shared his thoughts on The Matt Barrie Show, stating, “I never really liked the Colorado job but he’s made the most out of it. It’s been a struggle, he’s already beaten the odds. It’s a good time to get out, buy low sell high.
“I’m not a broker but that’s not hard to figure out. It’s hard to imagine, there’s just too many complications out there. He’s on a big stage but it’s nothing compared to what he’d be.
“First of all, there is nothing that compares to Dallas. It’s the biggest franchise in all of sports when it comes to attention.”
The Dallas Cowboys have long been part of the conversation whenever Sanders’ name comes up in coaching rumors.
A former Cowboys star, Sanders is regarded as one of the best players of his era.
However, Sanders has publicly dismissed the idea of coaching in the NFL, citing his uncompromising style.
“I don’t have any desire or ambition to coach in the NFL,” Sanders told SI.com in January. “I have a problem with men getting their checks and not doing their jobs. I would be too tough as a coach in the NFL because I still have those old-school attributes.”
Beyond the NFL, Barrie suggested another destination Sanders could consider: his alma mater, Florida State.
“You’re telling me there aren’t people in the Florida State administration that aren’t like man should we go, Deion is ours, Deion can recruit, should we kick those tires?” he said.
“Shedeur is gone, Travis Hunter’s gone. That’s going to be something that happens because of Deion’s connection to Florida State and everything he did there.”
Barrie hinted that Sanders’ connection to Florida State, where he was a college football icon, could make him a compelling candidate if the school ever decided to replace its current coach, Mike Norvell.
The Florida State connection has been a recurring theme, especially given Sanders’ past interactions with the university.
In 2019, he reportedly interviewed for the Seminoles’ head coaching position before Florida State chose Norvell.
Sanders subsequently took the head coach role at Jackson State, where he built a reputation for revitalizing the program before moving to Colorado in 2022.
However, Sanders has not always embraced the identity of a Florida State alumnus.
At the beginning of the 2023 season, when a reporter referred to him as a “Nole,” Sanders corrected them, saying he was an HBCU graduate from Talladega College.
“No, no, no…actually, do you know where I graduated from? I graduated from an HBCU,” Sanders said at the time. “So I’m a who? No, I’m a who? I thought it’s where you graduated from, isn’t it? Why do you keep calling me that when you know where I graduated from? I’m an HBCU grad.”
The idea of Sanders taking over at Florida State is nothing new. It’s no secret that the Seminoles have been the most disappointing team in the entire country this year.
While Norvell still has his fair share of supporters, the disaster that has been the 2024 Seminoles is impossible to ignore or even downplay.
Having said that, there are some who still question Sanders’ coaching ability.
While he’s kept the Buffs in playoff contention to this point, there’s a significant difference between being the head coach at Colorado and Florida State.
What are your thoughts on the Sanders-to-FSU speculation???
