People have a lot to say about Colorado football. There is a lot to say. There is a lot going on from the perspective of African Americans and from the perspective of culture shift. Prime Time, one of the most pivotal culture figures in the sport of Football, is now Coach Prime and he is pushing the limits of what is acceptable in college sports. He’s a man of the era and a pop pioneer. He is the guy who truly brings the visibility and the coverage and, above all else, he casts a completely different mode in what it means to be a coach.
The NFL is a copycat league. Suddenly the HC ranks are filled with 30 something smart guys who have added something on one side of the ball or the other, without actually being long time players –but instead analysts and thinkers. That old guard shift was met with quite a bit of excitement, because it was marketed that way and because one of the first of this new batch of minds won the Super Bowl almost immediately. Now contrast that to Deion Sanders taking over a Power Five conference program. There are 14 black coaches in the 133 D1 programs. That’s roughly 10%. Not one back coach has ever one a national championship. In fact, college football as a whole may be the last bastion of the old white ball coach and his traditional thinking. Consider Saban’s Alabama team, which is the epitome of old ball.
Now look at Prime.
Think for a minute: He isn’t the only coach to bring in 50+ new players this season, but he is the one getting the most attention and hatred. Why? because he is vocal about the game and how it is being manipulated. As such he is drawing player to him and his style (which reflects them wholeheartedly). It is a real threat to see someone the kids like say out loud, “I ain’t hard to find.” Because they are encouraged to jump in the portal and join the greatest show in CFB. Which indeed it is. Win or lose, Prime is now the one to watch. Heck, in a few hours I’m going to an ASU game… just to see Colorado.