Coach Prime’s Ex-Wife Pilar Sanders’ Demand For Justice Fails as CFB Disappoints Family With Shedeur Move

As the Colorado Buffaloes kickstarted their 2024 campaign with a win over North Dakota State, they featured an evolutionary version of Shedeur Sanders. The numbers were great – 26-of-34 completions for 445 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception. But what stood out was his NFL-caliber passing, especially from inside the pocket. Did you know he had the highest possible passer rating of 158.3 when he was inside the pocket for more than 2.5 seconds? Well, he did, but even though he displayed a new version of himself, the criticism of old continued…

…Especially after the Buffaloes’ Week 2 loss to Nebraska, where not only did Shedeur Sanders walk out of the game before the clock ran out, but he also took very little accountability for the 10-28 defeat. But since then, every time he’s had to step up for his team, he’s delivered – even in the losses to Kansas and Kansas State. Even so, the college football community hasn’t held back on criticizing him, with Cam Newton saying, “My whole thing with Shedeur is this… What win can he hang, like what performance can you hang your hat on in college?” But Pilar Sanders had had enough.

Pilar posted a congratulatory message on Instagram for son Shedeur on Friday, December 6. This was in the light of him receiving the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the best upperclassman quarterback across CFB. In the comments of this post, one fan said, “Congratulations 🍾 to your son [Shedeur], but there needs to be some public apologies from analysts and sports pundits. One award doesn’t erase the hate and lack of respect [Shedeur, Shilo, and Deion] received upon transferring from Jackson State.

“Yes, when you are in high-profile sports, you are open to criticism. But when it’s proven wrong, there has to be more than an award.” Pilar responded to this comment with concurrence. Shedeur’s mother promised she’d encash receipts for any unjust towards her son. “There needs to be a plethora of apologies hailing from a helluva lotta people including – media, horrible reporters, worse writers (not true journalists) refs, players, coaches, etc.,” she wrote. This may not have fallen on deaf ears across the board, but it didn’t quite convince the Heisman Trophy voters. 

The Big Apple is never short of notoriety and eminence gracing it. As if New York needs a reason for celebrities to come, the quotient has increased further since the Knicks have become good again. Celebrities flock courtside to MSG with regularity. Their presence doesn’t generate much fervor at this point. But when Shedeur Sanders made his way to the basketball Mecca for the Knicks’ NBA Cup game against the Hawks on December 11, it signified something. Something bittersweet.

This appearance comes a mere 3 days before New York becomes host to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Shedeur Sanders will likely be in attendance, but not via direct invitation. He shall be an ancillary proponent to his teammate Travis Hunter, cast away from the spotlight – for once. The signal-caller is not a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. The shortlist includes the aforementioned Travis, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Miami quarterback Cam Ward, and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel. But the snub didn’t seem to bother Shedeur (if his comments are anything to go by).

Shedeur Sanders addressed the fact that he wasn’t a Heisman finalist despite having numbers that were Heisman-caliber – 3,926 yards, 35 touchdowns, and just 8 interceptions. He said, “I’m not really tripping on it. Honestly, I don’t need other validation to know who I am. So I don’t really care. As long as they give at least one of us the respect we deserve, that’s all that matters to me. If I won an award, it’s on behalf of the team, the o-line, and the receiving core because, without those guys, I wouldn’t be able to do it.” Spoken like a true leader.

“If Trav[is Hunter] wins the Heisman, I feel like I won the Heisman because we’re all part of something,” he added. Among the four finalists, the favorites to win – surprisingly – aren’t the two quarterbacks. While Ashton Jeanty is in a better position to win it over Ward and Gabriel, Travis Hunter’s two-way prowess puts him above all of them in the odds. So, there’s a very good chance Shedeur will feel like he was part of something as remarkable as winning the Heisman Trophy.

Even so, this exclusion has been a point of contention amongst fans of his and the wider CFB discourse. With all these supporters questioning the voters’ decree, the one that pushed back the hardest was perhaps his very first – his mother Pilar Sanders. Alas, her fight transpired to be a valiant one – albeit unsuccessful. Despite this snub, Shedeur’s input in changing the course of the Colorado Buffaloes’ program will forever be etched in history. The plethora of records he set is based on fact.

He now prepares to don the Buffs’ #2 for one last time in the Alamo Bowl. This shall mark the Buffs’ first Bowl game in 4 years. Father-coach Deion Sanders has expressed the importance of the game in setting up momentum for the post-Shedeur and Travis era. Coach Prime’s focus, however, did waver away from the game. On theme with the ensuing Heisman festivities, the reason was in line with his ex-wife Pilar: a lack of acknowledgment for their son.

Deion Sanders echoes disdain over Shedeur being overlooked for the Heisman

Deion took to social media himself in order to reinforce the notion that Shedeur was fallaciously snubbed. He brought forth some tangible evidence in the form of stats. Coach Prime took to social media to offer tangible evidence in favor of Shedeur.

He reposted a graphic on X, which pitted Shedeur’s season stats directly against Ducks QB Dillon Gabriel. The numbers suggest Shedeur has had a superior season. But, to Deion’s dismay, the latter is part of the 4-man shortlist for the Heisman. “Lawd Jesus,” Prime wrote. Not as elaborate as Pilar’s comments, but no less resounding.

Deion and Shedeur Sanders alike will brush this disappointment off. There’s still a silver lining. Travis Hunter is widely expected to be the recipient of the accolade. He has already stated that if he wins, Shedeur will be on stage with him. The camaraderie between the two lives on unscathed and not marred by any animosity whatsoever for what could be perceived as Travis inadvertently costing Shedeur a shot at the award. The ceremony takes place on December 14. The duo will be in college football gridiron action together for one last time on December 28 against BYU.