There’s a new fire in Deion Sanders this season. That’s despite the brutal toll the fight against cancer his body is taking. It’s been only 2 months since Coach Prime revealed his cancer diagnosis. His life has changed because of the disease, but he continues to show up every day on that field. All of this wouldn’t have happened if Deion Sanders had relented and listened to his eldest son.

Deion Sanders is not one to shy away from risks. But when a risk as big as cancer threw his life upside down, there were some cautious decisions to be made. Sanders was given two choices for his cancer treatment. He either underwent a 36-week routine of chemotherapy, or he got rid of the cancer with an aggressive surgery right away. All of this happened before fall camp was due to begin at Colorado, and Coach Prime wanted to be back as soon as possible.

Both options had a set of cons for Deion Sanders, and the doctors had laid it out like this: “If we get it all, you ain’t going to be able to do that. You going to have this problem, and you going to have that too, but you going to be here,” he said in an October 7 appearance on GMA. When asked about his choice, Deion Sanders Jr. wanted the safest choice for his father. “Let’s go with number one,” Coach Prime recalled Bucky saying enthusiastically, picking chemo. At this point, no one among Deion Sanders’ children knew about the nightmare unfolding here, except Bucky.

“I wasn’t gonna go to a hospital every week to get the sort of the chemo thing. And I’m in season. It would have drove me crazy,” Sanders added. All of this happened during a sensitive point in the offseason and Coach Prime’s career. This is the year that was going to be a true test of his coaching, since his sons and Travis Hunter are now in the NFL. He had to stick the landing with a new team in tow. Chemotherapy would have effectively kept him out for the majority of the season. It would throw the timeline of his comeback into a major limbo, as well as his $54 million contract extension with the Buffaloes. He’s signed on as HC until 2029.

Deion Sanders will not back down from a challenge, even if it is cancer. The bladder cancer and subsequent surgery have affected his routine massively. Now, armed with a makeshift bathroom (sponsored by Depend) on the sidelines, Deion Sanders is back in business in Boulder. He knew what was at stake and chose to bypass his son’s ardent request. But it was a lost cause for Bucky anyway, since Coach is not someone who waits around.

Deion Sanders refused to be held back

36 weeks of chemotherapy wouldn’t have just kept Deion Sanders out. The process would have affected his strength and overall health, further complicating his return to college football. He knew what was going to come if he chose the easy route, but it would get him back to Boulder. He took that guarantee over the comfort that would have come from the slower process. “I’m aggressive, man. I ain’t waiting,” Sanders said.

“I ain’t sitting back on the curb waiting. …No, let’s go right now. Let’s go get this thing. It’s like going down the fourth quarter. I’m not going to let you just drive down the field on me. I’m going to jump this out and get it over with and high step you,” he added. That passion is what kept him going during this trying time, as well as his strong faith.

Colorado is off to a bumpy start in the season, but at least Deion Sanders is here to address it and experience it. Bucky’s decision would’ve been rational, but Coach Prime had no time to waste. He still has a lot left to give to Colorado football, and had to be there to make the best of his time at Boulder.