Home

NFL

“Tad Boyle Is the Anti Coach Prime”: Deion Sanders’ Poor Record Haunts Colorado Buffaloes Despite Success in Basketball

Published 03/28/2024, 11:55 PM EDT

Follow Us

via Imago

In a “football-obsessed sports market,” subpar football teams often rise to the limelight. The University of Colorado stands as a live example, where the Colorado Buffaloes bear the name on both football and basketball teams. In front of Buffs football’s Deion Sanders, Buffs basketball’s Tad Boyle often goes unnoticed. 

Sometimes, Coach Prime gets overboard with his self-promotion even after the team’s unsatisfactory records. Conversely, Boyle knows how to do his task in silence with little advertising, which earns him the title of “anti-coach Prime.”

Boyle vs. Sanders — a tale of two coaches

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The last season had been utterly disappointing for the Buffaloes football program as the Coach Prime squad went 4-8. Yet, Deion Sanders ensured his voice was heard by propelling himself to be featured in the Sportsman of the Year honors. On the other hand, the best men’s program at the University of Colorado was earned by the Buffaloes basketball team.

via Reuters

Boyle has arguably been the best coach the school has ever recruited for the basketball program. While Deion Sanders’ choice not to travel off-campus to recruit talents was taken for his lofty self-esteem, Boyle, being the leader of the men’s basketball team, channeled his focus on cultivating homegrown talent.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NFL stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

However, the basketball coach did not make a huge deal of his strategy and soundlessly propelled K.J. Simpson to reign on the sport’s biggest stage and leave a mark in the postseason. Being miles away from imitating Sanders’ strategy, Buffs fans call him anti-Deion.

Boyle falls prey to Sanders’ “Prime Time”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

With Deion Sanders’ entry into the University of Colorado, his emphasis on “Prime Time” has changed all aspects of athletics. It has ushered in a new era of heightened visibility and expectations. Boyle has adapted partially to the hustle and bustle. Under his guidance, the men’s basketball team has helped the Buffs to appear in five March Madness tournaments in the Pac-12 era. Under JR Payne’s guidance, the women’s team featured in 2023 Sweet Sixteen. This year will be memorable for them as they will face Caitlyn Clark.

Unfortunately, Boyle’s squad lost nine games, which popped the bubble he had been living in just before the tournament play. Per Tony Cosolo’s analysis from Buffaloes Wire, Boyle’s “hot seat” might end up detrimental, as he stated, “Winning cures all, and if Colorado can’t finish this season strong, Boyle’s hot seat may become too much to bear. In my eyes, Boyle’s future at Colorado may hang in the balance of these final Pac-12 games.” Even though his team grabbed a thrilling victory over Florida, marking their first back-to-back NCAA Tournament wins since 1955, the path ahead will decide Boyle’s redemption.   

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Tad Boyle often maintains a low status and refuses to make victories about himself or his brand. As his future hangs in the balance and CU Buffs go to the Pac-12 semifinals, defeating Washington State, it is now to be seen whether Buffaloes fans ultimately remember Boyle as Colorado’s face or Deion Sanders. 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Soheli Tarafdar

928Articles

One take at a time

Soheli Tarafdar is an NFL writer at EssentiallySports. Soheli is fascinated by the fusion of teamwork, those split-second decisions, and the raw physical power of football athletes. She loves decoding the locker room rumors, the cryptic posts, and the behind-the-scenes drama brewing in the college football world.
Show More>

Edited by:

Shubhankar Adhikari