Deion Sanders Provides Insight Into Decision to Demote Colorado's Offensive Coordinator

Colorado has now lost five of its last six games.

In an effort to shake things up amid his team’s struggles, Colorado coach Deion Sanders relieved his offensive coordinator of play-calling duties this week ahead of the matchup against Oregon State. The change didn’t result in a win, though, as the Buffaloes' season continues to slide. 

Following the 26–19 loss to the No. 16 Beavers, Sanders explained why he relieved OC Sean Lewis of play-calling and instead gave that responsibility to Pat Shurmur, a former NFL coach who has been working as an analyst for Colorado. 

“We’re not gonna demean Sean Lewis,” Sanders said when asked about making Shurmur the play-caller instead of Lewis, according to USA Today Sports. “We’re not gonna do that. We’re not gonna take that tone. Sean is a good man. I think he’s a good play-caller. 

“We just needed change at the time,” he continued. “We just needed to try something else at the time, and that’s what we did. I don’t look back on it. I don’t second-guess myself whatsoever, because it’s more to it than what you may know.”

The Buffaloes fell to 4–5 on the year and have lost five of their last six games. Sanders added that the play-calling is “still a group effort” and both Lewis and Shurmur are “really talented.” 

“It’s not one guy doing good, or one guy doing bad,” he said.