Deion Sanders' new villa more than a wonderful gesture by his sons

Coach Prime starting to put roots down in Colorado

The lifestyles of the Buffs standout quarterback and their bruising strong safety have been well-documented for quite some time. However, there just seems to be no end to the unique actions coming from Shedeur and Shilo Sanders. In this case, their older brother Deion Jr., better known as Bucky, seems to be involved as well.

From walking the catwalk in Paris and hanging out with celebrities like Pharrell Williams, according to Well Off Media, Coach Prime’s football sons are buying their father a luxurious mansion in the foothills between Golden and Boulder, along Colorado Highway 93.

I’ve driven that road thousands of times. Upon reading this news on a Sunday morning before settling in to what promises to be a good day of NFL playoff football, your scribe is lounging in bed and trying to visualize a home off that well-beaten path matching the article’s description.

For starters, the home is laid out on 17,000 square feet, with six bedrooms and eight baths. All the trimmings you’d expect from such largesse. I know this is gonna sound like a grumpy ol’ man who wishes for yesteryear. Apologies in advance. Wow, college athletics have changed forever. I’m torn. Good for these kids whose name, image and likeness are valuable commodities for companies willing to pay them. Why not? It was lopsided for far too long. The athletes deserve their due.

But I found myself chuckling out loud learning that the Hall of Fame player and second-year coach of the Colorado Buffaloes has three sons footing the bill for a nice pad for their ol’ man to settle in for years at the foot of the Flatirons? Could it be true? Sanders is gonna stick for a bit and not bolt as soon as talented sons finish CU careers and head for the pros?

Kids buying parents homes. Welcome to the new world of college athletics. It used to be that a talented athlete might buy parents homes, cars and luxuries once they turned professional, Not anymore. Holy smokes. I’ve written this before but it keeps ringing loudly in my ears: “Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.” My concern is the well-heeled programs and players will concentrate in the storied halls of college football and leave a whole bunch of schools and programs scrambling to pick up the crumbs.

The alarms keep sounding but this ol’ crusty sports fan wonders, “Is anybody listening?”

Ohio State admits, “We spent about 10-12 million in NIL money to KEEP our best players and recruit more.” Whoops. Now the life of a college football program is trying to build a winning and respected culture while keeping current players content, recruiting other unhappy campers and being willing to shell out more than $10 million yearly to keep the cupboard stocked with talent?

Again, maybe I’m a nostalgic dude who at 65 knows what college football has meant to his life as a player, broadcaster and fan. Also, a friend of many who make a living inside of college athletics. It’s a crazy world.

How many schools have the cache to compete in this arms race? Makes for good sport talk radio chatter with listeners. Can Colorado keep up? Missouri? K-State? Iowa State? Arizona? ASU? Some long-time Midwest buddies are supporting the NIL “collective” of their favorite school. Another buddy helps athletes secure NIL deals with clever marketing around snacks associated with sports. The NIL world is fascinating to watch mature.

It has certainly impacted college football in a transformative way. Good for Shilo, Shedeur and Bucky. Taking care of your father in his golden years is a wonderful gesture. These kids are in the spotlight but seem to handle it well.

I have a standing Thursday morning fellowship call with men who are absolutely CRAZY about the CU Buffs. This consortium believes strongly in the potential within a continued Rick George, Coach Prime, and CU administration terrific trio placing the beloved Buffs back in the national college football conversation like years under McCartney, Neuheisel and Barnett, for which I had a front-row seat.

Your scribe hopes the sale goes through and Sanders settles in. Sons? Shoulder to shoulder, well done!