Op-Ed: The hate for Deion Sanders is real

The Buffs coach is being treated unfairly in his first major coaching tenure

Deion Sanders Jr./Well Off Media

Deion Sanders was arguably the biggest hire in CU football history. But even before stepping foot on the field for his first game, he has already dealt with the ills of hatred online. 

Sanders' arrival in Boulder has drawn a lot of opinions about the racism that has plagued our country for generations. While he hasn't done anything truly out of the normal, the underlying root cause of why it won't cease is clear. Sports are a microcosm of real life, and unfortunately, fanbases mirror who we are as a society. This is us. 

A short six months have passed since the 55-year-old Sanders came from Jackson State with clear objectives. He brought his Louis Vuitton luggage with him, and as promised, some of the players in the room for that introduction have moved on to other opportunities. Prime turned over a subpar roster with a mix of over 70 players from around the country. Despite his best efforts, along with facing health issues, the naysayers have taken turns attacking Sanders for trying to rebuild a program for the better.

One of his peers recently says CU was at a lose-lose situation because Deion would either bounce to another job after creating success or it would become a losing circus. This is part of the continued narrative that was carried on when Sanders left Jackson State. They called him a "sell-out" for wanting to take a power five job and couldn't fathom how he could rebuild the HBCU to just move on and advance his career. 

Nobody talks about the state of Mississippi and how a current lack of resources has put a beautiful backdrop in the nation's delta region at a serious disadvantage. Sanders did what most of us would've done when offered a better opportunity. He's a competitor deep down and needed a challenge. 

Also, let's be honest, Prime's ceiling was capped at JSU with no room to do much else than he already did. Colorado wasn't a perfect opportunity, but the resources and support to be a top contender are in place. Be happy for the man. 

Instead, Sanders faces a "criticism" his peers aren't having to deal with. Are there any legitimate reasons for bringing down a guy who's pumping up a program that went 1-11 last season?

You may disagree with his unconventional style or forcing the NCAA to rethink regulations because he's working to make his roster better, like Lane Kiffin has done. But don't hate him for unapologetically being himself. He's not afraid to speak his mind and won't give you a Belichick response. Sanders is a new brand of coach because of who he was. But people don't want to accept that he has a life outside of football.

I didn't hear people making sideways comments when Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma for USC. At least, not at the same capacity as Sanders, who was receiving hate mail on a daily basis. Why was that? Both we're faced with similar situations. 

It's a sickness and one that isn't often talked about. Winning will fix everything, but it shouldn't be the medicine for some fans to to feel better.